Olark alternatives
10 products compared · Updated October 15, 2026
The short answer
For teams wanting an open-source, self-hosted platform with multi-channel inboxes, Chatwoot is the strongest alternative to Olark. Ecommerce brands on Shopify should consider Gorgias or Tidio for AI-driven chat and helpdesk features. Larger support teams needing a complete helpdesk with ticketing and AI automation might prefer Intercom or Zendesk Chat.
Your shortlist, at a glance
Read the comparisons ↓
Intercom$0.99/outcome + seatsGrowing support teams that need a complete helpdesk with AI resolution and advanced workflows beyond live chat.
Zendesk ChatFrom $19/agent/moSupport teams that need a unified platform for chat, ticketing, and AI automation across multiple channels.- DDriftCustom quoteB2B revenue teams that need AI chat agents to capture buyer signals and trigger seller actions inside Salesloft's Predictive Revenue System.
- LLiveChatFrom $19/user/moEcommerce teams and small businesses that want live chat with AI, cart monitoring, and sales tracking in one tool.
TidioFrom $24.17/moEcommerce teams on Shopify, WordPress, or Wix that want AI-driven chat plus a full helpdesk and multichannel inbox in one tool.
CrispSee websiteThe AI Customer Support Platform for Every Business- CChatwootFrom $0/agent/moTeams that want an open-source, self-hosted support platform with multi-channel inboxes and AI assistance.
- GGorgiasCustom quoteEcommerce brands, especially those on Shopify, that need a helpdesk with AI automation and ticketing.
- HHelp ScoutNot publishedSupport teams that want a shared inbox across channels with AI assistance and built-in reporting.
Pure Chat$49/mo or $99/moSmall businesses and solo operators who want an easy-to-install live chat widget with mobile apps and canned responses, without needing AI automation.
About Olark and its alternatives
Olark is a live chat software known for its AI agent that answers questions, qualifies visitors, and hands off to humans. It offers flat pricing with one human agent seat included, and integrates with tools like HubSpot and Salesforce.
When comparing alternatives, weigh pricing structure (flat vs. per-agent vs. usage-based), channel coverage (live chat only vs. omnichannel), data residency (cloud vs. self-hosted), and contract terms (monthly vs. annual, free trials). Consider whether you need a simple chat widget or a full helpdesk with ticketing and automation.
Explore the alternatives
- $0.99/outcome + seats
1.Intercom
Best for: Growing support teams that need a complete helpdesk with AI resolution and advanced workflows beyond live chat.
- Pricing
- $0.99/outcome + seats
- Category
- Customer Support
Intercom is a full helpdesk platform with an integrated AI agent, Fin, that handles support across channels and scales with large teams. Choose it over Olark when you need ticketing, automation, and multibrand support in one system, not just live chat.
Where it is strong
- Native AI agent (Fin) resolves conversations and hands off to humans
- Omnichannel inbox with ticketing and workflow automation
- Free Lite seats on higher tiers for internal collaboration
Where it falls short
- Usage-based pricing can be unpredictable for high-volume support
- Full feature set may be overkill for simple live chat needs
- Pricing:
- Pricing is usage-based: Fin costs $0.99 per outcome, with seat prices varying by plan (Essential, Advanced, Expert).
- Switching from Olark:
- Moving from Olark involves migrating chat transcripts and setting up Fin's outcomes, which may require reconfiguring your support workflows.
- From $19/agent/mo
2.Zendesk Chat
Best for: Support teams that need a unified platform for chat, ticketing, and AI automation across multiple channels.
- Pricing
- From $19/agent/mo
- Category
- Customer Support
Zendesk Chat is a full customer service platform with AI agents, ticketing, voice, and analytics. Choose it over Olark when you need a complete support suite that scales beyond live chat, especially for larger teams or enterprises.
Where it is strong
- Includes AI agents that can resolve issues end-to-end
- Omnichannel support with chat, email, voice, and messaging
- 1,800+ integrations and marketplace apps
Where it falls short
- Higher cost per agent compared to Olark's flat pricing
- May be more complex to set up than Olark's simple chat widget
- Pricing:
- Pricing starts at $19 per agent per month (paid yearly) for Support Team, and $55 per agent per month for Suite Team.
- Switching from Olark:
- Moving from Olark involves migrating chat transcripts and setting up Zendesk's ticketing and routing rules, which may take more time than Olark's quick setup.
- DCustom quote
3.Drift
Best for: B2B revenue teams that need AI chat agents to capture buyer signals and trigger seller actions inside Salesloft's Predictive Revenue System.
