Simple shared inbox with omnichannel messaging and AI copilot
Groove is a lightweight helpdesk for small teams, but as you grow you'll hit limits: no WhatsApp, no Instagram, no AI copilot, no self-hosting. Chatwoot starts simple too, but scales with 12+ channels, AI, and enterprise features.
- 12+ channels: WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, and more beyond email and chat
- Captain AI copilot for reply drafting and conversation summaries
- Free plan on live chat, with all channels included on paid plans
- Scales from startup to enterprise without switching tools
- Self-host for data sovereignty and compliance
At a glance
Omnichannel messaging
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Groove
- No
AI copilot
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Groove
- No
Free plan
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Groove
- No
Self-hosted option
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Groove
- No
Open source
- Chatwoot
- Yes
- Groove
- No
Feature comparison
See how Chatwoot and Groove compare across key features.
| Feature | Chatwoot | Groove |
|---|---|---|
| Messaging Channels | ||
| Website live chat | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | No | |
| Instagram DMs | Yes | No |
| Facebook Messenger | Yes | No |
| Telegram | Yes | No |
| LINE | Yes | No |
| SMS | Yes | No |
| TikTok DMs | Yes | No |
| API channel | Yes | Yes |
| AI & Automation | ||
| AI copilot for agents | Yes | No |
| AI-powered replies | Yes | No |
| Chatbots / bot builder | Yes | No |
| 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 | No |
| Reporting & Analytics | ||
| Conversation reports | Yes | Yes |
| Agent performance reports | Yes | Yes |
| CSAT reports | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Groove
Common pain points that lead teams to explore alternatives.
Limited to email and basic chat
Groove focuses on email and live chat. No native WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, Facebook, or SMS support. Modern customers expect to reach you on their preferred channel.
No AI capabilities
Groove has no AI copilot, no automated reply drafting, and no conversation summaries. Agents do everything manually as volume grows.
No self-hosting or code access
Groove is closed-source and cloud-only. No option for on-premise deployment or source code access.
Outgrow the tool quickly
Groove is designed for small teams. As you scale, you'll need advanced routing, SLA management, and reporting that Groove doesn't offer.
How Chatwoot is different
What makes Chatwoot the right choice over Groove.
12+ messaging channels
WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, TikTok, LINE, SMS, email, live chat, and more. All included on every paid plan.
Captain AI copilot
Captain writes draft replies, reads customer intent, and summarizes long threads to save agents time. Groove does not offer a comparable assistant.
Scales with your team
From startup to enterprise: team routing, SLA management, advanced reporting, and SAML SSO. No need to switch tools.
Transparent pricing
Simple per-agent pricing from free to $99/agent/mo. All channels included, no surprise costs.
Self-host anywhere
Host on your own servers when you need to keep data in-house. Groove doesn't offer this.
Open source codebase
MIT-licensed source code. Customize, audit, and contribute without vendor lock-in.
Common questions
Answers to frequently asked questions about switching from Groove to Chatwoot.
Is Chatwoot as simple as Groove for small teams?
Yes. Chatwoot has a clean, simple interface that small teams can adopt quickly. The free plan covers live chat for 2 agents. Advanced features are there when you need them, without cluttering the basics.
Does Chatwoot offer a knowledge base like Groove?
Yes. Chatwoot includes a built-in help center with articles, categories, and multilingual support for customer self-service.
Can I migrate from Groove to Chatwoot?
Chatwoot supports CSV import for contacts and provides a REST API for programmatic migration of conversations and customer data.
Is Chatwoot good for startups and small businesses?
Absolutely. The free plan covers the core product for 2 agents. As your team grows, Chatwoot scales with you. No need to migrate to a different platform.
Also compare Chatwoot with
Switching from Groove?
Try Chatwoot free and see the difference. Our team can help you migrate your data and get set up.