You need a different billing model
Compare human conversations, AI answers, and proactive automation for a normal month and a peak. If you only need human chat, consider free options; for self-hosting, include infrastructure and maintenance costs.
Buyer’s guide 2026
8 Tidio alternatives worth considering in 2026
Compare Tidio alternatives for live chat, AI support, and ecommerce. Start with Text by LiveChat for chat-attributed sales, Crisp for workspace pricing, or tawk.to for free live chat. This guide explains the trade-offs, usage costs, and what to test before you switch.
Written by Sylwia Kocur Updated 8 tools reviewed
Why switch from Tidio?
Tidio combines live chat, ticketing, Lyro AI, and automated Flows. A switch makes sense when another tool fits your workload, store operations, or budget better. Start with the problem you need to solve.
Your priority is revenue from conversations
Both Text and Tidio offer sales reporting. Compare attribution rules, supported store connections, and how clearly each report shows the value of human and AI conversations.
You need deeper order support
For a Shopify store, seeing an order is different from editing it or issuing a refund. Test the exact action, permissions, and handoff your team needs.
8 alternatives at a glance
Entry prices don’t line up one to one. Vendors bill per seat, per workspace, or per ticket, and AI usage is often charged separately.
| Platform | Entry price | Live chat | Ticketing | AI and automation | Integrations | Trial or free option |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Text by LiveChat Ecommerce teams that sell through chat Start free trial | $19 /user/mo, billed annually | Included; advanced routing on Growth. | Included; rules and workflows have plan limits. | 10 or 200 monthly resolutions included; extra packages cost $49.50 for 50. | Shopify, WooCommerce, and custom sales tracking. | 14 days, no card. |
| Crisp Small teams that want workspace pricing | $45 /workspace/mo, 4 seats | Website chat. | Ticketing portal on Plus. | AI allowances vary by tier. | Omnichannel inbox and workflows from Essentials. | Free plan available. Free plan for 2 agents. |
| tawk.to Free live chat with your own agents | $0 for core live chat | Free core live chat. | Ticketing included. | AI Assist has its own plans and usage limits. | Website widget and integrations. | Free core service. |
| Chatwoot Teams that need an open-source option | $0 Hacker cloud plan, up to 2 agents | Included in Hacker. | Email and other channels require a paid cloud plan. | Captain AI allowances depend on the paid plan. | API channel on paid cloud plans. | Free cloud and self-hosted options. |
| Gorgias Ecommerce support operations | $10 /mo, Starter, 50 billable tickets | Chat included in Starter. | Metered by billable ticket volume. | AI interactions billed separately. | Commerce, store, and returns connections. | 30-day trial; sending and feature limits apply. |
| Intercom Conversational and in-app support | $29 /seat/mo, billed annually | Messenger included. | Shared inbox and tickets. | Fin from $0.99/outcome; 10 Copilot conversations per full-seat agent/month included. | Apps and connections; validate your specific stack. | 14 days, no card. |
| Freshdesk Structured ticketing and self-service | $19 /agent/mo, billed annually | Check Freshdesk Omni packaging. | Core shared inbox and ticket workflows. | Freddy AI usage charges; Copilot is a paid add-on on Pro and Enterprise. | Confirm app and channel requirements. | 14-day trial. |
| Help Scout Inbox-centered service teams | Free plan available | Live chat and social messaging from Standard; not in Free. | Shared inbox conversation management. | AI Answers: $0.75/resolution after its trial; requires a paid plan. | Check required apps and included allowances. | Free plan available. |
Tidio alternatives reviewed
For each tool: what it does well, what to watch out for, and when Tidio is still the better pick.
Text by LiveChat
Best for ecommerce teams that sell through chat
Text by LiveChat is a Tidio alternative for teams that want to connect product advice with sales. Start with one buying question, let AI handle the routine answer, and follow the conversation through to an order.
- Entry price
- $19 /user/mo, billed annually
- Essential costs $25/user/month with monthly billing; Growth costs $79/user/month billed annually, or $99/user/month billed monthly. Enterprise is quoted. Essential includes 10 monthly AI resolutions and Growth includes 200. Additional 50-resolution packages cost $49.50 and can be purchased as needed. Unused additional resolutions expire at the end of the billing cycle.
