Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to LiveChat · 🛟 customer support
LiveChat vs HubSpot Free Help Desk
A hosted shared inbox, live chat, and ticket queue for two users; the knowledge base lives upstairs. Here is how HubSpot Free Help Desk ($0/mo free) stacks up against LiveChat ($25/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
HubSpot Free Help Desk
$0.00/mo · proprietary, free
LiveChat vs HubSpot Free Help Desk Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-11
| Dimension | LiveChat (Paid) | HubSpot Free Help Desk (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $25 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $300 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $300) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $1,500 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,500) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $3,000 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $3,000) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | free proprietary, free |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Hosted (their cloud) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | mobilewebthey host it |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ $0 forever |
Deep Dive: Switching from LiveChat to HubSpot Free Help Desk
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
The free plan is capped at two users and lacks LiveChat's mature routing, staffing and chat-reporting depth.
How to deploy HubSpot Free Help Desk
Hosted signup, then connect a team inbox/email and add the website tracking or chat-widget code
What it takes to run
Connecting and verifying the shared email inbox and website domain
Where your data lives
CRM records, tickets and conversation history in HubSpot's cloud; records export to spreadsheet files and conversations are available through its API
Why fork HubSpot Free Help Desk instead of vibe-coding a LiveChat clone?
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.
LiveChat vs HubSpot Free Help Desk FAQ
Is HubSpot Free Help Desk a good free alternative to LiveChat?+
Yes. HubSpot Free Help Desk is a verified free replacement for LiveChat. A hosted shared inbox, live chat, and ticket queue for two users; the knowledge base lives upstairs.
What is the catch when switching from LiveChat to HubSpot Free Help Desk?+
The free plan is capped at two users and lacks LiveChat's mature routing, staffing and chat-reporting depth.
How much do you save switching from LiveChat to HubSpot Free Help Desk?+
LiveChat costs $25/mo ($300/yr) per seat, whereas HubSpot Free Help Desk is $0/mo. Switching saves $300/yr for a solo user, $1,500/yr for a 5-person team, and $3,000/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host HubSpot Free Help Desk instead of LiveChat?+
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
