What is the best free live chat software?

There are lots of advancements going on with the technology going wild. Everybody is curious about what’s next in today’s digital-first world. Customer expectations have changed tremendously. Today, people no longer want to wait in line for an email response. They expect immediate answers, good services, and seamless interactions. This is the reason that live chat software has become one of the dominant factors for businesses in 2025. LiveChat is an artificial intelligence customer support program that includes chatbot, online chat, help desk software, and web analytics features.

The figures speak for themselves: by 2029, the worldwide live chat software industry is expected to reach $2.06 billion with a compound annual growth rate of more than 11%.  Adoption rates are also remarkable: 85% of B2B businesses already use live chat for sales; 74% of B2C companies use it to increase customer engagement.

Here is the main concern: Do you have to pay for live chat to fully appreciate its advantages? The reply is no. Many providers today provide software for free live chat with strong features that are suitable for startups, small businesses, or those trying to test drive before committing.

Key Highlights

Discover the best free live chat tools Compare features, pros, and cons easily Learn why live chat matters in 2025 Explore key trends shaping live chat software Step-by-step guide to setting up live chat Find top free options for every business

Why do businesses need live chat in 2025?

Modern chatbots go beyond automated replies; they actively engage visitors, answer questions instantly, and guide users through key actions. These intelligent assistants help businesses save time while providing consistent support.

Live chat is not only a simple chatbox; it is a conversion-driving tool that builds customer loyalty and more. Here are the reasons that show why it matters:

Immediate Help Equals Happy Clients

According to PwC research, consumers will turn to rival companies if the service offered falls short. Live chat allows companies to offer real-time answers, hence preventing abandonment and frustration.

Enhance Revenue and Conversions

Studies show up to a 48% rise in income per chat hour and a 40% increase in conversions brought about by live chat. For service-driven companies and e-commerce, that’s enormous.

Customer preference

Data indicates that the most popular customer service channel is live chat, with 41% of clients favoring it above email or social media.

Free live chat software trends

With the technological landscape evolving rapidly, live chat is becoming a much more effective tool. Here are the top trends shaping free live chat software tools in 2025:

Chatbots driven by artificial intelligence

Basic artificial intelligence chatbots are included in even free programs nowadays to automatically answer FAQs, give greetings, or qualify leads. This lets companies concentrate on difficult problems and save time.

Multichannel Integration

Ensuring constant customer experiences everywhere, modern live chat solutions link to mobile apps, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger as well as to websites.

Everyone should have analytic capabilities

Free software is no longer merely fundamental. Real-time statistics on chat volume, agent performance, and customer satisfaction are already included in many tools.

Scalability Without Price

Foreverfree plans help SMEs and startups since they remove licensing costs and simplify scaling.

Compliance and privacy

Built-in encryption allows tools to become more and more GDPR-compliant even at the free level.

How to choose the best Free Live chat software?

Choosing a live chat software for the business can be quite hectic as there are more than 100 live chat software that feature different purposes. So, before choosing the best application for the business integration, some things need to be considered, such as:

• Features versus Limits: Is automation, integrations, or customizability included in the free version? Or are those behind pay levels locked?
• Scalability: Some free plans limit consumers or discussions (e.g., 50 per month) or agents (e.g., 1–3). Will this impede your growth?
• Integration: Look for software that is compatible with all your CRM, MS, and marketing tools.
• Security reasons: The software should be essential for the regulated handling of sensitive data and information.

Features to have in a Free live chat

These are some of the features to have in a free live chat:

• Customize the widget to match your brand’s hues, logo, and messaging for a flawless user experience.
• Access earlier talks to acquire context and examine contacts; this can be quite helpful for grasping consumer needs over time.
• Connect with key systems like CRM, e-commerce sites (including Shopify and WooCommerce), and social media to simplify your processes.
• Prewritten responses guarantee consistent communication with your agents and save them time by solving often asked questions.
• With easy chatbots and automation, automate routine queries and offer help even outside of operational times.
• Display your availability or conceal the chat widget when your team is offline to properly manage customer expectations and show your operational hours.
• For a consistent experience for all your users, make sure the chat widget functions perfectly on both desktop and mobile devices.

Some of the Best Free live chat software in 2025

Here are some of the free live chat tools to consider in 2025:

1. Chatboq

• Pros: Omnichannel capability -integrates multiple channels (web chat, WhatsApp, Messenger) with context; useful for a consistent customer experience.
• Cons: Complex queries- situations requiring deep domain knowledge.
• Best For: Sales-driven mid-to-large companies.

