One product for all channels instead of juggling Freshworks modules
Freshchat is one piece of a larger Freshworks ecosystem. To get full support coverage you need Freshdesk for tickets, Freshchat for messaging, and Freshsales for CRM, each billed separately. Chatwoot gives you live chat, email, social, messaging, and AI copilot in a single product with simple per-agent pricing.
- All channels in one product, no separate modules to buy
- Simple per-agent pricing, no per-contact or per-resolution fees
- Captain AI copilot included on paid plans
- Built-in knowledge base and help center
- Self-host for complete data sovereignty
At a glance
All channels in one product
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Freshchat
- No
AI copilot
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Freshchat
- Yes
Free plan
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Freshchat
- Yes
Self-hosted option
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Freshchat
- No
Open source
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Freshchat
- No
Feature comparison
See how Chatwoot and Freshchat compare across key features.
| Feature | Chatwoot | Freshchat |
|---|---|---|
| Messaging Channels | ||
| Website live chat | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | No | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Instagram DMs | Yes | No |
| Facebook Messenger | Yes | Yes |
| Telegram | Yes | No |
| LINE | Yes | Yes |
| SMS | Yes | No |
| TikTok DMs | Yes | No |
| API channel | Yes | Yes |
| AI & Automation | ||
| AI copilot for agents | Yes | Yes |
| AI-powered replies | Yes | Yes |
| Chatbots / bot builder | Yes | Yes |
| Automation rules | Yes | Yes |
| Canned responses | Yes | Yes |
| SLA management | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| CSAT reports | Yes | Yes |
| Live dashboard | Yes | Yes |
| Team reports | Yes | Yes |
| Custom report filters | Yes | Yes |
| Deployment & Security | ||
| Cloud hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted option | Yes | No |
| Open-source code | Yes | No |
| SSO / SAML | Yes | Yes |
| Audit logs | Yes | Yes |
| Custom data retention | Yes | Yes |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
Why teams switch from Freshchat
Common pain points that lead teams to explore alternatives.
Fragmented product suite
Freshchat handles messaging but you need Freshdesk for email ticketing and Freshsales for CRM. Each is billed separately with different pricing models. Chatwoot unifies everything.
Per-contact pricing adds up
Freshchat charges based on contacts reached. As your user base grows, costs can spiral. Chatwoot uses straightforward per-agent pricing with no contact limits.
No self-hosting option
Freshchat is cloud-only with no option for on-premise deployment. Teams with data residency requirements have no alternative.
Limited channel coverage
Freshchat focuses on web, mobile, and WhatsApp. Chatwoot natively supports Telegram, Instagram, TikTok, LINE, SMS, and more out of the box.
How Chatwoot is different
What makes Chatwoot the right choice over Freshchat.
Unified platform
Live chat, email, social, and messaging in one product. No need for separate modules or SKUs.
Simple per-agent pricing
Flat per-agent pricing with no contact-based fees. All messaging channels included on every paid plan.
Captain AI copilot
Captain helps agents write faster with reply suggestions, intent signals, and quick recaps of long conversations.
12+ messaging channels
WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, TikTok, LINE, SMS, Facebook, email, and more. All included.
Self-host anywhere
Run the whole platform on your own servers if you need to. Freshchat is cloud-only.
Open source codebase
MIT-licensed source code you can inspect, modify, and contribute to. You always own your data and can move off if needed.
Common questions
Answers to frequently asked questions about switching from Freshchat to Chatwoot.
Is Freshchat the same as Freshdesk?
No. Freshchat is a separate product focused on messaging and live chat, while Freshdesk handles email ticketing. You need both (plus Freshsales for CRM) for full coverage. Chatwoot combines all these capabilities in one product.
Does Chatwoot support chatbot integrations like Freshchat?
Yes. Chatwoot integrates with Dialogflow for chatbot flows and includes Captain AI for automated responses, reply drafting, and conversation summaries.
Can I migrate from Freshchat to Chatwoot?
Chatwoot offers CSV import for contacts and conversations. For larger migrations, the REST API allows programmatic data transfer from Freshchat.
Does Chatwoot work with mobile apps like Freshchat?
Yes. Chatwoot offers native mobile SDKs for iOS and Android, plus a React Native SDK. You can embed in-app messaging just like Freshchat.
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Switching from Freshchat?
Try Chatwoot free and see the difference. Our team can help you migrate your data and get set up.