- Pricing
- Custom quote
- Category
- Marketing & Sales
Drift is now part of Salesloft and focuses on B2B sales and marketing teams that want AI chat agents to capture buyer intent and route it into a sales workflow. You'd choose it over Olark if your priority is turning website visitors into qualified pipeline for your sales team, not general customer support.
Where it is strong
- AI chat agents use CRM data and past conversations to personalize every interaction.
- Chat activity feeds directly into Salesloft's Rhythm workflows, so sellers act on buyer signals fast.
- Trusted by revenue leaders, with G2 and Forrester recognition for sales engagement.
Where it falls short
- Pricing is not transparent. You must book a call to get a quote.
- The product is now under Salesloft, so it's tied to their broader sales platform rather than a standalone chat tool.
- Pricing:
- Pricing is not published on the site. You book a call to get a tailored walkthrough.
- Switching from Olark:
- Moving from Olark to Drift means replacing a general live chat tool with a sales-focused AI agent that requires Salesloft to get the full benefit, so you'd need to migrate your chat history and retrain the agent on your sales process.
- LFrom $19/user/mo
4.LiveChat
Best for: Ecommerce teams and small businesses that want live chat with AI, cart monitoring, and sales tracking in one tool.
- Pricing
- From $19/user/mo
- Category
- Customer Support
LiveChat is a live chat and AI agent platform that helps you see who is on your site, engage visitors, and track sales from chats. Choose it over Olark if you want deeper ecommerce integrations like Shopify cart previews and order status automation, plus a built-in ticketing system.
Where it is strong
- Live cart preview and order status automation for ecommerce
- AI agent can answer questions and hand off to humans
- Integrates with Shopify, WhatsApp, Messenger, and WordPress
Where it falls short
- Growth plan is significantly more expensive than Essential
- Enterprise features require a custom quote
- Pricing:
- Pricing starts at $19 per user per month billed annually, with Growth at $79 per user per month and Enterprise custom.
- Switching from Olark:
- Moving from Olark involves setting up LiveChat's widget and reconnecting your chat integrations, but your existing workflows and team can be recreated in the new tool.
- From $24.17/mo
5.Tidio
Best for: Ecommerce teams on Shopify, WordPress, or Wix that want AI-driven chat plus a full helpdesk and multichannel inbox in one tool.
- Pricing
- From $24.17/mo
- Category
- Customer Support
Tidio combines live chat, a helpdesk, and an AI agent (Lyro) that can resolve conversations and take actions like order updates. You'd choose it over Olark if you want a broader platform with multichannel inboxes (Instagram, WhatsApp, etc.) and built-in sales attribution, not just chat.
Where it is strong
- AI agent resolves 75% of conversations on average, with data-backed answers from your content.
- Multichannel inbox covers live chat, email, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp in one place.
- Visual automation builder with 40+ ecommerce templates, no code needed.
Where it falls short
- AI and Flows are add-ons with separate usage-based pricing, so costs can climb.
- Pricing is conversation-based, so high chat volume may require a custom plan.
- Pricing:
- Paid plans start at $24.17/mo (billed annually) or $29/mo monthly, with a free plan forever. Lyro AI Agent starts at $32.50/mo for 50 conversations, and Flows start at $2,000 visitors reached.
- Switching from Olark:
- Moving from Olark means reconfiguring your chat widget and setting up Lyro and Flows from scratch, since Tidio's automation and AI are configured separately from the live chat.
- See website
6.Crisp
Customer Support
Crisp is a lightweight live chat and shared inbox tool with AI features aimed at small teams and startups. It offers good value and multi-channel messaging but does not match Olark's accessibility certification or higher-education focus. Pricing is lower and simpler. Startups seeking basic shared inboxes may choose Crisp, while organizations needing proven inclusive design and lead-capture AI often select Olark instead.
- CFrom $0/agent/mo
7.Chatwoot
Best for: Teams that want an open-source, self-hosted support platform with multi-channel inboxes and AI assistance.
- Pricing
- From $0/agent/mo
- Category
- Customer Support
Chatwoot is an open-source customer support platform that brings live chat, email, WhatsApp, and social channels into one inbox. Choose it over Olark if you want full control over hosting and data, or if you need a broader set of channels beyond just live chat.
Where it is strong
- Open source with self-hosting option for full data control
- Unified inbox for live chat, email, WhatsApp, and social
- Captain AI offers reply suggestions, summarization, and translation
Where it falls short
- AI features require separate credits beyond the base plan
- Cloud hosting is US-only, which may not suit all data residency needs
- Pricing:
- Pricing starts at $0/agent/month for up to 2 agents, then $19/agent/month for Startups, $39/agent/month for Business, and $99/agent/month for Enterprise. Captain AI credits cost $20 per 1,000.
