# Best free live chat tools in 2026: feature comparison Canonical URL: https://chataptor.com/en/blog/best-free-live-chat-tools-2026/ Markdown URL: https://chataptor.com/markdown/en/blog/best-free-live-chat-tools-2026.md Language: English (en) Author: Chataptor Team Published: 2026-07-29 Updated: 2026-07-29 Tags: Free live chat, Live chat software, Customer support, AI translation, Software comparison Image: https://chataptor.com/images/blog/best-free-live-chat-tools-2026.webp Image alt: Comparison dashboard showing free live chat tools, conversation limits, team access, mobile support and AI translation Compare the best free live chat tools in 2026, including conversation limits, agent seats, AI features and costs for Chataptor, tawk.to, Tidio and more. ## Language Versions - pl: https://chataptor.com/pl/blog/najlepsze-darmowe-live-chaty-2026/ | Markdown: https://chataptor.com/markdown/pl/blog/najlepsze-darmowe-live-chaty-2026.md - en: https://chataptor.com/en/blog/best-free-live-chat-tools-2026/ | Markdown: https://chataptor.com/markdown/en/blog/best-free-live-chat-tools-2026.md - de: https://chataptor.com/de/blog/beste-kostenlose-live-chat-tools-2026/ | Markdown: https://chataptor.com/markdown/de/blog/beste-kostenlose-live-chat-tools-2026.md - fr: https://chataptor.com/fr/blog/meilleurs-live-chats-gratuits-2026/ | Markdown: https://chataptor.com/markdown/fr/blog/meilleurs-live-chats-gratuits-2026.md - es: https://chataptor.com/es/blog/mejores-chats-en-vivo-gratis-2026/ | Markdown: https://chataptor.com/markdown/es/blog/mejores-chats-en-vivo-gratis-2026.md - it: https://chataptor.com/it/blog/migliori-live-chat-gratis-2026/ | Markdown: https://chataptor.com/markdown/it/blog/migliori-live-chat-gratis-2026.md - cs: https://chataptor.com/cs/blog/nejlepsi-live-chat-zdarma-2026/ | Markdown: https://chataptor.com/markdown/cs/blog/nejlepsi-live-chat-zdarma-2026.md - sk: https://chataptor.com/sk/blog/najlepsie-live-chaty-zadarmo-2026/ | Markdown: https://chataptor.com/markdown/sk/blog/najlepsie-live-chaty-zadarmo-2026.md - pt: https://chataptor.com/pt/blog/melhores-chats-ao-vivo-gratis-2026/ | Markdown: https://chataptor.com/markdown/pt/blog/melhores-chats-ao-vivo-gratis-2026.md - ko: https://chataptor.com/ko/blog/2026-muryo-live-chat-chucheon/ | Markdown: https://chataptor.com/markdown/ko/blog/2026-muryo-live-chat-chucheon.md - ar: https://chataptor.com/ar/blog/أفضل-أدوات-الدردشة-الحية-المجانية-2026/ | Markdown: https://chataptor.com/markdown/ar/blog/أفضل-أدوات-الدردشة-الحية-المجانية-2026.md Free live chat can mean several completely different things. You can have as many conversations as you want in one tool, free of charge. In the second, the free plan ends after 25 or 50 conversations per month. Still others allow you to talk without limits, but charge fees for additional operators, automatic replies, integration with e-mail or removal of the provider's logo. Therefore, the slogan "free" on the price list page does not mean much. You need to check what exactly a business gets, how quickly it reaches the limit and which functions are available only after purchasing a subscription. We compared current offers of free live chat tools based on official price lists and manufacturer documentation. The data was checked on **July 29, 2026**. ## The shortest answer: which free live chat should you choose? If you are looking for a tool **without conversation limits, no paid features and free AI translations**, your best choice is currently **Chataptor**. If you need a classic live chat that has been developed for many years with an unlimited number of operators and sites, **tawk.to** is a strong alternative. However, it is important to remember that the removal of its branding, a larger AI package, and video and voice calls are paid extras. **Crisp** will work well for a small team of up to two people, while **Tidio** and **Smartsupp** are free starter plans rather than solutions for regularly servicing larger numbers of clients. ## Free live chat comparison in 2026 | Tool | Conversation limit | Agents in the free plan | AI in the free plan | Main limitation | | ------------------ | --------------------------: | ---------------------------------------: | ---------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | | **Chataptor** | No limit | No agent limit in the current free model | Free AI translation without a separate package | No paid feature tiers at present | | **tawk.to** | No limit | No limit | 100 AI messages per month | Branding removal and larger AI packages are paid | | **Crisp** | No limit | 2 | No AI credits | No email, saved replies or automation | | **Freshchat** | No published limit | 10 | Not included | Social channels and AI require a paid plan | | **Zoho SalesIQ** | 100 chat sessions per month | 3 | Not included | 100-session limit and up to 10,000 tracked visitors | | **Chatwoot Cloud** | 500 per month | 2 | No Captain AI | Live chat only and 30-day data retention | | **Tidio** | 50 per month | 10 | First 50 Lyro AI conversations, one time | Low monthly conversation limit | | **Smartsupp** | 25 per month | 1 | No AI assistant | 14-day history and a very low conversation limit | ## What does "truly free live chat" mean? In this comparison, we only consider tools with a permanent free plan. We do not include products that only offer a 7-, 14- or 30-day trial period. However, it is worth distinguishing three types of free tools. ### Free with unlimited conversations This group includes primarily Chataptor and tawk.to. You can use them regularly without fear that the widget will no longer be useful after several dozen conversations. Crisp also doesn't limit the number of conversations, but the free plan only covers two operators and doesn't include some basic workflow tools like saved replies, email, or automatic triggers. ### Free, but with a monthly limit Tidio, Smartsupp, Zoho SalesIQ and Chatwoot Cloud allow you to use the tool indefinitely, but after exceeding a certain number of conversations or sessions you have to wait for the limit to be renewed or switch to a paid package. This solution may be enough for a website with little traffic. The problem occurs after launching a campaign, seasonal promotion or during a period of increased number of questions about the delivery and availability of products. ### Free software requiring your own server Chatwoot Community Edition is a separate case. The license itself is free, but the company must provide the server, configuration, updates, backups and system maintenance. You don't pay the manufacturer for each operator, but you still incur the cost of infrastructure and technical labor. ## 1. Chataptor – the best free live chat without limits and with AI Chataptor is not limited to just the chat box on the website. It combines live chat, [shared inbox](https://chataptor.com/en/blog/omnichannel-inbox-customer-messages/), [mobile application](https://chataptor.com/en/blog/customer-support-from-phone/), [saved replies](https://chataptor.com/en/blog/live-chat-canned-responses/) and communication from multiple channels. The current model is simple: the platform is **100% free, with no conversation limits and no paid features**. [Automatic AI Translations](https://chataptor.com/en/blog/automatic-translation-in-customer-support/) also does not require purchasing a separate package or credits. Customers can write in their own language, while agents read and reply in the language they use for support. The system translates the response before it is delivered. Chataptor supports automatic translations of over 100 languages. ### What's available for free? - live chat on the website, - no conversation limit, - no paid feature thresholds, - automatic AI translations, - shared inbox for many channels, - mobile application, - message templates and commands, - support for multiple websites, stores and language versions, - integration with e-mail, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Allegro, Amazon and e-commerce channels. Chataptor allows you to collect conversations from, among others, website widget, e-mail, social media, instant messaging and marketplaces. Thanks to this, the company does not have to handle each source in a separate application. ### What do you have to pay extra for? Under the current offer, **there are no extra charges**. There is no separate premium plan, paid AI package or conversation limit unlocked by subscription. ### For whom? Chataptor is the strongest choice for online stores, companies serving foreign clients and teams that want to combine messages from several channels without additional subscriptions. **The biggest advantage:** no limits and free AI translations. **Key difference:** The free plan is not a demo leading to a paid package. ## 2. tawk.to – mature, unlimited live chat for free tawk.to is one of the few competitors that also offers unlimited conversations. The official price list declares no limit on agents, chat volume, simultaneous conversations and pages on which the widget can be installed. Mobile and desktop applications are also free. This is a very good option for a company that needs, above all, a classic live chat and is not bothered by the tawk.to marking. More differences are described in the comparison [Chataptor vs tawk.to](https://chataptor.com/en/blog/chataptor-vs-tawkto/). ### What's available for free? - unlimited conversations, - unlimited operators, - widget on any number of pages, - mobile and desktop applications, - reporting system, - knowledge base, - basic tools for organizing conversations, - free AI Assist Hobby plan. AI Assist Hobby includes one AI agent and **100 messages per month**. It also allows you to train AI on basic manuals, documents and up to 100 websites. ### What do you have to pay extra for? Branding removal currently costs **$39 per month** or the equivalent of **$29 per month when paid annually**. The Voice, Video and Screen Sharing add-on costs $49 per month, or