Freshdesk vs LiveChat: Which Customer Support Tool Is Better in 2026?
Freshdesk
From $15LiveChat
From $20Quick verdict
Overall pick: Freshdesk
Freshdesk is the stronger overall pick for most buyers: it costs less per seat ($15 vs $20), offers a free plan LiveChat does not, and covers every feature in the comparison, including a knowledge base and built-in voice telephony that LiveChat lacks. LiveChat remains a reasonable choice for sales and support teams running high-traffic websites that primarily need fast live chat, but they pay more per seat and give up self-service and phone capabilities.
- Freshdesk's entry plan ($15) is 25% cheaper than LiveChat's ($20).
- Freshdesk has a free plan; LiveChat does not.
- Only Freshdesk offers: self-service help center / faq, built-in voice telephony & call center.
Cost calculator
| Tool | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Freshdesk · per user | $75.00 | $900 |
| LiveChat · per user | $100.00 | $1200 |
Based on entry-level paid plans. Prices change, so check the vendor before you buy.
Which one should you choose?
| If you need… | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-conscious small business needing support software | Freshdesk | Freshdesk starts at $15 per seat with a free plan; LiveChat starts at $20 per seat with no free plan. |
| Team wanting a self-service help center | Freshdesk | Freshdesk includes a knowledge base; LiveChat does not list one. |
| Team needing built-in phone support | Freshdesk | Freshdesk includes voice telephony and call center features; LiveChat does not. |
| High-traffic website focused on live chat for sales | LiveChat | LiveChat is positioned for sales and support teams on high-traffic websites and includes live chat, AI bot, shared inbox, ticketing, customer history, and API. |
| Buyer wanting the broadest feature coverage | Freshdesk | Freshdesk covers all eight compared features; LiveChat lacks the knowledge base and voice telephony. |
Feature comparison: Freshdesk vs LiveChat
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✅ | ❌ |
| Starting price | $15 /user/mo | $20 /user/mo |
| Real-time live chat widget | ✅ | ✅ |
| AI agent / automated chatbot resolution | ✅ | ✅ |
| Omnichannel shared team inbox | ✅ | ✅ |
| SLA-based ticketing system | ✅ | ✅ |
| Self-service help center / FAQ | ✅ | — |
| Built-in voice telephony & call center | ✅ | — |
| Full customer timeline & context | ✅ | ✅ |
| Public REST API & webhooks | ✅ | ✅ |
Highlighted rows are where the tools differ.
Pros and cons
Freshdesk
- Lowest starting price at $15 per seat
- Free plan available
- Covers all eight compared features, including knowledge base and voice telephony
- Founded in 2010 and positioned for budget-conscious teams and small businesses
- Billing is per seat, so costs scale with team size
- No specific limitation beyond per-seat pricing is documented in the provided facts
LiveChat
- Live chat with AI bot, shared inbox, ticketing, customer history, and API
- Positioned for sales and support teams and high-traffic websites
- Founded in 2002, longer operating history than Freshdesk
- Higher starting price at $20 per seat
- No free plan
- No knowledge base or built-in voice telephony
Which tool would you pick for your stack?
Cast your vote to see real-time peer recommendations from other software buyers.
At a glance
Affordable omnichannel customer support software with free tier.
Founded 2010 · From $15 · 8/8 tracked features
Best for: budget-conscious teams, small businesses
See Freshdesk alternatives →Fast, reliable live chat software with sales and support tools.
Founded 2002 · From $20 · 6/8 tracked features
Best for: sales & support teams, high-traffic websites
See LiveChat alternatives →FAQ
Is Freshdesk cheaper than LiveChat?
Yes. Freshdesk starts at $15 per seat and offers a free plan; LiveChat starts at $20 per seat with no free plan.
Does LiveChat include a knowledge base?
No. The provided facts list no knowledge base for LiveChat, while Freshdesk includes one.
Which tool offers built-in phone support?
Freshdesk includes voice telephony and call center features; LiveChat does not.
Do both tools have live chat and AI bots?
Yes. Both Freshdesk and LiveChat list live chat, AI bot, shared inbox, ticketing, customer history, and API.
Which tool is better for high-traffic websites?
LiveChat is positioned for sales and support teams on high-traffic websites, though Freshdesk covers more features overall at a lower starting price.
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Data last reviewed: pending verification. All Customer Support tools →