# Tidio vs Live Helper Chat (2026): Free Alternative to Tidio

Canonical: https://caniforkit.com/vs/tidio-vs-live-helper-chat
Last updated: 2026-08-11

Compare Tidio ($29/mo) vs Live Helper Chat ($0/mo open source Apache-2.0 alternative to Tidio). Side-by-side breakdown of pricing, self-hosting setup, data storage, and practical trade-offs.

## Side-by-Side Comparison Matrix

| Feature / Metric | Tidio | Live Helper Chat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $29/mo | $0.00 / month |
| 1-Seat Annual Cost | $348/yr | $0.00 / year |
| 5-Person Team Annual Cost | $1,740/yr | $0.00 / year |
| 10-Person Team Annual Cost | $3,480/yr | $0.00 / year |
| License Model | Proprietary Commercial SaaS | Apache-2.0 |
| Hosting / Runtime | Vendor Cloud | Self-host |
| Data Ownership | Stored on vendor servers | Chats and settings in MySQL/MariaDB, with uploads and media in writable server-side storage directories |
| GitHub Stars | Closed Source | ★ 2.2k |
| Code Repository | None | https://github.com/LiveHelperChat/livehelperchat |
| The Catch / Trade-off | Recurring subscription cost | Its interface and automation feel older and less polished than Tidio's small-team chat desk. |

## About Live Helper Chat
A battle-tested live-chat desk with routing, transcripts and canned replies; the interface has seen some things.

- **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
- **Data Storage**: Chats and settings in MySQL/MariaDB, with uploads and media in writable server-side storage directories
- **Supported Platforms**: web, self-hosted, self-host, real ops
- **The Catch vs Tidio**: Its interface and automation feel older and less polished than Tidio's small-team chat desk.

## Cost Savings Breakdown
Switching from Tidio to Live Helper Chat eliminates ongoing per-seat subscriptions:
- **Solo / 1-seat**: Save **$348/year**
- **5-person team**: Save **$1,740/year**
- **10-person team**: Save **$3,480/year**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is Live Helper Chat a good free alternative to Tidio?
Yes. Live Helper Chat is a verified open source (Apache-2.0) replacement for Tidio. 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 Tidio to Live Helper Chat?
Its interface and automation feel older and less polished than Tidio's small-team chat desk.

## Related

- [All Tidio Alternatives](https://caniforkit.com/tidio)
- [Live Helper Chat Full Profile](https://caniforkit.com/fork/live-helper-chat)
- [customer support Category Hub](https://caniforkit.com/category/customer-support)
- [All Paid SaaS Alternatives Index](https://caniforkit.com/alternatives)