Full omnichannel support platform, not just a live chat widget
Olark focuses on website conversations, with live chat and an AI website agent. If you need more than that (email ticketing, Instagram, Telegram, SLAs, automation, and team collaboration), Chatwoot is a full support platform that starts where Olark stops.
- Email, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, and 8 more channels beyond chat
- Captain AI agent and copilot for customer answers, reply drafts, and summaries
- Team collaboration with assignments, SLAs, and automation rules
- Built-in help center for customer self-service
- Self-host on your own infrastructure for data sovereignty
At a glance
Omnichannel inbox
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Olark
- No
AI copilot
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Olark
- No
Free plan
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Olark
- No
Self-hosted option
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Olark
- No
Open source
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Olark
- No
Feature comparison
See how Chatwoot and Olark compare across key features.
| Feature | Chatwoot | Olark |
|---|---|---|
| Messaging Channels | ||
| Website live chat | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | No | |
| Yes | Paid add-on | |
| Instagram DMs | Yes | No |
| Facebook Messenger | Yes | No |
| Telegram | Yes | No |
| LINE | Yes | No |
| SMS | Yes | Paid add-on |
| TikTok DMs | Yes | No |
| API channel | Yes | Yes |
| AI & Automation | ||
| AI copilot for agents | Yes | No |
| AI-powered replies | Yes | No |
| Chatbots / bot builder | Yes | AI plan |
| Automation rules | Yes | No |
| Canned responses | Yes | Yes |
| SLA management | Yes | No |
| Team Collaboration | ||
| Shared inbox | Yes | No |
| Private notes | Yes | No |
| Team assignments | Yes | Yes |
| Agent collision detection | Yes | No |
| Labels and tags | Yes | No |
| Contact segments | Yes | No |
| Reporting & Analytics | ||
| Conversation reports | Yes | Yes |
| Agent performance reports | Yes | Yes |
| CSAT reports | Yes | No |
| Live dashboard | Yes | No |
| 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 | No |
| Audit logs | Yes | No |
| Custom data retention | Yes | No |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
Why teams switch from Olark
Common pain points that lead teams to explore alternatives.
Built around website chat
Olark is built around website chat, with WhatsApp and SMS as extras. It has no email ticketing, no Instagram, no social media inbox. Chatwoot includes 12+ channels.
AI sold as a separate plan
Olark sells its AI website agent as a separate flat-fee plan from live chat. Chatwoot's Captain is an AI agent and copilot on paid plans, across every messaging channel.
Limited team features
Olark covers chat routing, chat limits, and transcript reporting. Chatwoot adds SLAs, automation rules, and team performance reports for team-scale support.
No self-hosting
Olark is cloud-only. Chatwoot offers full self-hosting for data sovereignty and compliance.
How Chatwoot is different
What makes Chatwoot the right choice over Olark.
Full support platform
Shared inbox, automation, SLAs, CSAT, team collaboration, and help center. Everything a support team needs, not just chat.
12+ messaging channels
12+ native channels: email, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, TikTok, LINE, SMS, and live chat. All on paid plans.
Captain AI agent and copilot
Captain suggests what to say, picks up on customer intent, and summarizes long threads. Olark sells its AI website agent as a separate plan.
Automation and SLAs
Auto-assignment, priority rules, SLA tracking, and CSAT surveys. Scale support operations beyond basic chat.
Self-host for compliance
Deploy on your own infrastructure with Docker and Helm charts.
Free plan to start
Free plan with 2 agents on live chat, and messaging channels on paid plans. Olark requires a paid plan from day one.
Common questions
Answers to frequently asked questions about switching from Olark to Chatwoot.
Is Chatwoot just a live chat tool like Olark?
No. Chatwoot is a full omnichannel support platform with email, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, and 8 more channels plus an AI agent and copilot, automation, SLAs, and help center. Live chat is one of many channels.
Can Chatwoot replace Olark for simple live chat?
Yes. Chatwoot includes a customizable live chat widget with pre-chat forms, canned responses, and proactive campaigns, plus much more when you need it.
Is Olark cheaper than Chatwoot?
Olark requires a paid subscription with no free tier. Chatwoot starts free with 2 agents on live chat, and paid plans from $19/agent/mo add messaging channels and AI.
Does Chatwoot integrate with CRMs like Olark?
Yes. Chatwoot integrates with Salesforce, HubSpot, and other CRMs via API and webhooks. It also has built-in contact management with custom attributes.
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Switching from Olark?
Try Chatwoot free and see the difference. Our team can help you migrate your data and get set up.