Best Gist Alternatives in 2026
The top Gist alternatives are Intercom, Freshchat and LiveChat: 15 live chat software our editors would look at instead of Gist, in our ranking order.
Gist: A capable free chat and messaging platform with clear upgrades for growing support teams. Where it falls short: free plan is limited to 2 support seats.
Switching from Gist? For most live chat software buyers the best Gist alternative is Intercom, built for mature teams needing advanced customer messaging. On a budget, Brevo Conversations starts at $15/user/mo. Freshchat has a free plan. Freshchat offers the most included agent seats (10 agents).
Why People Look for a Gist Alternative
- Free plan is limited to 2 support seats
- Advanced features require the $29 or $99 monthly plans
- Premium capabilities such as calls and custom bots start at $99 monthly
- Included agent seats: 2 agents — up to 10 agents with Freshchat
- Listed integrations: 50 apps — up to 2000 apps with Crisp
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallIntercom9.4
Mature teams needing advanced customer messaging
Visit Intercom - Lowest priceBrevo Conversations8.6
Paid plans from $15/user/mo
Visit Brevo Conversations - Best free optionFreshchat9.2
Has a free plan
Visit Freshchat - Most included agent seatsFreshchat9.2
10 agents
Visit Freshchat
All 15 Gist Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forMature teams needing advanced customer messaging
- Better than Gist:
- Listed integrations: 450 apps vs 50 apps
- Editor score 9.4 vs 3.8
A broad customer messaging suite for teams that need chat, automation, and handoff.
- Website chatbot
- Visitor tracking
- Live agent chat
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Intercom -
Best forFreshworks-oriented support teams
- Better than Gist:
- Included agent seats: 10 agents vs 2 agents
- Listed integrations: 1000 apps vs 50 apps
- Editor score 9.2 vs 3.8
A flexible Freshworks chat platform with free essentials and deeper paid routing, reporting, and security.
- Website chatbot
- Visitor tracking
- Live agent chat
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Freshchat -
Best forTeams needing polished live chat and reporting
- Better than Gist:
- Listed integrations: 200 apps vs 50 apps
- Editor score 9.1 vs 3.8
A polished live-chat suite for teams that need agents, automation, and detailed reporting.
- Website chatbot
- Visitor tracking
- Live agent chat
9.1/10★★★★★Visit LiveChat -
Best forZoho-centric teams needing broad live chat
- Better than Gist:
- Editor score 8.9 vs 3.8
A broad live chat suite with strong Zoho integration and a low-cost annual entry tier.
- Website chatbot
- Visitor tracking
- Live agent chat
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Zoho SalesIQ -
Best forBusinesses prioritizing free team chat
- Better than Gist:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 3.8
A capable free team-chat platform with optional AI tiers and broad integrations.
- Website chatbot
- Visitor tracking
- Live agent chat
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit tawk.to -
Best forBrevo users needing simple omnichannel chat
- Better than Gist:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 3.8
A simple omnichannel chat option for Brevo users with free live chat and AI handoff.
- Website chatbot
- Visitor tracking
- Live agent chat
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Brevo -
Best forSmall teams needing omnichannel coverage
- Better than Gist:
- Included agent seats: 5 agents vs 2 agents
- Editor score 8.5 vs 3.8
A flexible chat platform for small teams that need web, social, email, and phone channels.
- Website chatbot
- Visitor tracking
- Live agent chat
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit JivoChat -
Best forSmall teams wanting a free omnichannel inbox
- Better than Gist:
- Listed integrations: 2000 apps vs 50 apps
- Editor score 8.4 vs 3.8
A capable free inbox for small teams, with paid tiers starting at $45 per workspace monthly.
- Website chatbot
- Visitor tracking
- Live agent chat
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Crisp -
Best forEnterprises needing routing and on-premise options
- Better than Gist:
- Editor score 8.3 vs 3.8
A mature live-chat platform for complex routing, AI handoff, and deployment flexibility.
