Tidio vs Crisp (2026): Live Chat and AI Compared
Two small business live chat platforms with AI agents, compared on published pricing, what is metered, seats, channels, ratings and privacy, as of October 2026.
By , research by the BestBots team · Updated Oct 19, 2026
Fact checked against each company's published pricing, documentation and verified user ratings. How we score
Pick Crisp if you want one predictable bill: a flat $45 to $295 per workspace with unlimited conversations and AI credits included. Pick Tidio if you are a Shopify store, want the best free plan or care most about vendor track record: it has 10 seats from day one, native Shopify actions and stronger reviews, but meters both human and AI conversations.
Side by side
| Spec | Tidio Lyro | Crisp AI Agent |
|---|---|---|
| BestBots Score | 4.3 | 4.1 |
| Starting price | $29 per month | $45 per month |
| Pricing model | per conversation | flat per workspace |
| Free trial | 7 days | 14 days |
| Price per resolution | Not per resolution: $0.70 to $0.78 per Lyro conversation on monthly tiers | None; bundled credits, Crisp estimates $0.05 to $0.10 per AI handled conversation |
| Channels | Website chat widget plus channels connected to Tidio; Lyro Connect for Zendesk, Intercom, Salesforce | Web chat, email, WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, SMS, Line, Viber |
| Human handoff | Yes, rule based handoff and ticket creation | Yes, routes to operators when unsure or when credits run out |
| Knowledge sources | Website scrape, FAQ upload, support content | Snippets, knowledge base, website crawl, past conversations, PDF and CSV files |
| Seats included | 10 seats on Free, Starter and Growth; custom on Plus | 2 to 20 by plan, $10 per extra seat |
The short answer
- Choose Tidio if you sell on Shopify, need a free plan that actually works, or want the stronger review record.
- Choose Crisp if your chat volume is high or spiky, you want WhatsApp, Instagram and SMS in one inbox at a flat price, or you hate per conversation meters.
Pricing
| Item | Tidio | Crisp |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 50 conversations a month, 10 seats, 50 lifetime Lyro | Chat widget, shared inbox, 2 seats, no AI |
| Entry paid plan | Starter $29 ($24.17 annual), 100 conversations | Mini $45, 4 seats, $5 AI credits (about 90 automated conversations) |
| Mid plan | Growth $59 to $349, 250 to 2,000 conversations | Essentials $95, 10 seats, $25 credits (about 450) |
| Upper plan | Plus from $300 plus usage | Plus $295, 20 seats, $75 credits (about 1,350) |
| Conversation limits | Billable human conversations by tier | Unlimited conversations |
| AI | Lyro quotas: 50 for $39 up to 1,000 for $700 | Bundled credits; Crisp estimates about $0.06 per automated conversation |
| Extra seats | Custom on Plus | $10 per seat per month |
| Trial | 7 days, no card | 14 days, full features |
| Annual billing | Two months free | Can be enabled in the app |
Worked example: 3 agents, 400 human and 300 AI conversations a month
- Tidio: Growth 400 at $89 plus Lyro 300 at $210 = $299 billed monthly, about $249 annually.
- Crisp: Essentials at $95 covers 10 seats, unlimited conversations and about 450 automated conversations on Crisp's estimate. Total $95, if your AI usage matches that estimate.
Crisp is about $200 a month cheaper here. The caveat is that Crisp's 450 figure is an estimate tied to credit use, not a contract rate.
Worked example: solo founder, 40 chats a month
- Tidio: Free plan, $0, with 50 Lyro conversations to try AI.
- Crisp: Free plan, $0, with no AI. AI starts at $45 on Mini.
Tidio wins the tiny business. Track both on the AI Price Index.
