There exists a wide variety of live chat software options available, including those with free plans and trial versions. Selecting the appropriate live chat software can facilitate immediate customer connections and enhance customer retention. Experimenting with a free live chat software prior to committing to a paid monthly plan aids in assessing its compatibility with your current technological infrastructure and business processes.
To assist you in selecting the appropriate solution for your company, feel free to explore the list of the leading 16 free live chat software and available free trial options provided below.
What is free live chat support?
The free live chat software serves as a customer support tool, allowing real-time interaction with clients on various channels, including your website.
Typically, it involves texts, but businesses can also incorporate voice-based chatting on their website as an extra feature. Positioned in the page’s corner, the chat widget enables customers to initiate a dialogue with your company.
23 best free live chat software + apps for 2023
1. Zendesk
Your agents will be able to effectively connect with customers using various channels such as live chat, social media, and business platforms with the powerful tool Zendesk. By opting for a free trial of Zendesk, your team can benefit from user-friendly automations, a record of past conversations, seamless integration with social messaging, live chat options for your app and website, chatbot creation capabilities, and many other features.
Zendesk provides a way to connect ongoing conversations with your customers across various channels, recognizing that live chat does not operate independently. This customizable and adaptable solution caters to all your branding and customer service requirements, allowing for the integration of real-time analytics, CRMs, social media platforms, and more. With Zendesk, you can be confident that your needs will be met.
The Zendesk drag-and-drop bot builder allows even those who are not developers to create chat flows for various situations. By utilizing customer data, Zendesk bots offer customized responses that direct users to relevant help center materials and provide answers to commonly asked questions. This enables customers to independently resolve simple problems. Additionally, bots can gather important customer details before transferring a query to a live agent, eliminating the need for customers to repeat information.
In addition, Zendesk provides Sunshine Conversations, a sophisticated messaging platform that enables agents to retrieve and observe data from every business system integrated into the Zendesk platform. This encompasses customer information gathered from various sources, ranging from third-party chatbots to payment processors.
Restaurants, marketplace apps, and customers can also benefit from proactive and group messaging provided by Sunshine Conversations.
2. Olark CoPilot
Within a single suite, Olark CoPilot, a cloud-based solution, aids businesses in delivering prompt responses to customers by utilizing chat monitoring, targeted chat, and comprehensive analytics.
Moreover, PowerUps can be utilized to enhance your live chat capabilities according to your business requirements. These specialized features include rich chat options, searchable transcripts, automated messages, and more, and can be easily added or removed as needed.
Users will have a 14-day free trial available for all Olark CoPilot plans, allowing them to personalize and customize the chat box, save time through automation, utilize live chat analytics, and interact with customers in real-time.
3. Avochato
Avochato offers a live chat platform that enables companies to handle, transmit, and receive messages. By combining SMS and live chat, it empowers businesses to maintain continuous interactions with customers at every stage of their experience. As an illustration, it allows you to engage with live chat prospects by delivering valuable and tailored content through SMS.
You have the option to customize Avochato completely in order to adapt the tool to match your branding. This software also provides streamlined automation, UTM parameter tracking, and easy integration capabilities to seamlessly combine it with your existing workflows. Avochato provides a 14-day free trial option.
4. 3CX
The 3CX platform is a live chat solution that can be personalized to individual needs and supports multiple channels. It provides a free option for 10 users and enables agents to access and reply to Facebook and WhatsApp messages seamlessly through the 3CX user interface.
In case customers require additional assistance, they have the option to convert the chat into a call for a more thorough resolution of the issue. Furthermore, 3CX keeps a record of all customer inquiries and past interactions, enabling agents to resolve problems more efficiently. They can also share this history with their team to facilitate the identification of areas for improvement.
5. LiveAgent
LiveAgent offers more than just live chat features – it also provides plans that include ticketing and reporting, making it an appealing choice for those in need of help desk software. Additionally, LiveAgent offers free trials for all its plans, including a free live chat software plan. However, the free live chat plan has a drawback: it only allows for one chat button.
In order to establish multiple chat options for different departments, upgrading to a paid plan is necessary. Furthermore, by choosing the free plan, you will not be able to utilize time-saving features such as canned and predefined answers.
In addition to its live chat functionality, LiveAgent’s free live chat application offers fundamental reporting, support for multiple languages, and a built-in knowledge base.
6. HubSpot
HubSpot provides a free live chat tool that enables customers to access the assistance they require. This tool allows inquiries to be directed to various teams in your organization, ensuring that the appropriate individuals attend to each request. Users have the ability to customize the live chat widget to align with the visual identity of your brand, and they can even create tailored welcome messages for different customer segments.
You can utilize HubSpot’s live chat tool without any coding and at no cost. For additional advanced features, explore the Starter, Professional, and Enterprise plans offered in the Marketing Hub.
7. Chaport
By using Chaport’s free plan, you can initiate live conversations with your customers as your starting point. With this plan, you can develop a basic live chat widget in your mobile, desktop, or browser-based app. Although you have the freedom to incorporate the widget on multiple sites, the free plan restricts you to only one user.
