10 Best Free Live Chat Software to Grow Your Business on a Budget

When I was just getting started, spending hundreds of dollars on fancy support tools wasn’t an option. But ignoring customer questions wasn’t an option either. That’s when I stumbled onto free live chat software, and it genuinely changed how I ran support. 

I could talk to customers in real time, catch leads before they bounced, and look far more professional than my budget suggested. The best part? I paid nothing. Now, not every free live chat tool is built the same. Some give you real features. Others give you a watered-down trial and call it “free.” 

I’ve tested the most popular options out there so you don’t have to sort through the noise yourself. 

In this blog, I’m breaking down the 10 best free live chat tools, so you can pick the one that fits your business and budget perfectly.

What Is Free Live Chat Software?

You get a chat widget sitting on your website, ready to engage anyone who shows up. No salary, no hefty monthly subscription, just real conversations happening in real time.

Now, “free” works differently depending on the vendor. Some offer a limited plan with real, usable features. Others give you a short trial and call it free. ProProfs Chat, for example, gives you all premium features on their free plan for one operator, no credit card required. That’s the kind of free worth looking for.

If you’re early in your business journey or simply watching your spend, free live chat software is one of the smartest, lowest-risk tools you can add to your website today.

Top 10 Free Live Chat Tools to Help Your Business Grow

I put this list together after speaking with support managers, corporate trainers, and startup founders across various industries. Their insights, along with my own experience using many of these tools, helped shape this comprehensive comparison. 

With a bit of extra research, I’ve curated the 10 best free live chat for websites.

Let’s start with a quick overview of the tools.

1. ProProfs Chat – Best for 24/7 Delightful Customer Support With AI Chatbots

After trying out a few live chat tools, I tried ProProfs Chat and haven’t looked back since. This tool offers a wide range of features, from canned responses to proactive chat invitations, intelligent chat routing, and AI agents for 24/7 customer engagement and support.

Training your AI chatbots is refreshingly simple. You can feed it your knowledge base, website data, or uploaded documents, and it gets sharper over time. Detailed AI bot performance analytics show you exactly where it’s excelling and where it needs work, so improvement never requires guesswork.

It picks up on customer sentiment during conversations, so your team always knows when a chat is heading south before it actually does.There’s also built-in risk prediction that flags potentially problematic interactions early, giving operators the context they need to step in at the right moment.

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Resolution management gives you a clear picture of how customer issues are handled from start to finish, paired with operator metrics like average response time, CSAT scores, and chat ratings. It also integrates well with platforms like Shopify, Magento, Zendesk, and Google Analytics. Setup was simple and fast, no coding, no headaches.

Pros: 

• Train AI chatbots using your website or help center data for highly accurate responses
• Ready-to-use chatbot templates to build your bot in minutes 
• Automatic chat routing to transfer chats to the appropriate agents
• Sentiment analysis to detect customer mood and prevent escalations early 
• Customer Delight Suite to offer 360-degree support 

Cons:

• Cloud-only – no offline access
• No dark theme

Compatibility: Web, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS

User Rating:  4.8 (Capterra)

Pricing: A Forever Free plan with all premium features is available for small teams. Paid plan starts from $19.99/user/month.

Here’s how Horse Saddle Shop boosted sales and support with 24/7 live chat and instant translation for global buyers.

2. Tidio – Best for Live Chat With Ticketing Functionality

Tidio is a free online live chat software solution that lets you engage customers and resolve their queries. It’s one of the best options out there if you’re looking for live chat with ticketing functionality built in.

With this tool, you can offer customers 24/7 support, ensuring their questions are never left abandoned. One of the unique features of Tidio that I like is its mobile app, which allows operators to chat with customers on the go.

The platform also offers integrations with popular platforms like Wix, Shopify, and WordPress. With Tidio, you can access detailed reports on operator performance, including metrics like chat duration and customer satisfaction ratings.

