Best Open Alternatives in 2026
The top Open alternatives are Tidio, Zendesk AI Agents and Salesforce Service Cloud: 15 customer service automation software our editors would look at instead of Open, in our ranking order.
Open: Usage-based AI support with broad channels, workflows and helpdesk options. Where it falls short: costs scale with resolved tickets, with pass-through charges possible.
Switching from Open? For most customer service automation software buyers the best Open alternative is Tidio, built for small and mid-size teams automating chat and messaging support. On a budget, Zendesk AI Agents starts at $19/seat/mo.
Why People Look for an Open Alternative
- Costs scale with resolved tickets, with pass-through charges possible
- Enterprise volume pricing is custom above 100,000 monthly resolutions
- Founded in 2024, so its presence is relatively new
- No free plan — 3 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallTidio9.4
Small and mid-size teams automating chat and messaging support
Visit Tidio - Lowest priceZendesk AI Agents9.3
Paid plans from $19/seat/mo
Visit Zendesk AI Agents - Best free optionTidio9.4
Has a free plan (Open has none)
Visit Tidio
All 15 Open 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 forSmall and mid-size teams automating chat and messaging support
- Better than Open:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.4 vs 7.5
Customer service automation that pairs the Lyro AI agent and Flows chatbots with live chat, ticketing and a shared inbox, from a free plan.
- Automated routing
- Workflow automation
- AI service agent
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Tidio -
Best forTeams wanting established omnichannel AI support
- Better than Open:
- Editor score 9.3 vs 7.5
Omnichannel AI support with human handoff, priced through Zendesk plans and resolution usage.
- Human handoff
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Zendesk -
Best forOrganizations needing full-service case management
- Better than Open:
- Editor score 9.1 vs 7.5
A full-service case platform with omnichannel routing, self-service, automation, analytics, and AI.
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Salesforce -
Best forMid-market and enterprise contact centers
- Better than Open:
- Editor score 8.9 vs 7.5
A multichannel agent copilot for contact centers that want AI guidance with human oversight.
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit LivePerson -
Best forMid-market and enterprise support workflow automation
- Better than Open:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 7.5
A cloud platform for support teams that pairs AI conversations with workflow actions and live handoff.
- Human handoff
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Capacity -
Best forEnterprises needing visual, self-hosted AI agents
- Better than Open:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 7.5
A visual, multichannel AI platform for complex customer-service operations.
- Human handoff
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Cognigy -
Best forMid-market and enterprise support teams
- Better than Open:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 7.5
Automates support workflows across channels, with contextual handoffs to human agents.
- Human handoff
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Forethought -
Best forSecure enterprise virtual-assistant deployments
- Better than Open:
- Editor score 8.5 vs 7.5
Low-code, secure virtual-assistant automation for complex enterprise service operations.
- Human handoff
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Kore.ai -
Best forEnterprise brands needing broad AI channels
- Better than Open:
- Editor score 8.4 vs 7.5
Ada combines knowledge-grounded AI, visual flows, and human handoffs across support channels.
- Human handoff
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Ada -
Best forMid-market teams starting with free omnichannel automation
- Better than Open:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.3 vs 7.5
Build AI service agents, connect business knowledge, and route conversations to human teams.
- Human handoff
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Yellow.ai -
Best forEnterprises deploying agents across voice and chat
- Better than Open:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 7.5
An enterprise-focused service agent platform spanning voice, messaging, and multistep workflows.
- Human handoff
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Sierra -
Best forLarge enterprises needing self-hosted orchestration
- Better than Open:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 7.5
A multichannel contact-center AI platform with self-hosted deployment and human handoff.
- Human handoff
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Teneo -
Best forEnterprise teams automating service across channels
- Better than Open:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 7.5
Enterprise service automation for knowledge answers, workflows, voice and human handoff.
- Human handoff
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Zowie -
Best forEnterprises automating chat and voice service
- Better than Open:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 7.5
Enterprise chat and voice agents connect customer conversations to service workflows.
- Human handoff
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit boost.ai -
Best forSmall teams automating web support and sales
- Better than Open:
- Free plan
- Editor score 7.8 vs 7.5
Automates cited answers and commerce tasks, with human handoff on Growth and above.
- Automated routing
- Workflow automation
- AI service agent
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Hey Support
Open Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Open?
Tidio: #1 in our Customer Service Automation Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. Customer service automation that pairs the Lyro AI agent and Flows chatbots with live chat, ticketing and a shared inbox, from a free plan.
Is there a free alternative to Open?
Yes. Tidio, Yellow.ai and Hey Support have a free plan or a free tier.
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Open?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Zendesk AI Agents starts lowest, at $19/seat/mo.
Why do people look for Open alternatives?
Costs scale with resolved tickets, with pass-through charges possible; Enterprise volume pricing is custom above 100,000 monthly resolutions; Founded in 2024, so its presence is relatively new.
How do I switch from Open?
Export your data from Open (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 Open.
How to Switch from Open
- Export your data from Open (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 Open.
Open vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Supported channels | Human handoff | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Open | No | $0.75/unit usage-based | voice, chat, email, WhatsApp, SMS, Slack, Teams, social | Yes | 7.5 |
| 1 | Tidio | Yes | $24.17/mo | Website chat, Email, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp | 9.4 | |
| 2 | Zendesk AI Agents | No | $19/seat/mo | social, web, mobile, voice, email, messaging | Yes | 9.3 |
| 3 | Salesforce Service Cloud | No | $25/user/mo | 9.1 | ||
| 4 | LivePerson Copilot | No | multichannel | 8.9 | ||
| 5 | Capacity | No | Chat, web, SMS, voice, email | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 6 | Cognigy | Yes | 8.7 | |||
| 7 | Forethought Solve | No | chat, email, voice, SMS, Slack, mobile, API | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 8 | Kore.ai | Yes | 8.5 | |||
| 9 | Ada | No | Yes | 8.4 | ||
| 10 | Yellow.ai | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | ||
| 11 | Sierra | Voice, website chat, mobile app chat, SMS, WhatsApp, Apple Business Chat, email, ChatGPT | Yes | 8.2 | ||
| 12 | Teneo | Yes | 8.1 | |||
| 13 | Zowie | Website widget, mobile integration, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, email, voice/phone | Yes | 8.0 | ||
| 14 | boost.ai | No | Chat, voice, messaging, web | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 15 | Hey Support | Yes | $19/mo | web widget, voice, Telegram, WhatsApp Business, Messenger, Instagram, email, Slack | Yes | 7.8 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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