Software · head to head
Pure Chat vs LiveChat
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; 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
- They diverge on capability: Pure Chat covers Live chat widget, LiveChat covers Live chat.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Pure Chat and LiveChat actually diverge.
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
- API
- Mobile app support
- IOS support
Only in LiveChat
- Live chat
- Ticketing
- Chat routing
- Analytics
- Canned responses
- File sharing
- Shopify
- WordPress
Both cover
- Salesforce
- HubSpot
- 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 LiveChat
LiveChat
- Live chat support on a website with agent routingnot Pure Chat
- Handling customer conversations across chat, SMS and messaging channelsnot 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
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
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
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
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.
Choose LiveChat if
- You need live chat.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
- You also want ticketing.
Questions people ask
- Is Pure Chat or LiveChat better?
- Neither clearly leads. Pure Chat starts at Free and LiveChat at $20/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Pure Chat or LiveChat?
- Pure Chat has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Pure Chat and $20/month for LiveChat.
- Does Pure Chat or LiveChat run on more platforms?
- Pure Chat runs on Web, Mobile app, IOS, Android. LiveChat runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
- Can I use Pure Chat for free?
- Yes. Pure Chat has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. LiveChat starts at $20/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 LiveChat is typically brought in for.
- What can Pure Chat do that LiveChat cannot?
- Pure Chat covers Live chat widget, Visitor information, Chat transcripts, Department routing. LiveChat covers Live chat, Ticketing, Chat routing, Analytics. Both handle Salesforce, HubSpot, Zapier, Web support.