- Trial
- 14 days, no card.
- AI costs
- 10 or 200 monthly resolutions included; extra packages cost $49.50 for 50.
- AI Agent and Copilot included; usage and tool allowances vary.
Full review: features, pros, and trial tips
Key features
- AI answers grounded in your approved knowledge
- Human replies and email follow-up in the Inbox
- Sales tracking for connected stores and custom integrations
Strengths
- Sales reports help you evaluate which chats led to orders.
- A teammate can turn a chat into a ticket when follow-up takes longer.
- Live chat, ticketing, and AI are part of the core product.
Keep in mind
- Essential includes 60 days of conversation and file history; Growth offers unlimited history.
- AI resolutions beyond the included allowance add cost.
Consider Tidio instead if
Your existing Lyro answers and Flows already meet your needs, and a Text pilot does not show a clear gain.
How to test Text in a trial
Ask the AI Agent one product question it should answer from your approved content, and one it can't answer. Check the reply, what context your teammate gets after the handoff, and whether a resulting order shows up in the sales report.
Crisp
Best for small teams that want workspace pricing
Crisp suits teams that want several agents included in one workspace subscription. Compare the tier that covers your inbox and automation needs with your Tidio workload.
- Entry price
- $45 /workspace/mo, 4 seats
- Mini costs $45/workspace/month with 4 seats; Essentials is $95 with 10, and Plus is $295 with 20. Additional Plus seats cost $10/month each. Free supports 2 agents.
- Trial
- Free plan available.
- AI costs
- AI allowances vary by tier.
Full review: features, pros, and trial tips
Strengths
- Several seats included in workspace price
- Chat, inbox and automation on one platform
Keep in mind
- Mini does not include the Essentials knowledge base and omnichannel feature set.
- Ticketing portal and white labelling are listed on Plus ($295/workspace/month).
Consider Tidio instead if
Your team already relies on working Tidio Flows or Lyro, and the Crisp tier you need does not improve the total cost.
Read the full Text vs. Crisp comparisonHow to test Crisp in a trial
Invite your full pilot team, connect one support channel, and run a busy-day scenario. Include AI credits and customer-profile limits in the comparison.
tawk.to
Best for free live chat with your own agents
tawk.to is a strong free Tidio alternative if your team answers chats itself. Its core chat service has no published limits on agents, chat volume, or websites.
- Entry price
- $0 for core live chat
- Core software is free. AI Assist, branding removal, and staffed services have separate terms.
- Trial
- Free core service.
- AI costs
- AI Assist has its own plans and usage limits.
Full review: features, pros, and trial tips
Strengths
- No per-agent bill for the core chat service.
- Useful when staffing, rather than AI automation, is your main constraint.
Keep in mind
- Free chat does not mean unlimited free AI.
- Price any optional branding removal or staffed service separately.
Consider Tidio instead if
You want to keep your existing Lyro and Flows automation rather than rebuild it.
How to test tawk.to in a trial
Add two agents and test a handoff, an offline request, and your busiest expected chat period. Price AI separately if you need automated answers.
Chatwoot
Best for teams that need an open-source option
Chatwoot offers hosted plans and a self-hosted edition. Consider it when control over the application and hosting is part of your requirements.
- Entry price
- $0 Hacker cloud plan, up to 2 agents
- Hacker includes website chat, 500 conversations per month, and 30-day retention. Self-hosted Community Edition has separate scope; hosting and maintenance are your responsibility.
- Trial
- Free cloud and self-hosted options.
- AI costs
- Captain AI allowances depend on the paid plan.
Full review: features, pros, and trial tips
Strengths
- Choice of hosted or self-hosted deployment.
- A free cloud plan lets a small team try website chat.
Keep in mind
- Free cloud is limited to website chat and 2 agents.
- Self-hosting needs backups, updates, monitoring, and technical ownership.
- Captain AI is not included in the free self-hosted Community Edition.
