Crisp vs Hiver

Crisp 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.