If you want to experience the advanced features of Chaport’s paid plans such as automated responders, an API, social media integrations, and more, you can avail a free 14-day trial by signing up.
8. Zoho Desk
Within Zoho Desk, the live chat feature enables businesses to enhance customer relationships. Should customers be unable to locate the necessary information in the Help Center, they have the option to promptly contact agents through the embeddable chat widget.
Agents have the option to escalate a chat conversation to a ticket with a single click if further assistance is needed for a customer issue. By doing so, the complete chat history is preserved for agents to refer to in order to resolve future inquiries. Zoho Desk’s live chat offers canned responses, automation, and the capability to send customer feedback surveys. To give the software a try, take advantage of the free 15-day trial that is offered.
9. Tidio
Tidio enables the transformation of your visitors into satisfied customers. This online live chat software integrates website chat widgets, emails, and Facebook Messenger, enabling agents to handle multiple customer queries at once. Tidio provides a seven-day free trial for its Communicator and Chatbots plans, along with a free plan that allows live chat conversations with up to 50 users.
With a range of features, Tidio offers the capacity to observe and monitor your visitors, track results, and engage in automated chats using AI. This tool is highly adaptable, enabling the customization of welcome messages to suit individual preferences. Moreover, Tidio facilitates alert triggers for agents, notifying them when a customer finishes a form or encounters difficulties with login or payment. This presents an excellent chance for agents to initiate chat and assist the customer.
10. LiveChat
LiveChat provides four options for plans: Starter, Team, Business, and Enterprise. You are able to begin utilizing LiveChat’s Team plan immediately, without the need for a credit card, through a 14-day free trial of LiveChat. The Team plan grants access to live chat capabilities for your website, apps, and Facebook Messenger, along with an email-based ticketing system.
LiveChat’s Team plan includes features that are essential for live chat, such as canned responses, tagging, and smart routing. It also offers a convenient pre-chat survey that enables easy collection of contact details and provides information on the customer’s current page.
11. Tawk.to
Tawk.to provides a complimentary live chat software that you can install on your website, mobile app, or customized page. The setup process is quick and easy, as you just have to copy one line of JavaScript to your website’s HTML. By using this software, you can invite colleagues to join and communicate with visitors on a unified dashboard. Additionally, you have the capability to monitor performance analytics and review customer chat history to keep track of your team’s support progress.
Tawk.to stands out due to its ability to translate chat conversations into more than 45 languages, facilitating communication with customers worldwide. Moreover, it offers pre-crafted messages and an integrated knowledge base to promptly provide customers with useful responses.
12. Smartsupp
With Smartsupp live chat software, you can enhance your sales and engage with online visitors effectively. This tool is compatible with different platforms such as your website, email, and Facebook through integrations. Additionally, Smartsupp’s customizability allows you to generate brand awareness by modifying the welcome messages, selecting colors that align with your logo, sharing files, and ensuring language adaptability.
You can utilize Smartsupp to examine visitor insights and history in order to enhance assistance and improve the overall customer experience. If you are interested in trying out Smartsupp, you can make use of the Free plan, which is restricted to one agent. Alternatively, you can opt for the Standard or Pro plans which provide additional features and start with a 14-day free trial.
13. Drift
Large-sized companies that prioritize omnichannel sales and account-based marketing will certainly appreciate this free live chat app. Drift sets itself apart from other options with its distinctive and adaptable features, each of which could be considered a standout aspect.
14. Freshchat
Just like HubSpot chat, Freshchat is a component of an extensive customer software suite that includes marketing automation tools, a CRM, and a cloud-based phone system. This complimentary live chat platform allows operators to access various information about the customer, such as personalized event timelines and social media information.
15. ClickDesk
ClickDesk offers more than just live chat capabilities. It also includes a ticketing system and advanced analytics, making it ideal for medium-sized businesses in need of scalable tools. Its various features are specifically designed to facilitate customer communication and enable businesses to empathize with their customers.
16. Jivo Chat
Jivo chat is an integral component of a comprehensive help desk solution that consolidates live chat, phone, and email messages within a single interface. Serving as an exceptional multichannel communicator for businesses, Jivo’s live chat empowers agents to efficiently manage numerous conversations simultaneously, conveniently categorize customers, and monitor the flow of messaging.
17. Chatra
According to reviewers, Chatra is regarded as “pleasant to use” for valid reasons. Aside from offering live chat capabilities, Chatra’s features are specifically designed to ensure customer satisfaction through real-time interaction with support teams. Since it does not include a ticketing system, it is considered the optimal choice for small and medium-sized enterprises.
18. My LiveChat
My LiveChat is a free live chat software solution that is incredibly user-friendly and offers essential features like chatbots that send greetings and gather customer feedback after each conversation. Despite its slightly outdated design, My LiveChat continues to attract customers of all sizes, including small and medium businesses as well as larger corporations, who seek a straightforward live chat experience.
