Many businesses rely on live chat software to boost customer engagement and improve support. LiveChat is a popular choice, but as some users have discovered, it might not always deliver the results you expect. For instance, a recent review from a business owner highlighted some key issues: the AI often gave inaccurate or irrelevant answers, and the platform was on the pricier side. Despite extensive interactions with the support team, the business ultimately decided to switch to another helpdesk, seeking better AI capabilities and more value for money.
If you’re searching for reliable LiveChat alternatives to enhance your customer service software or looking for a cost-effective live chat solution with smarter AI, this guide will help you find the best options for your business in 2025. Whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise, choosing the right live chat software can transform your customer interactions—and save you money.
Common reason you might be looking for LiveChat alternatives
Disappointed with LiveChat AI
One of the users said they’ve been using LiveChat since January 2024, but they’re disappointed because the AI often gives wrong or irrelevant answers, and with the high price, it’s not really worth it. They’ve tried working with LiveChat’s team, but didn’t see much improvement, so they switched to Intercom this week.
We signed up with LiveChat in January 2024 and had hoped to use it for multiple years. However, we found the AI lacking, often delivering wrong or irrelevant answers to our customers, and it’s also quite a pricey product. We had a lot of interactions with their team over the year, but ultimately felt the product was not improving, and we have this week moved our business to Intercom.
More expensive and slow support
One of the users on G2 said that LiveChat is relatively more expensive than its competitors. They mentioned that sometimes there’s a lag in receiving chat messages, which causes unnecessary problems. They also noted that support takes a while to respond and resolve reported issues.
It is relatively expensive than its competitors. Sometimes there is a lag in receiving chat messages which can cause unnecessary problems. Support takes time to respond and resolve the problem which we notify.
Clunky mobile experience
One user mentioned that LiveChat can be expensive for smaller teams. They also pointed out that some advanced features are only available in the higher-tier plans. Additionally, the mobile app experience can feel a bit clunky at times.
LiveChat can be expensive for smaller teams. Some advanced features are locked behind higher-tier plans. The mobile app experience can be a bit clunky at times.
7 best LiveChat alternatives for businesses in 2025
- Desk365
- HelpCrunch
- Olark
- Tidio
- Zendesk
- Intercom
- Drift
1. Desk365
Desk365 is an AI-driven helpdesk ticketing system that offers a top alternative to LiveChat. It enables businesses to enhance customer interactions and optimize the ticket resolution process.
It offers powerful features such as AI-powered ticket responses, unified inbox, automation, omnichannel support, and in-depth reporting and analytics. Desk365 integrates well with other tools like Microsoft Teams and provides a customizable experience for agents and customers alike.Â
Key features
1. AI-powered ticket responses
Desk365 enhances agent efficiency by utilizing AI to generate quick, contextual replies. These AI-powered responses are based on historical ticket data and knowledge base articles, allowing agents to respond faster and with more accuracy. This significantly reduces the time spent on routine inquiries.Â
2. Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
Desk365 ensures timely resolution of tickets by monitoring SLAs. It provides periodic reminders to agents about upcoming due dates and alerts them when SLA infractions occur, helping teams stay on track and avoid delays.Â
3. Unified inbox
Desk365 consolidates all customer support requests from various channels into a single, easy-to-use inbox. This feature allows agents to collaborate efficiently and manage requests without toggling between different communication platforms.Â
4. Automations
Desk365 offers a wide range of automation tools to improve productivity. For example, automation macros can be triggered when a ticket is created or updated, ensuring that routine tasks are handled automatically based on predefined conditions (such as ticket properties or customer events).Â
5. Real-time alerts and notifications
Instant notifications keep agents informed of updates to tickets. Whether it’s a new reply, a status change, or other activities, Desk365 ensures agents are aware of important developments in real-time, preventing them from missing critical updates.Â
6. Round-robin ticket assignment
To ensure a balanced workload, Desk365 includes a round-robin ticket assignment feature. This automatically distributes tickets to agents in a balanced way, improving response times and preventing any one agent from becoming overwhelmed.Â
7. Knowledge base
Desk365 makes it easy to create and share knowledge base articles with your team and customers. The knowledge base can serve as a training tool for agents, and selected solution articles can be made public on the customer support portal, allowing customers to find answers on their own.Â
8. Custom ticket views and reports
Desk365 offers customizable ticket views and detailed analytics that allow you to monitor your team’s performance. You can track metrics like ticket resolution time, agent performance, and customer satisfaction, helping you to make data-driven decisions to improve your support process.Â
9. Omnichannel support
Desk365 integrates with multiple channels, making it easy for customers to reach you through the medium they prefer. Channels include:Â
- Microsoft Teams: Customers can create tickets, check statuses, and respond to agents all within Teams.Â
- Email: Incoming emails are converted into tickets, and agents can respond directly from the platform.Â
- Web widget: A customizable widget that can be embedded on your website for easy ticket creation.Â
- Web form: A configurable iframe form that can also be added to your website for seamless ticket creation.Â
10. Customization options
Desk365 allows extensive customization to suit the specific needs of your business. You can tailor:Â
- Agent roles and permissions for different levels of access.Â
- Ticket forms with custom fields and workflows to align with your processes.Â
- Support portal appearance to match your branding.Â
- Email settings and secondary email configurations for different departments (e.g., sales, marketing).Â
11. Mobile accessibility
Desk365 ensures that your team can stay productive even on the go. The platform offers mobile apps for both agents and customers, allowing users to manage tickets, respond to requests, and monitor performance from their mobile devices.Â
12. Powerful analytics
Desk365 includes powerful reporting tools that provide actionable insights into your support operations:Â
- Custom reports: Tailor reports to analyze any specific data related to your team’s performance, ticket trends, or customer satisfaction.Â
- Agent performance reports: Evaluate individual agent metrics like response times and ticket resolution rates.Â
- Ticket trends report: Visualize trends across different ticket fields to identify recurring issues or bottlenecks.Â
Pricing:
Lowest Paid Plan: $12/agent/month
Highest Paid Plan: $20/agent/month
Free trial available.
