Chat widgets are now essential in the development of interactive and captivating websites for businesses. They facilitate instant communication between businesses and website visitors, presenting an exceptional chance to provide assistance, address inquiries, and obtain valuable insights from their audience.
It can be a daunting task to select the most suitable chat widget for your website, given the multitude of options available.
In order to assist you in selecting the most suitable chat widget for your business requirements, this blog post will assess and analyze the features, pricing, and user-friendliness of 20 top chat widgets currently offered in the market.
No matter if you want to enhance customer service, generate more leads, or boost engagement, these chat widgets will undoubtedly elevate your website.
20 best chat widgets to install on your website
1. HelpCrunch
HelpCrunch designs customer service software with a focus on seamless communication and all the necessary features. Additionally, we believe that users should have no difficulty reaching out to you, whether it’s through the in-app chat or the website’s page. This is precisely why our chat widget ensures a 100% possibility of effortless contact.
What makes it stand out? Absolutely everything! I’m not joking. The main highlight is its user-friendly nature. Our website chat box has a smooth start screen and includes all the components necessary for customer interaction (you have the flexibility to deactivate or rearrange these components as needed).
- Have a helicopter view of all existing conversations;
- Start a new conversation;
- Choose any messenger to contact the team besides the live chat (Facebook, Instagram, Viber, WhatsApp, and Telegram);
- Scour a knowledge base without switching to other devices or tabs and find the answer on the go, before even turning to a customer service rep.
Undoubtedly, our fully customizable widget is designed to cater to any business with its extensive range of color schemes, chat wallpapers, genuine agent photos, and diverse button shapes. Additionally, we have ensured that the widget operates at an exceptional speed.
Furthermore, any form of communication, whether it be through Telegram or a lengthy email, will be directed to a shared inbox, ensuring that all correspondence flows to one centralized location. The HelpCrunch chat widget is built to withstand any obstacles that may arise.
We followed all the key communication principles when designing the HelpCrunch widget.
- Hide or show the HelpCrunch branding;
- Disable the “End chat” functionality;
- Choose widget displaying options (to visitors only, authenticated users only, or both groups);
- Disable the file attachments;
- Turn on/off sound notifications;
- Download the chat transcript.
In addition, our chat widget can be utilized for lead generation purposes. Whether the team is available or not, pre-chat forms are accessible, enabling you to collect important customer information round the clock, including name, email, company, and phone number. Alternatively, you can incorporate our HelpBot chatbot into the widget, which will handle all these functions!
2. User.com
User.com is the next option available, offering all the essential choices for communicating with customers. Upon its opening, there are solely two modules contained within – chat and an integrated knowledge base.
At first glance, User.com provides a comprehensive solution for businesses to engage with their customers. Their website widget includes pre-determined replies, also known as canned responses, which aid in simplifying the process. Additionally, it features an integrated chatbot that captures leads around the clock, a lead generation form, and a completely customizable design.
In addition, User.com allows for the automatic switching of conversations to human agents, which is a key feature of a chat widget. Moreover, the widget is capable of supporting multiple languages to effectively connect with any audience.
Instead of listing all the features, why not discover what sets the platform apart? User.com offers various message modes, allowing users to send messages in three different styles and determine which is most suitable for their specific use case.
3. Tidio
Tidio, a customer service platform commonly utilized by small and medium-sized enterprises, offers a shared inbox, similar to HelpCrunch. This shared inbox is sourced through the chat widget.
Their website widget includes all the necessary specifications, such as:
- Easy installation;
- Editable chat status and message for inviting website visitors to a conversation;
- Background picture;
- Separate Chat page with a widget only;
- Website preview options (how the box will look like when you’re online/offline, the widget is closed or a pre-chat survey is shown);
- Live typing and visitors list so that you can reach out to them at the right moment;
- Searchable transcripts.
Regarding the final item on the list, Tidio provides a distinctive feature known as a sidebar. According to their explanation, this is a fixed widget that appears on either the right or left side of the page. You have the ability to modify its color and label in the same manner as an average widget.