Consider Tidio instead if
You prefer a managed service and do not have a specific reason to own the hosting.
How to test Chatwoot in a trial
Choose cloud or self-hosted first. Test the channels, retention, and operational work you need; do not assume every cloud feature is in Community Edition.
Gorgias
Best for ecommerce support operations
Gorgias is worth evaluating when Tidio conversations regularly turn into order-management work. Its ecommerce focus makes store actions a useful starting point for a trial.
- Entry price
- $10 /mo, Starter, 50 billable tickets
- Starter costs $10/month with 50 billable tickets and 3 user seats, including email, chat, and social channels. Basic costs $60/month with 300 tickets. AI, voice, SMS, and overages add to the base subscription.
- Trial
- 30-day trial; sending and feature limits apply.
- AI costs
- AI interactions billed separately.
Full review: features, pros, and trial tips
Strengths
- Ecommerce-specific integrations
- Ticket-volume pricing rather than a seat charge on each agent
Keep in mind
- Starter includes 50 monthly billable tickets and 3 user seats.
- AI, voice, SMS, and extra ticket volume can increase the total.
Consider Tidio instead if
Most requests are simple website questions and you do not need agents to manage orders inside the helpdesk.
Read the full Text vs. Gorgias comparisonHow to test Gorgias in a trial
Run an order-status request and a refund request using test orders. Check available actions, permissions, and both ticket and AI charges.
Intercom
Best for conversational and in-app support
Intercom fits product teams that want support inside a web or mobile app. Compare its Messenger, help content, and Fin handoff with the experience you currently offer through Tidio.
- Entry price
- $29 /seat/mo, billed annually
- Essential costs $29/seat/month billed annually. Advanced is $85 and Expert is $132 per seat/month on annual billing. Product Tours, Surveys, and Series are part of an optional add-on.
- Trial
- 14 days, no card.
- AI costs
- Fin from $0.99/outcome; 10 Copilot conversations per full-seat agent/month included.
Full review: features, pros, and trial tips
Strengths
- Messenger and helpdesk in one platform
- Fin also works with supported external helpdesks; role and feature limits apply.
Keep in mind
- The Workflows builder and multiple team inboxes require Advanced or Expert. Essential includes simple automations.
- SSO and SLAs are listed on Expert; some channels are usage-priced.
Consider Tidio instead if
You mainly need website chat and ecommerce automation, with no requirement for in-app service workflows.
Read the full Text vs. Intercom comparisonHow to test Intercom in a trial
Send a common question and an unusual one through Messenger. Watch where Fin stops and a teammate takes over, what the teammate sees, and which of those conversations Intercom counts as a paid outcome.
Freshdesk
Best for structured ticketing and self-service
Freshdesk is a candidate when email follow-up, ticket ownership, and a customer portal matter more than chat campaigns. Compare Freshdesk Omni separately if live chat is essential.
- Entry price
- $19 /agent/mo, billed annually
- Growth starts at $19 per agent. Pro is $55 and Enterprise is $89 with annual billing.
- Trial
- 14-day trial.
- AI costs
- Freddy AI usage charges; Copilot is a paid add-on on Pro and Enterprise.
Full review: features, pros, and trial tips
Strengths
- Portal and knowledge base in Growth
- On Pro or Enterprise, paid Copilot licenses can be assigned to selected agents.
Keep in mind
- Custom dashboards and multiple SLA policies require Pro.
- Sandbox, audit logs and skill-based routing require Enterprise.
Consider Tidio instead if
Website conversations and proactive Flows are central to your work and you do not need a ticket-focused replacement.
How to test Freshdesk in a trial
Create a test ticket by email, reassign it to another team, add an internal note, then reply as the customer so the ticket reopens. Check that the plan you're trying includes the rules and reports you need for that flow.
Help Scout
Best for inbox-centered service teams
Help Scout suits a team that wants shared-inbox collaboration and customer-facing help content. It is a useful Tidio alternative when requests need thoughtful replies over several days.
