Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Tidio · 🛟 customer support
Tidio vs Live Helper Chat
A battle-tested live-chat desk with routing, transcripts and canned replies; the interface has seen some things. Here is how Live Helper Chat ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Tidio ($29/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Live Helper Chat
$0.00/mo · Apache-2.0
Tidio vs Live Helper Chat Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-11
| Dimension | Tidio (Paid) | Live Helper Chat (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $29 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $348 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $348) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $1,740 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,740) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $3,480 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $3,480) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source Apache-2.0 |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Self-host (your server) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hostedself-host, real ops |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 2.2k (active aug 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Tidio to Live Helper Chat
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
Its interface and automation feel older and less polished than Tidio's small-team chat desk.
How to deploy Live Helper Chat
Upload the release archive to a PHP web server and run the browser installer, or deploy its Docker image
What it takes to run
A PHP 8.2+/MySQL web host, a pre-created database and correct filesystem permissions
Where your data lives
Chats and settings in MySQL/MariaDB, with uploads and media in writable server-side storage directories
Why fork Live Helper Chat instead of vibe-coding a Tidio clone?
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.
Tidio vs Live Helper Chat FAQ
Is Live Helper Chat a good free alternative to Tidio?+
Yes. Live Helper Chat is a verified open-source (Apache-2.0) replacement for Tidio. A battle-tested live-chat desk with routing, transcripts and canned replies; the interface has seen some things.
What is the catch when switching from Tidio to Live Helper Chat?+
Its interface and automation feel older and less polished than Tidio's small-team chat desk.
How much do you save switching from Tidio to Live Helper Chat?+
Tidio costs $29/mo ($348/yr) per seat, whereas Live Helper Chat is $0/mo. Switching saves $348/yr for a solo user, $1,740/yr for a 5-person team, and $3,480/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Live Helper Chat instead of Tidio?+
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
