Chatwoot vs MessageBird (Bird)
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Chatwoot | MessageBird (Bird) |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $19/seat/mo | From $30/seat/mo |
| Best For | Technical teams wanting open-source flexibility | Large enterprises with complex communication needs |
| Standout Feature | Open-source with self-hosting option | Global SMS delivery network |
| Free Plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| G2 Rating | 4.4 | 4.2 |
Chatwoot and MessageBird (now Bird) serve different aspects of customer communication. Chatwoot focuses on customer support and helpdesk functionality, while MessageBird provides a comprehensive communications platform with APIs for developers and enterprise messaging solutions.
With Chatwoot's G2 rating of 4.4 versus MessageBird's 4.2, both platforms deliver quality experiences but target different user types and technical requirements.
Feature Comparison
Chatwoot provides a complete customer support suite with live chat, email ticketing, WhatsApp Business integration, knowledge base, and team collaboration tools. It's designed for support teams to start using immediately with minimal configuration.
MessageBird offers communication APIs, omnichannel messaging, voice services, and programmable communications infrastructure. It includes customer service tools but emphasizes developer flexibility and custom integrations over out-of-the-box functionality.
The fundamental difference is approach: Chatwoot is a ready-to-use support platform, while MessageBird is a communications infrastructure that requires development resources to fully utilize.
Pricing Comparison
Chatwoot starts at $20 per agent per month with custom enterprise pricing. Its open-source version allows free self-hosting, making it accessible to small businesses and startups with technical capabilities.
MessageBird pricing ranges from $25 to $200+ per month depending on usage, channels, and features. As a usage-based platform, costs can scale significantly with message volume and API calls.
For straightforward customer support needs, Chatwoot offers predictable, lower costs. For high-volume messaging or custom communication workflows, MessageBird's infrastructure may provide better long-term value despite higher complexity.
Chatwoot
Pros
- ✓ Open-source option available
- ✓ Good channel coverage
- ✓ Active development community
Cons
- ✗ Per-agent pricing model
- ✗ Self-hosting requires technical expertise
- ✗ Limited advanced features in lower tiers
MessageBird (Bird)
Pros
- ✓ Strong global SMS delivery
- ✓ Comprehensive API documentation
- ✓ Good WhatsApp Business integration
Cons
- ✗ Complex pricing with hidden costs
- ✗ Limited customization options
- ✗ Steep learning curve
Verdict
Choose Chatwoot if you need ready-to-use customer support tools with minimal technical setup. Choose MessageBird if you're building custom communication solutions or need enterprise-grade messaging infrastructure.
Choose Chatwoot if: You need immediate customer support functionality, prefer simple setup and management, or want predictable per-agent pricing.
Choose MessageBird if: You're building custom communication solutions, need enterprise messaging infrastructure, or require extensive API integrations and developer flexibility.
Consider Converge at $49/month flat rate if you want reliable customer support features without the technical complexity of API-first platforms or the scaling costs of usage-based pricing.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Chatwoot comparisons and all MessageBird (Bird) comparisons.