Customer Support Software
Crisp
European live-chat-and-inbox platform with a genuinely free forever plan and an AI-first paid tier.
Solo / FreelancerSmall businessMedium businessGlobalEurope
Last reviewed Jul 17, 2026 · Pricing verified Jul 17, 2026
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DEV-TOP · horizontalOur take
Best for small teams and agencies that want a genuinely free, forever-usable chat/inbox plan with room to grow into omnichannel messaging — the AI credit system adds a metered cost layer worth understanding before scaling usage.
Choose this if...
- Small teams and agencies wanting free live chat with a real (not trial) free tier
- European businesses wanting a vendor based in the EU for data-residency comfort
Look elsewhere if...
- You need a published annual-billing discount rate before signing up — Crisp only reveals it after you subscribe monthly
- Your team exceeds ~20 agents and needs seat pricing without an Enterprise custom quote
Visit Crisp
This is a direct link to Crisp— we don't currently earn anything from it.
Pricing
Verified Jul 17, 2026 against Crisp's own pricing page.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Key limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free | 2 agent seats, 100 customer profiles; website chat widget, shared inbox, mobile/desktop apps, e-commerce integrations |
| Mini | 45 USD/mo | — | 4 agent seats included ($10/mo per additional seat), 5,000 customer profiles, ~$5 AI credits (~90 automated conversations); shared email inbox, custom email domain, unlimited data retention |
| Essentials | 95 USD/mo | — | 10 agent seats, 50,000 customer profiles, ~$25 AI credits (~450 conversations); omnichannel inbox (WhatsApp, Instagram, SMS, Line, Viber), workflow automation, knowledge base |
| Plus | 295 USD/mo | — | 20+ agent seats, 200,000 customer profiles, ~$75 AI credits (~1,350 conversations); marked "Best value"; unlimited task automations, ticketing, 100+ integrations, white labelling |
| Enterprise | — | — | Custom pricing; dedicated onboarding, personalized SLA, custom features, team training |
Free tier reality
Free plan genuinely includes 2 agent seats and 100 customer profiles at $0/mo forever, with the live chat widget and shared inbox — a real usable starting point, not a stripped trial. Paid plans (Mini/Essentials/Plus) show only monthly pricing on the live page; Crisp confirms yearly billing is available as an in-app toggle after signup but does not publish the discounted annual rate on the pricing page itself. VAT is not included and is applied based on business status/location.
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DEV-MID · rectanglePros
- Free plan is genuinely usable, not a crippled trial
- Omnichannel messaging (WhatsApp, Instagram, SMS) included from the mid Essentials tier
- AI credit model lets light users pay less than a flat per-seat AI tax
Cons
- Annual billing discount isn't published — only available after subscribing and toggling in-app
- AI credits are a metered cost on top of the base plan that scales with usage
- Smaller brand recognition in North America compared to Intercom or Zendesk
Key features
- Live chat widget with unlimited data retention on paid plans
- Shared email inbox alongside chat
- Omnichannel messaging (WhatsApp, Instagram, SMS, Line, Viber)
- AI credits for automated conversation handling
- Ticketing and workflow automation (Essentials+)
Integrations
- VERIFY
Platforms
- web
- ios
- android
Regional fit
France-based (Nantes) with a genuinely global customer base; VAT applied based on business status and location for EU customers.
- Global
- Europe
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 Crisp helpful?
Crisp FAQ
Questions about this tool
Is Crisp free?
Yes, there's a free tier. Free plan genuinely includes 2 agent seats and 100 customer profiles at $0/mo forever, with the live chat widget and shared inbox — a real usable starting point, not a stripped trial. Paid plans (Mini/Essentials/Plus) show only monthly pricing on the live page; Crisp confirms yearly billing is available as an in-app toggle after signup but does not publish the discounted annual rate on the pricing page itself. VAT is not included and is applied based on business status/location.
How much does Crisp cost?
Free. We verify pricing directly against Crisp'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 Crisp best for?
Small teams and agencies wanting free live chat with a real (not trial) free tier European businesses wanting a vendor based in the EU for data-residency comfort
Who should avoid Crisp?
You need a published annual-billing discount rate before signing up — Crisp only reveals it after you subscribe monthly Your team exceeds ~20 agents and needs seat pricing without an Enterprise custom quote
Does Crisp work well outside the US?
France-based (Nantes) with a genuinely global customer base; VAT applied based on business status and location for EU customers.
What are the best alternatives to Crisp?
Worth comparing: Zendesk, Freshdesk, Help Scout, Zoho Desk. See the Alternatives section above for why you might pick one of these instead.