Does Tidio have a self-service knowledge base integrated into the web widget? Or should visitors wait for an answer or converse with a robot during the waiting period?
4. Help Scout
When you take a quick look at the Help Scout chat widget, you will probably observe one characteristic – it is highly democratic. It lacks unnecessary information and has a minimalistic design.
The chat functionality as a whole is referred to as Beacon. The distinguishing characteristics reside in the design of the widget. It can be customized to suit the preferences of the users and is displayed with three choices available.
- Ask First: once a visitor lands on the website, they see contact options (email or chat) in the widget, prioritized over the knowledge base content;
- Neutral: this one depicts both contact options and a help center module side-by-side;
- Self Service: this mode shows only the Docs field in the widget and there is no Ask option. The users can still comb through the knowledge base without switching the tabs, however, they would have to switch to another channel to reach out to you if need be.
5. Gladly
Gladly is a recommended option for those who desire a simple chat box widget. Its feature of “natively built-in chat support” proves useful for individuals who wish to exclusively offer self-service to their customers. All conversations with clients are conveniently stored in one ongoing thread.
The widget is equipped with all the necessary features for users to contact a business. Its main component is a self-service help center, but users also have the option to communicate with a live representative.
Gladly offers a highly valuable feature known as chat throttling, which allows users to disable the chat when the estimated wait time goes beyond a certain limit. This functionality can be set up either automatically or manually. In the manual setup, users have the option to define the percentage of conversations allocated to agents.
Furthermore, with the Gladly chat box, customers can conveniently submit credit card payments through a single widget. Simply by securely providing the necessary credit card information, customers can successfully finalize their transaction.
6. Podium Webchat
When it comes to discussing something unconventional, Podium Webchat should take the lead. As indicated, their chat box on the website is solely text-based, catering specifically to local businesses. This means that when a visitor starts a conversation, the entire discussion is transformed into a text thread and can continue even if they navigate away from the website.
In order to initiate a conversation with a customer service representative, all you need to do is provide your name, mobile phone number, and the details of your request in the designated widget. The representative will promptly respond to you via text message.
Among the suggestions that Podium offers are the ability to schedule appointments, respond to a variety of customer inquiries, and finalize deals as soon as possible via Webchat.
- Response automation to engage with prospective leads even after hours;
- Intelligent lead routing makes it possible to assign the chat to the right agent or department, keeping the context;
- Reporting dashboards where you can clearly monitor the team’s progress, check agent response times, and how many inbound leads are generated per month.
7. Tawk.to
Small businesses and startups that do not have the means to spend money would greatly benefit from this solution. Tawk.to offers a complimentary chat widget for websites, which can be utilized to communicate with visitors instantly. Upon opening the widget, you will be prompted to enter your name and email in a pre-chat form, which is a clever tactic for generating potential leads.
Tawk.to offers a complete range of features that would satisfy the needs of a new company.
- Proactive chat – the functionality a modern widget can’t be imagined without.
- Full customization – this point won’t anyone these days and Tawk.to suggests it, sure thing. Change the widget’s appearance, texts, and whatnot.
- Multilingual support – Tawk.to has translations for over 45 languages which makes it easier to get closer to the audience;
- Canned responses – as many other widgets we described here, this one has also pre-saved replies you can leverage for better and faster workflow.
8. Giosg
Giosg claims to be an engagement platform equipped with all the necessary tools. Is there truth to this statement? Let’s analyze that further.
Their chat widget for a website includes a multi-chatting UI, a routing system, qualification tools for enhanced lead generation, a visitor information view, canned responses (which is common nowadays), and focus mode.
Giosg stands out from other chat widgets by offering voice and video support integrated into the product. This allows you to go above and beyond for your customers and remain in the context, even when resolving issues that cannot be solved through text alone.
