Alternatives · Help Desks
Chatbase alternatives
Chatbase compared with 5 alternatives: Intercom, Tidio, Kommunicate, Zendesk and Crisp.
Chatbase is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $32 per month for 700 message credits, billed annually ($40 billed monthly). 2 of the 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 3 more offer a free trial.
5 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 17, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatbaseThis tool | Free trial · from $32/mo | Trial only | Web |
| Intercom | Free trial · from $29/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Tidio | Free plan · from $24.17/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Kommunicate | Free trial · from $34/mo | Trial only | Web |
| Zendesk | Free trial · from $19/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Crisp | Free plan · from $45/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
Price against what you get
Chatbase starts at $32 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 3 of the 5 alternatives on this chart score higher and start lower: Intercom, Tidio and Zendesk.
Crisp scores higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Chatbase
- Free trial · from $29/mo
Intercom
Helpdesk with live chat and the Fin AI agent priced per outcome
- Intercom starts at $29 per seat / month, billed annually ($39 billed monthly). Chatbase starts at $32 per month for 700 message credits, billed annually ($40 billed monthly).
- Only Intercom lists iOS and Android apps.
- Intercom also covers shared inbox, reports, live chat and help center.
Suits: Software and app companies that support customers through in-app chat
- Free plan · from $24.17/mo
Tidio
Live chat, ticketing and the Lyro AI agent priced by conversations
- Tidio starts at $24.17 per month for 100 conversations, billed annually ($29 monthly). Chatbase starts at $32 per month for 700 message credits, billed annually ($40 billed monthly).
- Tidio has a free plan. Chatbase does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Tidio lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Tidio also covers live chat.
Suits: Small online stores, especially on Shopify or WordPress
- Free trial · from $34/mo
Kommunicate
AI agents for chat, email and voice with live chat hand-off
- Kommunicate starts at $34 per month for 250 conversations, billed annually ($40 billed monthly). Chatbase starts at $32 per month for 700 message credits, billed annually ($40 billed monthly).
- Kommunicate also covers live chat.
Suits: Teams putting an AI agent in front of an existing help desk
- Free trial · from $19/mo
Zendesk
Ticketing, messaging, help center and AI agents for support teams
- Zendesk starts at $19 per agent / month, billed annually ($25 billed monthly). Chatbase starts at $32 per month for 700 message credits, billed annually ($40 billed monthly).
- Only Zendesk lists iOS and Android apps.
- Zendesk also covers reports, live chat and help center.
Suits: Support teams handling email, chat and phone in one queue
- Free plan · from $45/mo
Crisp
Live chat and shared inbox priced per workspace, not per seat
- Crisp starts at $45 per workspace / month, with 4 seats. Chatbase starts at $32 per month for 700 message credits, billed annually ($40 billed monthly).
- Crisp has a free plan. Chatbase does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Crisp lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Crisp also covers shared inbox, live chat and help center.
- Chatbase also covers help desk.
Suits: Small teams that want chat and email support at a flat monthly price
Limits worth knowing in Chatbase
- Every plan includes one AI agent; more cost $300 per agent a year.
- Message credits beyond the monthly allowance cost $40 per 1,000 through auto recharge; those credits do not expire.
- Removing the "Powered by Chatbase" branding costs $1,188 a year.
- Hobby has no API access and no help desk or CRM integrations; those, voice and the helpdesk inbox start on Standard.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Chatbase?
The alternatives to Chatbase in this directory are Intercom, Tidio, Kommunicate, Zendesk and Crisp. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Chatbase.
Is there a free alternative to Chatbase?
Yes. Tidio and Crisp have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Chatbase alternatives work on Windows?
The Chatbase listing does not include a Windows app. Tidio and Crisp list one.
Which Chatbase alternatives work on macOS?
The Chatbase listing does not include a macOS app. Tidio and Crisp list one.
When were these prices checked?
Every listing on this page was checked on Oct 17, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.