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Savena

7 best Crisp chat alternatives in 2026

Last updated 2026-10-26 · Written by the Savena team. Savena is our product, and it is listed first; every other entry is described from the vendor's own pricing and feature pages.

Crisp is a well-priced multichannel chat tool: flat per-workspace plans, a free tier for two seats, and channels from WhatsApp to Telegram. Teams outgrow it when they need the omnichannel inbox or real AI volume, both of which start on the $95 Essentials plan, or when they need to act on ecommerce orders rather than view them.

Here are seven alternatives, with prices from each vendor's pricing page as of October 2026.

Why teams look for a Crisp alternative

  • The omnichannel inbox is listed from the Essentials plan ($95/month).
  • AI is sold as credits: about 90 conversations on Mini, 450 on Essentials and 1,350 on Plus.
  • The free plan has no AI.
  • Shopify support centers on viewing orders, carts and tracking.

At a glance

ToolBest forPricing modelStarts at
SavenaShopify stores that want the AI to act on the order, not just answer about itFlat platform fee + per AI resolution$99/mo
TidioSmall stores that want free or low-cost live chat with an AI chatbotConversation volume, plus separate AI and Flows usageFree; paid from $29/mo
IntercomTeams that want a leading AI agent with an omnichannel inbox, especially in SaaSPer seat, plus per AI outcomeFrom $29 per seat/mo
Help ScoutEmail-first teams that want a simple, human-feeling shared inboxPer userFree; paid from $25 per user/mo
ChatwootTeams that want open source or to self-hostPer agent (or self-hosted)Free; paid from $19 per agent/mo
ZendeskLarger or multi-brand teams that need enterprise workflowsPer agent$55 per agent/mo (annual)
FreshdeskTeams that want a broad helpdesk at a low per-agent pricePer agent$19 per agent/mo (annual)

1. SavenaOur product

Best for: Shopify stores that want the AI to act on the order, not just answer about it

Savena is a unified support inbox with an AI agent that reads the live Shopify order and makes the change the customer asks for: it cancels orders, edits the shipping address before the order ships, and adds, removes or swaps items, after verifying the customer with a one-time code. You choose which actions it is allowed to take; anything else goes to your team with the conversation and a short brief attached.

Pricing
$99/month including 3 team members ($25/month each after), unlimited conversations, plus $0.99 for each conversation the AI resolves on its own. 21-day free trial.
AI
Included in the platform; billed $0.99 only when the AI resolves a conversation without a human. Handoffs cost nothing.
Channels
Email, live chat widget, WhatsApp, Instagram DMs and comments, Facebook Messenger
Shopify
Order lookup and tracking, cancellations, address and item edits, and capped discount codes, each switched on per store

Strengths

  • The AI takes the action in Shopify instead of drafting a reply for an agent to carry out.
  • Every write is gated: a one-time code to the email on the order, plus a confirmation step.
  • Conversations are unlimited; you pay for AI outcomes, not ticket volume.
  • Stripe integration for refunds and subscription changes in the same inbox.

Limitations

  • Refunds on Shopify orders are handed to a person rather than issued by the AI.
  • No SMS or phone channel.
  • No importer for past tickets from another helpdesk; history stays in the old tool.
  • No permanently free plan.

2. Tidio

Best for: Small stores that want free or low-cost live chat with an AI chatbot

Tidio is a live chat and chatbot tool with a free plan and the Lyro AI add-on. It is quick to install on Shopify, and agents can cancel unfulfilled orders and issue refunds from the chat panel.

Pricing
Free plan for 50 conversations a month; Starter $29/month ($24.17 billed annually); Growth from $49.17; Plus from $300.
AI
Lyro add-on from $32.50/month for 50 AI conversations.
Channels
Live chat, email, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger
Shopify
Agents cancel unfulfilled orders and refund from the chat panel; Lyro looks up order status

Strengths

  • Permanently free plan.
  • Fast to set up on a Shopify store.

Limitations

  • Conversations, Lyro AI and Flows are metered separately.
  • Plans below Plus are capped at 10 seats.

Savena vs Tidio

3. Intercom

Best for: Teams that want a leading AI agent with an omnichannel inbox, especially in SaaS

Intercom pairs a polished inbox with Fin, its AI agent, which is billed per outcome and can also run on top of another helpdesk. Its Shopify app lets agents refund, cancel and edit addresses from the sidebar.

Pricing
Essential from $29 per seat/month (discounted for new customers), Advanced $85, Expert $132.
AI
Fin is $0.99 per outcome.
Channels
Chat, email, in-app; WhatsApp, SMS and phone billed by usage
Shopify
Agents refund, cancel and edit addresses from the sidebar

Strengths

  • Fin is one of the most capable AI agents available.
  • Strong in-app and product messaging.