9. Chaskiq
Chaskiq, on our list of chat widgets for websites, offers a diverse range of integrated plugins. For example, if you’re inundated with demo calls and unsure of how to manage them, you can easily incorporate Calendly into Chaskiq and effortlessly arrange appointments.
This webchat offers the capability to provide payment details for an improved customer experience, start Zoom video calls, and reach the appropriate audience. Moreover, Chaskiq enables self-service through their support widget. By opening it, you can choose to either communicate with a live representative or search through the company’s knowledge base.
The standout feature for me during the testing of this chat window was definitely the blog module. I have a keen interest in this kind of thing! Chaskiq effectively entices website visitors to explore their blog, providing an extra technique to engage them and generate leads.
10. ProProfs Chat
ProProfs Chat is an effective tool for customer support that aims to improve online communication with your customers. With customizable chat boxes, you can personalize the chat widget to align with your brand while ensuring a smooth experience for customers. The chat widget allows for proactive chat invitations, simplifying the process of engaging with website visitors and converting them into potential customers.
The inclusion of a thorough knowledge base in this chat widget enables you to swiftly and accurately address common customer inquiries. This functionality effectively minimizes the workload of customer support representatives, granting them the ability to concentrate on intricate matters that necessitate human interaction.
You can automate customer service tasks and streamline workflow by integrating the platform with popular platforms like Salesforce, Mailchimp, and Shopify. By tracking and analyzing customer interactions, you can obtain valuable insights into customer behavior, ultimately enhancing customer support and overall satisfaction.
11. Sendinblue
Sendinblue Chat is a tool for customer communication, which enables businesses to engage with visitors on their website instantly. By seamlessly integrating into the website, it empowers businesses to offer swift and tailored support. The appearance of the chat widget can be personalized to align with the website’s design.
Sendinblue Chat enables businesses to gather critical details about website visitors, like their name, email, and location, in order to deliver customized support. It provides various functionalities, including message templates, chatbots, and offline messaging, to enhance the customer experience. Moreover, chat transcripts can effortlessly be exported and utilized for future reference or analysis purposes. All in all, this tool stands out as an exceptional website widget for businesses seeking to enhance customer support and boost conversions.
12. HubSpot
HubSpot Chat is a tool for businesses to connect with potential customers, providing features like chatbots, message routing, and chat history. This makes it convenient for businesses to handle customer interactions. The integration of HubSpot Chat with the HubSpot CRM allows for smooth transfer of customer details and conversation records.
Hubspot Chat is a valuable tool for businesses aiming to enhance customer engagement on their website, as it offers customization options such as branding and chat widget customization. It also provides comprehensive analytics, enabling businesses to track their chatbot’s performance and gain insights into customer behavior and engagement. With its user-friendly interface, integration capabilities, and extensive features, Hubspot Chat is an effective solution for improving website customer engagement.
13. LiveChat
LiveChat is specifically developed for websites to effectively manage customer service. It offers a user-friendly chat interface to enable businesses to engage with their website visitors instantly. LiveChat is a cloud-based software that seamlessly integrates with numerous platforms such as e-commerce, content management systems, and customer relationship management tools.
LiveChat enables businesses to effectively handle customer inquiries, resolve support problems, and enhance overall customer satisfaction. Key features of this solution include chat history, automated greetings, chat routing, file sharing, and integration with widely-used CRM systems. Additionally, businesses can benefit from comprehensive reporting and analytics capabilities to assess the success of their customer service endeavors.
14. Chatra
Chatra offers a chat widget for websites that facilitates instant communication between businesses and their customers. It features customizable chat boxes, automated chat invitations, and pre-made responses for frequently asked customer questions. Additionally, Chatra seamlessly integrates with well-known platforms such as Zapier, Slack, and Mailchimp, simplifying the automation of customer service duties. By tracking and analyzing customer interactions, businesses can obtain insightful data on customer behavior and enhance customer satisfaction.