2. Chatboq AI

• Pros: 24/7 support potential – with AI features handling common queries, live agents available for escalation.
• Cons: Poor training data or low volume of varied inputs can degrade performance.
• Best For: Companies of modest size.

3. Tidio: Best for AI chatbots and eCommerce

• Pros: Multichannel inbox, Shopify/WordPress integration, Lyro agent powered by artificial intelligence.
• Cons: The Free plan only allows for 50 chats per month.
• Best for: Online retailers looking for automation and scalability.

4. Best CRM integration: HubSpot Chat

• Pros: Free plan available, chatbot creator, smooth CRM integration.
• Cons: Subtle notifications can cause missed chats.
• Best for: Companies that are already using HubSpot CRM.

5. Best for Help Desk plus Chat: LiveAgent

• Pros: One CRM, ticketing, and chat; multilingual support.
• Cons: Account deletion following 8 weeks of inactivity.
• Best for: Companies of modest size.

6. Best for client context insights is Freshchat

• Pros: Strong integrations, 10-agent free plan, visitor schedules.
• Cons: Complicated user interface, synchronization problems.
• Best for: Teams looking for a thorough customer context.

7. For sales-oriented teams, Zoho SalesIQ is ideal

• Pros: Includes multilingual chat, voice notes, and screen sharing.
• Cons: Occasionally, UI defects.
• Best for: Sales-driven mid-to-large companies.

8. Best for analytics, Olark

• Pros: CRM/email integrations; advanced analytics.
• Cons: The Dashboard is outdated.
• Best for: Companies prioritizing performance monitoring.

9. Tawk.to: Best 100% Free Option

• Pros: Unlimited agents, infinite chats, and  45+ languages are advantages.
• Cons: Restricted statistics.
• Best for: Budget-limited small businesses and startups.

10. ClickDesk is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses needing tickets

For medium-sized companies, ClickDesk is a great choice since it combines live chat with a ticketing system and statistics.

• Pros: Advanced analytics dashboards, audio calling, location-based insights, chat transcripts.
• Cons: Some reviewers observe real-time notifications lag and find the use difficult.
• Best for: SMEs looking for one for both chat and ticketing capabilities.

11. Jivo Chat: Top multichannel business communicator

Live chat, phone, email, and social messaging are combined into one panel with JivoChat.

• Pros: Hotkeys and canned answers, desktop and mobile apps in more than twenty languages.
• Cons: Few automations; sluggish customer service reaction.
• Best for: Companies handling several channels and requiring a unified inbox.

12. Chatra is ideal for small businesses looking for simplicity

Real-time interactions with an easy-to-use interface are at the center of Chatra.

• Pros: SSL encryption, email/Instagram/Facebook integration, “agent typing,” message read notifications.
• Cons: The free plan has a limit of 5 chats per month; no sophisticated automation is offered.
• Best for: Businesses of modest size that value basic features and clean design.

13. Best for NoFrills, Unlimited Use: My LiveChat

In its free plan, my live chat provides unlimited use and a basic design.

• Pros: Include chats, websites, infinite agents, cobrowsing (agents witness what consumers see), and automated greetings.
• Cons: Antiquated design; lacks sophisticated automation.
• Best for: Small to medium-sized companies seeking a simple, reliable chat solution without caps.

14. Ideal for E-commerce with Video Recordings: Smartsupp

With visitor session recordings, Smartupp goes beyond text chat to enable online store owners to examine customer journeys.

• Pros: Video recordings, multichannel (chat, email, Messenger), ecommerce integrations; Shopify, PrestaShop, WooCommerce.
• Cons: Includes intermittent message delivery lags and poor offline mode.
• Best for: E-commerce businesses seeking thorough customer behavior analysis.

Benefits of Using Free Live Chat Software

For companies, live chat software has several advantages affecting customer service, sales, and general operational efficiency. Among the main benefits are:

1. Greater Customer Happiness

Live chat offers immediate, real-time help that lets clients get their queries addressed quickly without having to be put on hold, via email or phone call. This quick help satisfies client demands and has great potential to increase loyalty and happiness.

2. Sales improvement

Live chat can lead prospective buyers through the purchasing process, address any concerns they may have, and answer product inquiries by providing on-the-spot assistance, hence improving sales and conversions. This proactive approach could raise the average order value as well as result in higher conversion rates.

3. Cost Efficiency

Live chat sometimes saves more money than telephone support. Agents can manage a larger volume of inquiries with fewer staff members and boost their productivity by handling several conversations at once, hence helping companies to run more efficiently.

