Best Free Chat Widget for Websites in 2025 | chatboq

In 2025, a website without a live chat widget is like a store without a salesperson, and it’s lacking a crucial point of engagement for customers. As customer expectations for instant support and personalized experiences increase, live chat has become a non-negotiable tool for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re running a small e-commerce store, a SaaS platform, or a content-based website, the right chat widget can help you convert visitors into leads, reduce cart abandonment, and build stronger relationships with your audience.

The good news is that several free live chat solutions offer powerful features without requiring a financial investment.Some platforms, such as Tawk.to, are a completely free service with unlimited agents and chats. Others, like Chatboq, Tidio, and HubSpot, offer freemium models with generous free tiers that include AI, automation, or CRM integrations.

1. Chatboq offers AI-based omnichannel chats and automation with a free trial..

2. Tidio includes AI chatbots with 50 free monthly conversations.

3. HubSpot integrates chat directly with its free CRM system.

4. Crisp features a modern interface suitable for startups.

5. JivoChat supports multilingual chats for global customer engagement.

6. Tawk. to offers unlimited chats and agent access freely.

A chat widget is a software or application that appears as a small pop-up or button in the corner of a website, inviting you to start a conversation with the business. It enables real-time communication between you and your site visitors. Some popular chat widgets in 2025 include Chatboq, Tidio, Crisp, and JivoChat, which offer real-time support and assist users directly on their websites.

What does it do:

• It reduces user frustration by instantly answering questions.

• It captures emails, phone numbers, and qualified leads while visitors are still interested.

• Guide customers through checkout, upsell products, reduce abandoned carts, and boost sales.

• A visible chat widget reassures visitors that help is just one click away, which increases customer trust.

• Free widgets are often less expensive than phone support and can be partially automated with chatbots that offer numerous benefits.

In 2025, many free chat widgets have developed and now offer AI chatbots, multilingual support, integrations with CRMs and e-commerce platforms, and mobile apps, making them the best tool for small businesses and growing SaaS teams. 

Before going to the top free chat widgets, here are some key factors to consider:

1. Pricing model: Some tools are 100% free, while others offer limited free tiers with upgrade paths.

2. Unlimited vs. limited conversations: If you expect heavy traffic, unlimited chats and free widgets may be essential.

3. Features: Look for live chat, ticketing, AI chatbots, visitor monitoring, and canned responses.

4. Ease of setup: Ideally, no-code setup with plugins for WordPress, Shopify, or Wix.

5. Scalability: Does the free plan meet your needs now, and is there room to grow later?

6. Branding: Many free widgets include “Powered by” labels that can only be removed in paid plans.

7. AI vs. Human: Do you want AI to handle FAQs, or purely human-based chat? Understanding chatbots in customer service helps determine the right balance.

8. Integrations: If you rely on HubSpot, Salesforce, or Shopify, check for seamless integrations. 

Let's explore the leading free options this year. 

1. Chatboq

For companies that want AI-driven automation and omnichannel communication, Chatboq stands out. 

Key Features

• AI chatbots with customizable conversation flows, integrated with live chat for websites.

• Omnichannel support, such as website, WhatsApp, SMS, email, and social media

• Built-in CRM integrations

• In-chat payments and product tours

• White-labeling and advanced analytics

Pros of Chatboq

• Advanced AI and automation capabilities

• Great for scaling customer support across multiple channels

• Proactive product tours boost onboarding and sales

• Supports enterprise-grade analytics and reporting

Cons of Chatboq

• Challenging compared to simpler tools

• Free plan includes branding

Best For

• SaaS, E-commerce, healthcare, and enterprise businesses that want scalable AI-powered engagement. 

2. JivoChat

If your business serves customers across different countries and languages, JivoChat is the ideal solution.

Key Features

• Multilingual chat with real-time translation

• Multichannel communication

• E-commerce platform integrations like Shopify, Magento, etc.

• Mobile-first design

Pros of JivoChat

• Excellent for international and multilingual audiences

• Strong mobile usability for teams on the go

• Broad integrations with online stores and business tools

Cons of JivoChat

• The free plan is less generous compared to Tidio

• Some advanced features require paid plans

Best for

• Businesses that interact with customers worldwide require multilingual chat capabilities.

3. Tidio

Tidio combines live chat and AI chatbots in its free plan, making it an ideal choice for businesses seeking to automate their customer interactions.

Key Features

• 50 AI chatbot conversations per month

• Shared multi-channel inbox like chat, email, Messenger

• Optimizable chat widgets

• Shopify, WooCommerce, and WordPress integrations

Pros

• Combines AI automation with human chat

• Clean and user-friendly interface

• Supports proactive chat triggers

Cons

• Limited to 50 chatbot conversations on the free plan

• Tidio branding visible

• Advanced AI is locked behind paid plans

Best For

• E-commerce stores and small and medium businesses want to save time by automating FAQs and handling multiple communication channels.