19. SmartsUpp
SmartsUpp is an excellent option for online store owners because it provides outstanding core features like the ability to manage live chat, email, and Messenger across multiple channels, as well as seamless integration with various ecommerce platforms. Additionally, SmartsUpp offers a recording feature that allows for monitoring prospects’ visits and gaining a better understanding of the customers’ journey.
20. Hiver
If you are looking to integrate your Gmail email communication with your live chat software, Hiver is the greatest free chat service available. It allows you to work together with your team, allocate tickets promptly, and give priority to critical matters. Hiver also provides a mobile app, enabling you to offer immediate support even while away. Additionally, it enables you to save time by using chat templates for quicker responses to queries.
21. PureChat
If your business is searching for simplicity, complete transparency, and user-friendliness, then PureChat is the ideal choice. By blending ease of use with remarkable efficiency, this live chat solution is highly likely to impress medium-sized companies.
22. Respond.io
Respond.io, a popular choice for medium and large companies, is a free chat platform that provides a tool to connect with your website and social media channels. Additionally, it offers a centralized messaging inbox integrated with AI-powered chatbot capabilities, giving you a comprehensive view of all customer communication.
23. Thrivedesk
Thrivedesk provides free web chats with pre-written transcripts, instant responses, and the capacity to share attachments within the chat box. Moreover, it incorporates a comprehensive access control system that regulates the information visible and accessible to each agent. This exceptional free live chat application enables extensive system customization, encompassing options like selecting colors, notification sounds, logo, welcome messages, and additional features.
Benefits of using free live chat software
Providing exceptional customer service is of utmost importance in catering to your website visitors and clients. This is because a positive customer experience significantly influences shopping choices and brand loyalty.
According to the PwC report, the performance of your support team will determine whether customers choose to remain with your company or switch to competitors, regardless of how exceptional your product may be.
A proactive chat is exactly what is needed in that situation.
By allowing customers to contact you directly from the landing page in real time, it is the exclusive customer service tool that provides a swift response to inquiries about your product. As a result, customer satisfaction rises, enhancing your prospects of boosting sales.
These are only a few data points that validate the value of incorporating free live chat on your website.
- As many as 41% of customers prefer live chat to other contact channels, like social media and email
- Live chat leads to a 40% increase in conversion rate and a 48% increase in revenue per chat hour
- As many as 38% of consumers are more likely to buy products from a company if they offer live chat support, and 51% of customers are more likely to return to a website that offers live chat
Your chat agents’ workflows and processes are also enhanced by free online chat support. With chat routing, your representatives can quickly assign the appropriate person to address the inquiry and resolve the customer’s problem efficiently. Consequently, both your representatives and customers benefit from this win-win situation.
Features to look out for in a free live chat software
It is important to consider your business’ specific needs and processes when selecting a free website live chat as it will determine the most suitable software for you.
Doesn’t it make sense that a hip clothing brand, which primarily connects with customers through social media, will have distinct requirements compared to a small business that sells children’s toys and concentrates on their website?
These are the free live chat features that you should be aware of.
Therefore, your free live chat service should encompass the key elements.
- Customizable system
For optimal user experience, make sure that you have the ability to personalize the free chat widget for your website, including its icon, pre-chat messages, and the overall appearance of the live chat. Aim to align it with your brand identity as closely as possible.
- Flexible chat history available
Ensure that the live chat software you choose provides an adequate chat history, which can be viewed and analyzed as necessary, for a duration of a few months.
- Useful integrations
Consider the existing communication systems utilized by your customer service team for interacting with your customers. Subsequently, seek out a free online live chat platform that can be integrated with these particular platforms, such as your CRM, social media channels, or communication applications like Telegram, WhatsApp, or Slack.
- Ability to set up opening hours
In order to inform your website visitors about the availability of chat support, it is necessary to establish specific hours of operation. Additionally, it should be possible to conceal the chat widget on your website in case you prefer to prevent users from messaging your support team during unavailability.
- Canned responses available
By utilizing this feature, you can enhance your response time and decrease the repetitive tasks which your support team manages. This is achievable by preparing responses for the frequently asked questions (FAQs) and simply selecting the appropriate text when a client contacts you instead of repeatedly typing the same reply.
- Automated chatbots at hand
Having a virtual assistant available while your sales team is unavailable is beneficial as it can respond to visitors’ inquiries and enhance their shopping experience. Chatbots are capable of providing answers, offering discounts, gathering email addresses, and performing various other tasks.
Free live chat on website: key takeaway
And that concludes everything. Let’s recap what we covered today.
The free live chat software serves as a no-cost edition of a tool designed for engaging in real-time interactions with customers on various communication platforms or websites. It comprises a widget and a chat window, allowing shoppers to inquire, obtain discount codes, and actively connect with your brand.
Thanks to the convenience, real-time support, and human touch they offer, free chat support tools enable you to enhance customer engagement, drive sales, and attract loyal customers to your brand, thereby increasing conversions.
