14 Best Chat Widgets For Websites To Boost Engagement

Picture this: a potential customer lands on your website, curious but lost. They're looking for answers, and every second counts. Enter the chat widget for websites—a tool more transformative than most realize. These tiny, unassuming pop-ups can change the game for lead generation by turning passive visitors into engaged prospects. A well-placed lead generation widget can further enhance this process by capturing visitor information and nurturing them into potential customers. This article will guide you in choosing the best chat widgets for websites, boosting engagement, and optimizing your conversions. Let’s get started.
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14 Best Chat Widgets For Websites To Boost Engagement

1. BlogCTAs: Transform Your Blog's Conversion Rates

Blog CTAs, a programmatic CRO tool for your blog. We noticed that it was too difficult to set up blog-wide CTAs on most content management systems like:

Framer
Webflow
Ghost
Strapi
Wordpress
Sanity
Tina
Dozens of other CMSs

Our engineering teams needed to jump through multiple hoops and divert their attention from pressing issues to set aside 3-7 days to set up a blog-wide CTA for our websites manually. Blog CTAs were created to make setting up CTAs on your blog easy.

Increase your blog conversion rate by 3-7% with sidebar CTA’s. Start to capture more leads from your blog within 5 minutes. Sign up for the waitlist today.

2. LiveChat: Real-Time Support at Its Best

LiveChat is one of the most popular live chat tools for businesses of all sizes? Known for its user-friendly interface and advanced features, it enables customer support teams to provide efficient real-time customer support.

Key Features:

Customizable chat widget for seamless integration with your website.
Canned responses for quick replies.
Integration with multiple communication channels like Facebook Messenger, CRMs, and marketing and sales tools.
Chat history and file sharing to streamline live chat conversations.
Offline messaging to capture leads when your team is unavailable.

Pros:

Robust integrations with over 200 tools and platforms.
Feature-rich live chat functionality suitable for businesses of all sizes.
Provides detailed, in-depth analytics and reporting.

Cons:

It can become costly for smaller businesses over time.
The interface may feel overwhelming for first-time users.

Why LiveChat Stands Out:
LiveChat provides a comprehensive live chat solution with plenty of features for small and large teams. Its real-time support and integrations with CRMs allow businesses to track and improve customer interactions effectively.

Pricing:
Offers various pricing plans, including a 14-day trial.

Best For:
Businesses seek a reliable, feature-rich live chat widget, and teams need integrations with third-party customer service software.

3. Intercom: Boost Engagement with Smart Chat

Intercom is a leading live chat support software that combines live chat with marketing and sales tools to improve customer engagement. It’s an excellent option for businesses that want to drive growth and automate support.

Key Features:

Customizable chat widgets for brand alignment.
Intelligent chat routing and automated chat routing for faster responses.
Support for offline messaging and self-service support.
Tools to send personalized messages and pre-configured canned responses.
Multilingual support to reach a global audience.

Pros:

Combines live chat functionality with marketing automation.
Supports both chat messages and customer data tracking.
Highly customizable with a strong focus on customer engagement.

Cons:

It is expensive for small businesses or startups.
The learning curve for some advanced features.

Why Intercom Stands Out:
Intercom is perfect for businesses that want more than just a chat widget. With its focus on customer satisfaction, growth-focused tools, and support ticket integration, it’s a comprehensive live chat solution.

Pricing:
Flexible plans based on team size and requirements.

Best For:
Businesses looking for live chat tools with strong marketing capabilities. Teams aiming to automate customer interactions and support.

4. Tidio: Affordable Chat for Small Businesses

Tidio is an affordable and versatile online chat widget for SMEs and e-commerce businesses. It combines live chat support with chatbots to improve customer satisfaction and provide seamless support.

Key Features:

Live chat box with customizable design.
Chatbot functionality for automated chat routing.
Real-time chat transcripts and chat history for better team collaboration.
Supports multiple channels like email, messenger, and phone calls.
Easy to use on mobile apps for on-the-go support.

Pros:

Includes chatbot capabilities alongside live chat support software.
Affordable pricing with a free plan is available.
Quick set up and easy to integrate.

Cons:

Limited features on the free plan.
Basic analytics compared to competitors.

Why Tidio Stands Out:
Tidio is ideal for businesses looking for an affordable, easy-to-use live chat tool that offers chat automation and strong customer engagement capabilities.