4. HubSpot Chat

If you’re already using the HubSpot ecosystem or planning to adopt a CRM, HubSpot’s free live chat is a perfect fit.

Key Features

• Part of HubSpot CRM and ecosystem

• Free chatbot builder for lead capture

• Customizable welcome messages

• Lead logging and visitor data tracking

Pros:

• All chat conversations are saved in CRM automatically

• Easy lead nurturing and follow-up

• Helps align marketing, sales, and support

Cons

• Chat flows are basic

• Notifications can sometimes be missed

Best For

• Businesses focused on sales and marketing, especially those already invested in the HubSpot ecosystem.

5. Crisp

Crisp is known for its visually appealing, easy-to-use design and startup-friendly features.

Key Features

• Shared team inbox

• Unlimited agents

• Automated replies

• A visitor typing preview, which is called a sneak peek

• Fun “CrispyBird” game for visitors waiting

Pros

• User-friendly and modern user interface

• Supports unlimited agents for free

• Offers unique engagement features

Cons

• The free plan is basic compared to competitors

• Limited automation and integrations

Best For

• Startups or businesses that prioritize simplicity and user experience over advanced features.

6. LiveAgent

LiveAgent combines chat with a help desk system, making it a suitable option for companies that expect a high volume of inquiries.

Key Features

• Ticket management system

• One free chat button

• Multi-language support

• Mobile and desktop apps

Pros

• Ideal for structured customer support workflows

• Free plan includes both chat and ticketing

• Good for multilingual teams

Cons

• Only one chat button in the free plan

• Inactive free accounts are deleted after 8 weeks

Best For

• Medium-sized businesses that want live chat alongside email/ticket support.

7. Tawk.to

If you're looking for a completely free chat widget with no hidden costs, Tawk.to is a great option.

Key Features

• Unlimited agents and chats

• Real-time visitor monitoring

• Built-in ticketing system

• Mobile and desktop apps

• Canned responses for FAQs

Pros

• Always free, no limits on chats or agents

• Simple setup for WordPress, Shopify, Wix

• Multi-language support

Cons

• No advanced AI features

• “Powered by Tawk.to” branding unless you pay to remove it

Best For

• Small businesses, startups, bloggers, and anyone needing a reliable, free chat solution without worrying about usage caps.

Choosing the right free chat widget depends on your business needs. Each tool offers unique strengths, including unlimited chats, AI automation, and CRM integration, but also comes with certain limitations. 

The good news is that most free chat widgets are developed for easy installation, even for non-technical users. 

1. Installation Made Simple

Most free chat widgets provide one-click plugins for WordPress, Shopify, and Wix. Alternatively, you can copy-paste a JavaScript snippet into your site’s header. For example, with WordPress, simply navigate to your admin panel, select "Plugins" > "Add New," search for your chosen chat widget, and click "Install Now." For platforms like Shopify and Wix, you'll find the chat widget in their respective app stores. 

2. Customization Basics

You can optimize or rebrand the chat widgets once you have configured them. 

• Match the widget colors, text, logo, and style to your brand

• Add a friendly welcome message, and set up multilingual

• Enable proactive pop-ups for abandoned carts or key pages

3. Best Practices

Some major practices that will boost the interaction and engagement are listed below:

• Greet visitors proactively to start conversations.

• Use canned responses for FAQs.

• Route complex cases to human agents quickly

• Monitor analytics to improve response times and customer satisfaction 

If you want a complete step-by-step installation guide, check out our Free Chat Widget Setup Tutorial (Full Instructions).

Free chat widgets are evolving with AI, omnichannel support, and advanced personalization to enhance customer engagement in 2025 and beyond.

• More advanced AI chatbot tools for live chat, like AI copilots, will handle complex conversations.

• Omnichannel inboxes for Chat, email, social media, and SMS will be merged into a single dashboard.

• Enjoy secure transactions directly within chat with Chatboq payment integration.

• Chatbots will detect frustration or satisfaction and respond based on sentiment.

• Widgets will adapt messages based on user behavior and history. 

Conclusion

The right free chat widget can dramatically improve customer engagement, lead generation, and overall support efficiency. The best choice ultimately depends on your business model and goals: Tawk.to works well for fully free usage, Tidio brings AI automation, HubSpot offers native CRM power, JivoChat supports global teams, Crisp delivers a clean modern interface, and LiveAgent is ideal for ticketing workflows.

For businesses looking not just for chat, but for scalable growth, future-ready automation, and a unified customer experience, Chatboq stands out with its AI-driven omnichannel features, smart automation, and free trial access. It’s built for teams that want simplicity today and strategic capability tomorrow, making it a strong option for companies preparing for long-term customer engagement demands.

If you're ready to experience a more modern, AI-powered approach to live chat, join the Chatboq waitlist and get early access: