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Customer Support · head to head

Hiver vs Salesforce Service Cloud Chat

Hiver logo

Hiver

Customer Support

Gmail-based help desk

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Salesforce Service Cloud Chat logo

Salesforce Service Cloud Chat

Live Chat

Live chat integrated with Salesforce Service Cloud

From
$25/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Hiver has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Hiver hiver tiers as captured 28 December 2023: Lite at $15/user/month capped at 2 shared inboxes (up to 10 users each), Pro at $39/user/month capped at 5 shared inboxes and 50 shared labels, Elite at $59/user/month, all annual pricing with higher month-to-month rates of $19/$49/$69; Salesforce Service Cloud Chat entry-level pricing of $25 per user per month is relatively expensive for small businesses
  • They diverge on capability: Hiver covers Shared inbox, Salesforce Service Cloud Chat covers Live chat messaging.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hiver and Salesforce Service Cloud Chat actually diverge.

Attributes where Hiver and Salesforce Service Cloud Chat differ
AttributeHiverSalesforce Service Cloud Chat
Starting priceFree$25/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Chrome-extensionWeb, Mobile apps
CategoryCustomer SupportLive Chat
Founded20111999

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Hiver

  • Shared inbox
  • Email assignment
  • Collision detection
  • Email notes
  • Templates
  • Analytics
  • Google Workspace
  • Asana

Only in Salesforce Service Cloud Chat

  • Live chat messaging
  • CRM integration
  • Agent desktop integration
  • Visitor tracking
  • Salesforce ecosystem
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Mobile app support
  • IOS support

Both cover

  • Gmail
  • Slack
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Hiver

  • Shared inbox managementnot Salesforce Service Cloud Chat
  • Customer support via Gmailnot Salesforce Service Cloud Chat
  • Team email collaborationnot Salesforce Service Cloud Chat

Salesforce Service Cloud Chat

  • Customer engagementnot Hiver
  • Lead generationnot Hiver
  • Customer supportnot Hiver
  • Sales automationnot Hiver

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Hiver

  • Hiver tiers as captured 28 December 2023: Lite at $15/user/month capped at 2 shared inboxes (up to 10 users each), Pro at $39/user/month capped at 5 shared inboxes and 50 shared labels, Elite at $59/user/month, all annual pricing with higher month-to-month rates of $19/$49/$69

Salesforce Service Cloud Chat

  • Entry-level pricing of $25 per user per month is relatively expensive for small businesses
  • Requires Salesforce CRM setup and integration for full functionality
  • Limited standalone capability outside of Salesforce ecosystem
  • Complex configuration required for advanced features

Pricing, plan by plan

Hiver

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 users
    • Email management
    • Basic analytics
  • Lite$19/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Email templates
    • Notes & @mentions
  • Pro$49/month
    • CSAT surveys
    • SLA management
    • Custom reports
  • Elite$69/month
    • Round-robin
    • Skill-based routing
    • Okta SSO

Salesforce Service Cloud Chat

$25/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Salesforce Service Cloud Chat review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Hiver if

  • You need shared inbox.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Chrome-extension.
  • You also want email assignment.
Hiver review

Choose Salesforce Service Cloud Chat if

  • You need live chat messaging.
  • You work on Web, Mobile apps.
  • You also want crm integration.
Salesforce Service Cloud Chat review

Questions people ask

Is Hiver or Salesforce Service Cloud Chat better?
Neither clearly leads. Hiver starts at Free and Salesforce Service Cloud Chat at $25/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hiver or Salesforce Service Cloud Chat?
Hiver has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Hiver and $25/month for Salesforce Service Cloud Chat.
Does Hiver or Salesforce Service Cloud Chat run on more platforms?
Hiver runs on Web, Chrome-extension. Salesforce Service Cloud Chat runs on Web, Mobile apps.
Can I use Hiver for free?
Yes. Hiver has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Salesforce Service Cloud Chat starts at $25/month.
What is Hiver best used for?
Hiver is most often used for shared inbox management, customer support via gmail, team email collaboration. Of those, shared inbox management and customer support via gmail are not what Salesforce Service Cloud Chat is typically brought in for.
What can Hiver do that Salesforce Service Cloud Chat cannot?
Hiver covers Shared inbox, Email assignment, Collision detection, Email notes. Salesforce Service Cloud Chat covers Live chat messaging, CRM integration, Agent desktop integration, Visitor tracking. Both handle Gmail, Slack, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Salesforce Service Cloud Chat: What is Salesforce Service Cloud Chat?

Salesforce Chat is a real-time customer engagement tool enabling businesses to connect with customers through personalized live chat interactions embedded in apps and on websites, with AI-powered chatbot support.

Source
Salesforce Service Cloud Chat: What is the pricing for Salesforce Service Cloud Chat?

Salesforce Service Cloud entry-level pricing starts at $25 per user per month, with multiple tiers available and add-ons ranging from $50 to $75 depending on required features.

Source
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