Pricing:
Offers a free plan and affordable paid options.

Best For:
SMEs and e-commerce businesses need budget-friendly live chat software. Teams are looking for a simple chatbot and live chat functionality.

5. Zendesk Chat: Enhance Support with Seamless Integration

Zendesk Chat is a widely used live chat software that integrates seamlessly with Zendesk’s customer service software. It offers robust tools for businesses to provide real-time support and streamline customer interactions.

Key Features:

Customizable chat widgets to match your website’s branding.
Chat routing to assign conversations to the appropriate support team.
Canned responses and chat transcripts for faster communication.
In-depth analytics to monitor agent performance and customer feedback.
Works across multiple communication channels for omnichannel support.

Pros:

Powerful integration with the Zendesk support ecosystem.
Offers real-time support with advanced reporting tools.
Supports offline messaging and ticket creation for missed chats.

Cons:

Best suited for existing Zendesk users.
It can get expensive for small businesses that need advanced features.

Why Zendesk Chat Stands Out:
With its ability to connect live chat functionality to support tickets and customer history, Zendesk Chat ensures a seamless experience for both support teams and customers.

Pricing:
Various plans are available, starting with a basic tier for smaller teams.

Best For:
Businesses already use Zendesk’s customer service software, and teams require robust chat routing and reporting capabilities.

6. HubSpot Live Chat: Free Powerhouse for CRM Users

HubSpot Live Chat is a free tool within the HubSpot CRM suite that allows businesses to provide live chat support and enhance customer engagement. It’s ideal for teams looking for a free yet powerful live chat tool integrated with marketing and sales systems.

Key Features:

Free live chat widget that integrates with HubSpot CRM.
Chat history and transcripts to track customer interactions.
Supports pre-chat surveys and offline messaging.
Automates chat routing with customizable workflows.
Allows personalized messages for targeted customer outreach.

Pros:

It is completely free and integrates perfectly with HubSpot’s tools.
Allows businesses to manage chats and leads efficiently.
Supports customer data tracking for improved engagement.

Cons:

Advanced features require upgrading to paid HubSpot plans.
Limited customization compared to standalone chat widgets.

Why HubSpot Live Chat Stands Out:
HubSpot Live Chat combines chat support with CRM capabilities, making it an excellent tool for nurturing leads and improving customer interactions.

Pricing:
Free plan available with optional upgrades.

Best For:
Businesses are already using HubSpot CRM. Teams are looking for a free yet effective live chat solution.

7. Freshchat: Modern Support with Automation

Freshchat by Freshworks is a modern live chat solution that blends live support with automation. It enables businesses to provide real-time customer support across multiple platforms.

Key Features:

AI-powered chatbots for automated chat routing and responses.
Canned responses, file sharing, and chat history for efficient support.
It integrates multiple communication channels like email, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger.
In-depth analytics to monitor performance and customer satisfaction.
Supports offline messaging and multilingual support.

Pros:

Combines live support with chat automation for improved efficiency.
Easy integration with third-party apps and platforms.
Provides strong reporting features and analytics.

Cons:

AI features are limited on the lower-tier plans.
The interface can be slightly complex for new users.

Why Freshchat Stands Out:
Freshchat is versatile live chat support software that combines human support with automation. It is ideal for businesses looking to scale their customer service teams.

Pricing:
Free plan available with affordable upgrades.

Best For:
Growing businesses looking for scalable live chat tools. Teams need automated live chat functionality.

8. Drift: Engage Visitors and Drive Sales

Drift is a conversational live chat solution focused on helping businesses drive customer engagement and boost sales. Combining live chat with automation, Drift works well as a marketing and sales tool to connect website visitors with the right teams.

Key Features:

AI-powered bots for intelligent chat routing and lead qualification.
Customizable live chat widget for brand alignment.
Integration with CRM systems and multiple communication channels.
Pre-chat surveys to collect customer data before conversations.
Detailed reporting features and in-depth analytics for performance tracking.

Pros:

Powerful automation features for lead generation and real-time support.
Excellent integration with marketing and sales tools.
Streamlines customer interactions with personalized messaging.

Cons:

Pricing can be high for smaller businesses.
The learning curve for teams new to AI-driven tools.

