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AI Guide · Free Alternatives

Crisp Alternatives: Free and Open-Source Options

Crisp: a limited free tier; full use is paid. The 2 options below are free to start or open source; for each one, what you gain and what you lose is written from its official sources.

Output quality is not compared here. The differences come from each tool's own pages: setup, hardware, license, free limits, commercial use. To see which one suits you, try both on the same task. How tools are selected

Side by side

CrisppaidChatwoottawk.to
AccessFree tierOpen sourceFree
Where it runsIn the browser / app (cloud)On your own computer or serverIn the browser / app (cloud)
Free limit2 users, 100 customer profiles; no AI credits or paid featuresThe software is freeFree; no limit stated
PriceMini: $45 per workspace/monthMIT-licensed on your own server. Cloud Startups: $19 per agent/monthLive chat is free. Removing the branding costs $29/month; AI Assist starts at $29/month
Info as ofOct 1, 2026Oct 1, 2026Oct 1, 2026

— : not checked. Details are in the cards below.

Alternatives and how they differ

  1. Difference: MIT-licensed and free on your own server. Setup and maintenance are on you.

    Best for: People who want to keep customer messages on their own server

    Chatwoot

    Open sourceFree · open source

    Brings WhatsApp, Instagram, email and site chat together on one screen.

    What sets it apart: Open source; an AI agent drafts replies to customer questions.

    For: Businesses receiving messages from several channels.

    Read the guide Visit site

  2. Difference: Live chat is free; removing the brand logo is paid.

    Best for: Small businesses that want free site chat with no setup

    tawk.to

    AppFree

    Adds a free live chat box to your site.

    What sets it apart: Live support is completely free; you reply from your phone.

    For: Small businesses that want to answer customer questions on their site.

    Read the guide Visit site

Crisp (paid)

Crisp

AppFree + paid

Site chat and inbox; also connects WhatsApp and Instagram.

What sets it apart: All channels in one inbox; assign to the team.

For: Small teams that want site chat and social channels in one place.

Read the guide Visit site
Setup with usWe can set up the open-source option for youServer, updates and security maintenance included. The guide stays free.CategoryAll Customer Communication tools