Everything Crisp does, with more channels and AI copilot
Crisp is a solid chat-first tool, but it gates channels like WhatsApp behind higher plans and lacks AI copilot capabilities. Chatwoot gives you more native messaging channels on every paid plan, Captain AI for agent productivity, and the flexibility to self-host.
- WhatsApp, Telegram, LINE, TikTok included on every paid plan
- Captain AI copilot for reply drafting and conversation summaries
- Enterprise features: SLAs, audit logs, SAML SSO
- Self-host on your infrastructure - Crisp doesn't offer this
- Open-source code you can inspect, modify, and contribute to
At a glance
WhatsApp & Telegram
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Crisp
- No
AI copilot
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Crisp
- No
Free plan
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Crisp
- Yes
Self-hosted option
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Crisp
- No
Open source
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Crisp
- No
Feature comparison
See how Chatwoot and Crisp compare across key features.
| Feature | Chatwoot | Crisp |
|---|---|---|
| Messaging Channels | ||
| Website live chat | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Paid plan | |
| Instagram DMs | Yes | Paid plan |
| Facebook Messenger | Yes | Yes |
| Telegram | Yes | Paid plan |
| LINE | Yes | No |
| SMS | Yes | No |
| TikTok DMs | Yes | No |
| API channel | Yes | Yes |
| AI & Automation | ||
| AI copilot for agents | Yes | Partial |
| AI-powered replies | Yes | No |
| Chatbots / bot builder | Yes | Yes |
| Automation rules | Yes | Yes |
| Canned responses | Yes | Yes |
| SLA management | Yes | No |
| Team Collaboration | ||
| Shared inbox | Yes | Yes |
| Private notes | Yes | Yes |
| Team assignments | Yes | Yes |
| Agent collision detection | Yes | No |
| Labels and tags | Yes | Yes |
| Contact segments | Yes | Yes |
| Reporting & Analytics | ||
| Conversation reports | Yes | Yes |
| Agent performance reports | Yes | No |
| CSAT reports | Yes | No |
| Live dashboard | Yes | No |
| Team reports | Yes | No |
| Custom report filters | Yes | No |
| Deployment & Security | ||
| Cloud hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted option | Yes | No |
| Open-source code | Yes | No |
| SSO / SAML | Yes | No |
| Audit logs | Yes | No |
| Custom data retention | Yes | No |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
Why teams switch from Crisp
Common pain points that lead teams to explore alternatives.
Channels gated behind higher plans
WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram on Crisp require the Unlimited plan. Chatwoot includes every messaging channel on every paid plan, with no tier upgrades.
Limited enterprise features
Crisp doesn't offer SLA management, audit logs, SAML SSO, or custom data retention - features growing teams need as they scale. Chatwoot has all of these.
No self-hosting option
Crisp is cloud-only. If your team needs to keep customer data on your own servers - for compliance, latency, or data residency - that is not an option. Chatwoot gives you full self-hosting with Docker and Helm charts.
Closed-source code
You can't audit Crisp's codebase, customize it beyond their API, or contribute to its development. Chatwoot is fully open source with 37k+ GitHub stars and an active contributor community.
How Chatwoot is different
What makes Chatwoot the right choice over Crisp.
More native channels
WhatsApp, Telegram, LINE, TikTok, SMS - all included on every paid plan. Crisp requires premium plans for most messaging channels.
Full AI copilot
Captain drafts replies, detects intent, and summarizes conversations. Crisp's AI features are more limited in scope.
Enterprise-ready
SLA management, SAML SSO, audit logs, role-based access, and custom data retention. Chatwoot grows with your team.
Active community
Thousands of contributors and users on GitHub and Discord. Get help, share ideas, and shape the product roadmap.
True open source
MIT-licensed code with 37k+ GitHub stars. Fork it, extend it, or submit a pull request. Total transparency.
Deploy anywhere
Run Chatwoot on AWS, GCP, Azure, DigitalOcean, or your own hardware. Crisp is strictly cloud - there's no alternative.
Common questions
Answers to frequently asked questions about switching from Crisp to Chatwoot.
Is Chatwoot a good Crisp alternative for self-hosting?
It's the strongest option. Crisp doesn't offer self-hosting at all. Chatwoot provides official Docker images, Helm charts, and detailed deployment docs for running on your own infrastructure.
How does Chatwoot pricing compare to Crisp?
Chatwoot uses per-agent pricing starting free. Crisp uses flat-rate workspace pricing. For small teams, both can be affordable. For larger teams, Chatwoot's per-agent model gives you more control over costs, and the free plan covers live chat for 2 agents.
Does Chatwoot have a co-browsing feature like Crisp?
Chatwoot doesn't include co-browsing natively, but it integrates with tools that do. Chatwoot focuses on channel breadth, AI, and enterprise features that Crisp lacks.
Can I migrate from Crisp to Chatwoot?
Yes. Export your Crisp data and import it into Chatwoot via the REST API. The conversation model maps well between the two platforms.
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Switching from Crisp?
Try Chatwoot free and see the difference. Our team can help you migrate your data and get set up.