Why Drift Stands Out:
Drift combines live chat functionality with automation and lead nurturing tools, making it perfect for businesses looking to convert website visitors into leads and customers.

Pricing:
Offers a free version with advanced paid plans.

Best For:
Businesses focused on lead generation and customer engagement—sales and marketing teams need comprehensive live chat solutions.

9. Olark: Simple and Effective for SMBs

Olark is simple yet effective live chat support software that provides essential features for small—and medium-sized businesses. It focuses on real-time support and improving customer satisfaction through a clean, easy-to-use interface.

Key Features:

Fully customizable chat widgets for seamless integration.
Canned responses and chat transcripts to speed up support.
Offline messaging for handling after-hours queries.
Detailed customer feedback and analytics for team performance.
File sharing for better support during live chat conversations.

Pros:

User-friendly interface that’s easy to set up.
Affordable pricing for small businesses.
Provides excellent support-focused features like reporting and chat logs.

Cons:

Lacks advanced automation features.
Limited integrations compared to larger competitors.

Why Olark Stands Out:
Olark is perfect for small businesses looking for an affordable, straightforward chat tool to improve customer support without overwhelming features.

Pricing:
Offers a 14-day trial with paid plans starting at competitive rates.

Best For:
Small to medium businesses need reliable live chat support. Teams are looking for a budget-friendly live chat software option.

10. Crisp: Feature-Rich Solution for Startups

Crisp is a modern live chat widget designed for startups and small businesses. It offers a feature-packed platform that combines live chat, bots, and team collaboration tools to provide exceptional customer support.

Key Features:

Customizable live chat widgets for a branded experience.
Chat history and transcripts for seamless customer interactions.
Multiple channels support, including email and Facebook Messenger.
Offline messaging, bots, and self-service options.
Tools for real-time support, including file sharing and canned responses.

Pros:

Easy-to-use interface with quick deployment.
Combines live chat, bots, and team tools for collaboration.
Offers in-depth analytics and customer tracking.

Cons:

Some features are limited on lower-tier plans.
Lacks extensive third-party integrations compared to competitors.

Why Crisp Stands Out:
Crisp is perfect for growing businesses looking for a comprehensive live chat solution with modern tools to improve customer satisfaction and drive customer engagement.

Pricing:
Offers a free plan with affordable paid tiers.

Best For:
Startups and small businesses need live chat support tools, and teams are looking for an all-in-one platform for live chat and bots.

11. Chatra: Real-Time Insights and Proactive Interaction

Chatra, now part of Brevo, proved to be a great addition to my customer support toolkit. Features like typing insights enhanced its real-time chat capabilities, which allowed me to anticipate customer needs.

Enhancing Customer Engagement with Chatra’s Multi-Chat and Proactive Messaging Features

Chatra’s multi-chat capability means my team can efficiently handle multiple customer inquiries simultaneously. It offers customizable chat widgets, which I’ve used to create engaging and visually appealing chat windows.

The proactive chat initiation feature boosted our conversion rates by reaching potential customers at the right time. Its comprehensive visitor tracking and analytics provided valuable insights into customer behavior, which we used to refine our strategies for better engagement.

What you’ll like:

Group chats for collaborative customer support within your team.
Real-time typing-view to anticipate and respond promptly.
Chatbots to collect visitors’ data and automate repetitive tasks like answering FAQs.
Proactive greetings and triggered messages for personalized engagement.
Offline mode for capturing messages even when agents are unavailable.

What you will not like:

Limited advanced automation and chatbot capabilities compared to some competitors.
Occasional difficulties with the chat widget’s mobile responsiveness.

Pricing:

The basic plan starts at $0 (with limited features), and the paid plan starts at $17/agent/month.

12. Help Scout: Collaborative Support Made Easy

Help Scout’s chat widget beautifully complements its robust helpdesk platform. I’ve found it invaluable for managing customer inquiries with ease. What sets Help Scout apart is its focus on collaborative customer support, allowing my team to work together efficiently.

Streamlining Customer Support with Help Scout’s Chat Widget and Shared Inbox Integration

The chat widget integrates seamlessly with Help Scout’s shared inbox, ensuring a unified view of customer interactions. It also supports automated responses and canned responses for quicker issue resolution.

