Crisp costs $45/mo.
These cost $0.
7 free alternatives to Crisp, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Crisp vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $45/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatwoot | open source | MIT | Self-host | ★ 36k | Crisp vs Chatwoot → |
| LibreDesk | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Self-host | ★ 2.7k | Crisp vs LibreDesk → |
| Live Helper Chat | open source | Apache-2.0 | Self-host | ★ 2.2k | Crisp vs Live Helper Chat → |
| HubSpot Free CRM | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Crisp vs HubSpot Free CRM → |
| tawk.to | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Crisp vs tawk.to → |
| Odoo Helpdesk One App Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Crisp vs Odoo Helpdesk One App Free → |
| HubSpot Free Help Desk | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Crisp vs HubSpot Free Help Desk → |
The picks
3 open source · 4 free to use · ranked by fit
- 01
Chatwoot
open sourceMITSelf-host36kaug 2026A proper support inbox with chat, email and a help center; free software, billable server chores.
The catch vs CrispYou replace Crisp's managed service with Docker, upgrades, backups and channel-deliverability work.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilewebself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Docker Compose on a Linux VM, followed by environment, database, reverse-proxy and TLS configuration
- setup
- Provisioning a Linux server and correctly wiring DNS/TLS, SMTP, PostgreSQL/Redis and storage
- your data
- Application data in PostgreSQL, queues/cache in Redis, and attachments on local disk or S3-compatible/cloud object storage
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 02
LibreDesk
open sourceAGPL-3.0Self-host2.7kaug 2026A modern email-and-live-chat desk in one compact stack, because apparently that was allowed.
The catch vs CrispLibreDesk is newer, less proven and has far fewer integrations than Crisp.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Run Docker Compose with an edited config file, or launch the release binary against PostgreSQL
- setup
- Docker plus a correct config, encryption key, PostgreSQL/Redis and mail/channel credentials
- your data
- Records in PostgreSQL, queues/cache in Redis, and uploads on the local filesystem or S3-compatible object storage
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 03
Live Helper Chat
open sourceApache-2.0Self-host2.2kaug 2026A battle-tested live-chat desk with routing, transcripts and canned replies; the interface has seen some things.
The catch vs CrispIt covers chat well but has an older agent experience and a weaker shared-inbox and integration story than Crisp.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Upload the release archive to a PHP web server and run the browser installer, or deploy its Docker image
- setup
- A PHP 8.2+/MySQL web host, a pre-created database and correct filesystem permissions
- your data
- Chats and settings in MySQL/MariaDB, with uploads and media in writable server-side storage directories
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 04
HubSpot Free CRM
freeproprietary, freeHostedA two-seat shared inbox and live chat bolted to a CRM; free until the limits become colleagues.
The catch vs CrispThe free inbox is limited to two users and feels CRM-first rather than like Crisp's compact omnichannel team inbox.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilewebthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup, then connect a team inbox/email and add the website tracking or chat-widget code
- setup
- Connecting and verifying the shared email inbox and website domain
- your data
- CRM contacts and conversation history in HubSpot's cloud; records export to spreadsheet files and conversations are available through its API
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 05
tawk.to
freeproprietary, freeHostedLive chat, tickets and a knowledge base for zero dollars; the little badge is how the arithmetic survives.
The catch vs CrispThe free widget carries tawk.to branding and offers less flexible automation and inbox polish than Crisp.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopmobilewebthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup, then paste the generated JavaScript widget or install a CMS plugin
- setup
- Access to edit the website or install its CMS plugin
- your data
- Chats, tickets and contacts in tawk.to's cloud account; chat and ticket exports are JSON
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 06
Odoo Helpdesk One App Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedA real hosted ticket desk for unlimited users, as long as Helpdesk is your one free Odoo app.
The catch vs CrispIts one-app-free constraint makes expansion awkward, and the support experience is less focused than Crisp's.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webthey host it
- install
- Hosted Odoo Online signup with Helpdesk selected as the single free app
- your data
- An Odoo Online PostgreSQL database in Odoo's cloud, with record exports and downloadable ZIP database backups
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 07
HubSpot Free Help Desk
freeproprietary, freeHostedA hosted shared inbox, live chat, and ticket queue for two users; the knowledge base lives upstairs.
The catch vs CrispTwo free users and paywalled knowledge-base and automation depth create a much tighter ceiling than Crisp.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilewebthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup, then connect a team inbox/email and add the website tracking or chat-widget code
- setup
- Connecting and verifying the shared email inbox and website domain
- your data
- CRM records, tickets and conversation history in HubSpot's cloud; records export to spreadsheet files and conversations are available through its API
- checked
- 2026-08-11
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Crisp open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Crisp?+
The top free alternative to Crisp is Chatwoot (open source, MIT). A proper support inbox with chat, email and a help center; free software, billable server chores. Other popular Crisp replacements include LibreDesk, Live Helper Chat, HubSpot Free CRM.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Crisp?+
Yes. Of the 7 free alternatives to Crisp, 3 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Chatwoot (MIT), LibreDesk (AGPL-3.0), Live Helper Chat (Apache-2.0).
How much does switching from Crisp to a free alternative save?+
Crisp starts at $45/month per seat ($540/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Chatwoot saves $2,700 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Crisp clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Crisp is KINDA (the core, yes. the polish, no). The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For Crisp, combine website chat and a shared inbox for one small support team. The hard boundary is multi-channel inbox, chat delivery, knowledge base, campaigns, and workspace pricing, plus channel integrations and support operations.
What is the catch when switching from Crisp to Chatwoot?+
You replace Crisp's managed service with Docker, upgrades, backups and channel-deliverability work.