the equivalent of $29 per month when billed annually. The larger AI Assist Growth plan costs $29 per month and increases the limit to 1,000 AI messages. An additional 1,000 credits costs $30. ### For whom? For companies that need a stable, classic chat with no conversation limits and operators that do not expect a free white label or unlimited AI. **The biggest advantage:** unlimited conversations, sites and agent accounts. **Biggest limitation:** Branding and Enhanced AI are paid. ## 3. Crisp – no conversation limit, but only for two people The free Crisp plan includes an unlimited number of conversations, two operators, a website widget, a shared mailbox, mobile applications, a contact form and integration with e-commerce platforms. It is a clear and convenient tool for a team of one or two people, but the free version is severely limited in the area of ​​everyday productivity. ### What's missing in the free plan? The Free plan does not include: - shared e-mail service, - saved replies and shortcuts, - automatic messages triggered by user behavior, - private notes, - full search, - unlimited data storage period, - Hugo AI credits, - advanced omnichannel channels. These features start with the Mini package, which costs **$45 per month for the entire workspace**. The Mini includes four operators and $5 AI credits, which Crisp estimates to be about 90 automated conversations. ### For whom? For freelancers, micro-enterprises and two-person teams who need a simple widget and an aesthetic shared inbox. **The biggest advantage:** unlimited conversations. **The biggest limitation:** only two operators and no saved replies in the Free plan. ## 4. Freshchat – free inbox for a team of up to 10 people Freshchat offers a free plan for up to ten agents. It includes a chat widget for the website and mobile application, a shared inbox, e-mail connection, and roles and permissions. This is an interesting option for a larger team that wants to combine chat with email, but does not yet need social media, WhatsApp or advanced AI support. The public pricing table does not provide a clear monthly conversation limit for the Free plan. Before implementing in a larger company, it is worth confirming the current rules directly with the manufacturer. ### What do you have to pay extra for? The Growth plan starts at **$19 per agent per month when paid annually** and unlocks Facebook, Instagram, text messages, reports and dashboards, among others. Freddy AI Agent is a paid add-on. The official price list is **$49 for 100 sessions**. ### For whom? For teams of several people who want to operate the website and e-mail in a shared mailbox for free. **Biggest advantage:** up to ten agents and e-mail support. **Biggest limitation:** social media, translations and AI are included in paid packages. ## 5. Zoho SalesIQ – live chat with visitor analysis The free Zoho SalesIQ plan allows you to create three operator accounts. It includes tracking a maximum of 10,000 visitors per month and 100 chat sessions conducted by operators. There is also basic visitor information, saved replies, file sharing and one brand, i.e. one set of touch points for the company. ### What do you have to pay extra for? The fee arises when a company needs: - more than 100 chat sessions, - more operators, - tracking over 10 thousand visitors, - additional brands, - more advanced automation and analytics features. ### For whom? For a company that, in addition to chat, wants to monitor website traffic and identify active users. **The biggest advantage:** extensive visitor data. **Biggest limitation:** only 100 chat sessions per month. ## 6. Chatwoot Cloud – free live chat up to 500 conversations The free Hacker cloud plan Chatwoot includes two agents, 500 conversations per month and 30 days of data storage. Available features include live chat, private notes, markings, ready-made replies, automatic assignment and integration with Slack. The free version does not include email, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, voice assistance or Captain AI. ### What do you have to pay extra for? The Startups plan costs **$19 per agent per month when billed annually**. Unblocks all channels, unlimited fair use conversations, help center, reporting and 1-year data retention. Removal of branding from the cloud version is only available on the Enterprise plan costing $99 per agent per month. ### For whom? For technical teams and projects that want to start with simple chat and may consider self-hosting in the future. **The biggest advantage:** 500 conversations per month and good organizational tools. **Biggest limitation:** Only two accounts, one channel and 30 days of history. ## 7. Tidio – attractive interface, but only 50 conversations per month The free Tidio includes ten user seats, live chat, ticketing and e-mail support. The main limitation is the limit of **50 paid conversations per month**. This means that even a small store can use the entire free package