Our take, in brief
Look at Text for chat, ticketing and AI in one subscription; tawk.to for a free starting point; and Zendesk for a more structured, multi-channel service operation. No affiliate relationship with Text is active in this version.
Compare at a glance
| Option & fit | Price snapshot | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Text / LiveChatWebsite chat with shared inbox and ticketing | Essential: $19/user/mo annually; $25 monthly | AI allowances are limited; Essential history is 60 days. |
| tawk.toA free entry point for live website chat | Core platform advertised as free | Free software does not supply staff to answer customers. |
| ZendeskMore structured multi-channel support | Check current Suite pricing and add-ons | Implementation effort and layered costs can be excessive for a tiny team. |
USD unless noted. Annual prices are monthly equivalents paid upfront; products have different scopes. On a small screen, scroll the table sideways.
A closer look at your options
Shown by use case, not ranked by score. No star ratings or performance tests.
Text / LiveChat
LiveChat.com now presents Text plans for new trials; existing LiveChat customers keep their current plan and price. Essential includes 10 AI resolutions per month, while Growth includes 200 and is $79/user/month annually or $99 monthly. Extra AI resolutions are sold separately. Three Essential seats cost $684 for a year at the published annual rate, before taxes and extras.
Chat, tickets and an AI Agent in the current Text plans.
AI allowances are limited; Essential history is 60 days.
Official sources: Text plans on LiveChat.com
Ordinary vendor link · No active affiliate relationship.
tawk.to
tawk.to offers a website widget plus a dashboard for customer conversations and contact records. It is worth considering before paying for a low-volume chat channel. Confirm pricing for any optional services, AI usage and branding changes you want rather than assuming every service is free.
Live chat, inbox, ticketing and a knowledge base.
Free software does not supply staff to answer customers.
Official sources: tawk.to platform features
Ordinary vendor link · No affiliate tracking added by SmartBizGear.
Zendesk
Zendesk is a broader service platform with integrations, reporting and automation. Ask for a quote showing agent seats, channels, AI usage and add-ons together. A solo shop that only needs occasional website chats should first compare a simpler product.
Ticketing, knowledge, messaging, voice and workflow tools.
Implementation effort and layered costs can be excessive for a tiny team.
Official sources: Zendesk customer service platform
Ordinary vendor link · No affiliate tracking added by SmartBizGear.
Do the seat and usage math together
Count everyone who needs to reply, not just people online at the same moment. Then estimate ticket volume, chat history needs, workflow limits and AI-resolved conversations. A low seat price is not the whole bill when automation is metered.
Give customers an honest response-time expectation
Publish chat hours, route unanswered messages to email and make it easy to reach a person. If you use an AI agent, start with approved answers to simple questions and check its responses before expanding. Never promise instant support that your team cannot deliver.
Privacy belongs in the selection process
Support conversations can include addresses, order details and other sensitive information. Review the vendor’s data processing agreement, retention controls, access permissions and AI data-use terms. Avoid asking customers for passwords or payment-card details in chat.
Sources & research notes
Official vendor pages checked November 10, 2026. Prices and features are snapshots, not live quotes. Confirm location, currency, billing term, taxes, fees and eligibility with the provider.
No paid test accounts were used. We have not independently verified vendor performance claims. Our method →