Chatwoot vs Hiver
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Chatwoot | Hiver |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $19/seat/mo | From $35/seat/mo |
| Best For | Technical teams wanting open-source flexibility | Organizations heavily invested in Gmail who primarily handle email support |
| Standout Feature | Open-source with self-hosting option | Native Gmail integration and shared mailbox management |
| Free Plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| G2 Rating | 4.4 | 4.6 |
Chatwoot and Hiver represent different approaches to customer support. Chatwoot is an open-source, multi-channel platform designed for modern support teams, while Hiver transforms Gmail into a collaborative helpdesk.
Chatwoot (G2 4.4/5) offers flexibility through its open-source nature and multi-channel capabilities, whereas Hiver (G2 4.6/5) provides seamless Gmail integration for email-focused support workflows.
Feature Comparison
Chatwoot excels with its open-source flexibility, allowing custom integrations and modifications. It supports multiple channels including live chat, email, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter from a unified inbox.
Hiver specializes in Gmail-based support with features like shared inboxes, email templates, and collision detection. It keeps teams within their familiar Gmail environment while adding powerful collaboration tools.
The core difference: Chatwoot offers maximum customization and multi-channel management, while Hiver provides polished Gmail integration with minimal learning curve.
Pricing Comparison
Chatwoot starts at $20 per agent monthly with custom pricing for enterprise features, plus the option to self-host the open-source version for free.
Hiver ranges from $15 to $59 per user monthly, with transparent pricing that includes all team members, not just agents handling tickets.
Chatwoot's self-hosted option can be cost-effective for technical teams, while Hiver's predictable per-user pricing works well for teams wanting managed hosting and Gmail integration.
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
Hiver
Pros
- ✓ Seamless Gmail integration
- ✓ Easy setup for Gmail users
- ✓ Good email management features
Cons
- ✗ Limited to Gmail ecosystem
- ✗ No modern messaging channels
- ✗ Expensive per-user pricing
Verdict
Choose Chatwoot if you need open-source flexibility and multi-channel support. Choose Hiver if your team prefers Gmail-based workflows and email-centric support.
Choose Chatwoot if: You need open-source flexibility, want to customize extensively, or require robust multi-channel support with technical control.
Choose Hiver if: Your team lives in Gmail, prefers email-based support workflows, or wants a solution that requires minimal training and setup.
For teams wanting simplicity without sacrificing functionality, Converge offers unified support at $49/month flat rate, providing essential multi-channel features without the complexity of open-source management.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Chatwoot comparisons and all Hiver comparisons.