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Freshdesk vs LiveChat2026

Freshdesk logo

Freshdesk

Customer Support

Cloud-based helpdesk with ticketing, live chat, and AI automations for growing teams.

Pricing:From $15/mo
Free trial:21 days
Verified:Verified listing
VS
LiveChat logo

LiveChat

Customer Support

Live chat software for sales and customer support with AI bots, ticketing, and 200+ integrations.

Pricing:From $20/mo
Free trial:14 days
Verified:Verified listing

Our Verdict

Freshdesk has the pricing advantage with a free tier.

Choose Freshdesk if…

budget-conscious buyers who want to start for free or at lower cost

Choose LiveChat if…

teams at the small to mid-sized businesses stage and teams that need more power and don't mind paying for it

Side-by-Side Comparison

Green highlight = advantage on that metric.

Pricing

Pricing model

Freshdesk

Freemium

LiveChat

Subscription
Starting price

Freshdesk

$15/mo

LiveChat

$20/mo
Free tier

Freshdesk

LiveChat

Free trial

Freshdesk

21 days

LiveChat

14 days

Ratings & Reviews

User rating

Freshdesk

No reviews yet

LiveChat

No reviews yet

Features & Capabilities

Best for

Freshdesk

teams of all sizes

LiveChat

small to mid-sized businesses
Tracked features

Freshdesk

11

LiveChat

7

Company

Founded

Freshdesk

2010

LiveChat

2002
Verified listing

Freshdesk

LiveChat

Key Differences

Freshdesk

Freemium

Pricing model

LiveChat

Subscription

Freshdesk

$15/mo

Starting price

LiveChat

$20/mo

Freshdesk

11 tracked features

Feature breadth

LiveChat

7 tracked features

Freshdesk logo

Freshdesk is best for…

Teams that want to start for free

Strengths

  • Excellent free plan for small teams
  • Omnichannel support
  • Strong automation and AI
  • Much more affordable than Zendesk
LiveChat logo

LiveChat is best for…

Small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs)

Strengths

  • Best-in-class live chat widget
  • Real-time visitor monitoring
  • 200+ integrations
  • AI chatbot available as add-on

Pricing Comparison

Freshdesk logo

Freshdesk

From $15/mo

Free for up to 10 agents. Growth from $15/agent/month.

Free tierYes
Free trial21 days
Open sourceNo
View Freshdesk pricing ↗
LiveChat logo

LiveChat

From $20/mo

Starter plan from $20/agent/month billed annually.

Free tierNo
Free trial14 days
Open sourceNo
View LiveChat pricing ↗

Pricing information is verified periodically. Visit each vendor's pricing page for current rates and plan details.

Feature Comparison

Only in Freshdesk

  • Knowledge Base
  • SLA Management
  • Workflow Automation
  • Shared Inbox

Both tools

  • Live Chat
  • Chatbot / AI Agent
  • Ticketing System
  • Omnichannel Support
  • API Access
  • Zapier Integration
  • CSAT Surveys

Alternatives & More Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Freshdesk and LiveChat?
Freshdesk has the pricing advantage with a free tier. Choose Freshdesk if you need it for budget-conscious buyers who want to start for free or at lower cost. Choose LiveChat if you need it for teams at the small to mid-sized businesses stage and teams that need more power and don't mind paying for it.
Is Freshdesk cheaper than LiveChat?
Freshdesk is cheaper at From $15/mo vs From $20/mo. Note that pricing tiers vary — check each vendor's current pricing page for up-to-date details.
Can I switch from Freshdesk to LiveChat?
Yes — most teams can migrate from Freshdesk to LiveChat with a data export/import process. Check whether both tools support CSV or API data export before starting. LiveChat offers a free trial, so you can test it before cancelling Freshdesk.
Does Freshdesk or LiveChat offer a free trial?
Both Freshdesk (21 days) and LiveChat (14 days) offer free trials. Try both before committing.

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