Crisp crisp.chatFree alternatives to Crisp
Crisp costs $45/mo on the Mini plan, or $540 a year. Here are 7 free and open-source options, what each one does, and what you give up compared with paying.
01At a glance
| Alternative | Type | Where it runs | Works on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chatwoot | Open source | You host it | Web, iPhone, Android, Your server |
| HubSpot Free CRM | Free | Hosted for you | Web, iPhone, Android |
| Live Helper Chat | Open source | You host it | Web, Your server |
| tawk.to | Free | Hosted for you | Web, Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android |
| LibreDesk | Open source | You host it | Web, Your server |
| Odoo Helpdesk One App Free | Free | Hosted for you | Web |
| HubSpot Free Help Desk | Free | Hosted for you | Web, iPhone, Android |
02Each alternative, in detail
A proper support inbox with chat, email and a help center; free software, billable server chores.
Versus paying: You replace Crisp's managed service with Docker, upgrades, backups and channel-deliverability work.
Setup: Docker Compose on a Linux VM, followed by environment, database, reverse-proxy and TLS configuration
Watch for: Provisioning a Linux server and correctly wiring DNS/TLS, SMTP, PostgreSQL/Redis and storage
35,534 GitHub stars (checked Aug 6, 2026)
chatwoot.com →A two-seat shared inbox and live chat bolted to a CRM; free until the limits become colleagues.
Versus paying: The free inbox is limited to two users and feels CRM-first rather than like Crisp's compact omnichannel team inbox.
Setup: Hosted signup, then connect a team inbox/email and add the website tracking or chat-widget code
Watch for: Connecting and verifying the shared email inbox and website domain
hubspot.com →A battle-tested live-chat desk with routing, transcripts and canned replies; the interface has seen some things.
Versus paying: It covers chat well but has an older agent experience and a weaker shared-inbox and integration story than Crisp.
Setup: Upload the release archive to a PHP web server and run the browser installer, or deploy its Docker image
Watch for: A PHP 8.2+/MySQL web host, a pre-created database and correct filesystem permissions
2,236 GitHub stars (checked Aug 6, 2026)
livehelperchat.com →Live chat, tickets and a knowledge base for zero dollars; the little badge is how the arithmetic survives.
Versus paying: The free widget carries tawk.to branding and offers less flexible automation and inbox polish than Crisp.
Setup: Hosted signup, then paste the generated JavaScript widget or install a CMS plugin
Watch for: Access to edit the website or install its CMS plugin
tawk.to →A modern email-and-live-chat desk in one compact stack, because apparently that was allowed.
Versus paying: LibreDesk is newer, less proven and has far fewer integrations than Crisp.
Setup: Run Docker Compose with an edited config file, or launch the release binary against PostgreSQL
Watch for: Docker plus a correct config, encryption key, PostgreSQL/Redis and mail/channel credentials
2,682 GitHub stars (checked Aug 7, 2026)
libredesk.io →A real hosted ticket desk for unlimited users, as long as Helpdesk is your one free Odoo app.
Versus paying: Its one-app-free constraint makes expansion awkward, and the support experience is less focused than Crisp's.
Setup: Hosted Odoo Online signup with Helpdesk selected as the single free app
odoo.com →A hosted shared inbox, live chat, and ticket queue for two users; the knowledge base lives upstairs.
Versus paying: Two free users and paywalled knowledge-base and automation depth create a much tighter ceiling than Crisp.
Setup: Hosted signup, then connect a team inbox/email and add the website tracking or chat-widget code
Watch for: Connecting and verifying the shared email inbox and website domain
hubspot.com →03What you give up by leaving Crisp
- multi-channel inbox, chat delivery, knowledge base, campaigns, and workspace pricing
- omnichannel integrations
- large-scale deliverability
- AI resolution tuning
- enterprise routing and compliance
People still pay for Crisp because support software survives because missing or misrouting one customer message is expensive and every channel behaves differently. The recurring cost buys message delivery, webhooks, threading, identity, permissions, attachments, notifications, spam, search, uptime, and retention, not just the visible interface.
04Questions
Is there a free alternative to Crisp?
Yes. This page compares 7: Chatwoot, HubSpot Free CRM, Live Helper Chat, tawk.to, LibreDesk, Odoo Helpdesk One App Free and HubSpot Free Help Desk. 3 of them are open source, so you can run them yourself.
How much does Crisp cost?
$45/mo on the Mini plan (monthly per workspace), which is $540 a year. Prices checked Aug 12, 2026.
What do you give up with a free alternative to Crisp?
Most often: multi-channel inbox, chat delivery, knowledge base, campaigns, and workspace pricing, omnichannel integrations, large-scale deliverability and AI resolution tuning. Each alternative on this page lists its own gap under “Versus paying.”
Can AI build me my own version of Crisp?
Half-bot. The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For Crisp, combine website chat and a shared inbox for one small support team. The hard boundary is multi-channel inbox, chat delivery, knowledge base, campaigns, and workspace pricing, plus channel integrations and support operations.
Prices change; confirm on the vendor's site before you decide.
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