Tidio tidio.comFree alternatives to Tidio
Tidio costs $29/mo on the Starter plan, or $348 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 give up Tidio's hosted simplicity and take responsibility for Chatwoot's server, upgrades, backups and email delivery.
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 two-user free inbox is CRM-first and less streamlined for website-chat support than Tidio.
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: Its interface and automation feel older and less polished than Tidio's small-team chat desk.
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 retains tawk.to branding and its canned-reply and automation experience is less refined than Tidio's.
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 and less proven, with a much smaller integration ecosystem than Tidio.
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: The one-app-free rule and broad Odoo shell are less direct than Tidio's purpose-built chat and inbox.
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: The two-user ceiling and CRM-oriented workflow make it a narrower replacement than Tidio.
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 Tidio
- hosted chat network, bots, AI agent, email, analytics, and ecommerce integrations
- omnichannel integrations
- large-scale deliverability
- AI resolution tuning
- enterprise routing and compliance
People still pay for Tidio 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 Tidio?
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 Tidio cost?
$29/mo on the Starter plan (monthly), which is $348 a year. Prices checked Aug 12, 2026.
What do you give up with a free alternative to Tidio?
Most often: hosted chat network, bots, AI agent, email, analytics, and ecommerce integrations, 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 Tidio?
Half-bot. The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For Tidio, run website chat, canned replies, and a simple support inbox. The hard boundary is hosted chat network, bots, ai agent, email, analytics, and ecommerce integrations, plus channel integrations and support operations.
Prices change; confirm on the vendor's site before you decide.
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