- Switching from Olark:
- Moving from Olark involves setting up Chatwoot's widget and importing your chat history via API, but there's no one-click migration tool mentioned.
- GCustom quote
8.Gorgias
Best for: Ecommerce brands, especially those on Shopify, that need a helpdesk with AI automation and ticketing.
- Pricing
- Custom quote
- Category
- Customer Support
Gorgias is a helpdesk built specifically for ecommerce, with AI automation and ticketing in one platform. Choose it over Olark if you run an online store and want to automate routine customer service conversations while keeping everything in one inbox.
Where it is strong
- Built for ecommerce, integrates with Shopify and other store platforms.
- AI Agent is on every plan and you only pay when it resolves a conversation.
- Helpdesk scales from 50 to 5,000 tickets a month, never priced per agent.
Where it falls short
- Pricing is not transparent. Requires a demo to get a quote.
- Voice and SMS are add-ons with separate pricing, not included in the base plan.
- Pricing:
- Pricing is not published on the site. You need to book a demo.
- Switching from Olark:
- Moving from Olark means migrating your chat transcripts and setting up Gorgias's helpdesk and AI automation, which may require reconfiguring your workflows.
- HNot published
9.Help Scout
Best for: Support teams that want a shared inbox across channels with AI assistance and built-in reporting.
- Pricing
- Not published
- Category
- Customer Support
Help Scout is a full support platform that brings email, chat, SMS, and social into one inbox, with AI that drafts replies and resolves common questions. Choose it over Olark when you need a complete help desk with shared inbox, knowledge base, and reporting, not just live chat.
Where it is strong
- Unified inbox for email, chat, SMS, and social
- AI drafts and AI Answers reduce response time
- Free plan includes 5 users and 1 inbox
Where it falls short
- Live chat is a feature, not the core focus
- Advanced features like SSO and HIPAA are only on Pro
- Pricing:
- Pricing is not published on the site. Plans start with a Free tier and paid plans are available, but exact numbers are not listed.
- Switching from Olark:
- Moving from Olark means setting up a new inbox and migrating chat transcripts, but Help Scout offers a shared workspace that can replace Olark's chat-only approach.
- $49/mo or $99/mo
10.Pure Chat
Best for: Small businesses and solo operators who want an easy-to-install live chat widget with mobile apps and canned responses, without needing AI automation.
- Pricing
- $49/mo or $99/mo
- Category
- Customer Support
Pure Chat is straightforward live chat software for websites. You add a code snippet and start chatting in minutes. Choose it over Olark if you want a simple, low-cost chat tool without AI features and are fine with a more basic setup.
Where it is strong
- 30-day free trial on the PRO plan
- Unlimited chats and websites on both paid plans
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android to manage chats on the go
Where it falls short
- No AI agent or chatbot features like Olark's
- SMS notification limits are low (100 or 1,000 per month)
- Pricing:
- Growth plan is $49/month (or $39/month paid annually) for 4 users and 100 SMS notifications. PRO is $99/month (or $79/month annually) for 10 users and 1,000 SMS notifications. Additional users cost $15/month each (or $13/month annually) on Growth, $10/month (o
- Switching from Olark:
- Moving from Olark means giving up AI-driven visitor qualification and proactive engagement, but you can keep your existing chat widget code and adjust it in Pure Chat's editor.
See more comparisons in Customer Support alternatives.
FAQ
Questions about Olark alternatives
What is the best Olark alternative for a small business on a budget?
Pure Chat is a low-cost, simple live chat tool with plans starting at $39/month annually. Chatwoot offers a free plan for up to 2 agents, making it a budget-friendly option if you're open to open-source.
Which alternative is best for ecommerce stores?
Gorgias is built specifically for ecommerce, with AI automation and ticketing, and integrates with Shopify. Tidio also offers AI-driven chat and a helpdesk with multichannel inboxes, making it a strong choice for Shopify, WordPress, or Wix stores.
Are there alternatives with transparent pricing?
Chatwoot, LiveChat, Tidio, and Pure Chat publish their pricing. Chatwoot starts at $0/agent/month, LiveChat at $19/user/month, Tidio at $24.17/month, and Pure Chat at $39/month annually. Others like Drift, Gorgias, and Help Scout require a demo for a quote.
Which alternative offers the most channels beyond live chat?
Chatwoot and Tidio both offer multichannel inboxes covering live chat, email, WhatsApp, Instagram, and more. Intercom and Zendesk Chat also provide omnichannel support with ticketing and voice.
Can I self-host any of these alternatives for full data control?
Chatwoot is open-source and offers self-hosting, giving you full control over data. Other alternatives like Intercom and Zendesk are cloud-only, which may not suit strict data residency requirements.
Last updated October 15, 2026.