Pros: 

• Ticketing to track and respond to customer inquiries via email
• Lets agents tag tickets to keep them organized
• Chatbots to answer common customer questions and perform tasks 24/7
• Analytics to get insights into customer support performance
• Tracks the number of conversations, missed conversations, and first response time

Cons:

• The free plan has significant limitations on conversations and active chatbots
• Pricing can get expensive quickly as your team or chat volume grows

Compatibility: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android

User Rating: 4.7 (G2)

Pricing: A free plan is available with limitations. Paid plans start at $24.17/month.

3. Tawk.to – Best for Free Live Chat With Basic Features, Good for Small Businesses

Tawk.to is one of the best free live chat apps. With it, you can effortlessly engage with website visitors, offer support, answer questions, and convert leads into sales. 

I’ve seen firsthand how the platform is designed to help companies boost customer engagement with an easy-to-use, customizable chat widget that can be embedded in any website. What I love about Tawk.to is that it’s free, with options for advanced features if you need them. 

With the software, you can enhance customer support, drive conversions, and gain valuable insights into visitors’ behavior. It’s super easy to set up and use, which is why it’s a favorite among small and medium-sized businesses.

Pros: 

• Unlimited agents and chat history to record customer interactions
• Real-time monitoring for insights into visitor behavior and activity
• Automated triggers initiate chats based on visitor actions
• Ticketing system converts chats into support tickets for follow-up
• Detailed reporting to gain insights into chat performance and agent productivity

Cons:

• No AI chatbot on the free plan, you’ll need to pay to unlock it
• The interface feels dated compared to newer live chat tools

Compatibility: Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

User Rating: 4.5 (G2)

Pricing: A free plan is available without the AI chatbot. Paid plans start at $29/month.

4. Freshchat – Best for Freshworks Suite Users

Freshchat is a powerful and intuitive free live chat software, especially ideal if you’re already using the Freshworks suite. It empowers you to have seamless and engaging conversations, making customer interactions feel effortless. 

I find its features incredibly handy, including customizable chat widgets, automated chatbots, and targeted messaging, all tailored to enhance customer engagement.

The software’s detailed reports and analytics are a game-changer. They help you track key metrics like response time, customer satisfaction ratings, and chat volume, clearly showing your team’s performance. Plus, Freshchat integrates seamlessly with popular CRMs, offering a complete view of customer interactions and enabling personalized customer experiences.

Pros: 

• AI-powered chatbots to handle common inquiries and provide instant responses
• Contextual messaging engages customers based on their activity and behavior
• Real-time dashboards for insights into chat performance and agent productivity
• Co-browsing allows agents to guide customers through complex processes

Cons:

• Free plan is capped at 10 agents and comes with limited bot sessions
• Works best if you’re already using Freshworks; standalone users may find integration options narrow

Compatibility: Web, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS

User Rating: 4.1 (Capterra)

Pricing: A free plan is available for up to 10 agents. Paid plans start at $19/agent/month.

5. JivoChat – Best for Mobile-Friendly Customer Support

JivoChat offers a suite of features that I’ve found incredibly useful, including chatbots, social media integration, etc. Its best known for its mobile-friendly customer support, making it easy to stay connected with customers on the go.

It also has team collaboration tools to enhance customer communication and support. It’s compatible with popular platforms like WordPress, Shopify, and Magento, making it super versatile.

What stands out to me is the detailed analytics and reports the platform provides, which help measure the effectiveness of support strategies. It’s user-friendly and efficient, making it a fantastic solution for businesses aiming to boost online customer engagement.

Pros: 

• Real-time visitor monitoring tracks user activity on the website
• Multi-channel support integrates chat, email, phone, and social media
• Proactive chat invitations engage visitors based on behavior triggers
• Agent collaboration tools enhance internal team communication
• Offline messaging allows visitors to leave queries when agents are unavailable

Cons:

• The free plan strips out several key features, including advanced analytics
• Customer support response times can be slow on lower-tier plans

Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux, Web, Android, iOS

User Rating: 4.6 (Capterra)

Pricing: A free plan is available with limited features. Paid plans start at $19/agent/month.

