Smooch (Sunshine Conversations) vs Tawk.to

Smooch (now Sunshine Conversations) and Tawk.to represent different approaches to customer messaging. Smooch provides omnichannel conversation APIs for developers, while Tawk.to offers plug-and-play live chat with optional professional agent services.

The decision centers on whether you need programmable messaging infrastructure or immediate website chat deployment.

Smooch enables conversations across WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, SMS, email, and web chat through unified APIs. It offers message routing, bot integration, and conversation continuity across channels with enterprise-grade security.

Tawk.to provides free website live chat, real-time visitor monitoring, file sharing, and automatic translation in 45+ languages. Their unique feature is hiring trained agents at $1/hour for round-the-clock coverage.

Smooch targets developers building omnichannel experiences, while Tawk.to serves businesses wanting immediate chat functionality without development overhead.

Smooch uses per-agent pricing starting at $19/agent/month for basic features, scaling to $99/agent/month for advanced capabilities. Enterprise plans with custom integrations require negotiated pricing.

Tawk.to is completely free for up to 15 agents and conversations. The only cost is optional hired agents at $1/hour, making it extremely cost-effective for small to medium businesses.

For a 5-agent team, Smooch costs $95-495/month depending on features, while Tawk.to remains free unless hiring professional agents.

Choose Smooch if you need omnichannel messaging APIs with custom integrations and automation. Choose Tawk.to if you want free website chat with professional agent backup options.

Choose Smooch if: You need omnichannel messaging APIs with WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and SMS integration for building custom conversation experiences.

Choose Tawk.to if: You want free website live chat with excellent visitor insights and the flexibility to hire professional agents on-demand.

For teams seeking comprehensive customer communication without API complexity, Converge offers chat, email, and automation at $49/month flat rate, providing professional features with predictable costs and no per-agent fees.