With its encryption measures, the platform ensures high security for customer data. Moreover, Chatra delivers strong customer support through live chat and email assistance. In summary, this tool presents an efficient and user-friendly solution for businesses aiming to enhance their online customer support.
15. Freshdesk
Freshdesk is an ideal solution for companies seeking to streamline their customer service operations, as it is a cloud-based software designed to assist businesses in managing customer interactions and support tickets. It provides a range of features such as multi-channel support, knowledge base management, and reporting & analytics. Moreover, Freshdesk offers a user-friendly interface and robust functionality, catering to businesses of all sizes.
Freshdesk has the capability to seamlessly incorporate various third-party tools such as social media platforms, live chat, and CRM software. Additionally, Freshdesk provides a convenient mobile application for support agents to engage with customers while on the move. Freshdesk’s adaptability and expandability enable it to adapt to the changing demands of your customer service team, making it suitable for your business’s growth.
16. Olark
Olark is a software designed for customer support and sales teams, enabling businesses to engage in real-time communication with their website visitors and offer prompt and effective assistance. The software offers a user-friendly chat widget that can be seamlessly integrated into any website, along with various customization features such as branding and message triggers. With its centralized dashboard, the software enables teams to efficiently manage chats, access transcripts, and review customer details.
Olark, in addition to its user-friendly interface and real-time analytics, is a favored option for businesses seeking to enhance customer experience on their website because of its strong integrations with well-known customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation tools like Salesforce and HubSpot.
17. LiveAgent
LiveAgent is a customer service platform that enables businesses to communicate with their customers in real-time. It includes various communication channels, such as live chat, voice, email, and social media. By utilizing LiveAgent, businesses can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their customer service operations through a unified interface. Additionally, the platform seamlessly integrates with other customer service tools like CRMs and ticketing systems, enabling businesses to streamline workflows and access customer data easily from a centralized location.
LiveAgent offers robust reporting and analytics features, enabling businesses to monitor the effectiveness of their customer service operations, identify areas in need of improvement, and make informed decisions based on data. Moreover, its mobile application grants businesses the ability to access customer interactions at any location and at any time, making it an excellent choice for businesses seeking to promptly respond to their customers’ requirements.
18. Chaport
Chaport is a customer support software that operates on the web and offers businesses a platform that is both efficient and easy to use for managing customer interactions. Its purpose is to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and personalization of customer service. With features such as live chat, call center, and ticket management, Chaport enables businesses to engage with customers in real-time, irrespective of the device they are using.
Businesses can easily set up the software and connect it to popular websites and business applications like Shopify, Magento, and Google Analytics. Chaport also offers in-depth analytics, enabling businesses to gain a better understanding of their customer’s needs and preferences. Moreover, Chaport includes advanced security measures to keep all customer data safe and confidential.
19. Intercom
Intercom is a cloud-based tool that facilitates personalized communication between businesses and their customers. It offers multiple communication channels, including live chat, email, push notifications, and in-app messaging. Additionally, Intercom allows businesses to automate customer interactions using chatbots and gain valuable insights through its analytics and reporting capabilities.
Businesses can create their brand identity and engage with customers in a natural and personal way using Intercom’s user-friendly interface and customization options. Furthermore, integrating with well-known tools such as Salesforce, Hubspot, and Segment streamlines the management of customer data and communication for businesses in a single platform.
20. Zendesk
One of the leading customer service platforms that enhances customer interactions and support operations is Zendesk. It delivers a centralized platform for customer engagements through various channels including email, chat, phone, and social media. This platform also presents a single customer profile, an extensive knowledge base, and self-help choices. Furthermore, Zendesk presents powerful reporting and analytics functionalities to assess and enhance customer satisfaction, ticket resolution duration, and agent efficiency.
Zendesk can easily integrate with existing systems and workflows due to its flexible API, allowing for efficient management of customer interactions across teams and departments. It is utilized by over 200,000 organizations globally, including major corporations. The accessibility and scalability of its cloud-based architecture and user-friendly interface make it a suitable solution for businesses of any size.
