Best Output Desk Live Chat Alternatives in 2026
The top Output Desk Live Chat alternatives are tawk.to, LiveChat and Zoho SalesIQ: 15 WordPress live chat plugins our editors would look at instead of Output Desk Live Chat, in our ranking order.
Output Desk Live Chat: A WordPress chat plugin with ticketing, routing, visitor tracking, and chatbot flows. Where it falls short: annual access costs $599; a perpetual license costs $1,499.
Switching from Output Desk Live Chat? For most wordpress live chat plugins buyers the best Output Desk Live Chat alternative is tawk.to, built for free WordPress chat with room to scale. On a budget, Brevo Conversations starts at $15/user/mo.
Why People Look for an Output Desk Live Chat Alternative
- Annual access costs $599; a perpetual license costs $1,499
- The license covers Output Desk rather than a standalone WordPress chat plugin
- Documentation is the listed support channel
- No free plan — 11 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overalltawk.to9.3
Free WordPress chat with room to scale
Visit tawk.to - Lowest priceBrevo Conversations8.9
Paid plans from $15/user/mo
Visit Brevo Conversations - Best free optiontawk.to9.3
Has a free plan (Output Desk Live Chat has none)
Visit tawk.to
All 15 Output Desk Live Chat 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 forFree WordPress chat with room to scale
- Better than Output Desk Live Chat:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.3 vs 4.9
A free live-chat foundation with visitor tracking, ticketing, and paid AI tiers.
- Chatbot support
- Visitor tracking
9.3/10★★★★★Visit tawk.to -
Best forTeams wanting polished omnichannel live chat
- Better than Output Desk Live Chat:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 4.9
LiveChat pairs WordPress-connected agent chat with visitor tracking and messaging channels.
- Chatbot support
- Visitor tracking
9.2/10★★★★★Visit LiveChat -
Best forBusinesses invested in Zoho or needing a free tier
- Better than Output Desk Live Chat:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.1 vs 4.9
A flexible chat and visitor-engagement tool, especially suited to Zoho users.
- Chatbot support
- Visitor tracking
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Zoho SalesIQ -
Best forTeams already using HubSpot CRM
- Better than Output Desk Live Chat:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.0 vs 4.9
A practical live chat option for teams that already work in HubSpot CRM.
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit HubSpot -
Best forSmall teams wanting free chat and multichannel support
- Better than Output Desk Live Chat:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.9 vs 4.9
A WordPress-connected chat tool with a free entry point and paid access at $15 per user monthly.
- Chatbot support
- Visitor tracking
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Brevo -
Best forLarger teams needing messaging and service workflows
- Better than Output Desk Live Chat:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 4.9
A service-workflow suite with messaging, routing, and AI, priced for larger teams.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Zendesk -
Best forBusinesses needing a broad support platform
- Better than Output Desk Live Chat:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 4.9
A broad support platform combining live chat, ticketing, automation, and AI.
- Chatbot support
- Visitor tracking
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Intercom -
Best forTeams combining chat with ticketing and a help center
- Better than Output Desk Live Chat:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.6 vs 4.9
LiveAgent pairs live chat with ticketing, a shared inbox, and self-service tools.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit LiveAgent -
Best forTeams wanting a free omnichannel inbox
- Better than Output Desk Live Chat:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.5 vs 4.9
Crisp pairs WordPress website chat with a shared inbox, AI workflows, and a free plan.
- Chatbot support
- Visitor tracking
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Crisp -
Best forTeams preferring open-source or self-hosted chat
- Better than Output Desk Live Chat:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.4 vs 4.9
Chatwoot combines website chat and shared inbox workflows, with cloud or self-hosted deployment.
- Chatbot support
- Visitor tracking
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Chatwoot -
Best forSmall businesses needing free chat and visitor tracking
- Better than Output Desk Live Chat:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.2 vs 4.9
A WordPress-connected chat tool with a free tier and paid plans that expand capacity and automation.