- Website chatbot
- Visitor tracking
- Live agent chat
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Comm100 -
Best forTeams wanting open-source omnichannel chat
- Better than Gist:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 3.8
A flexible open-source shared inbox for teams managing chat, messaging, and support.
- Website chatbot
- Visitor tracking
- Live agent chat
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Chatwoot -
Best forEcommerce teams needing chat and social channels
- Better than Gist:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 3.8
A broad omnichannel support workspace for ecommerce and web-based teams.
- Website chatbot
- Visitor tracking
- Live agent chat
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Re:amaze -
Best forEcommerce teams needing chatbot-led assistance
- Better than Gist:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 3.8
A chatbot-led support option for ecommerce teams that need human handoff and messaging channels.
- Website chatbot
- Visitor tracking
- Live agent chat
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit ChatBot -
Best forSmall ecommerce teams wanting affordable chat
- Better than Gist:
- Listed integrations: 80 apps vs 50 apps
- Editor score 7.9 vs 3.8
Affordable ecommerce chat with bots, visitor tracking, and omnichannel messaging.
- Website chatbot
- Visitor tracking
- Live agent chat
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Smartsupp -
Best forBudget-conscious teams needing classic live chat
- Better than Gist:
- Editor score 7.8 vs 3.8
A low-cost website chat tool with useful routing, monitoring, and AI support features.
- Website chatbot
- Visitor tracking
- Live agent chat
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit MyLiveChat -
ChatBeaconVerified
Best forOrganizations needing private deployment and rich media
- Better than Gist:
- Included agent seats: 4 agents vs 2 agents
- Editor score 7.7 vs 3.8
A broad chat and engagement suite for teams that need AI, live agents, and deployment control.
- Website chatbot
- Visitor tracking
- Live agent chat
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit ChatBeacon
Gist Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Gist?
Intercom: #1 in our Live Chat Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A broad customer messaging suite for teams that need chat, automation, and handoff.
Is there a free alternative to Gist?
Yes. Freshchat, Zoho SalesIQ, tawk.to, Brevo Conversations and JivoChat have a free plan or a free tier (9 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Gist?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Brevo Conversations starts lowest, at $15/user/mo.
Why do people look for Gist alternatives?
Free plan is limited to 2 support seats; Advanced features require the $29 or $99 monthly plans; Premium capabilities such as calls and custom bots start at $99 monthly.
Which Gist alternative has the most included agent seats?
Freshchat, with 10 agents.
How do I switch from Gist?
Export your data from Gist (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Gist.
How to Switch from Gist
- Export your data from Gist (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Gist.
Gist vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Website chatbot | Live agent chat | Visitor tracking | Chat channels | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63 | Gist | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Omnichannel | 3.8 | |
| 1 | Intercom | No | $29/seat/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Omnichannel | 9.4 |
| 2 | Freshchat | Yes | $19/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Omnichannel | 9.2 |
| 3 | LiveChat | No | $19/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Omnichannel | 9.1 |
| 4 | Zoho SalesIQ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Omnichannel | 8.9 | |
| 5 | tawk.to | Yes | $290/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Website+messaging | 8.8 |
| 6 | Brevo Conversations | Yes | $15/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Omnichannel | 8.6 |
| 7 | JivoChat | Yes | $28/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Omnichannel | 8.5 |
| 8 | Crisp | Yes | $45/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Omnichannel | 8.4 |
| 9 | Comm100 Live Chat | No | $31/seat/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Omnichannel | 8.3 |
| 10 | Chatwoot | Yes | $19/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Omnichannel | 8.2 |
| 11 | Re:amaze | No | $29/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Omnichannel | 8.1 |
| 12 | ChatBot | No | $19/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Omnichannel | 8.0 |
| 13 | Smartsupp | Yes | $17/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Omnichannel | 7.9 |
| 14 | MyLiveChat | Yes | $15/seat/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Website | 7.8 |
| 15 | ChatBeacon | No | $33/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Omnichannel | 7.7 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update