tawk.to
Our verdict:
Free base service
Best for A team that can staff a human chat queue
- Published free live chat service
- Optional paid services are separate
- Free software still needs staffing
Keep in mind: Optional services can add cost
Live chat
4 Best free live chat options for a website in 2026
Last updated · A-Widget
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Our top 4 picks
| Decision | tawk.to | Tidio | Crisp | HubSpot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | A team that can staff a human chat queue | A small site evaluating human chat with separate automation trials | A team checking whether the published free package fits | A business already using HubSpot for contact follow-up |
| Documented scope | Published free live chat service; Optional paid services are separate; Free software still needs staffing | Live chat and help desk; Lyro AI and Flows have distinct usage units; Published free tier has finite allowances | Shared customer inbox; Website chat and plan-based automation; Seats and automation vary by package | Website live chat and CRM route; Chatflows and account-based management; Advanced capabilities depend on entitlement |
| Trade-off | Optional services can add cost | A one-off AI allowance is not monthly free AI | Paid automation must be assessed separately | Broader CRM and automation requirements can change the plan |
| Next step | Read tawk.to analysis | Read Tidio analysis | Read Crisp analysis | Read HubSpot analysis |
1. tawk.to: free live chat for website conversations
tawk.to's own site offers free live chat software. Start here if the main need is a human conversation and a base software fee is the constraint. A free account still needs a person to answer and a clear policy for message content.
Review optional services on their own terms. Branding removal or other paid services should not become assumed parts of the free offer. The useful comparison is the exact setup you need, including who handles the queue.
2. Tidio: a finite free allowance
Tidio
Our verdict:
Limited starter workload
Best for A small site evaluating human chat with separate automation trials
- Live chat and help desk
- Lyro AI and Flows have distinct usage units
- Published free tier has finite allowances
Keep in mind: A one-off AI allowance is not monthly free AI
Tidio's official pricing page publishes a Free tier with finite usage. Human-handled conversations, Lyro and Flows have separate units. Use the Tidio pricing guide for the current distinction rather than treating the word free as an unlimited promise.
Check the post-trial state. A new account may show trial features that will not remain in the ongoing free tier. Do not build a public support promise around a temporary feature without knowing what happens when it ends.
3. Crisp: check the current free package
Crisp
Our verdict:
Shared-inbox starting point
Best for A team checking whether the published free package fits
- Shared customer inbox
- Website chat and plan-based automation
- Seats and automation vary by package
Keep in mind: Paid automation must be assessed separately
Crisp is a useful candidate for a small shared-inbox workflow. The exact free package needs to be read on the current official plan page. Do not carry an old seat count or a paid automation feature across into the free description.
Write down the required task first: human chat, history, staff access and an offline route. Then match each to the current package. If a key detail is not established, mark it not checked rather than assuming it is included.
4. HubSpot: free chat in a CRM context
HubSpot
Our verdict:
CRM-led starting point
Best for A business already using HubSpot for contact follow-up
- Website live chat and CRM route
- Chatflows and account-based management
- Advanced capabilities depend on entitlement
Keep in mind: Broader CRM and automation requirements can change the plan
HubSpot publishes a free live chat route linked to its CRM. That is worth inspecting if the team already works with contact records there. It may be more setup than needed for a site that only wants occasional messages.
Keep the basic chat offer separate from paid product features. A CRM account can expose many functions, but that does not prove every advanced action as free. Check the exact chatflow and staff access you intend to use.
Factors to consider when choosing free live chat for websites
Compare the ongoing state
Record whether the offer is free indefinitely under listed rules or only available during a trial. Check branding, staff access and usage. A feature that disappears after the trial can change the whole user path.
Read the limit's unit. Conversations are not website visits. An AI allowance is not a human chat allowance. Keep these values separate when estimating whether the plan fits a modest workload.
Count the work behind the software
The staff time is part of the decision even when there is no base plan. Set opening hours and a fallback message. If no one can reply live, a contact form may give a clearer expectation.
Decide who follows up after a user leaves. A stored message without an owner is not a support process. Check how staff see unread work and how a resolved question leaves the active queue.
Check data and removal
Review where messages go and who can read them. Tell users not to send secrets or payment card data. Use a suitable secure process for tasks that need private account details.
Before launch, record the installation location and removal steps. Free software can still leave duplicate code if a plugin and a manual snippet both load it. Check the live page after disabling the route.
Know when paying is justified
Consider a paid package when a verified need exceeds the ongoing free offer. That might be an exact workflow or access rule rather than sheer message count. Do not upgrade just to make the launcher look more polished if the real problem is unanswered questions.
The main live chat comparison helps compare the service model. Use it before paying for an allowance whose unit you have not yet understood.
Continue with the right task
FAQ
Is a free trial a free plan?
No. A trial grants temporary access under its own rules. An ongoing free plan has continuing limits. Check the state after the trial and find any features that will stop. A site owner should know the future user path before relying on temporary access.
Does free chat include a person answering?
The base software offer does not prove that a person will answer for your business. Staffing is your responsibility unless you separately choose a documented service. Set coverage and an honest offline route so users understand whether they are entering a live conversation or leaving a message.