- Chatbot support
- Visitor tracking
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Smartsupp -
Best forTeams needing free chat across many messaging channels
- Better than Output Desk Live Chat:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.1 vs 4.9
Website chat and messaging channels, with visitor tools and paid features for growing teams.
- Chatbot support
- Visitor tracking
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit JivoChat -
Best forSmall teams wanting free chat and lead capture
- Better than Output Desk Live Chat:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.0 vs 4.9
A WordPress-connected chat tool with free live chat, automation and lead capture.
- Chatbot support
- Visitor tracking
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Chatra -
Best forBudget-conscious sites needing website-only chat
- Better than Output Desk Live Chat:
- Free plan
- Editor score 7.9 vs 4.9
A website-first chat plugin with a free one-agent plan and paid tiers from $15 monthly.
- Chatbot support
- Visitor tracking
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit MyLiveChat -
Best forTeams combining chat, email, and marketing tools
- Better than Output Desk Live Chat:
- Editor score 7.8 vs 4.9
A WordPress-connected chat and shared inbox suite that also includes marketing tools.
- Chatbot support
- Visitor tracking
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit HelpCrunch
Output Desk Live Chat Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Output Desk Live Chat?
tawk.to: #1 in our WordPress Live Chat Plugins ranking, with an editor score of 9.3 out of 10. A free live-chat foundation with visitor tracking, ticketing, and paid AI tiers.
Is there a free alternative to Output Desk Live Chat?
Yes. tawk.to, Zoho SalesIQ, HubSpot Live Chat, Brevo Conversations and LiveAgent have a free plan or a free tier (11 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Output Desk Live Chat?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Brevo Conversations starts lowest, at $15/user/mo.
Why do people look for Output Desk Live Chat alternatives?
Annual access costs $599; a perpetual license costs $1,499; The license covers Output Desk rather than a standalone WordPress chat plugin; Documentation is the listed support channel.
How do I switch from Output Desk Live Chat?
Take a full backup of your site files and database at Output Desk Live Chat (or use a migration plugin). Open the new hosting account; many hosts migrate a WordPress site for you, check before doing it by hand. Import the backup and check the site on the temporary address the new host gives you. Point your domain's DNS to the new host, wait for it to switch, then cancel Output Desk Live Chat.
How to Switch from Output Desk Live Chat
- Take a full backup of your site files and database at Output Desk Live Chat (or use a migration plugin).
- Open the new hosting account; many hosts migrate a WordPress site for you, check before doing it by hand.
- Import the backup and check the site on the temporary address the new host gives you.
- Point your domain's DNS to the new host, wait for it to switch, then cancel Output Desk Live Chat.
Output Desk Live Chat vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Chatbot support | Visitor tracking | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Output Desk Live Chat | No | $599/yr | Yes | Yes | 4.9 |
| 1 | tawk.to | Yes | $290/yr | Yes | Yes | 9.3 |
| 2 | LiveChat | No | $19/user/mo | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 3 | Zoho SalesIQ | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.1 | |
| 4 | HubSpot Live Chat | Yes | 9.0 | |||
| 5 | Brevo Conversations | Yes | $15/user/mo | Yes | Yes | 8.9 |
| 6 | Zendesk Messaging | No | $55/user/mo | 8.8 | ||
| 7 | Intercom | No | $29/seat/mo | Yes | Yes | 8.7 |
| 8 | LiveAgent | Yes | $15/user/mo | 8.6 | ||
| 9 | Crisp | Yes | $45/mo | Yes | Yes | 8.5 |
| 10 | Chatwoot | Yes | $19/user/mo | Yes | Yes | 8.4 |
| 11 | Smartsupp | Yes | $17/mo | Yes | Yes | 8.2 |
| 12 | JivoChat | Yes | $28/user/mo | Yes | Yes | 8.1 |
| 13 | Chatra | Yes | $25/seat/mo | Yes | Yes | 8.0 |
| 14 | MyLiveChat | Yes | $15/seat/mo | Yes | Yes | 7.9 |
| 15 | HelpCrunch | No | Yes | Yes | 7.8 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update