We compiled a selection of the finest live chat service providers that offer free versions which are available for unlimited use. Notably, applications such as Olark, Pure Chat, and Intercom were excluded from the list as they solely provide limited-time free trials.
Is Live Chat Software Necessary?
Live chat is crucial for all kinds of online businesses, specifically those related to SaaS and e-commerce. It enhances the user support, aids in customer onboarding, and facilitates customer acquisition. Engaging with potential leads instantly elevates the likelihood of conversion.
By engaging in live chat interactions with customers, you can establish a connection that leads to satisfaction and prompts them to select your business over competitors. Additionally, incorporating a live chat website plugin will enhance the productivity and efficiency of your customer service team as it enables faster responses to customers’ inquiries.
1. Tawk
Top features:
- Unlimited Agents
- Unlimited History
- JavaScript API
- Group Messaging
- Detailed Reporting
Tawk, a completely free live chat software, offers the capability to monitor and track your team’s progress, review chat history, and assess performance. You can conveniently install it on your website by copying a JavaScript snippet to your HTML code. Nevertheless, note that it has restricted compatibility with external tools.
Suitable for: groups
2. Hubspot
Top Features:
- Easy to customize
- Conversations get automatically saved
- Fully integrated with a chatbot builder
- Free Slack integration
The Hubspot Free Live Chat Software provides seamless integration with the Hubspot CRM and offers a comprehensive API for creating functional applications or integrations. While it is easy to create “chatflows,” conversations may be overlooked if not assigned to a user/team’s inbox by the end of the day.
Suitable for: Websites that employ the Hubspot CRM
3. ThriveDesk
Top features:
- Shared Inbox
- Live Chat & Chat Bot
- Knowledge Base
- Community
- Email with unlimited addresses
- Automated replies from the knowledge base
- Proactive messaging
ThriveDesk stands out as one of the top live chat software options currently on the market. Its user-friendly helpdesk solution ensures fast and seamless live chat assistance without causing any website slowdowns. By opting for ThriveDesk, your business can boost efficiency through a straightforward installation process. With a multitude of integrations available, you can efficiently resolve issues without devoting excessive time to each individual case.
Suitable for: Startups, SaaS, and Small Enterprises
4. Crisp
Top features:
- 2 agent seats
- Team inbox
- JavaScript API
- iOS & Android mobile apps
- Mobile and desktop notifications
Crisp provides the ability to send personalized messages according to user actions on your website. Additionally, you can create complex chatbot sequences and instantly share files through the chat widget. It is important to note that you are required to respond to chat requests within a two-minute timeframe. To address this concern, Crisp attempted to resolve it through a video game.
Suitable for: Startups
5. Tidio
Top features:
- Up to 3 chat operators
- Unlimited chats
- Ticketing system
- Desktop & mobile apps
- 3rd party apps integration
- JavaScript API
Tidio offers a fully customizable live chat application that can be utilized on your website through the installation of a WordPress plugin or Shopify Store app. Another option is to insert a code snippet into your website’s HTML. According to numerous reviews, many users have needed to reach out to Tidio’s customer support multiple times, however, they were highly effective in resolving any problems encountered. Additionally, Tidio provides a ticketing system that enables you to monitor, assign, and prioritize customer requests simultaneously.
Ideal for: Startups utilizing WordPress or Shopify for their eCommerce platform.
6. Hiver
Top features:
- Works within Gmail;
- Assign chat queries to your support reps with a single click;
- Reply with custom-built chat templates for recurring queries;
- Get alerted when agents don’t reply to customer chats within a specified duration;
- Access live chat via Hiver’s mobile app.
Hiver is a highly user-friendly solution for engaging with visitors on your website. With Hiver’s live chat widget, support managers can conveniently allocate incoming customer chats to frontline agents directly through Gmail. Agents have the ability to reply to chats using personalized chat templates, share chat conversations with other teams for assistance with specific queries, and obtain customer feedback after each interaction to measure the support’s effectiveness.
Your website’s design language can be incorporated into Hiver’s chat widget. The greatest advantage is that your support agents can start using it in just a few minutes, without the need to learn new software, as Hiver operates within Gmail.
Suitable for: Companies utilizing Google Workspace.
Benefits of using free live chat software
Providing exceptional customer service to your website visitors and clients is of utmost importance. This is because the quality of customer experience significantly influences purchasing decisions and brand loyalty.
Your support team’s performance will ultimately determine whether customers choose to remain with you or switch to competitors, regardless of how exceptional your product may be, as stated in the PwC report.
A proactive chat is what comes into play in this situation.
With this unique customer service tool, your customers can reach out to you directly from the landing page itself, receiving real-time responses regarding your product. This prompt assistance not only enhances customer satisfaction but also raises the possibility of boosting your sales.
These are just a few pieces of data that validate the value of installing 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
By offering free online chat support, you also enhance the efficiency of your chat agents and enhance their procedures. Additionally, with chat routing, your representatives can promptly allocate the appropriate individual to address the inquiry and resolve the customer’s problem. This results in a mutually beneficial outcome for both your representatives and customers.
Features to look out for in a free live chat software
Consider that the most suitable software for your business regarding its specific requirements and processes should be taken into account when selecting a free website live chat.
It is reasonable to understand that a trendy clothing brand that primarily engages customers through social media will have distinct requirements compared to a small business selling children’s toys that prioritizes their website. Does this logic seem logical to you?
These are the free live chat features that you need to be aware of.
Therefore, the essential components that your complimentary live chat service must encompass are:
- Customizable system
Make sure that you are able 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 as closely as possible to provide the most favorable user experience.
- Flexible chat history available
Ensure that the live chat software you select provides an adequate amount of conversation history for your teams by offering a few months’ worth of chat data that can be accessed and analyzed as necessary.
- Useful integrations
Consider the existing systems your customer service team utilizes to interact with your shoppers. Subsequently, seek out a cost-free online live chat that can seamlessly integrate with these platforms. These platforms may encompass your CRM, social media channels, or communication applications such as Telegram, WhatsApp, or Slack.
- Ability to set up opening hours
In order to inform your website visitors about your availability for chat, it is necessary to establish opening or operational hours. Additionally, the option to conceal the chat widget on your website should be available if you prefer to prevent users from sending messages to your support team during unavailable periods.
- Canned responses available
By utilizing this feature, your response time will be accelerated and the repetitive tasks executed by your support team will be minimized. This is possible as you can pre-compose responses to frequently asked questions (FAQs) and simply select the appropriate text when corresponding with clients, rather than repeatedly composing the same reply.
- Automated chatbots at hand
Having a virtual assistant available is beneficial when your sales team is not online as it can respond to visitors’ inquiries and enhance their shopping experience. Chatbots are capable of providing answers, offering discounts, gathering emails, and performing various other functions.
Free live chat on website: key takeaway
That concludes everything. Now let’s go over what we covered today.
Free live chat software is a no-cost variant of a tool that enables real-time interactions with customers on a website or any other communication platform. It consists of a widget and a chat window that enable shoppers to inquire, obtain discount codes, and actively interact with your brand.
Thanks to the real-time assistance, personal touch, and convenience, free chat support tools can enhance customer engagement, attract loyal customers, and contribute to increased conversions and boosted sales for your brand.