2. HelpCrunch
HelpCrunch is an all-in-one customer communication platform designed to enhance customer support, sales, and engagement. It combines live chat, email marketing, helpdesk, and automation into a single tool aimed at improving customer experience and boosting business efficiency.
Key features of HelpCrunch
- Multi-channel support
- Advanced ticketing system
- Automation and workflows
- Customizable interfaces
- Reporting and analytics
- Integrations with other business tools
- Knowledge base and self-service options
- Live chat capabilities
- AI and machine learning enhancements
Pricing
- Basic Plan: $15/month per team member (billed monthly)
- Pro Plan: $25/month per team member (billed monthly)
- Unlimited Plan: Â $620/month (billed monthly)
3. Olark
Olark is a live chat software designed to facilitate real-time communication between businesses and their website visitors. It aims to enhance customer support, increase sales, and improve user engagement through a simple, accessible interface. Olark is particularly suitable for small to medium-sized businesses seeking an intuitive and customizable live chat solution.
Key features of Olark
- Customizable chatbox
- Advanced reporting
- Agent groups
- Targeted chat
- Basic integrations
- Comprehensive security
- Email and chat support
Pricing
- Olark Plan: $29 per agent per month
- Pro Olark Plan: Quote based on your needs
4.Tidio
Tidio is an AI-powered customer service platform that combines live chat, chatbots, helpdesk ticketing, and email marketing into a unified interface. It’s designed to enhance customer engagement, streamline support operations, and boost sales for small to medium-sized businesses.
Key features of Tidio
- Live chat
- Lyro AI chatbot
- Automation flows
- Canned responses
- Visitor tracking
- Multichannel support
- Analytics & reporting
- Helpdesk ticketing
Pricing
- Starter Plan: $29/month
- Growth Plan: $59/month
- Plus Plan: $749/month
5. Zendesk
Zendesk, often compared with ServiceNow, is a powerful customer service software that caters to businesses looking for a robust, scalable solution to manage their customer interactions. Known for its flexibility and comprehensive set of features, Zendesk allows companies to build better customer relationships through streamlined communication and improved support services.Â
Recommended Reading – Â Best Zendesk Alternatives in 2025
Key features of Zendesk
- Multi-channel support
- Advanced ticketing system
- Automation and workflows
- Customizable interfaces
- Reporting and analytics
- Integrations with other business tools
- Knowledge base and self-service options
- Live chat capabilities
- AI and machine learning enhancements
- Security and compliance measures
Pricing
- Suite Team: $55/agent/monthÂ
- Suite Growth: $89/agent/monthÂ
- Suite Professional: $115/month/ user
Read More – Zendesk Pricing: Does it offer value for money?
6. IntercomÂ
Intercom is a customer communication platform designed to help businesses engage with their customers more effectively. It provides a suite of tools that support real-time, personalized communication and service, aimed primarily at improving user engagement, support, and conversion.
Intercom features
- Live chatÂ
- Bots and automationÂ
- In-app messagingÂ
- Customizable chat widgetsÂ
- Helpdesk and ticketingÂ
- Knowledge baseÂ
- Customer feedbackÂ
- Email campaignsÂ
- Reporting and analyticsÂ
- Integrations with other tools
Pricing
- Essential: $39/monthÂ
- Advanced: $99/monthÂ
- Expert: $139/monthÂ
7. LiveAgent
LiveAgent is a versatile customer support software that provides a comprehensive suite of tools for businesses to manage customer interactions across multiple channels.
It offers features such as ticketing, live chat, call center integration, and a knowledge base, all within a single platform. LiveAgent’s real-time chat and ticketing system enable support teams to respond quickly and efficiently to customer inquiries, while its robust reporting and analytics tools help track performance and identify areas for improvement.
Additionally, LiveAgent offers customization options and integration with various third-party applications, making it a flexible solution for businesses looking to enhance their customer support and engagement strategies.
LiveAgent features
- Ticket management
- Live chat
- Real-time visitor monitoring
- Video chat
- Multi-channel support (email, social media, voice)
- Knowledge base
- Customer portal
- Automation and rules
- SLA management
- Reporting and analytics
Pricing
Free: Forever free plan
Ticket: $15/agent/month
Ticket + Chat: $29/agent/month
All-Inclusive: $39/agent/month
Which LiveChat alternative is best for you?
If you’re seeking a robust alternative to LiveChat, Desk365 emerges as a compelling choice, especially for teams operating within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
1. Seamless Microsoft 365 integration
Desk365 integrates directly with Microsoft Teams, allowing agents to manage tickets, respond to queries, and collaborate without leaving the Teams environment. This integration streamlines workflows and enhances productivity.
2. AI-powered automation
Leverage AI features such as automated ticket summarization, knowledge base article generation, and intelligent response suggestions. These tools help reduce manual workload and accelerate response times.
3. Customizable workflows
Tailor the helpdesk to your organization’s needs with customizable ticket forms, fields, agent roles, and workflows. This flexibility ensures that Desk365 aligns with your specific support processes.
4. Comprehensive reporting and analytics
Monitor team performance with detailed reports and dashboards. Track metrics like response times, ticket resolution rates, and customer satisfaction to make informed decisions.
5. Cost-effective pricing
Starting at $12 per user per month, Desk365 offers a budget-friendly solution without compromising on features. This makes it an attractive option for small to mid-sized businesses.