Chatwoot vs Tawk.to
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Chatwoot | Tawk.to |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $19/seat/mo | From $58/mo |
| Best For | Technical teams wanting open-source flexibility | Businesses needing free website live chat |
| Standout Feature | Open-source with self-hosting option | Completely free with up to 15 agents and full features |
| Free Plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| G2 Rating | 4.4 | 4.5/5 |
Chatwoot and Tawk.to both serve the customer communication market but with different philosophies. Chatwoot offers open-source flexibility with paid hosting options, while Tawk.to provides a freemium SaaS solution with up to 15 agents.
Both platforms maintain strong user satisfaction with Chatwoot's 4.4/5 and Tawk.to's 4.5/5 G2 ratings, but they appeal to different technical preferences and budget considerations.
Feature Comparison
Chatwoot provides open-source customer communication with multi-channel support including email, chat, and social media. Its strength lies in customization possibilities and the option to self-host for complete data control.
Tawk.to focuses on plug-and-play live chat with up to 15 agents, visitor tracking, and mobile apps. It excels at providing immediate chat functionality without technical setup or ongoing maintenance requirements.
The fundamental difference is control versus convenience - Chatwoot offers technical flexibility while Tawk.to prioritizes ease of use and immediate deployment.
Pricing Comparison
Chatwoot charges $20 per agent monthly for hosted plans, with custom pricing for enterprise needs. The open-source version is free but requires technical expertise and hosting infrastructure.
Tawk.to's free plan includes up to 15 agents and core chat features. Premium features like removing branding cost approximately $1 per hour, making it cost-effective for businesses wanting to minimize expenses.
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
Tawk.to
Pros
- ✓ Completely free
- ✓ Up to 15 agents
- ✓ Full-featured
Cons
- ✗ Website chat only
- ✗ No messaging platforms
- ✗ Branding on free plan
Verdict
Choose Chatwoot if you want open-source flexibility and can manage $20 per agent monthly or self-hosting. Choose Tawk.to if you prefer a ready-to-use solution with free up to 15 agents.
Choose Chatwoot if: You need open-source flexibility, want to customize extensively, and can handle $20 per agent monthly or manage self-hosting.
Choose Tawk.to if: You want immediate deployment, prefer not to manage technical infrastructure, and value the unlimited free agent model.
For teams wanting comprehensive features without technical complexity or per-agent costs, Converge delivers full customer communication capabilities at a flat $49 monthly rate.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Chatwoot comparisons and all Tawk.to comparisons.