4. Canned response

Live chat solutions include features such as canned responses, prewritten answers to frequently asked questions, and the capacity to manage many chats simultaneously. Once, which streamlines workflows and enables agents to handle problems more effectively.

5. Data and insights

Chat logs offer a great source of information on client pain areas, frequently asked questions, and comments. Improving goods, services, and general corporate strategy can all benefit from this knowledge.

6. 24/7 Availability

Utilizing chatbots and automation, live chat can provide around-the-clock assistance, answering simple questions even when human agents are not working. This guarantees that those with after-hours queries or those in many time zones can still get support.

7. Cart abandonment

Live chat can be a potent weapon for e-commerce companies to stop shopping cart abandonment. Giving support during checkout helps you address last-minute issues and motivate consumers to finish their orders.

Step-by-Step process to set up Live chat

If you follow a clear procedure, setting up live chat for lead generating is simple:

1. Pick the right platform

Choose a program that fits your objectives. Proactive chat, prechat forms, chatbots, CRM integration, and mobile support are among the must-have components.

2. Personalize the widget

Align the chat style with your brand; greetings, tone, and colors should feel consistent. Position the widget where interaction is most probable, that is, on pricing, checkout, or demo request pages.

3. Establish triggers and canned responses

Design proactive messages drawn from behavior (e.g., staying on the pricing page). To lower response times and keep dialogues going, get ready canned answers for frequently asked questions.

4. Integrate with CRM/marketing solutions

Connect your chat system with Salesforce, HubSpot, or an email automation tool. This guarantees that captured leads are smoothly stored, tracked, and cultivated.

5. Add chatbots and train agents

Give your team product knowledge and chat etiquette. Capture leads off-hours and direct questions effectively using chatbots.

6. Launch and refine

Go live, keep an eye on KPIs such as conversion rates and response time, and constantly improve triggers or scripts.

Customizing the live chat for Brand experience

Customize line colors, include your logo, and use your company’s font to help your chat widget reflect your brand’s personality.

Custom welcome greetings that may be adjusted depending on the user’s location or hour of day add a more personal touch.

PreChat Forms: Gather fundamental data like a user’s name and email address before the chat even starts to make the engagement more effective.

Humanize the discussion and create trust by presenting agent avatars or images instead of only a generic icon.

Offer multilingual chat choices to reach a worldwide audience and guarantee your business can successfully interact with consumers all around.

Which free live chat software is best?

For companies wanting to incorporate live chat free of charge, several fantastic free choices stand out; each meets unique demands.

Best for Startups

The most interesting aspect of it is that it has an unlimited number of chats, agents, and chat history without any cost. This means that for frugal startups and small firms, it becomes a very effective tool. Providing optional paid services like hiring a live chat agent from their network or deleting their branding helps Tawk.to create revenue and guarantees that the basic features stay free forever.

HubSpot Chat

This is the best option for businesses seeking to grow. HubSpot’s free CRM seamlessly incorporates live chat, so every conversation is automatically recorded and connected to a contact’s history. This lets agents have complete knowledge of a customer’s past interactions, a capability that becomes very important as a company expands. For sales and marketing teams looking to nurture leads and offer customized service, it’s the perfect answer.

Best for E-commerce

Online retailers need Tidio. It does well with its e-commerce-specific tools, including AI-powered chatbots that can handle product inquiries, provide delivery updates, and assist with order tracking. Its great integration with major systems like Shopify and WooCommerce enables it to automate frequent questions and even retrieve abandoned carts, hence transforming it into a strong tool for increasing customer experience and driving sales.

Best for Enterprise Trials

For bigger companies thinking about a premium solution, Zendesk Messaging or LiveChat are the go-to choices. Their free trials offer a chance to test sophisticated, enterprise-grade capabilities, including multichannel support, advanced AI routing, and analytics, even if they are short-lived. These tests are very helpful in determining if the large investment is justified by the high-end functionality.

Conclusion

In today’s digital landscape, live chat has become a non-negotiable tool for businesses seeking to meet evolving customer expectations. The good news is that you don’t need a huge budget to leverage its benefits. As the market continues to grow, so does the sophistication of free live chat software. Each of the top contenders is Tawk.to, HubSpot Chat, Tidio, and the enterprise trial options offer a unique value proposition.

You can choose a free live chat tool that not only enhances customer service but also becomes a powerful driver of growth and loyalty for your business in 2025.