- Pricing
- Free plan, paid from $0/mo
- Free options
- Free trial · Free version
- Deployment
- Android, Cloud / SaaS, iOS, On-premise
- Popular with
- Agencies and marketing, Retail and ecommerce
About Chatwoot
Chatwoot is an open-source customer support platform that unifies live chat, email, social channels and messaging apps in one inbox. Because the Community Edition is free and self-hostable, it appeals to teams that want control over data and infrastructure.
Besides the free self-hosted option, a managed cloud service and enterprise features are available. Expect to invest engineering time if you self-host, but in return you avoid per-agent licensing for the community version.
If you self-host, budget for hosting, upgrades, backups and security as well as the initial install. Many teams find the cloud edition easier, while keeping the option to move to self-hosting later because the software is open source. Compare these running costs with per-agent pricing at your team size.
At a glance, Chatwoot offers Live chat, Shared inbox, Multichannel messaging, Automation rules, Canned responses and more. It is best suited to technical teams that want an open-source, self-hosted support tool, and a weaker fit for teams without engineering support. Check the vendor site for current plans and pricing, as we have not listed prices for this product.
Popular with: Agencies and marketingRetail and ecommerceSoftware and IT
Features
- API access
- Canned responses
- Knowledge base
- Live chat
- Multichannel messaging
- Reporting and analytics
- Self-hosting
- Shared inbox
- Team collaboration
- Workflow automation
Integrations
Pricing
Hacker
Free self-hosted community edition
Startups
Billed annually
Business
Billed annually
Enterprise
Billed annually
Prices change often. Check the vendor for current pricing. How we evaluate software.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free self-hosted Community Edition
- Open source with active development
- Supports many channels in one inbox
- Full control over data when self-hosted
- Managed cloud option available
Cons
- Self-hosting needs technical resources
- Fewer built-in enterprise features than large suites
- Smaller ecosystem than established vendors
Frequently asked questions
Is Chatwoot free?
The self-hosted Community Edition is free.
Is Chatwoot open source?
Yes.
Can I use Chatwoot without hosting it?
A managed cloud offering is available.
What channels does it support?
Website chat, email, social channels and messaging apps.
What are the best alternatives to Chatwoot?
Popular alternatives covered on PreferWise include Zendesk, Freshdesk and Zoho Desk. Which fits best depends on team size, channels and budget, so compare them side by side before you decide.
Who should not use Chatwoot?
Teams without engineering support. If that describes you, compare Chatwoot with alternatives before committing.