Open-source omnichannel support desk and live chat
Chatwoot is an open-source customer engagement platform positioned as an alternative to Intercom and Zendesk. It unifies website live chat, email, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and SMS in one shared inbox, with a help center, canned responses, automation rules and an AI assistant called Captain. Teams can self-host it for free or use the paid cloud version.
- features
- 6
- alternatives
- 11
- platforms
- 4
- Updated
- Oct 12, 2026
Features
Our take
Pros
- Open source and free to self-host, keeping conversations on your servers
- One inbox for chat, email, WhatsApp, social channels and SMS
- Includes a help center, canned responses and automation rules
Cons
- Self-hosting requires maintaining the server, updates and integrations
- Reporting and workflows are less deep than in Zendesk or Intercom
Editorial assessment by the Alternatives.tools team, based on what the product is known for. Not a user review.
Best Chatwoot alternatives
See all 11 alternatives
IntercomFree trialCustomer service platform built around an AI agent
2.1(172) · App Store
ZendeskFree trialCustomer service software with ticketing and AI agents
4.5(4.2K) · App Store
CrispFreemiumMultichannel customer messaging and live chat from France
4.7(3.8K) · App Store
FreshdeskFreemiumHelp desk ticketing software from Freshworks
4.5(3K) · App Store
tawk.toFreemiumFree live chat widget with ticketing and a knowledge base
Help ScoutFreemiumShared inbox and help center for customer support teams
4.2(323) · App Store
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