Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Crisp · 🛟 customer support
Crisp vs Live Helper Chat
A battle-tested live-chat desk with routing, transcripts and canned replies; the interface has seen some things. Here is how Live Helper Chat ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Crisp ($45/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Live Helper Chat
$0.00/mo · Apache-2.0
Crisp vs Live Helper Chat Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-11
| Dimension | Crisp (Paid) | Live Helper Chat (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $45 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $540 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $540) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $2,700 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $2,700) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $5,400 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $5,400) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source Apache-2.0 |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Self-host (your server) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hostedself-host, real ops |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 2.2k (active aug 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Crisp to Live Helper Chat
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
It covers chat well but has an older agent experience and a weaker shared-inbox and integration story than Crisp.
How to deploy Live Helper Chat
Upload the release archive to a PHP web server and run the browser installer, or deploy its Docker image
What it takes to run
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
Why fork Live Helper Chat instead of vibe-coding a Crisp clone?
The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For Crisp, combine website chat and a shared inbox for one small support team. The hard boundary is multi-channel inbox, chat delivery, knowledge base, campaigns, and workspace pricing, plus channel integrations and support operations.
Crisp vs Live Helper Chat FAQ
Is Live Helper Chat a good free alternative to Crisp?+
Yes. Live Helper Chat is a verified open-source (Apache-2.0) replacement for Crisp. A battle-tested live-chat desk with routing, transcripts and canned replies; the interface has seen some things.
What is the catch when switching from Crisp to Live Helper Chat?+
It covers chat well but has an older agent experience and a weaker shared-inbox and integration story than Crisp.
How much do you save switching from Crisp to Live Helper Chat?+
Crisp costs $45/mo ($540/yr) per seat, whereas Live Helper Chat is $0/mo. Switching saves $540/yr for a solo user, $2,700/yr for a 5-person team, and $5,400/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Live Helper Chat instead of Crisp?+
Install: Upload the release archive to a PHP web server and run the browser installer, or deploy its Docker image. Setup: A PHP 8.2+/MySQL web host, a pre-created database and correct filesystem permissions
