Freshchat vs Hiver
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Freshchat | Hiver |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $49/seat/mo | From $35/seat/mo |
| Best For | Large enterprises already using Freshworks products | Organizations heavily invested in Gmail who primarily handle email support |
| Standout Feature | Deep integration with Freshworks CRM and helpdesk | Native Gmail integration and shared mailbox management |
| Free Plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| G2 Rating | 4.2 | 4.6 |
Freshchat and Hiver represent two different philosophies in customer support. Freshchat excels as a modern live chat platform with robust messaging capabilities, while Hiver transforms Gmail into a collaborative helpdesk.
Freshchat (G2 4.2/5) focuses on real-time customer engagement across multiple channels, whereas Hiver (G2 4.6/5) specializes in email-based support workflows that feel familiar to Gmail users.
Feature Comparison
Freshchat shines with its intelligent chatbots, proactive messaging, and seamless mobile app experience. Its strength lies in real-time conversations across web, mobile, and social channels.
Hiver takes a unique approach by turning Gmail into a powerful helpdesk. Features like shared inboxes, collision detection, and email templates work natively within Gmail's interface.
The fundamental difference: Freshchat prioritizes instant messaging and chat automation, while Hiver excels at collaborative email management and knowledge base integration.
Pricing Comparison
Freshchat pricing ranges from $15 to $69 per agent per month, with higher tiers including advanced automation and analytics features.
Hiver costs $15 to $59 per user monthly, offering better value for email-heavy support teams since every team member can collaborate without additional agent fees.
For teams under 10 people, Hiver typically costs less. Larger teams may find Freshchat's per-agent model more predictable, especially if not everyone needs full access.
Freshchat
Pros
- ✓ Part of Freshworks ecosystem
- ✓ Strong mobile app
- ✓ Good WhatsApp integration
Cons
- ✗ Per-agent pricing gets expensive
- ✗ Limited customization options
- ✗ Steep learning curve
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 Freshchat if you need advanced chat automation and multi-channel messaging. Choose Hiver if your team lives in Gmail and prefers email-centric support workflows.
Choose Freshchat if: You prioritize live chat, need advanced bot automation, or serve customers who prefer instant messaging over email.
Choose Hiver if: Your team already uses Gmail extensively, handles primarily email support, or needs seamless collaboration on customer inquiries.
For teams seeking a simpler alternative, Converge offers unified customer communication at $49/month flat rate, eliminating per-agent costs while providing essential support features.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Freshchat comparisons and all Hiver comparisons.