Top 11 Olark Alternatives for Modern Live Chat Support

It's 2025, and we're living someone's dream, or nightmare, depending on your point of view. As a business, you can get 24/7 support with tools such as Olark. Even while your team is not working, Olark can respond to customer queries and resolve them, improve customer engagement, and unlock more sales.

However, Olark is not the only tool in the arena. There are plenty of other live chat solutions with robust features that are on par or better than Olark, covering multiple communication channels and with more affordable pricing plans, among other things.

These are some of the best Olark alternatives you can try in 2025. 👇

TL;DR – The best Olark alternatives to increase customer engagement:

1. ✨ Featurebase: Best for SaaS companies that want an all-in-one platform for support, feedback collection, and customer surveys.
2. LiveChat: Best for small to mid-sized businesses focused on real-time customer engagement and sales conversions.
3. Intercom: Best for SaaS and digital-first teams that need AI-driven live chat, in-app messaging, and onboarding tools.
4. LiveAgent: Best for businesses that want a single platform for chat, email, and call center support.
5. Zendesk: Best for enterprises needing a scalable help desk with powerful automation and reporting.
6. Kayako: Best for teams that value a unified view of every customer interaction across channels.
7. Gorgias: Best for e-commerce stores that want to connect chat and ticketing directly to order and customer data.
8. Crisp: Best for startups and growing businesses looking for multi-channel chat and automation tools.
9. HappyFox: Best for teams that need structured ticketing, workflow automation, and live chat in one tool.
10. Tawk.to: Best for small businesses and startups that want a completely free live chat solution.
11. Smartsupp: Best for online retailers that want to combine live chat, chatbots, and visitor tracking to boost conversions.

What's so bad about Olark anyway?

Olark is a live chat software tool that has a lot of love, but many of their users are looking for customer service tools to replace Olark with. These are some of the main reasons Olark may not be up your alley.

Outdated interface

Olark’s biggest problem is that it looks and feels stuck in the past. The live chat software works, but its interface hasn’t aged well. Managing chats, tracking chat history, or checking analytics takes more clicks than it should.

While modern tools like Featurebase and Intercom give you sleek dashboards, quick filters, and smart shortcuts, Olark’s UI feels clunky and dated. There’s no smooth workflow, no drag-and-drop team management, and barely any visual improvements over the past few years.

If you’ve used newer live chat tools, switching to Olark is like going from a Tesla to a taxi from 2008 - it still moves, but it’s nowhere near as smooth or intuitive.

No proper AI features

The other big drawback is that Olark completely lacks modern AI features and automations. While other competitors offer AI to answer chats, summarize chat transcripts, and route conversations automatically, Olark’s automation is limited to basic triggers and canned messages.

There’s no AI agent, no smart suggestions, and no advanced automation to help your support team handle repetitive support requests faster. It’s fine as a basic live chat solution for small websites, but for fast-growing teams that want AI-powered chat tools, smart workflows, and automation that actually saves time - Olark simply can’t compete in 2025.

Pricing is not transparent

Olark’s pricing starts at $29 per agent per month for the Standard plan, but anything beyond that - like AI, automation, or advanced support - is locked behind the Pro plan with custom pricing. There’s no public information on what those features actually cost, and the only way to find out is by contacting their sales team.

While the basic plan includes a free trial and free plan, the AI-powered CoPilot tools can only be accessed through a demo. In short, Olark hides its most valuable features behind sales calls and limited previews, making it hard to know what you’re really paying for until you’ve already talked to sales.

The best Olark alternatives for customer communication

Looking for a customizable chat widget that lets you engage website visitors and increase customer satisfaction? Here are some of the best options in the market in 2025.

1. Featurebase ✨

Featurebase is a modern Olark alternative that combines AI-powered support, help center, feedback collection, surveys, and product updates into a single platform for SaaS and B2B teams. It’s built for startups that want all their customer-facing tools in one place and is loved by thousands of support teams from companies like Lovable, Raycast, and n8n. 💫

Top features:

• Unified inbox – Manage chat, email, and Slack conversations from one AI-powered view
• AI agent & automations – Automate tasks like trial extensions, refunds, and lead qualification
• Help center with AI search – Provide instant, multilingual self-serve answers
• Mobile app – Respond to customers, receive notifications, and unblock users on the go
• Messenger widget – Deliver AI and human support in-app or on your website
• Feedback & roadmap tools – Collect feature requests and close the loop with updates
• Changelog – Publish product updates with a changelog page, in-app widget, and emails
• Integrations – Connects with Slack, Linear, Jira, HubSpot, and more

How it’s better than Olark: Featurebase covers all the basic support features Olark does, but with a much more modern approach. It comes with AI automations, a mobile app, and multiple channels (email, live chat, Slack, etc.).