Models and features
| Feature | Tidio | Crisp |
|---|---|---|
| AI agent | Lyro, with actions and product recommendations on paid quotas | Autonomous AI agent, AI knowledge training, internal Copilot |
| AI knowledge | FAQ upload, website scraper, Zendesk article import, guidance | Snippets, knowledge base, website crawl, past conversations, PDF and CSV |
| Languages | Multilanguage widget | LiveTranslate and multilingual AI in 50+ languages |
| Channels | Website chat, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, email | Web chat, email inbox (Mini), WhatsApp, Instagram, SMS, Line, Viber (Essentials) |
| Ecommerce | Native Shopify actions | Conversation sync with Shopify, WooCommerce, Adobe, PrestaShop |
| Automation | Flows visual builder | Workflow builder, task automations unlimited on Plus |
| Extras | Live visitors, macros, offline auto reply | MagicBrowse co browsing, video and audio chat, help widget, ticketing on Plus |
| White label | $16.67 a month add on | Included on Plus |
Crisp packs more into each tier, including co browsing, video chat, a knowledge base on Essentials and white labeling on Plus. Tidio is more focused on ecommerce selling and support, with Shopify actions and a polished Lyro setup.
Head to head scenarios
Shopify store answering order questions
Winner: Tidio. Native Shopify actions and Lyro product recommendations, with 4.8 stars from 1,357 Shopify merchants.
High volume chat with seasonal spikes
Winner: Crisp. Unlimited conversations at a flat workspace price means a sale week does not move your bill. On Tidio, a spike pushes you into a higher Growth tier.
WhatsApp, Instagram and SMS in one inbox
Winner: Crisp. Essentials at $95 adds WhatsApp Business, Instagram DMs, SMS, Line and Viber. Tidio lists WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger but not SMS, Line or Viber.
Team of 15 agents
Winner: Crisp. Plus at $295 includes 20 seats. Tidio caps Growth at 10 seats, so 15 agents means Plus from $300 plus usage.
Lowest vendor risk
Winner: Tidio. It scores 3.6 on Trustpilot from 226 reviews and replies to every negative review. Crisp scores 2.0 from 55, with recurring complaints about sudden account suspensions and slow support. Both have suspension complaints, so keep exports of your data.
Privacy
Crisp says data is hosted in the cloud and backed up, lists unlimited data retention from Mini and an MCP server described as dedicated AI infrastructure for performance and privacy. Tidio lists SSO and compliance services on Premium. Neither pricing page we read publishes a certification list or an AI training policy, so request each vendor's data processing agreement and security documentation before handling sensitive data.
Verdict
Crisp wins on price predictability and seats: flat workspace pricing, unlimited conversations, bundled AI credits and 20 seats on Plus beat Tidio's two meters for most growing teams. Tidio wins for Shopify stores, solo businesses on a free plan and anyone who weighs public reviews heavily. If neither fits, see Tidio alternatives or read the Tidio review.
Frequently asked questions
Is Crisp cheaper than Tidio?
Usually, once you have steady volume. Crisp charges one flat price per workspace with unlimited conversations, and Essentials at $95 includes 10 seats and $25 of AI credits that Crisp estimates at about 450 automated conversations. Tidio with 400 human and 300 AI conversations costs $299 billed monthly. At very low volume, Tidio's Free plan is more useful than Crisp's.
Is Tidio better than Crisp?
Tidio has the better track record in public reviews (4.8 on the Shopify App Store from 1,357, 3.6 on Trustpilot from 226), a more generous free plan and native Shopify actions. Crisp is better on price predictability, omnichannel inbox and seats on higher plans.
Does Crisp have an AI agent like Tidio's Lyro?
Yes. Crisp lists a fully autonomous AI agent, AI knowledge training on your data, an internal copilot and multilingual AI in 50+ languages, paid from bundled AI credits.
Which has a better free plan?
Tidio. Its Free plan includes 50 conversations a month, 10 seats, ticketing, Flows and 50 lifetime Lyro conversations. Crisp Free includes a chat widget, shared inbox and 2 seats, with no AI credits.
Do Tidio and Crisp support WhatsApp and Instagram?
Yes. Tidio lists Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp and email integrations. Crisp's omnichannel inbox, covering WhatsApp Business, Instagram DMs, SMS, Line and Viber, starts on Essentials.
Which is better for Shopify?
Tidio. It lists native Shopify actions and has 1,357 Shopify App Store reviews at 4.8. Crisp syncs conversations with Shopify, WooCommerce, Adobe and PrestaShop but does not list order actions.