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Software · head to head

LiveChat vs ManyChat

LiveChat logo

LiveChat

Software

Customer service software that delights

From
$20/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ManyChat logo

ManyChat

Software

Chatbot and automation platform for Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and SMS

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ManyChat has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: LiveChat the Starter plan retains only 60 days of chat history, so an audit trail requires the Team plan at $49 per person per month; ManyChat pro plan pricing scales quickly with contact count, becoming expensive for large audiences.
  • They diverge on capability: LiveChat covers Live chat, ManyChat covers Visual Flow Builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LiveChat and ManyChat actually diverge.

Attributes where LiveChat and ManyChat differ
AttributeLiveChatManyChat
Starting price$20/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Desktopweb, ios, android
Founded2002Unknown

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

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 LiveChat

  • Live chat
  • Ticketing
  • Chat routing
  • Analytics
  • Canned responses
  • File sharing
  • Shopify
  • WordPress

Only in ManyChat

  • Visual Flow Builder
  • Instagram Automation
  • WhatsApp Automation
  • SMS Marketing
  • Broadcast Campaigns
  • E-commerce Integrations

What people use each for

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

LiveChat

  • Live chat support on a website with agent routingnot ManyChat
  • Handling customer conversations across chat, SMS and messaging channelsnot ManyChat

ManyChat

  • Automating Instagram DM and comment repliesnot LiveChat
  • Lead generation via chat funnelsnot LiveChat
  • WhatsApp order updates and broadcastsnot LiveChat
  • E-commerce cart recovery via chatnot LiveChat

Where each one falls short

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

LiveChat

  • The Starter plan retains only 60 days of chat history, so an audit trail requires the Team plan at $49 per person per month
  • Pricing is per agent, so support cost scales with headcount rather than with conversation volume
  • AI reply suggestions are capped by plan, at 3 knowledge sources on Starter and 10 above it
  • Surveys and eye catchers are predefined rather than customisable below the Enterprise plan
  • SSO, white labelling and HIPAA compliance are Enterprise only

ManyChat

  • Pro plan pricing scales quickly with contact count, becoming expensive for large audiences.
  • WhatsApp automation requires a connected WhatsApp Business API number with separate messaging costs.
  • The free plan has restrictive contact and feature limits compared to paid competitors.
  • Advanced flow logic can become difficult to manage for very complex automation sequences.

Pricing, plan by plan

LiveChat

$20/month
  • Starter$20/month
    • 60-day chat history
    • Basic customization
    • Ticketing system
  • Team$41/month
    • Unlimited history
    • Advanced reporting
    • Branding removal
  • Business$59/month
    • Staffing prediction
    • Work scheduler
    • Apple Business Chat
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Dedicated account manager
    • Product training
    • SSO

ManyChat

Free
  • Free$undefined/month
    • Limited contacts
    • Core automation features
    • Basic channels
  • Pro$15/month
    • Higher contact limits
    • All channels
    • Broadcast messaging

Which should you pick?

Choose LiveChat if

  • You need live chat.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
  • You also want ticketing.
LiveChat review

Choose ManyChat if

  • You need visual flow builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, ios, android.
  • You also want instagram automation.
ManyChat review

Questions people ask

Is LiveChat or ManyChat better?
Neither clearly leads. LiveChat starts at $20/month and ManyChat at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LiveChat or ManyChat?
ManyChat has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $20/month for LiveChat and Free for ManyChat.
Does LiveChat or ManyChat run on more platforms?
LiveChat runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop. ManyChat runs on web, ios, android.
Can I use ManyChat for free?
Yes. ManyChat has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. LiveChat starts at $20/month.
What is LiveChat best used for?
LiveChat is most often used for live chat support on a website with agent routing, handling customer conversations across chat, sms and messaging channels. Of those, live chat support on a website with agent routing and handling customer conversations across chat, sms and messaging channels are not what ManyChat is typically brought in for.
What can LiveChat do that ManyChat cannot?
LiveChat covers Live chat, Ticketing, Chat routing, Analytics. ManyChat covers Visual Flow Builder, Instagram Automation, WhatsApp Automation, SMS Marketing.
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