Pricing: Free plan available with unlimited conversations. Paid plans start at $29/user/month + $0.29 for every AI resolution. The onboarding is super fast, and doesn't require a credit card, so there's no downside to trying it. 👇

✨ Automate your support with the fastest AI-enchanced inbox today →

2. LiveChat

LiveChat is a powerful live chat and messaging tool built for sales and support teams that want to communicate with customers in real time. It’s ideal for small to mid-sized businesses that rely on chat to convert visitors into buyers.

Top features

• Live chat widget: Add a customizable chat window to your site and engage users instantly.
• Chat routing: Automatically assign chats to the right agents based on availability or skill.
• Canned responses: Speed up replies with pre-written answers to common questions.
• Chat reports: Measure performance metrics such as customer satisfaction and average response time.
• Integrations: Connect with tools like Shopify, HubSpot, and Google Analytics.

How it’s better than Olark: LiveChat offers richer analytics, automation, and integrations compared to Olark, making it a stronger choice for teams focused on improving conversion rates and chat efficiency.

Pricing: starts at $19 per seat per month.

3. Intercom

Intercom is a conversational customer support platform that helps teams connect with users through live chat, bots, and in-app messaging. It’s best for SaaS companies and digital-first businesses that want to combine customer engagement with support.

Top features

• Business Messenger: Add a customizable chat widget to your website or product for real-time support.
• AI chatbot (Fin): Automate repetitive questions and route complex issues to the right agent.
• Shared inbox: Manage email, chat, and in-app conversations from one dashboard.
• Product tours: Create interactive guides to help onboard new customers.
• Reporting and analytics: Track support performance, response times, and user satisfaction.

How it’s better than Olark: While Olark focuses on live chat alone, Intercom offers a more advanced conversational experience with automation, help center, in-app engagement, and onboarding tools. It’s perfect for teams that want both customer support and proactive communication.

Pricing: Intercom pricing starts at $29 per seat per month.

4. LiveAgent

LiveAgent is a customer support tool that brings together live chat, ticketing, and call center features. It’s a great option for companies that want a unified solution without paying enterprise-level prices.

Top features

• Universal inbox: Collect customer requests from chat, email, and calls in one dashboard.
• Live chat: Engage with visitors in real time using customizable widgets.
• Call center support: Manage inbound and outbound calls with built-in routing and IVR.
• Automation and rules: Automatically assign, tag, or escalate tickets based on triggers.
• Customer portal: Offer FAQs and knowledge base articles for self-service.

How it’s better than Olark: LiveAgent expands on Olark’s simple chat features by adding call support, ticket management, and automation tools. It’s a better choice for teams that want phone and chat capabilities in one system.

Pricing: starts at $15 per agent per month.

5. Zendesk

Zendesk is one of the most established customer support platforms on the market, offering a full suite of tools for ticketing, automation, live chat, and self-service. It’s ideal for businesses that want to centralize all customer communication and scale efficiently.

Top features

• Omnichannel ticketing: Manage support requests across chat, email, phone, and social channels from one place.
• AI and automation tools: Use bots, triggers, and macros to automate repetitive support tasks.
• Help center and community forum: Build a self-service hub to help customers find answers on their own.
• Custom dashboards and reporting: Track metrics such as resolution time and customer satisfaction.
• Marketplace integrations: Seamless integration with thousands of apps to extend its functionality.

How it’s better than Olark: While Olark focuses on chat support, Zendesk offers a complete help desk ecosystem with automation, reporting, and multichannel service. It’s a better option for teams that need structured workflows and detailed analytics.

Pricing: Zendesk pricing starts at $19 per user per month.

6. Kayako

Kayako is a customer service platform that brings together chat, email, and social communication in one place. It’s great for smaller teams that want a unified view of each customer’s journey across all channels.

Top features

• Unified inbox: Manage conversations from chat, email, and social media in a single dashboard.
• Customer journey timeline: View every customer interaction to provide more personalized support.
• Automation workflows: Assign, escalate, and prioritize tickets based on rules.
• Self-service portal: Let customers access FAQs and help articles to resolve issues independently.
• Reports and analytics: Measure team performance and identify areas for improvement.

How it’s better than Olark: Kayako provides a complete support stack rather than just live chat, making it ideal for businesses that want visibility into the full customer journey and smoother internal collaboration.

Pricing: just one plan at $79 per user per month.

7. Gorgias

Gorgias is a help desk platform for e-commerce businesses that need deep integrations with online store systems. It connects customer conversations with order details, helping support teams resolve issues faster and drive more sales.

Top features

• E-commerce integrations: Sync directly with Shopify, Magento, and BigCommerce to view and edit orders in chat.
• Ticketing system: Combine email, chat, social media, and SMS in one view.
• Automation and macros: Tag, route, and respond to common questions automatically.
• Revenue tracking: Measure how support interactions impact sales and customer retention.
• Customizable dashboards: Track performance metrics and customer satisfaction.