within a few days of an intensive campaign. We also discuss [free alternatives to Tidio](https://chataptor.com/en/blog/tidio-alternative-free-live-chat/) separately. ### Is the AI ​​in Tidio free? Each account receives the first **50 Lyro AI conversations free**, but this is a one-time limit and does not renew every month. Reaching the first 100 users via automatic Flows is also free of charge. After using the AI ​​pool, you need to purchase a paid package. Lyro AI starts at **$32.50 per month for 50 AI conversations**. ### What do you have to pay extra for? The Starter plan starts at **$24.17 per month when billed annually** and increases the monthly limit to 100 conversations. The Growth Pack starts at $49.17 per month and unlocks automatic conversation assignment, macros, enhanced analytics, and more extensive team features, among others. ### For whom? For a company that wants to test a refined live chat system and basic automation with little traffic. **The biggest advantage:** convenient interface and a combination of chat, e-mail and ticketing. **Biggest limitation:** 50 conversations per month and a one-time, not monthly, AI pool. ## 8. Smartsupp – free plan for very low traffic Smartsupp offers one operator for free, 25 conversations per month and 14-day history. The free inbox can collect messages from live chat, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. Only one personal canned answer is available. For a more extensive comparison, see the entry about [alternatives to Smartsupp](https://chataptor.com/en/blog/smartsupp-alternatives/). The Free plan does not include AI reply assistant, statistics, conversation assignments, tags, teams or more extensive automations. ### What do you have to pay extra for? The Solo plan currently costs from **PLN 59 per month with annual payment**. It comes with unlimited conversations, a year of history, email, basic automated messaging, and 50 uses of the AI ​​reply assistant per month. The standalone Mira AI agent is a separate, paid add-on. ### For whom? For a sole proprietorship or a website that only asks a few questions a week. **The biggest advantage:** live chat, WhatsApp and Messenger in a free mailbox. **Biggest limitation:** Only 25 conversations and 14-day history. ## Chatwoot Community Edition – is self-hosting really free? Chatwoot provides a free Community Edition for installation on your own infrastructure. The license costs $0 per agent and remains free indefinitely. However, the manufacturer does not provide Captain AI, its own branding, extensive roles, SLA or priority support in this package. Your own hosting means the need to maintain a server with PostgreSQL and Redis, perform updates, secure data and create backups. The official minimum requirements include two CPU cores, 4GB RAM, and 20GB SSD space. This is a good solution for the technical team, but it should not be presented as completely cost-free. The company still pays for the server and the time of the people responsible for maintaining it. ## Which tools are truly free with no limits? After rejecting plans limited to several dozen conversations, there are three most interesting options. ### Chataptor The most comprehensive free package in terms of omnichannel communications, mobile app and AI translations. There is no conversation limit or paid features in the current model. ### tawk.to Very powerful classic live chat. Conversations, operators and the number of sites are unlimited, but additional fees include removing branding and larger AI packages. ### Crisp Conversations are unlimited, but the free plan only has two slots and doesn't include canned replies, email, or AI. It's a good free chat, but not a full customer service tool. ## What should you pay attention to before choosing a free live chat? ### Conversation limit Check not only the monthly limit, but also how conversations are counted. One long conversation may be counted differently than several messages from the same customer returning after a few days. A limit of 25 or 50 conversations seems reasonable when you set it up, but it can disappear very quickly once you run an ad or promotion. ### Number of operators One account is enough for a small business owner. When messaging is supposed to support sales, marketing and the ordering person, a free plan with a single agent starts to get in the way. ### Ready answers Message templates are not a flashy marketing feature, but they are extremely important in everyday work. Without them, the team repeatedly writes the same information about delivery, return, invoice and availability from scratch. It's worth checking whether saved replies are included in the free plan and whether they can be easily inserted using short commands. ### Mobile application The client can write in the evening, on the weekend or when no one is sitting at the computer. A mobile app with notifications is often more useful than an extensive report used once a month. ### AI and translations The