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HubSpot Live Chat vs Olark

HubSpot Live Chat logo

HubSpot Live Chat

Live Chat

Live chat integrated with HubSpot CRM platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Olark logo

Olark

Live Chat

Make your business human

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only HubSpot Live Chat has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: HubSpot Live Chat no specific pricing published on the live chat product page; pricing requires navigation to separate Marketing Hub pricing page; Olark the AI website agent is a $400 a month flat plan billed annually at $4,800, which is a large step from the $29 per agent human only plan
  • They diverge on capability: HubSpot Live Chat covers Live chat messaging, Olark covers Live chat.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HubSpot Live Chat and Olark actually diverge.

Attributes where HubSpot Live Chat and Olark differ
AttributeHubSpot Live ChatOlark
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Mobile app, IOS, AndroidWeb
Founded20062009

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Live Chat).

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 HubSpot Live Chat

  • Live chat messaging
  • CRM integration
  • Visitor identification
  • Chatbot builder
  • Gmail
  • Outlook
  • Mobile app support
  • IOS support

Only in Olark

  • Live chat
  • Chat transcripts
  • Visitor insights
  • Customization
  • Offline messaging
  • Shortcuts
  • HubSpot
  • Zendesk

Both cover

  • Salesforce
  • Slack
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

HubSpot Live Chat

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

Olark

  • Live chat on a website with a small support teamnot HubSpot Live Chat
  • Running an AI agent on website conversations with human handoffnot HubSpot Live Chat

Where each one falls short

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

HubSpot Live Chat

  • No specific pricing published on the live chat product page; pricing requires navigation to separate Marketing Hub pricing page
  • Live chat pricing bundled with broader Marketing Hub plans rather than offered as standalone product pricing
  • Free tier features not detailed on product page, requiring contact or additional navigation for feature clarity

Olark

  • The AI website agent is a $400 a month flat plan billed annually at $4,800, which is a large step from the $29 per agent human only plan
  • That flat price covers only one human seat, with each additional seat at $29 a month
  • Regional routing, SSO and custom SLAs require a custom enterprise plan with no published price

Pricing, plan by plan

HubSpot Live Chat

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Live chat
    • CRM
    • Basic features
  • Starter$50/month
    • Marketing automation
    • Enhanced features
  • Professional$320/month
    • Advanced workflows
    • Custom reporting

Olark

$29/month
  • Standard AI Website Agent$400/month
    • One human agent seat included
    • Unlimited AI conversations
    • Automatic FAQ and knowledge updates
  • Live Chat Only$29/month
    • Human operators only
    • No AI component
    • Upgradeable to AI later
  • Custom Enterprise$undefined/mo
    • Regional routing
    • Advanced integrations
    • Custom workflows

Which should you pick?

Choose HubSpot Live Chat if

  • You need live chat messaging.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app, IOS, Android.
  • You also want crm integration.
HubSpot Live Chat review

Choose Olark if

  • You need live chat.
  • You also want chat transcripts.
Olark review

Questions people ask

Is HubSpot Live Chat or Olark better?
Neither clearly leads. HubSpot Live Chat starts at Free and Olark at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HubSpot Live Chat or Olark?
HubSpot Live Chat has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for HubSpot Live Chat and $29/month for Olark.
Does HubSpot Live Chat or Olark run on more platforms?
HubSpot Live Chat runs on Web, Mobile app, IOS, Android. Olark runs on Web.
Can I use HubSpot Live Chat for free?
Yes. HubSpot Live Chat has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Olark starts at $29/month.
What is HubSpot Live Chat best used for?
HubSpot Live Chat is most often used for customer engagement, lead generation, customer support, sales automation. Of those, customer engagement and lead generation are not what Olark is typically brought in for.
What can HubSpot Live Chat do that Olark cannot?
HubSpot Live Chat covers Live chat messaging, CRM integration, Visitor identification, Chatbot builder. Olark covers Live chat, Chat transcripts, Visitor insights, Customization. Both handle Salesforce, Slack, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

HubSpot Live Chat: What does HubSpot live chat cost?

HubSpot live chat is available free with core functionality and no credit card required. Premium features are available through Marketing Hub Starter, Professional, and Enterprise plans starting at $7/month annually, with details available on the main pricing page.

Source
Olark: How much does Olark's Standard AI plan cost?

Olark's Standard AI Website Agent plan costs $400 per month when billed annually ($4,800/year). This includes one human agent seat, unlimited AI conversations, automatic FAQ updates, lead capture, and white glove support with no token limits or overages.

Source
HubSpot Live Chat: Is there a free version of HubSpot live chat?

Yes, HubSpot live chat and chatbot builder are available free with core functionality including CRM integration and mobile app access, requiring no credit card to start.

Source
Olark: What is the cost for additional agent seats on Olark?

Additional human agent seats on Olark cost $29 per agent per month. This rate applies when upgrading from the Standard AI plan.

Source
HubSpot Live Chat: What premium features are included in paid HubSpot live chat plans?

Paid tiers include advanced automation and scaling features through Marketing Hub Starter, Professional, and Enterprise editions with varying levels of functionality and support.

Source
Olark: Does Olark charge based on token usage?

No, Olark explicitly states 'No token costs, ever.' The Standard AI plan charges per agent seat with no usage-based overages or token limits, avoiding unexpected cost spikes during peak traffic periods.

Source
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