Chatwoot Review
Open-source Intercom alternative you can self-host for free
Try Chatwoot — plans from $19/agent/mo billed yearly (Startups)
Visit Chatwoot →How we test & rank tools
- We verify pricing, free-plan limits and feature gates on the vendor's official pages (last check: September 23, 2026).
- We score for small-business value: setup time, real AI capability and total cost at realistic usage.
- Rankings are editorial — vendors can't pay for placement, and commissions never change scores.
What we like
- MIT-licensed Community Edition — self-host the full feature set at $0
- Free cloud Hacker plan: 2 agents, 500 conversations/month
- One inbox for live chat, email, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and more
- Captain AI credits bundled on paid plans (300–800/mo)
What to watch out for
- Self-hosting means running Rails, Postgres, Redis and Docker yourself
- Voice channel and automation rules require Business ($39/agent) and up
- Smaller integration ecosystem than Zendesk or Intercom
- Captain AI overage billed at $20 per 1,000 credits
Key features
Live chatOmnichannel inboxCaptain AISelf-host optionHelp center
Our verdict
The open-source escape hatch from per-seat SaaS pricing: self-host for free or pay fair cloud rates — the default pick when data residency matters.
FAQ
Does Chatwoot have a free plan?
Yes (Hacker: 2 agents, 500 conv/mo; self-hosted Community Edition free). Check the vendor's site for current limits before signing up.
How much does Chatwoot cost?
Paid plans start at $19/agent/mo billed yearly (Startups). Pricing is re-verified regularly (last check: September 23, 2026) but can change — always confirm on the vendor's site.
Who is Chatwoot best for?
Best for: Teams wanting data ownership. The open-source escape hatch from per-seat SaaS pricing: self-host for free or pay fair cloud rates — the default pick when data residency matters.
What are the main drawbacks of Chatwoot?
The two biggest watch-outs in our review: Self-hosting means running Rails, Postgres, Redis and Docker yourself; and Voice channel and automation rules require Business ($39/agent) and up.
Chatwoot head-to-head comparisons
Alternatives to Chatwoot
Disclosure: this page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Pricing and features are re-checked regularly but can change — always confirm on the vendor's site.