LiveAgent vs Crisp (2026)
LiveAgent is a per-agent multi-channel helpdesk with a built-in call center; Crisp is a flat-priced messaging platform with a shared inbox and AI chatbots. The decision turns on pricing model and whether you need phone.
LiveAgent
LiveAgent is a multi-channel help desk platform combining live chat, ticketing, call center, and social media support for customer service teams of all sizes.
Crisp
Bootstrapped customer messaging platform that combines live chat, shared inbox, AI chatbots, knowledge base, and a lightweight CRM in one flat-priced workspace. A cost-effective Intercom alternative for growing teams.
TL;DR
- Pick LiveAgent if you want a full help desk with ticketing, live chat, and a built-in call center under per-agent pricing, and phone support matters to you.
- Pick Crisp if you're a startup or small team that wants omnichannel chat and a shared inbox at flat, per-workspace pricing that doesn't grow with headcount.
Pricing
The pricing models are fundamentally different, which often decides the call. LiveAgent is per agent, from $15/agent/mo billed annually, with a 30-day free trial and no credit card required; it's month-to-month with no long-term contract. Crisp uses flat per-workspace pricing — a free plan for two seats, then paid from $45/workspace/mo — so cost stays predictable as you add agents. For a small team that's growing, Crisp's flat model can be far cheaper; for a team that wants to pay only for the agents it has and values phone support, LiveAgent's per-seat pricing buys more channels.
Call center vs messaging-first
LiveAgent's standout is its built-in call center — native phone support alongside ticketing and chat, no third-party telephony bolt-on. If voice is part of your support mix, that's a major differentiator. Crisp has no call center; it's messaging-first, pulling website chat, email, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and SMS into one shared inbox. Crisp also bundles a lightweight CRM (contact history and segmentation) that LiveAgent doesn't emphasize. So the split is roughly: LiveAgent for voice-inclusive support, Crisp for chat-and-messaging-led support.
Channels and add-ons
Both are omnichannel, but the packaging differs. LiveAgent covers email, chat, phone, and social including WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, and Viber — though some social channels like WhatsApp and Instagram come as paid add-ons rather than included. Crisp includes its channel set in the workspace price, and its free plan (two seats, core chat) is a genuine starting point. With Crisp, co-browsing and advanced automation are gated to higher tiers; with LiveAgent, advanced features concentrate in higher-tier plans too.
AI and automation
Both ship AI. LiveAgent offers automated chatbots and AI response suggestions to cut agent workload. Crisp provides AI agents and chatbot automation plus a knowledge base on paid plans to deflect common requests. Neither is positioned as a deep AI-resolution engine the way some rivals are, but both cover the practical automations a small team needs.
Who should pick what
- Teams that need phone support → LiveAgent. The built-in call center is the deciding feature.
- Teams wanting pay-per-seat flexibility → LiveAgent. No contract, scale seats up or down.
- Startups and small teams watching cost as they grow → Crisp. Flat workspace pricing.
- Messaging-led e-commerce or SaaS support → Crisp. WhatsApp/Instagram/chat in one inbox plus a light CRM.
Bottom line
If phone support is on your roadmap, LiveAgent is the clearer choice — few tools at this price include a real call center, and its 30-day trial makes it easy to test. If you're a small, chat-first team that wants omnichannel messaging without per-seat costs ballooning, Crisp's flat workspace pricing and useful free plan are hard to beat. Decide on two axes: do you need voice, and does per-agent or per-workspace pricing fit your trajectory.