LiveChat costs $25/mo.
These cost $0.
7 free alternatives to LiveChat, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
LiveChat vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $25/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatwoot | open source | MIT | Self-host | ★ 36k | LiveChat vs Chatwoot → |
| Zammad | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Self-host | ★ 5.8k | LiveChat vs Zammad → |
| LibreDesk | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Self-host | ★ 2.7k | LiveChat vs LibreDesk → |
| Live Helper Chat | open source | Apache-2.0 | Self-host | ★ 2.2k | LiveChat vs Live Helper Chat → |
| tawk.to | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | LiveChat vs tawk.to → |
| Odoo Helpdesk One App Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | LiveChat vs Odoo Helpdesk One App Free → |
| HubSpot Free Help Desk | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | LiveChat vs HubSpot Free Help Desk → |
The picks
4 open source · 3 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 LiveChatYou trade LiveChat's managed uptime, upgrades and deliverability for operating a multi-service server yourself.
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
Zammad
open sourceAGPL-3.0Self-host5.8kaug 2026A serious ticket desk with email, chat, SLAs and a knowledge base; setup is the first ticket.
The catch vs LiveChatZammad is a heavyweight ticket suite, so website chat is less focused and much harder to operate than LiveChat.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Deploy the Docker Compose/Portainer stack or install supported Linux packages
- setup
- A comparatively large server and familiarity with Docker/Portainer, PostgreSQL and Elasticsearch
- your data
- Ticket and user data in PostgreSQL, search indexes in Elasticsearch, and attachments/backups in Docker volumes or server storage
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 03
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 LiveChatLibreDesk is much newer and less battle-tested, with a far smaller integration and support ecosystem than LiveChat.
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
- 04
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 LiveChatIts agent interface, reporting and integration catalog are markedly less polished than LiveChat's.
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
- 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 LiveChatThe free widget keeps tawk.to branding, and its routing and reporting are shallower than LiveChat's.
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 LiveChatThe one-app-free plan is not a clean live-chat replacement, and adding unrelated Odoo apps can end the free arrangement.
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 LiveChatThe free plan is capped at two users and lacks LiveChat's mature routing, staffing and chat-reporting depth.
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 · LiveChat open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to LiveChat?+
The top free alternative to LiveChat is Chatwoot (open source, MIT). A proper support inbox with chat, email and a help center; free software, billable server chores. Other popular LiveChat replacements include Zammad, LibreDesk, Live Helper Chat.
Can I self-host a free replacement for LiveChat?+
Yes. Of the 7 free alternatives to LiveChat, 4 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Chatwoot (MIT), Zammad (AGPL-3.0), LibreDesk (AGPL-3.0), Live Helper Chat (Apache-2.0).
How much does switching from LiveChat to a free alternative save?+
LiveChat starts at $25/month per seat ($300/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Chatwoot saves $1,500 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own LiveChat clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for LiveChat 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 LiveChat, provide reliable website chat with routing, transcripts, and canned replies. The hard boundary is global chat delivery, mobile apps, staffing tools, integrations, and support, plus channel integrations and support operations.
What is the catch when switching from LiveChat to Chatwoot?+
You trade LiveChat's managed uptime, upgrades and deliverability for operating a multi-service server yourself.
