Tidio costs $29/mo.
These cost $0.
7 free alternatives to Tidio, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Tidio vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $29/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatwoot | open source | MIT | Self-host | ★ 36k | Tidio vs Chatwoot → |
| LibreDesk | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Self-host | ★ 2.7k | Tidio vs LibreDesk → |
| Live Helper Chat | open source | Apache-2.0 | Self-host | ★ 2.2k | Tidio vs Live Helper Chat → |
| HubSpot Free CRM | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Tidio vs HubSpot Free CRM → |
| tawk.to | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Tidio vs tawk.to → |
| Odoo Helpdesk One App Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Tidio vs Odoo Helpdesk One App Free → |
| HubSpot Free Help Desk | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Tidio 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 TidioYou give up Tidio's hosted simplicity and take responsibility for Chatwoot's server, upgrades, backups and email delivery.
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 TidioLibreDesk is newer and less proven, with a much smaller integration ecosystem than Tidio.
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 TidioIts interface and automation feel older and less polished than Tidio's small-team chat desk.
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 TidioThe two-user free inbox is CRM-first and less streamlined for website-chat support than Tidio.
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 TidioThe free widget retains tawk.to branding and its canned-reply and automation experience is less refined than Tidio'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 TidioThe one-app-free rule and broad Odoo shell are less direct than Tidio's purpose-built chat and inbox.
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 TidioThe two-user ceiling and CRM-oriented workflow make it a narrower replacement than Tidio.
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 · Tidio open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Tidio?+
The top free alternative to Tidio is Chatwoot (open source, MIT). A proper support inbox with chat, email and a help center; free software, billable server chores. Other popular Tidio replacements include LibreDesk, Live Helper Chat, HubSpot Free CRM.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Tidio?+
Yes. Of the 7 free alternatives to Tidio, 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 Tidio to a free alternative save?+
Tidio starts at $29/month per seat ($348/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Chatwoot saves $1,740 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Tidio clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Tidio 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 Tidio, run website chat, canned replies, and a simple support inbox. The hard boundary is hosted chat network, bots, ai agent, email, analytics, and ecommerce integrations, plus channel integrations and support operations.
What is the catch when switching from Tidio to Chatwoot?+
You give up Tidio's hosted simplicity and take responsibility for Chatwoot's server, upgrades, backups and email delivery.
