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Software · head to head

Pure Chat vs Kayako

Pure Chat logo

Pure Chat

Software

Simple and affordable live chat for any business

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kayako logo

Kayako

Software

Effortless customer service

From
$30/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Pure Chat has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Pure Chat growth plan is capped at 4 users and 1 website, and PRO is capped at 10 users, with extra seats billed separately at $8 to $15/month per additional operator; Kayako the AI agent is billed at $1 per resolved ticket, so support cost scales with ticket volume rather than being a fixed subscription
  • They diverge on capability: Pure Chat covers Live chat widget, Kayako covers Unified inbox.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Pure Chat and Kayako actually diverge.

Attributes where Pure Chat and Kayako differ
AttributePure ChatKayako
Starting priceFree$30/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Mobile app, IOS, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20112001

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 Pure Chat

  • Live chat widget
  • Visitor information
  • Chat transcripts
  • Department routing
  • HubSpot
  • API
  • Mobile app support
  • IOS support

Only in Kayako

  • Unified inbox
  • Live chat
  • Help center
  • Customer journey
  • Automation
  • Reporting
  • Slack
  • Stripe

Both cover

  • Salesforce
  • Zapier
  • Web support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Pure Chat

  • Small single-site teams needing live chat with SMS notificationsnot Kayako

Kayako

  • Help desk ticketing with a unified inbox and knowledge basenot Pure Chat
  • Resolving support tickets automatically with an AI agentnot Pure Chat

Where each one falls short

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

Pure Chat

  • Growth plan is capped at 4 users and 1 website, and PRO is capped at 10 users, with extra seats billed separately at $8 to $15/month per additional operator
  • Monthly billing costs more than annual: Growth is $49/month monthly versus $39/month annual, and PRO is $99/month monthly versus $79/month annual

Kayako

  • The AI agent is billed at $1 per resolved ticket, so support cost scales with ticket volume rather than being a fixed subscription
  • A resolution counts when the AI solves the issue without human involvement, so the definition of a billable event is set by the vendor's own system
  • No per agent monthly price is published for the full Kayako One platform
  • Full platform pricing requires talking to an expert

Pricing, plan by plan

Pure Chat

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 1 agent
    • Basic chat
  • Premium$50/month
    • Unlimited agents
    • Advanced features
  • Business$100/month
    • White-label
    • Premium support

Kayako

$30/month
  • Inbox$30/month
    • Email & live chat
    • Help center
    • Basic automation
  • Growth$60/month
    • Everything in Inbox
    • Customer journey
    • SLA management
  • Scale$100/month
    • Everything in Growth
    • Advanced reporting
    • Custom roles

Which should you pick?

Choose Pure Chat if

  • You need live chat widget.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app, IOS, Android.
  • You also want visitor information.
Pure Chat review

Choose Kayako if

  • You need unified inbox.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want live chat.
Kayako review

Questions people ask

Is Pure Chat or Kayako better?
Neither clearly leads. Pure Chat starts at Free and Kayako at $30/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Pure Chat or Kayako?
Pure Chat has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Pure Chat and $30/month for Kayako.
Does Pure Chat or Kayako run on more platforms?
Pure Chat runs on Web, Mobile app, IOS, Android. Kayako runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Pure Chat for free?
Yes. Pure Chat has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Kayako starts at $30/month.
What is Pure Chat best used for?
Pure Chat is most often used for small single-site teams needing live chat with sms notifications. Of those, small single-site teams needing live chat with sms notifications is not what Kayako is typically brought in for.
What can Pure Chat do that Kayako cannot?
Pure Chat covers Live chat widget, Visitor information, Chat transcripts, Department routing. Kayako covers Unified inbox, Live chat, Help center, Customer journey. Both handle Salesforce, Zapier, Web support, Android support.
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Related pages

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