Live chat software can be a game-changer for small business websites, providing instant customer support to increase conversions and reduce cart abandonment. With more than 67% of online shoppers abandoning their carts before checkout, having a reliable live chat solution can make a big difference. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best live chat software to help you interact with customers effectively.
Why Your Business Needs Live Chat Support
According to eConsultancy, 73% of customers who use live chat are satisfied with their experience—much higher than with email or phone support. Live chat enables immediate responses, making it a valuable tool for improving sales and conversions. However, the software you choose plays a big role. A slow, hard-to-use chat solution can hurt your brand and frustrate customers. A great live chat solution, on the other hand, can streamline support, enhance customer satisfaction, and ultimately help grow your business.
Here’s our top list of live chat software that integrates well with WordPress and various website platforms:
1. LiveChat
LiveChat is one of the leading options in live chat software, known for its user-friendly setup and extensive feature set. The LiveChat plugin for WordPress makes installation simple. It offers sleek, customizable chat apps that work on laptops, tablets, and mobile devices, allowing your team to engage with customers anytime, anywhere. Features include pre- and post-chat surveys, ticketing for offline queries, and integrations with tools like HubSpot, Google Analytics, and popular email services. The platform’s quick loading time ensures a smooth experience for customers, and its proactive chat invitations allow you to reach out to customers before they request help.
- Pricing: Plans start at $20/agent/month (billed annually) with a 14-day free trial
2. HubSpot
HubSpot combines live chat, CRM, and chatbot features in one powerful marketing platform. You can customize the chat design and use chatbots for customer support outside business hours. The chat seamlessly integrates with HubSpot’s CRM, automating lead and customer data entry. The platform also includes marketing automation, opt-in forms, and email tools, making it ideal for businesses that need a multi-functional solution.
- Pricing: Free for basic chatbots; paid plans start at $20/month for additional features.
3. Tidio
Tidio is a fast-growing live chat and chatbot solution with an easy setup and customizable chat design. The app enables real-time visitor tracking and live typing preview, allowing for quicker responses. Tidio offers a mobile app for chatting on the go and includes over 35 chatbot templates to handle tasks like customer support, lead generation, and abandoned cart recovery.
- Pricing: Free plan with limited chats; paid plans start at $29/month.
4. ChatBot
ChatBot enables businesses to provide 24/7 support through AI-powered chatbots. With a drag-and-drop interface, users can easily build custom bots without needing technical skills. ChatBot includes templates for various industries, making it ideal for small businesses wanting to automate sales and support tasks. Integration with LiveChat is also available for when customers need to speak to a human.
- Pricing: Starting at $52/month (billed annually) with a 14-day free trial.
5. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)
Brevo is a beginner-friendly live chat solution that seamlessly integrates with marketing automation tools, CRM, and email marketing. The platform’s real-time chat, combined with automation options, helps turn website visitors into paying customers. It also includes SMS marketing and retargeting tools, making it a strong choice for businesses looking to expand their customer engagement channels.
- Pricing: Free for one user; Pro plans start at $15/month/user.
6. Olark
Olark provides a straightforward live chat experience with options for automation and message routing to streamline support. Its features include automatic greetings, canned responses, and screen-sharing capabilities through add-ons. Olark integrates well with Salesforce, Google Analytics, and Zoom, among others, and offers third-party mobile apps for chatting on the go.
- Pricing: Starting at $29/agent/month with a 2-week free trial.
7. Chaport
Chaport offers a free live chat plan ideal for small businesses. Its simple design includes unlimited chats for one operator and a mobile app for on-the-go support. Chaport can also integrate with social platforms like Facebook, Telegram, and Viber, bringing all customer communications to one dashboard. Paid plans unlock additional features, such as chat analytics and autoresponders.
- Pricing: Free for basic chat; Premium plans start at $29/month (billed annually) for four operators.
8. Freshdesk Messaging
Freshdesk Messaging, formerly Freshchat, provides live chat and AI-powered bots for customer service and support. Its drag-and-drop bot builder lets you design custom bots that answer frequently asked questions and collect visitor information. The platform’s central workspace organizes all customer communications for faster, more efficient support.
- Pricing: Free for up to 10 agents; paid plans start at $19/agent/month (billed annually).
9. Smartsupp
Smartsupp is an affordable chat tool with unique features like user session recordings, allowing you to analyze what leads customers to reach out. The platform collects conversation history and user information to enhance the customer experience. Smartsupp integrates with popular platforms such as WordPress, Magento, and Shopify, making it a good choice for eCommerce websites.
- Pricing: Basic plan is free; paid plans start at $19.50/month for three agents with a 14-day trial.
Which Live Chat Software Should You Choose?
For small businesses, LiveChat is our top recommendation due to its rich features and user-friendly experience. For those seeking an all-in-one solution with CRM integration, HubSpot is a great option. If you need a dedicated chatbot solution, ChatBot is a strong contender.
FAQs
What is live chat software?
Live chat software enables real-time communication with customers on your website, helping answer their questions and facilitating purchases.
Which live chat software is best?
Our top picks include LiveChat for its versatility, HubSpot for all-in-one capabilities, and ChatBot for advanced AI features.
What is the best free live chat software?
For very small businesses, WhatsApp can serve as a simple chat solution, though LiveChat and HubSpot offer more advanced free options as well.
What are the benefits of live chat software?
Live chat enhances customer satisfaction, reduces cart abandonment, and can improve sales conversions by offering immediate support.
We hope this guide helps you select the best live chat software for your business! For more small business resources, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