6. HubSpot – Best for Converting Sales & Engaging Customers With Free Live Chat

HubSpot’s live chat is a powerful customer communication tool that has truly transformed how I engage with website visitors. This live chat software allows you to enjoy various features, like canned responses, chatbots, and customized greetings, to streamline your customer support operations.

What I appreciate most about HubSpot’s free online live chat software is the detailed chat analytics it provides. These insights into your agents’ performance, including metrics like chat volume, response time, and customer satisfaction scores, have been invaluable. 

Additionally, the seamless integration with HubSpot CRM allows you to manage all customer interactions from a single platform, making the entire process more efficient and cohesive.

Pros: 

• Customizable chat widgets match the branding of any website
• Targeted welcome messages to engage visitors based on their behavior
• Automated chatbots handle common queries and provide instant responses
• Mobile app support keeps teams connected on the go
• Email capture prompts visitors to leave contact information for follow-up

Cons:

• Paid plans jump significantly in price, making scaling costs hard to predict
• The free live chat is basic on its own; full value only unlocks when paired with the HubSpot CRM ecosystem

Compatibility: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android

User Rating: 4.4 (G2)

Pricing: A free plan is available for up to 5 users. Paid plans start at $800/month.

7. Userlike – Best for Live Chat & AI Customer Support

Userlike is one of those free live chat apps that can make customer engagement a breeze. It allows you to engage with customers in real time, enhancing customer support and sales. 

With Userlike, I easily added a live chat widget to a website and started chatting with visitors immediately. The platform offers a range of useful features like AI chatbots, file sharing, and visitor tracking, which I find extremely handy. 

Moreover, the software integrates seamlessly with popular CRMs, help desk tools, and social media platforms. The user-friendly interface allowed me to customize the chat widget’s appearance and manage chats from multiple channels effortlessly.

Pros: 

• Multilingual support for global customer reach
• Offers chat routing to the most suitable agent based on skills
• Delivers proactive chat invitations to engage visitors
• Features a rich messaging interface for enhanced interaction
• Enables seamless switching between live chat and chatbots

Compatibility: Web, iOS, Android

User Rating: 4.4 (G2)

Pricing: A free plan is available for a single user. Paid plans start at $90/month.

8. Smartsupp – Best for Automated Customer Engagement & Service

Smartsupp is a powerful and user-friendly free live chat platform. It made interacting with website visitors in real-time so much easier for us. 

The software offers a range of features, including chat customization, chat history, and visitor tracking, enabling efficient customer engagement. I love how Smartsupp provides detailed reports on the team’s performance, covering chat volume, response time, and customer satisfaction ratings. 

Plus, its seamless integration with popular CRM and eCommerce platforms like Shopify, WordPress, and Magento makes managing customer data a breeze.

Pros: 

• Video recordings provide insights into visitor interaction
• Real-time chat allows instant communication with website visitors
• Automated messages engage visitors based on their actions and timing
• Insights into chat performance and customer behavior
• Visitor information offers context for personalized interactions

Compatibility: Web, Android, iOS

User Rating: 4.7 (G2)

Pricing: A free plan is available. Paid plans start at $14/month.

9. Zendesk – Best for Zendesk Users

Zendesk allowed me to engage with customers across multiple channels such as chat, email, and social media.

If you’re already using Zendesk, their live chat tool fits right in. With this tool, I could provide personalized support and assistance, improving the overall customer experience. 

The software offers a range of features, including chatbots, proactive engagement, and customization options for a seamless experience. Tracking my team’s performance and monitoring chat volume was also a breeze with detailed analytics and reporting. Additionally, integrating Zendesk with my CRM tool makes customer data management efficient and straightforward.

