Crisp vs Hiver
Crisp is all-in-one business messaging platform with AI support. Best suited for sMBs wanting comprehensive messaging with AI chatbot automation and video support. Known for its magicBrowse co-browsing and Hugo AI agent for automated customer conversations.
Hiver is gmail-based customer service platform. Best suited for organizations heavily invested in Gmail who primarily handle email support. Known for its native Gmail integration and shared mailbox management.
Crisp HiverCrisp Essentials costs $95/month for up to 10 seats with multi-channel messaging, while Hiver Pro costs $55/user/month for Gmail-native support — Crisp provides a standalone messaging platform, Hiver turns Gmail into a shared inbox. Crisp (G2: 4.5/5) handles WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, Instagram, email, and web chat with Hugo AI chatbot and video calls. Hiver (G2: 4.6/5) adds shared labels, collision detection, SLA tracking, and AI features directly inside Gmail — agents never leave their inbox.
The architectural choice: Crisp is a standalone platform your team logs into separately. Hiver enhances Gmail with zero new-platform adoption. At 10 agents, Crisp costs $95/month total versus Hiver Pro at $550/month — a 5.8x difference driven by workspace vs. per-user pricing. But Hiver's Gmail-native experience means zero training overhead for Google Workspace teams.
What features does Crisp offer?
Crisp's feature set is built around its target customer base, a key differentiator against Hiver. It uses a per workspace pricing model starting at From $45/mo, a different approach from Hiver's per seat structure. The features split across channel coverage, automation depth, AI tooling, and team management. Converge ($49/month flat for up to 15 agents) covers all of these in its base subscription.
What features does Hiver offer?
Hiver's feature set is built around its target customer base, a key differentiator against Crisp. It uses a per seat pricing model starting at From $25/seat/mo, a different approach from Crisp's per workspace structure. The features split across channel coverage, automation depth, AI tooling, and team management. Converge ($49/month flat for up to 15 agents) covers all of these in its base subscription.
How do Crisp and Hiver compare on features?
Crisp and Hiver compete in the same category but tune their feature sets for different team profiles. The material differences cluster around channel coverage, automation depth, reporting, and team management. The side-by-side below draws on aggregated G2 and Capterra reviews. A flat-rate alternative like Converge ($49/month for up to 15 agents) may sidestep the trade-off entirely.
Crisp provides standalone multi-channel messaging with AI and video; Hiver provides Gmail-native email collaboration with recent channel additions — different architectures for different team workflows. Crisp's shared inbox consolidates WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, Instagram, email, and web chat. Hugo AI automates conversations. MagicBrowse enables co-browsing and video calls. The AI workflow builder creates multi-step sequences. Crisp works with any email provider — no Gmail dependency.
Hiver adds a sidebar to Gmail: shared labels, round-robin assignment, collision detection, email notes, automation rules. AI Compose drafts replies; AI Summarizer condenses threads. Pro tier adds WhatsApp, voice, SLA management, and CSAT — features that extend Hiver beyond email-only. The interface is entirely Gmail — zero context switching.
Channel comparison: Crisp supports WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, Instagram, email, and web chat from Essentials tier. Hiver supports email and live chat on all tiers; WhatsApp and voice on Pro only. Crisp has broader channel coverage; Hiver's value is Gmail-native simplicity. Neither supports Discord or Zalo.
How much do Crisp and Hiver cost?
Crisp starts at From $45/mo (per workspace); Hiver starts at From $25/seat/mo (per seat). Converge is $49/month flat for up to 15 agents with all channels and AI included.
At 10 agents, Crisp Essentials costs $95/month versus Hiver Pro at $550/month — Crisp is 5.8x cheaper because workspace pricing absorbs team size. Hiver Pro includes AI Agents and Copilot at no extra charge; Crisp Essentials includes Hugo AI credits (~500 conversations/month). Both bundle AI into their pricing.
At 5 agents: Crisp Essentials ($95/month, 10 seats — room to grow) versus Hiver Pro ($275/month). Crisp saves $180/month. However, Hiver's free tier (shared inboxes, email + live chat) lets small teams start at zero cost — Crisp free is limited to 2 seats with basic web chat only.
Crisp Plus ($295/month, 20+ seats) adds ticketing, customer portal, and white-labeling. Hiver has no equivalent tier — it caps at Pro ($55/user). For teams exceeding 20 agents, Crisp Plus at $14.75/seat is 74% cheaper than Hiver Pro at $55/user.
Crisp Pricing
Hiver Pricing
What are Crisp's strengths and limitations?
