Customer Support Software
Chatwoot
Open-source Intercom alternative — free self-hosted option plus a cloud-hosted plan with a real free tier.
Solo / FreelancerSmall businessMedium businessGlobal
Last reviewed Jul 17, 2026 · Pricing verified Jul 17, 2026
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DEV-TOP · horizontalOur take
Best for teams wanting an open-source alternative to Intercom — either genuinely free via self-hosting, or a real (not trial-limited) free cloud tier — the tradeoff is a smaller polish level and ecosystem than the incumbents it's positioned against.
Choose this if...
- Cost-conscious teams and open-source-friendly organizations wanting an Intercom-style tool
- Teams that want the option to self-host for full data control at zero license cost
Look elsewhere if...
- You need the most polished, enterprise-proven UI — Chatwoot is capable but younger than Intercom/Zendesk
- You want a fully managed vendor with a large third-party integration marketplace
Visit Chatwoot
We don't earn anything from this link — we list it because it's good.
Pricing
Verified Jul 17, 2026 against Chatwoot's own pricing page.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Key limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hacker (Free) | Free | Free | Up to 2 agents, 500 conversations/month, 30-day data retention; live chat channel only, private notes, @mentions, labels; 15-day trial of paid features included |
| Startups | — | 19 USD/yr | Per agent, billed annually; unlimited conversations (fair-use policy), 1-year data retention; all channels (email, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, SMS, Telegram, Line), help center, 300 Captain AI credits/mo |
| Business | — | 39 USD/yr | Per agent, billed annually; marked "Most popular"; 2-year data retention; adds voice channel, teams, automation rules, custom attributes, campaigns, 500 Captain AI credits/mo |
| Enterprise | — | 99 USD/yr | Per agent, billed annually; 3-year data retention; adds SSO/SAML, audit logs, agent capacity management, 800 Captain AI credits/mo, dedicated account manager for 20+ agents |
Free tier reality
Hacker plan is free forever for up to 2 agents with 500 conversations/month and 30-day data retention — real limits, not just a trial. Paid tiers (Startups/Business/Enterprise) show only the annual-billed per-agent rate on the live pricing page; no separate month-to-month price was found. Captain AI credits beyond each plan's included allotment cost $20 per 1,000 credits. Chatwoot is also open-source and offers a self-hosted Community Edition with different (fully free) economics not captured by this cloud-hosted pricing.
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DEV-MID · rectanglePros
- Free forever cloud tier with real limits (2 agents, 500 conversations/month), not a trial
- Open-source self-hosted option gives full data control and zero license cost for technical teams
- Omnichannel messaging (WhatsApp, Instagram, SMS, Telegram) included from the entry paid tier
Cons
- Only the annual-billed per-agent rate is published for paid cloud tiers — no confirmed month-to-month price
- Self-hosting requires real engineering effort to deploy and maintain
- Smaller integration marketplace and market presence than Intercom or Zendesk
Key features
- Live chat widget plus omnichannel inbox (WhatsApp, Instagram, SMS, Telegram)
- Open-source, self-hostable Community Edition
- Captain AI for automated response suggestions
- Automation rules and custom attributes
- Voice channel support (Business+)
Integrations
- VERIFY
Platforms
- web
- ios
- android
Regional fit
Cloud-hosted plans available globally; self-hosted open-source edition can be deployed in any region an organization chooses.
- Global
Best for
Alternatives
Zendesk
Pick this instead if: Mid-size and enterprise support teams that need omnichannel routing, AI agents, and deep customization
Freshdesk
Pick this instead if: Small-to-mid support teams wanting Zendesk-like ticketing at a lower starting price
Help Scout
Pick this instead if: Small teams and startups that want a shared-inbox feel over formal ticketing
Zoho Desk
Pick this instead if: Existing Zoho One / Zoho CRM customers wanting native helpdesk integration
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DEV-BOTTOM · horizontalWas this review of Chatwoot helpful?
Chatwoot FAQ
Questions about this tool
Is Chatwoot free?
Yes, there's a free tier. Hacker plan is free forever for up to 2 agents with 500 conversations/month and 30-day data retention — real limits, not just a trial. Paid tiers (Startups/Business/Enterprise) show only the annual-billed per-agent rate on the live pricing page; no separate month-to-month price was found. Captain AI credits beyond each plan's included allotment cost $20 per 1,000 credits. Chatwoot is also open-source and offers a self-hosted Community Edition with different (fully free) economics not captured by this cloud-hosted pricing.
How much does Chatwoot cost?
Free. We verify pricing directly against Chatwoot's own pricing page — see the pricing table above for the full breakdown of plans, and check the verified date before making a decision, since software pricing changes often.
Who is Chatwoot best for?
Cost-conscious teams and open-source-friendly organizations wanting an Intercom-style tool Teams that want the option to self-host for full data control at zero license cost
Who should avoid Chatwoot?
You need the most polished, enterprise-proven UI — Chatwoot is capable but younger than Intercom/Zendesk You want a fully managed vendor with a large third-party integration marketplace
Does Chatwoot work well outside the US?
Cloud-hosted plans available globally; self-hosted open-source edition can be deployed in any region an organization chooses.
What are the best alternatives to Chatwoot?
Worth comparing: Zendesk, Freshdesk, Help Scout, Zoho Desk. See the Alternatives section above for why you might pick one of these instead.