Pros: 

• Automated workflows streamline common support tasks and queries
• Contextual AI provides personalized responses based on customer history
• Integration with Zendesk Support to deliver unified customer service
• Proactive chat triggers to engage customers based on their behavior
• File sharing allows easy exchange of documents and images

Compatibility: Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS

User Rating: 4.3 (G2)

Pricing:  A 14-day free trial is available. Paid plans start at $55/agent/month.

10. Chatra – Best for Multichannel Messaging for Business Communication

Best known for multichannel messaging in business communication, Chatra is free live chat software for businesses. Its customer support chat app allowed us to communicate effectively with customers in real time. 

With Chatra, we were able to deliver instant support, engage website visitors, improve customer satisfaction, and boost sales. The tool offers features like offline messages, customizable chat widgets, typing insights, and chat history, which are all incredibly useful. 

Moreover, it integrates with various platforms such as Slack, Zapier, and Facebook Messenger. 

Pros:

• Offers real-time visitor list for monitoring site activity
• Enables group chats for collaborative support
• A unified inbox for managing all communications
• Supports offline messaging when agents are unavailable
• Includes read receipts to know when messages are seen

Compatibility: Web, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS

User Rating:  4.7 (Capterra)

Pricing: A free plan is available. Paid plans start at $25/agent/month.

How I Evaluated These Free Live Chat Software Tools

Choosing the wrong live chat tool wastes time, frustrates your team, and costs you customers. Here is exactly how I avoided that mistake.

• User Reviews and Ratings I went straight to G2, Capterra, and Gartner for verified user feedback, focusing on recurring complaints and what teams actually praised after six months of real use. Star ratings alone tell you nothing. Patterns in the reviews tell you everything.
• Core Features and Functionality I tested each tool hands-on, specifically looking at chat routing quality, AI bot capability, customization depth, and whether the reporting gave you actionable insights or just looked good on a dashboard.
• Ease of Use I asked one simple question: Can a non-technical team member get this running without a training session or a call with sales? If the answer was no, that counted against the tool.
• Customer Support Quality I paid attention to how each vendor showed up during setup, when things broke, and whether ongoing support felt like a real partnership or just another ticket in a queue.
• Value for Money I compared free plan depth against actual feature access, because a tool that locks everything useful behind a paywall is not really free. It is just a trial with better branding.
• Personal Experience I used each platform myself, cross-checked my impressions with peers who run similar operations, and factored in input from people who live inside these tools daily.

My Top 3 Picks for Free Live Chat Software

Want a quick sneak peek into my top three choices? Here you go!

1. ProProfs Chat

ProProfs Chat is a powerful, easy-to-use live chat tool with features like AI chatbots, canned responses, proactive invites, and detailed reports. It integrates seamlessly with major platforms and requires zero coding to set up, making it a smart, hassle-free solution for 24/7 customer support and team performance tracking.

2. Tidio 

Tidio is a free live chat tool that lets you support customers 24/7, even on the go with its handy mobile app. It integrates well with Wix, Shopify, and WordPress, and offers detailed reports on operator performance, covering chat duration, satisfaction scores, and more to help improve customer support.

3. Smartsupp 

Smartsupp is a user-friendly live chat platform with features like chat customization, visitor tracking, and chat history. It offers performance reports and integrates smoothly with Shopify, WordPress, and Magento for efficient customer support and data management.

Get Your Customer Service Game Running With a Free Live Chat Tool

Today, having the best live chat for your website isn’t optional; it’s essential for fast, personalized support and lower service costs. The 10 top-rated live chat tools we discussed offer free plans or trials, giving you the flexibility to choose what fits your team and budget.

As you evaluate, look for solutions that offer unlimited chats, essential integrations, and core features even on the free plan.

Among all these tools, my personal recommendation would be going for a platform like ProProfs Chat – it’s forever free, has no feature limitations, and even if you want to upgrade, there are affordable plans. Why not sign up today to upgrade your customer support for free?