Limitations

  • Seats, AI outcomes and per-message channels all add to the bill.
  • Built for SaaS first; ecommerce is a secondary focus.

Savena vs Intercom

4. Help Scout

Best for: Email-first teams that want a simple, human-feeling shared inbox

Help Scout is a shared inbox and help center known for being easy to use. It added chat, messaging channels and per-resolution AI, and its Shopify integration lets agents refund, cancel, edit and duplicate recent orders from the sidebar.

Pricing
Free (5 users, 100 contacts a month); Standard $25, Plus $45, Pro $75 per user/month. Annual billing saves 16%.
AI
$0.75 per resolution.
Channels
Email, live chat, SMS, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger (from Standard)
Shopify
Agents refund, cancel, edit and duplicate recent orders

Strengths

  • Easy to learn, with a built-in help center.
  • Lowest per-resolution AI price on this list.

Limitations

  • No native voice.
  • Less ecommerce-specific automation than Shopify-first tools.

5. Chatwoot

Best for: Teams that want open source or to self-host

Chatwoot is an open-source omnichannel inbox you can self-host or use as a cloud service. Its Captain AI runs on credits included with each plan.

Pricing
Hacker free (2 agents, chat only); Startups $19, Business $39, Enterprise $99 per agent/month.
AI
Captain AI: 300–800 credits included; extra credits $20 per 1,000.
Channels
Email, chat, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger; voice on Business and up
Shopify
Order lookup

Strengths

  • Open source, with full control over your data when self-hosted.
  • Low per-agent price.

Limitations

  • Shopify integration is for looking orders up, not changing them.

Savena vs Chatwoot

6. Zendesk

Best for: Larger or multi-brand teams that need enterprise workflows

Zendesk Suite is the most widely used enterprise helpdesk, with mature ticketing, SLAs, reporting and a large app marketplace. It is priced per agent, with AI resolutions and some channels billed on top.

Pricing
Suite Team $55 per agent/month billed annually ($69 monthly); Suite Professional $115 ($149 monthly).
AI
5 or 10 automated resolutions per agent per month included; then $1.50–$2.00 each. Copilot is $50 per agent/month.
Channels
Email, chat, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook; voice and SMS as add-ons
Shopify
Through marketplace apps

Strengths

  • Mature ticketing, SLAs and reporting.
  • Large marketplace of integrations.

Limitations

  • Per-agent price plus resolution fees and channel add-ons.
  • Heavier to set up than ecommerce-specific tools.

Savena vs Zendesk

7. Freshdesk

Best for: Teams that want a broad helpdesk at a low per-agent price

Freshdesk is a full helpdesk with ticketing, automations and the Freddy AI agent. Its official Shopify app lets agents cancel orders before fulfillment and issue full or partial refunds, once an admin enables them.

Pricing
Growth $19, Pro $55, Enterprise $89 per agent/month billed annually; Freshdesk Omni from $29.
AI
Freddy AI Agent includes 500 sessions; more are $49 per 100 sessions.
Channels
Email, portal, chat and messaging (Omni plans)
Shopify
Agents cancel before fulfillment and refund

Strengths

  • Low per-agent entry price.
  • Mature ticketing and automation.

Limitations

  • AI is billed per session, not per resolution.

How to choose a Crisp alternative

  • Keep the price model you like. If Crisp's flat pricing is what you value, Savena (flat platform fee) and Chatwoot (self-hosted) are the closest. Intercom, Zendesk, Help Scout and Freshdesk charge per seat or agent.
  • Match the AI to your volume. Credits run out at a fixed number of conversations. Per-resolution pricing (Savena, Intercom, Help Scout) costs nothing when the AI hands a conversation over.
  • Decide how much ecommerce you need. For a Shopify store, look for tools that act on orders. Help Scout, Freshdesk and Intercom let agents do it; Savena's AI does it itself.

Read the full Savena vs Crisp comparison

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free alternative to Crisp?

Tidio, Help Scout and Chatwoot have free plans. Chatwoot is the closest in spirit: an open-source omnichannel inbox you can self-host.

Which Crisp alternative is best for Shopify stores?

Savena if you want the AI to cancel and edit Shopify orders itself; Tidio if you want a simple chat widget with a free plan; Help Scout if your team is email-first and wants order actions in the sidebar.

Is there a Crisp alternative with flat pricing?

Savena charges a flat $99/month including 3 team members and unlimited conversations, plus $0.99 per conversation the AI resolves on its own. Chatwoot is free to self-host.

Try Savena on your own store

Connect Shopify and your channels, switch on the actions you want the AI to take, and see what it resolves before you pay for anything.

Start free trial

Other alternatives guides

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Key terms

Omnichannel customer serviceConversational AIFirst response time