How it’s better than Olark: Gorgias goes beyond live chat by tying customer conversations to actual order and purchase data. It’s the better choice for online stores that want to use support as a driver of sales and loyalty.

Pricing: Gorgias' pricing starts at $10 per month for 50 tickets, with scalable plans based on usage.

8. Crisp

Crisp is a customer messaging platform that combines live chat, chatbots, and multi-channel communication in one place. It’s a strong option for startups and growing businesses that want to automate chat conversations without losing the personal touch.

Top features

• Live chat widget: Chat with website visitors in real time and customize the widget to match your brand.
• Shared inbox: Centralize email, chat, and social messages in one dashboard for the entire team.
• Automation tools: Set triggers, canned responses, and automated workflows to handle routine tasks.
• Chatbots: Automate FAQs, lead qualification, and simple customer support.
• Knowledge base: Create and publish self-service articles to reduce chat volume.

How it’s better than Olark: While Olark focuses on basic live chat, Crisp delivers an all-in-one communication hub with multi-channel support and automation. It’s better for teams that want to scale beyond simple chat and improve efficiency through automation.

Pricing: Crisp pricing starts at $45 per month per workspace.

9. HappyFox

HappyFox is a help desk and live chat software built to help teams manage customer requests, automate workflows, and deliver faster support across multiple channels. It’s best for growing teams that need more structure and visibility in their support operations.

Top features

• Omnichannel ticketing: Manage requests from email, chat, phone, and social channels in one dashboard.
• SLA and automation rules: Define deadlines, auto-assign tickets, and trigger escalations when service targets aren’t met.
• Live chat and chatbot: Connect with visitors in real time, convert chats into tickets, and automate simple questions.
• Knowledge base: Build a searchable self-service portal to reduce repetitive queries.
• Reporting and analytics: Track agent performance, response times, and customer satisfaction metrics.

How it’s better than Olark: While Olark focuses on live chat, HappyFox offers complete help desk functionality, combining chat with ticketing, automation, and self-service. It’s the better choice for teams that want a single tool to manage customer communication and internal workflows.

Pricing: HappyFox's pricing starts at $21 per agent per month.

10. Tawk.to

Tawk.to is a free live chat and messaging platform designed to help businesses communicate with visitors in real time. It’s one of the most popular live chat tools globally, known for its ease of setup and strong value for money.

Top features

• Free live chat: Engage with website visitors instantly with unlimited agents and chats.
• Visitor tracking: Monitor who’s on your site, what pages they visit, and how long they stay.
• Customizable chat widget: Adjust colors, placement, and branding to match your website.
• Ticketing system: Manage missed chats and email requests in one place.
• Team collaboration tools: Assign conversations, tag agents, and use canned responses to speed up replies.

How it’s better than Olark: While Olark offers great chat customization, Tawk.to stands out for its completely free plan and unlimited agent seats. It’s ideal for small businesses and startups that want to offer live chat without worrying about costs.

Pricing: starts at $0 per month with optional paid add-ons like chat agents or branding removal.

11. Smartsupp

Smartsupp is a live-chat and chatbot platform designed primarily for e-commerce sites and smaller support teams, giving real-time visitor engagement and automated assistant tools.

Top features

• Unified chat dashboard covering website chat, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and email.
• AI shopping assistant & chatbot automation that can handle up to 80 % of common questions and recommend products.
• Customizable chat widget with branding, multi-language support and mobile app for iOS/Android so agents can chat on the go.
• Visitor insights and tracking (including user browsing behaviour, tagging and segmentation) to better target chats and increase conversion.
• Affordable pricing tiers, including a free forever plan with limited conversations, offering a low-cost entry for small businesses.

How it’s better than Olark: While Olark focuses on basic live chat functionality with simplicity, Smartsupp adds more automation, visitor insights, chatbot capabilities, and a free-tier entry. For companies that want live chat plus smart engagement to boost sales (not just support), Smartsupp offers more modern features at competitive pricing.

Pricing: Starts at $0/month for the free tier. Paid plans begin around $14/month for basic automation and unlimited agents.

Final verdict

It’s 2025, and live chat has come a long way - except for Olark. While it still works as a simple, reliable live chat software, it’s clearly showing its age. The UI feels outdated, automations are basic, and the most valuable features, like AI chatbots or advanced automation, are hidden behind opaque custom pricing.

Featurebase is the best overall Olark alternative for modern AI-powered support. It combines AI automation, omnichannel ticketing, help center, and feedback tools in one platform - all at a flat, transparent price. Unlike Olark, Featurebase includes a mobile app, AI automations, and more.

What’s best is that it comes with a Free plan and 1-click import from other tools, so there’s no downside to trying it out. 👇

✨ Automate your customer support with the fastest AI omnichannel inbox today →