- Entry price
- Free plan available
- Free supports up to 5 users and 100 contacts per month. Paid plans use per-user pricing; check the current billing selector for your quote.
- Trial
- Free plan available.
- AI costs
- AI Answers: $0.75/resolution after its trial; requires a paid plan.
Full review: features, pros, and trial tips
Strengths
- Free plan for small teams
- Inbox-focused collaboration with saved replies and tags
Keep in mind
- Standard supports up to 25 users; Plus up to 50.
- Additional inboxes and Docs sites cost extra beyond included allowances.
Consider Tidio instead if
You get more value from your existing website Flows and Lyro setup than from changing how the team handles email follow-up.
Read the full LiveChat vs. Help Scout comparisonHow to test Help Scout in a trial
Have two teammates work on the same conversation: one takes ownership, uses a saved reply, and hands it to the other. Then check how your contacts and inboxes would count toward the plan's limits.
Text or Tidio: which fits your team?
Choose Text if
- Your chats help shoppers decide what to buy
- You want live chat, AI, and tickets in one inbox
- You want to see which sales came through chat
Stay with Tidio if
- Lyro product recommendations and sales analytics already fit your store
- Your usage fits the plan you pay for
- Rebuilding working Flows would cost more than the change would save
Text by LiveChat vs. Tidio
Tidio and Text charge on different units. A Lyro conversation is not the same as a Text AI resolution. Compare the same team, required features, and monthly workload before calling either product cheaper.
Start free trial| Text by LiveChat From $19/user/mo, billed annually | Tidio Starter: $24.17/mo, billed annually | |
|---|---|---|
| Key differences | ||
| What drives the subscription? | Paid users plus AI usage Start with your team size, then add resolutions beyond your allowance. | Conversation and automation volumes Budget for billable conversations, Lyro conversations, and Flows visitors. |
| What counts as AI usage? | A resolved question or completed request Text charges once per conversation when AI solves a question, completes a Custom Skill that fulfills the request, or creates a ticket explicitly requested by the customer. A fallback ticket because no human is available does not count. | A Lyro conversation Tidio defines this as a customer interaction with at least one Lyro reply. |
| Where should the trial start? | Connect a buying question to an order Test product answers, human handoff, and the sales report with your own store. | Evaluate the setup you already have Use your current answers, Flows, and team workflow as the baseline. |
| Pricing | ||
| Entry paid plan, annual billing | Essential: $19/user/month. | Starter: $24.17/month; 100 billable conversations. |
| Next published tier, annual billing | Growth: $79/user/month. | Growth: from $49.17/month; from 250 billable conversations. |
| Recurring AI allowance | Essential: 10; Growth: 200 resolutions per month. | The initial 50 Lyro conversations are one-off; a paid Lyro package renews monthly. |
| Additional AI usage | Optional $49.50 packages of 50 resolutions; unused extras expire at the end of the billing cycle. | Choose a Lyro conversation package for your required volume. |
| Proactive automation | Check campaign and workflow limits for the chosen plan. | Flows uses a separate visitors-reached allowance. |
| Higher-volume plans | Enterprise: custom quote. | Plus starts at $300/month plus usage; Premium is quoted. |
| Free access | 14-day trial; no permanent free plan listed. | Free plan and 7-day paid-plan trial. |
Build a complete cost comparison
Use the same team size and workload for each vendor.
Count the same workload
Record agents, customer conversations, AI-assisted conversations, and visitors reached by proactive automation for a typical month and a peak month.
Check what triggers a charge
Ask how handoffs, repeat messages, reopened conversations, and unanswered questions count. Compare billable outcomes, not only the price beside them.
Include the required tier
A lower entry price helps only if it covers your channels, reporting, routing, and retention. Request a quote for the configuration you will actually use.
Budget for the move
Allow for rebuilding flows, checking AI answers, training agents, and overlapping subscriptions. Keep these one-time costs separate from the monthly bill.
What about a 10-person team?
Ten Text Essential users cost $190 per month with annual billing, before extra AI usage. There is no useful Tidio equivalent based on seat count alone: enter human conversations, Lyro conversations, and Flows visitors in its calculator. Include your required features in both quotes.
