Last updated: November 13, 2026
LiveChat is the top website live chat tool for teams that sell and support through chat in 2027, Tidio is the best fit for small online stores, and Intercom leads for AI-first support. Crisp offers the best value and tawk.to remains the best free option.
Live chat now blends human agents with AI bots that answer common questions instantly. The right mix depends on traffic, budget and how much of your revenue starts in a conversation.
Live Chat Tools To Use In 2027
| Tool | Best For | Core Strength | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| LiveChat | Chat-led sales and support | Polished agent tools | Live chat |
| Tidio | Small online stores | Lyro AI agent plus Shopify integration | Live chat plus AI |
| Intercom | SaaS companies | Fin AI agent and proactive messages | Messenger platform |
| Crisp | Startups | Multichannel inbox at a flat price | Live chat |
| tawk.to | Zero budgets | Free unlimited agents | Free live chat |
| HubSpot Live Chat | B2B sites on HubSpot | Chats logged to the CRM | CRM chat |
| Olark | Teams that want simplicity | Clean widget and clear transcripts | Live chat |
| Chatwoot | Teams that self-host | Open-source omnichannel inbox | Open-source chat |
How We Scored
We scored tools on widget quality, AI bot capability, agent features, ecommerce and CRM integrations, reporting, mobile apps and price.
The Top Live Chat Tools
1. LiveChat
LiveChat offers routing, canned replies, sales tracking and many integrations, with AI from its ChatBot product.
It suits businesses where chat drives revenue.
Best for: Chat-led sales and support. Core strength: Polished agent tools.
2. Tidio
Tidio combines chat, bots and its Lyro AI agent in an easy package.
It plugs into Shopify and WordPress quickly.
Best for: Small online stores. Core strength: Lyro AI agent plus Shopify integration.
3. Intercom
Intercom’s Messenger blends AI resolution with human support and product tours.
It suits teams ready to automate at scale.
Best for: SaaS companies. Core strength: Fin AI agent and proactive messages.
4. Crisp
Crisp brings chat, email, WhatsApp and Instagram into one inbox with AI and a knowledge base.
Flat workspace pricing keeps costs predictable.
Best for: Startups. Core strength: Multichannel inbox at a flat price.
5. tawk.to
tawk.to provides free chat with unlimited agents, with paid add-ons for AI and hired agents.
It is the best way to start for free.
Best for: Zero budgets. Core strength: Free unlimited agents.
6. HubSpot Live Chat
HubSpot’s free chat and bots record every conversation on the contact record and route leads to owners.
It is ideal for B2B lead capture.
Best for: B2B sites on HubSpot. Core strength: Chats logged to the CRM.
7. Olark
Olark keeps chat simple with targeting rules and CRM integrations.
There is little to configure.
Best for: Teams that want simplicity. Core strength: Clean widget and clear transcripts.
8. Chatwoot
Chatwoot can be self-hosted or used in the cloud and supports chat, email and social.
It suits teams that want data control.
Best for: Teams that self-host. Core strength: Open-source omnichannel inbox.
Put Chat Where Buyers Hesitate
Chat earns the most on pricing, checkout and comparison pages. Trigger proactive messages there and keep the rest of the site quieter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best live chat tool?
LiveChat is best for chat-led teams, Tidio for small stores and Intercom for AI-first support.
What is the best free option?
tawk.to is fully free, and HubSpot and Tidio have useful free plans.
Chatbot or human agents?
Most sites do best with both: AI for instant answers and people for complex or high-value chats.
Conclusion
Choose LiveChat for dedicated chat teams, Tidio for stores, Intercom for automation and tawk.to for a free start.
