Tawk.to vs Crisp: Which Free Live Chat Tool Should You Use?
A practical comparison of Tawk.to and Crisp for small teams choosing a live chat and helpdesk widget — pricing, features, and who each tool actually fits.
Updated 2026-09 · 2026
Tawk.to
Free live chat with unlimited agents and chats, forever
Strengths
- +Core product is 100% free with unlimited agents, chats, and history
- +No seat limits — good for teams that grow fast without budget
- +Mobile apps for iOS/Android are solid for support-on-the-go
Weaknesses
- -Branding ('Powered by tawk.to') only removable via paid add-on ($19/agent/month)
- -UI feels dated compared to modern chat widgets
- -Automation and bots are more limited than competitors
Best for
Bootstrapped teams and solo founders who need unlimited free live chat and don't mind basic branding or UI tradeoffs.
Crisp
Modern customer messaging platform with chat, email, and chatbots
Strengths
- +Clean, modern widget UI that feels more 'product-native'
- +Built-in chatbot builder (Crisp Chatbot / MagicReply) on paid plans
- +Shared inbox unifies email, chat, and social messages
Weaknesses
- -Free plan caps out at 2 seats — small teams hit limits fast
- -Pro plan ($25/month) is priced per workspace, not per agent, which can feel restrictive at scale
- -Advanced automation and chatbot features gated behind Unlimited plan ($95/month)
Best for
Small teams that want a polished, modern chat + inbox experience and are willing to pay a modest monthly fee as they grow.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan agent limit | Unlimited | 2 seats |
| Remove vendor branding | Paid add-on ($19/agent/mo) | Included on Pro plan |
| Chatbot / automation | Basic triggers only | Visual chatbot builder (paid plans) |
| Shared team inbox | Basic | Yes, unified across channels |
| Email inbox integration | No | Yes (Crisp Inbox) |
| Knowledge base | Paid add-on ($19/mo) | Included on Pro plan |
| Mobile apps | Yes (iOS/Android) | Yes (iOS/Android) |
| Video/voice/screen share | Paid add-on ($29/agent/mo) | Screen share on paid plans |
| Native e-commerce integrations | Limited | Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento |
| API & webhooks | Yes | Yes, more extensive |
| Pricing model | Free core + per-agent add-ons | Per workspace tiers |
The Verdict
Tawk.to wins on pure cost — unlimited free chat with no seat cap is hard to beat for cash-strapped teams. Crisp wins on experience and workflow — the shared inbox, chatbot builder, and integrations make it worth $25/month once you have more than two agents or need email + chat in one place. Pick Tawk if budget is the only constraint; pick Crisp if you want a tool that scales with your support process.
How to switch from Tawk.to to Crisp
- 1Export your existing chat transcripts from tawk.to via Dashboard > Administration > Chat History, downloading CSV files by date range so you retain a record of past conversations.
- 2Sign up for Crisp and choose a plan based on your team size — Free for 1-2 agents, Pro ($25/month) for shared inbox and chatbot features.
- 3Install the Crisp widget on your website by replacing the tawk.to script tag with the Crisp JavaScript snippet in your site header or via the WordPress/Shopify plugin.
- 4Recreate your saved replies, triggers, and office hours settings manually in Crisp since there's no automated import from tawk.to's settings.
- 5Reconnect any integrations (Slack, Zapier, e-commerce platforms) using Crisp's native integrations or API, testing each workflow before fully cutting over.
- 6Run both tools in parallel for 1-2 weeks, routing new chats to Crisp while keeping tawk.to live read-only for historical reference, then remove the tawk.to script once your team confirms Crisp is stable.
Tawk.to vs Crisp: common questions
How do I export my chat history from tawk.to before switching to Crisp?+
Tawk.to lets you export chat transcripts from the Dashboard under Administration > Chat History, downloadable as CSV per date range. There's no bulk one-click export for all historical data, so for large volumes you may need to pull transcripts in batches or use the tawk.to REST API to script the export. Crisp does not have a native tawk.to importer, so this data is mainly for your records, not automated migration.
What features do I lose moving from tawk.to to Crisp on the free plan?+
You'll lose unlimited agents — Crisp's free plan caps you at 2 seats, so any team larger than that needs the $25/month Pro plan. You'll also lose free video/voice add-ons and the free knowledge base, since Crisp bundles those into paid tiers instead of selling them as cheap add-ons.
Is Crisp's free plan enough for a small support team?+
Only if you have 1-2 agents and don't need chatbots or a shared email inbox — those require the Pro plan at $25/month. For a team of 3+ or anyone wanting automation, budget for Pro from day one rather than starting on the free tier and hitting a wall.
Does Crisp integrate with the same tools as tawk.to?+
Crisp has broader native integrations, including Shopify, WordPress, Slack, and Zapier, plus a more complete REST API. Tawk.to integrates with fewer platforms out of the box, so if you rely on Zapier workflows or e-commerce triggers, Crisp is generally easier to connect without custom code.
Will switching from tawk.to to Crisp cost more over time?+
Yes, almost certainly — tawk.to's core chat stays free forever, while Crisp charges $25/month once you need more than 2 seats or basic automation, and $95/month for the Unlimited tier with advanced chatbots. Budget $300-$1,140/year on Crisp versus $0-$228/year on tawk.to if you only need a couple of paid add-ons like branding removal.
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