slogan "AI in a package" does not necessarily mean free use. It may be a one-time test pool, several dozen messages per month or a paid add-on settled according to the number of conversations. It is also necessary to distinguish between an autonomous chatbot and conversation translation. The chatbot responds instead of an employee, while AI translation allows a human to conduct a normal conversation with a foreign customer. ### Other communication channels The customer can start a conversation via live chat, and the next day write an e-mail or a message on Instagram. If the free version only supports the widget, the team still has to check several separate inboxes. ### Vendor branding Many free widgets show the manufacturer's logo or name. On some systems, removing this tag costs more than a competitor's basic paid package. ## Which free live chat is the best? There is no one choice that is right for every company, but the comparison results are quite clear. **Chataptor** is the best choice for a company that wants to use unlimited live chat, support several channels and use AI translations without paying for credits or a higher plan. **tawk.to** will work well in a company looking for a mature, classic live chat with an unlimited number of operators. **Crisp** will be a good solution for up to two people who need a simple widget and do not require AI, email or saved replies. **Freshchat** may be of interest to a larger team that needs common website and email support. **Tidio, Smartsupp, Zoho SalesIQ and Chatwoot Cloud** are worth choosing when the monthly limit is actually sufficient or the company accepts the possibility of switching to a paid package from the very beginning. ## Summary The biggest mistake when choosing a free live chat is to only look at the price of PLN 0. The free plan can have 25 conversations, one operator, two weeks of history and no saved replies. In practice, it is not a system for regular customer service, but a way to test the interface before purchasing a subscription. Currently, the most complete free options are **Chataptor and tawk.to**. Both tools do not limit the number of conversations, but differ in the model of additional functions. tawk.to charges for branding removal and enhanced AI, among others. Chataptor currently provides live chat, multi-channel inbox, mobile application, templates and automatic AI translations with no fees and no conversation limits. If no limits, multiple channels and free service for foreign customers are most important, **Chataptor is the most complete free live chat in this comparison**. ## Sources and validity of data Data on plans, limits and prices were checked on July 29, 2026. The basis for comparison are the official websites of [Chataptor](https://chataptor.com/en/), [tawk.to](https://www.tawk.to/pricing/), [Crisp](https://crisp.chat/en/pricing/), [Freshchat](https://www.freshworks.com/live-chat-software/pricing/), [Zoho SalesIQ](https://www.zoho.com/salesiq/pricing.html), [Chatwoot](https://www.chatwoot.com/pricing), [Tidio](https://www.tidio.com/pricing/) and [Smartsupp](https://www.smartsupp.com/pricing/). Price lists and the range of functions may vary, so it is worth checking the manufacturer's conditions again before choosing. If you want to start live chat right away with no conversation limit and no paid features, [create a free Chataptor account](https://chataptor.com/register). ## FAQ ### What is the best free live chat in 2026? The most complete choice is Chataptor because it does not limit the number of conversations, has no paid features in the current model, and includes automatic AI translations and inbox for multiple channels. ### Is tawk.to completely free? The basic tawk.to software is free with no limits on conversations, agents and sites. However, there are paid extras such as branding removal, larger AI packages, video and voice calls and service by hired agents. ### Is Tidio free? Tidio has a fixed free plan, but it is limited to 50 paid conversations per month. The first 50 conversations handled by Lyro AI are free only once. ### Is Smartsupp free? Yes, but the free plan includes one operator, 25 conversations per month and 14-day history. ### Which free live chat has no message limit? Chataptor, tawk.to and Crisp currently offer no conversation limit. However, Crisp limits the free team to two people and does not provide email, saved replies or AI for free. ### Is there a free live chat with AI? Yes. Chataptor provides free AI automatic translations with no separate limit. tawk.to offers 100 AI messages per month, and Tidio offers the first 50 conversations of Lyro AI at one time. Crisp and Chatwoot do not include AI in free plans. ### Is free live chat suitable for an online store? Yes, as long as the conversation limit is not too low. In an online store, the number of inquiries can quickly increase during promotions, shopping season or delivery problems. Therefore, a plan with no conversation limit is safer.