Crisp's biggest strengths cluster around what reviewers consistently single out as its standout capability, which is what makes it a strong fit for smbs wanting comprehensive messaging with ai chatbot automation and video support. Its limitations cluster around pricing-model fit at smaller team sizes and around channel coverage gaps relative to a messaging-first inbox. The detailed lists below come from aggregated G2 and Capterra reviews plus our own internal customer-pipeline reports — teams that are using Crisp today as their primary inbox, plus teams that evaluated and ultimately rejected it during their selection process. Read them carefully side-by-side with Hiver's breakdown lower on this page to decide which of the two platforms fits where your team is heading next quarter — or whether a flat-rate alternative like Converge ($49/month, up to 15 agents, all channels and AI included) is a better path entirely, sidestepping both vendors.
Strengths
- Broad feature set covering chat, video, CRM, and knowledge base
- Hugo AI agent for automated conversations
- MagicBrowse for co-browsing and video support
- Generous free tier for testing
Limitations
- AI capped at 50-500 uses/mo on lower plans
- Ticketing and customer portal locked behind $295/mo Plus plan
- No Discord or Zalo support
- Big price jump from Essentials ($95) to Plus ($295)
What are Hiver's strengths and limitations?
Hiver's biggest strengths cluster around what reviewers consistently single out as its standout capability, which is what makes it a strong fit for organizations heavily invested in gmail who primarily handle email support. Its limitations cluster around pricing-model fit at smaller team sizes and around channel coverage gaps relative to a messaging-first inbox. The detailed lists below come from aggregated G2 and Capterra reviews plus our own internal customer-pipeline reports — teams that are using Hiver today as their primary inbox, plus teams that evaluated and ultimately rejected it during their selection process. Read them carefully alongside Crisp's breakdown earlier on this page to decide which of the two platforms fits where your team is heading next quarter — or whether a flat-rate alternative like Converge ($49/month, up to 15 agents, all channels and AI included) is a better path entirely, sidestepping both vendors.
Strengths
- Seamless Gmail integration
- Easy setup for Gmail users
- Good email management features
- Familiar interface
Limitations
- Limited to Gmail ecosystem
- No modern messaging channels
- Expensive per-user pricing
- Lacks WhatsApp and social messaging
Crisp or Hiver: which should you pick?
Pick Crisp if your primary need maps to its standout capability and its pricing model works at your team size. Pick Hiver if your team profile maps to its strengths instead. If neither fits — for example, a 3-15 agent team handling messaging channels (WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, Instagram, Discord, Zalo) wanting flat-rate pricing — Converge is $49/month flat for up to 15 agents, with all channels and AI tooling included.
Choose Crisp if you need messaging channels beyond email (WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, Instagram) and want workspace pricing that includes seats. Essentials at $95/month covers 10 seats with omnichannel inbox, Hugo AI chatbot, knowledge base, routing rules, and analytics. MagicBrowse for video calls and screen sharing enables visual troubleshooting. The platform works independently of any email provider.
Choose Hiver if your team uses Google Workspace and handles support primarily through email. Agents work in the same Gmail interface they already know — shared labels, @mentions, collision detection, email notes, and automation rules all operate inside Gmail. Pro at $55/user adds WhatsApp, voice, AI Agents, Copilot, SLA management, and CSAT. The free tier covers basic shared inboxes.
When should you choose Crisp or Hiver?
Crisp is the better value for teams that need multi-channel messaging and benefit from workspace pricing — especially teams larger than 4 agents where the per-seat savings compound. Hiver is the better choice for Gmail-native teams where zero adoption friction and email-first workflow matter more than channel breadth or workspace pricing.
For teams that need all messaging channels without workspace limits or Gmail dependency, Converge offers WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, and more at $49/month flat for up to 15 agents.
Looking for more options? Browse all platform comparisons, or see all Crisp comparisons and all Hiver comparisons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Crisp is best for SMBs wanting comprehensive messaging with AI chatbot automation and video support. Hiver is best for Organizations heavily invested in Gmail who primarily handle email support. Crisp's standout feature is MagicBrowse co-browsing and Hugo AI agent for automated customer conversations, while Hiver offers Native Gmail integration and shared mailbox management.
Crisp starts at From $45/mo. Hiver starts at From $25/seat/mo. Crisp offers a free plan. Hiver offers a free plan. For flat-rate pricing, consider Converge at $49/month for up to 15 agents.
Crisp offers a free plan. Hiver offers a free plan. Both are established platforms in the customer support space.
Crisp pros: Broad feature set covering chat, video, CRM, and knowledge base; Hugo AI agent for automated conversations. Hiver pros: Seamless Gmail integration; Easy setup for Gmail users. Each platform has distinct strengths depending on your use case.
Choose Crisp for SMBs wanting comprehensive messaging with AI chatbot automation and video support. Choose Hiver for Organizations heavily invested in Gmail who primarily handle email support. If you need messaging-first support with flat pricing, consider Converge as an alternative at $49/month for up to 15 agents.
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