Chat, email, and social in one product you can self-host
LiveChat plans are priced per person and built around website chat and Messenger. Ticketing and an AI agent come in Text, a separate product from the same team, and neither offers a free plan or self-hosting. Chatwoot puts live chat, email support, AI, and 12+ messaging channels in a single open-source product you can run in the cloud or on your own servers.
- Live chat + email + social channels = one product, one price
- A free plan for live chat, where LiveChat offers a 14-day trial
- WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, TikTok included on every paid plan
- Captain AI agent and copilot on paid plans, billed in credits
- Open source with self-hosting - LiveChat is cloud-only
At a glance
Email & social
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- LiveChat
- Products / apps
AI copilot
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- LiveChat
- Yes
Free plan
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- LiveChat
- No
Self-hosted option
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- LiveChat
- No
Open source
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- LiveChat
- No
Feature comparison
See how Chatwoot and LiveChat compare across key features.
| Feature | Chatwoot | LiveChat |
|---|---|---|
| Messaging Channels | ||
| Website live chat | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | HelpDesk; Team+ | |
| Yes | Marketplace app | |
| Instagram DMs | Yes | Marketplace app |
| Facebook Messenger | Yes | Yes |
| Telegram | Yes | Third-party app |
| LINE | Yes | No |
| SMS | Yes | Business+ / app |
| TikTok DMs | Yes | No |
| API channel | Yes | Yes |
| AI & Automation | ||
| AI copilot for agents | Yes | Yes |
| AI-powered replies | Yes | Business+ |
| Chatbots / bot builder | Yes | Separate product |
| Automation rules | Yes | Yes |
| Canned responses | Yes | Yes |
| SLA management | Yes | No |
| Team Collaboration | ||
| Shared inbox | Yes | Yes |
| Private notes | Yes | Yes |
| Team assignments | Yes | Yes |
| Agent collision detection | Yes | No |
| Labels and tags | Yes | Yes |
| Contact segments | Yes | No |
| Reporting & Analytics | ||
| Conversation reports | Yes | Yes |
| Agent performance reports | Yes | Yes |
| CSAT reports | Yes | Yes |
| Live dashboard | Yes | Yes |
| Team reports | Yes | No |
| Custom report filters | Yes | No |
| Deployment & Security | ||
| Cloud hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted option | Yes | No |
| Open-source code | Yes | No |
| SSO / SAML | Yes | Yes |
| Audit logs | Yes | Enterprise |
| Custom data retention | Yes | No |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
Why teams switch from LiveChat
Common pain points that lead teams to explore alternatives.
Ticketing and AI agent are a separate product
LiveChat plans do not include ticketing or an AI agent. Those come in Text, a separate product from the same team. Chatwoot handles chat, email, and social in one inbox, with Captain on paid plans.
No free plan
LiveChat has no free tier - only a 14-day trial. Chatwoot offers a permanent free plan for 2 agents on live chat, with messaging channels on paid plans.
Most messaging channels are add-on apps
LiveChat plans include website chat and Messenger. WhatsApp and Instagram use marketplace apps; email requires a separate HelpDesk subscription integrated on Team or higher. Telegram is available through a third-party marketplace app; LINE and TikTok are not listed. Chatwoot includes 12+ messaging channels on every paid plan.
Closed source, no self-hosting
LiveChat is proprietary and cloud-only. No code access, no data sovereignty option. Chatwoot is open source with full self-hosting support.
How Chatwoot is different
What makes Chatwoot the right choice over LiveChat.
One product, complete coverage
Chat, email, WhatsApp, social messaging, an AI agent and copilot, and reporting in one workspace, in the cloud or on your own servers.
Captain AI built in
AI reply drafting, summaries, and label suggestions on paid plans, billed in credits and not per resolution.
Free plan available
Start with 2 agents on live chat at no cost. LiveChat offers a 14-day trial, then a paid plan.
12+ messaging channels
WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, TikTok, LINE, SMS, and more - all native, all on paid plans. LiveChat does not list TikTok or LINE.
Self-host for data control
Run Chatwoot on your infrastructure for compliance, latency, or data sovereignty. LiveChat is cloud-only.
Open source ecosystem
Audit the code, build custom integrations, or contribute features. 37k+ GitHub stars and an active contributor community.
Common questions
Answers to frequently asked questions about switching from LiveChat to Chatwoot.
Does Chatwoot replace both LiveChat and HelpDesk?
Yes. Chatwoot combines live chat, email support, and social messaging in one product. You don't need separate tools - or separate bills - for chat and email.
Can I use Chatwoot for e-commerce support?
Yes. Chatwoot works well for e-commerce with pre-chat forms, canned responses, WhatsApp Business integration, and API connections to Shopify and other platforms.
Does Chatwoot have chat analytics?
Yes. Conversation reports, agent performance metrics, CSAT tracking, team reports, and a live dashboard. All in the same product - no analytics add-on.
Is there a LiveChat-to-Chatwoot migration path?
Yes. Export your data from LiveChat and import it using Chatwoot's REST API. Most teams complete the migration within a day.
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Switching from LiveChat?
Try Chatwoot free and see the difference. Our team can help you migrate your data and get set up.