About this comparison
Sylwia Kocur, Content Marketing Specialist at Text. Sylwia writes about Text’s products and updates. Before becoming a Content Marketing Specialist, she worked as a Product Expert.
Who publishes this guide
The company behind Text and LiveChat publishes this guide and has a commercial interest in Text, which appears first. Text is a separate product from legacy LiveChat. The other tools are grouped by use case, not ranked by score.
What we compared
Vendors’ published pricing, product documentation, and help-center articles, covering live chat, ticketing, AI, knowledge, integrations, reporting, and plan requirements. Seat, usage, and add-on charges are listed separately.
What the evidence supports
This is a documentation review, not a hands-on benchmark. Where we couldn’t verify a feature, we say so instead of marking it as missing.
Prices and updates
Product information and prices were checked on the date shown at the top of this guide. Plans change, so confirm the current package before you buy and test your own workflow in a trial.
Spotted an outdated price or product detail? Let us know
Common questions
What is the best Tidio alternative?
Choose by the job you need to improve: Text by LiveChat for conversations tied to sales, Crisp for workspace pricing, tawk.to for free human chat, Chatwoot for a self-hosted option, Gorgias for ecommerce operations, Intercom for in-app support, Freshdesk for ticketing, or Help Scout for shared-inbox service.
Compare all eight toolsWhat is the best free alternative to Tidio?
For a team that answers chats itself, start with tawk.to. Crisp offers a free two-agent plan. Chatwoot Hacker offers two agents and 500 monthly website-chat conversations, with 30-day retention. Free chat plans do not necessarily include the AI, channels, or reporting of paid plans.
See the free live chat optionIs there an open-source Tidio alternative?
Chatwoot offers a self-hosted Community Edition. Check its feature scope separately from Chatwoot Cloud. You still need to provide infrastructure, updates, backups, and someone responsible for operating it.
Compare ChatwootWhich Tidio alternative should a Shopify store consider?
Shortlist Text by LiveChat for product conversations and chat-attributed sales, and Gorgias for order-focused support operations. Test product questions, order lookup, returns, and human handoff with your own store. Installing a widget alone does not prove that every order action is supported.
Review the ecommerce optionCan I replace Tidio on WordPress or WooCommerce?
Check both widget installation and the store connection. Text documents WordPress widget setup and sales tracking for WooCommerce. Test page performance, consent behavior, customer identity, and order attribution in your own installation before replacing Tidio.
Read Text WordPress setup ↗Does a Tidio alternative cost less?
Sometimes. Free human chat may cover a simple use case, while workspace or per-user plans may suit another team. Compare the full workload and feature tier, including AI and automation. A low entry price is not evidence of a lower total bill.
Compare billing modelsAre Tidio’s free Lyro conversations renewed every month?
The initial allocation of 50 Lyro conversations is one-off. Tidio says a paid Lyro package is needed for a renewing monthly allowance. Keep this separate from the human-conversation and Flows allowances in your comparison.
Is Text by LiveChat the same as LiveChat?
Text is a separate product from the company behind LiveChat, HelpDesk, and ChatBot. This guide evaluates Text. Legacy LiveChat pricing, features, and customer results should not be treated as Text’s.
Review Text by LiveChatCan I move my Tidio history and chatbots automatically?
Confirm the destination’s supported import formats first. Text documents API-based ticket import, but this review does not establish an automatic Tidio transcript or Flows migration. Test a sample export and rebuild the automation you need before switching.
When should I stay with Tidio?
Stay if your existing chat, Lyro answers, and Flows meet your needs at a cost you accept. Change tools when a pilot demonstrates a specific gain in your workflow, total cost, or ability to measure sales from conversations.
Compare against your current setupAre the features on this page included in my LiveChat plan?
No, your LiveChat plan stays the same. The features and capabilities on this page are part of Text and are available under Text pricing plans. They are not included in LiveChat plans, including legacy LiveChat subscriptions. Availability, limits, and pricing depend on your Text plan. If you’re on a LiveChat plan and want these features, you can move to Text.
