Live Helper Chat
A battle-tested live-chat desk with routing, transcripts and canned replies; the interface has seen some things.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-08-11
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- Apache-2.0
- Hosting Model
- Self-host (your server)
- Platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- Installation
- Upload the release archive to a PHP web server and run the browser installer, or deploy its Docker image
- Operational Setup
- A PHP 8.2+/MySQL web host, a pre-created database and correct filesystem permissions
- Where Your Data Lives
- Chats and settings in MySQL/MariaDB, with uploads and media in writable server-side storage directories
- The Catch / Trade-off
- It covers chat well but has an older agent experience and a weaker shared-inbox and integration story than Crisp.
Replaces 4 paid apps
up to $99/mo ($1,188/yr) in subscriptions
Live Helper Chat FAQ
Common questions
Is Live Helper Chat free and open source?+
Live Helper Chat is an open-source tool licensed under Apache-2.0 that runs on self-host. A battle-tested live-chat desk with routing, transcripts and canned replies; the interface has seen some things.
What paid software does Live Helper Chat replace?+
Live Helper Chat serves as a free replacement for 4 paid SaaS applications: Crisp, Intercom, LiveChat, Tidio, saving up to $99/month ($1,188/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up Live Helper Chat?+
Installation: Upload the release archive to a PHP web server and run the browser installer, or deploy its Docker image. Setup notes: A PHP 8.2+/MySQL web host, a pre-created database and correct filesystem permissions
What is the catch or trade-off with Live Helper Chat?+
It covers chat well but has an older agent experience and a weaker shared-inbox and integration story than Crisp.