This tool has been a lifesaver, allowing me to analyze my team’s performance with its detailed reports and analytics. It’s a good option for businesses looking to enhance their customer support experience.

What you’ll like:

Collision detection to prevent multiple agents from responding to the same query.
Integration of customer data from various sources for context-rich interactions.
Knowledge base integration to provide self-service options to customers.
Performance reports to monitor agent productivity and customer satisfaction.
Automation workflows for quick and consistent responses.

What you will not like:

Learning curve for setting up and customizing the software for new users.
The interface can be less intuitive for users accustomed to more chat-centric solutions.

Pricing: Starts at $20/user/month.

13. Tawk.to: Feature-Rich and Free

Tawk.to offers a free and feature-rich chat widget that my industry peers find a budget-friendly option for startups and small businesses. Its mobile app and web dashboards ensure you’re always connected with your customers.

Expanding Global Reach with Tawk.to’s Multilingual Chat and AI-Powered Support

Impressive is the tool’s ability to translate messages into over 45 languages and help you cater to a global audience. It also enables you to handle unlimited chats without incurring additional costs.

Tawk.to has recently rolled out its AI bot feature, which helps you respond to customer inquiries instantly in a personalized manner based on previously stored data. This tool can be a great addition to your business if you want an affordable chat solution.

What you’ll like:

Real-time monitoring of website visitors and their browsing behavior.
Customizable chat widgets and chat shortcuts for quick responses.
Email reports and Google Analytics integration to boost your business vision.
Custom pre-chat forms triggered messages and offline messaging to make customers feel heard.
CoPilot features to attract, capture, and qualify leads in your CRM for priority attention.

What you will not like:

The free plan includes Tawk.to branding, which may not suit all businesses.
Reporting and analytics capabilities are not as robust as other chat solutions.

Pricing:

Starts at $0

14. LiveAgent: All-In-One Support Platform

LiveAgent is a comprehensive customer support platform with a powerful chat widget that helped me significantly improve my customer service operations. Its chat features include:

Chat routing
Canned responses
Proactive chat invitations

Optimizing Customer Support with LiveAgent’s Unified Chat, Email, and Ticketing System

The platform’s all-in-one approach, combining email, chat, and ticketing within a single dashboard, helped streamline the support workflow. The chat widget integrated seamlessly with platforms like Pipedrive, providing a unified view of customer information.

The chat overview feature was invaluable, allowing my team to track all our website visitors and ongoing chats in one place. LiveAgent has undoubtedly helped us deliver exceptional customer support efficiently.

What you’ll like:

Customizable chat widgets and pre-chat surveys.
Multichannel support is available on one platform, including chat, email, and social media.
Automated ticket distribution and prioritization for efficient problem-solving.
Knowledge base integration for self-service support.
Real-time chat translation for global communication.

What you will not like:

Limited mobile app functionality.
Advanced automation features, like workflow automation and macros, can be challenging for new users.

Pricing:

Starts at $9/agent/month.

Why Add A Chat Widgets To Your Website?

laptop on a desk - Chat Widget for Website

A chat widget is a small, interactive window on your website that lets visitors connect with your business instantly. You’ll usually find it as a button in the corner of the page. Click it, and it expands into a chatbox where users can talk to a live agent or an AI chatbot.

Why Add a Chat Widget to Your Website?

Grab Attention Right Away

With an adult attention span clocking in at about 8 seconds, visitors won’t hang around if they can’t find answers quickly. A chat widget instantly captures their interest, offering support and guidance when needed.

Boost Sales on the Spot

Customers are more inclined to buy when they get answers immediately. A chat widget provides:

Real-time assistance
Recommends products
Addresses concerns
Drives users to checkout pages

It’s an essential tool for eCommerce businesses aiming to increase conversions.

Meet Customers Where They Are

Modern chat solutions are not confined to your website. They integrate with platforms like:

Facebook Messenger
WhatsApp
Slack

It ensures your business is accessible wherever your customers prefer to communicate. This approach builds stronger relationships.

Improve Customer Satisfaction

Offering real-time chat support leads to higher satisfaction. Unlike email or support tickets, which can take hours to respond, chat widgets provide immediate help. This builds trust and enhances the user experience.

Use for Marketing and Lead Generation

Beyond support, chat widgets can be used for marketing automation. You can collect emails, route customers to sales and promotions, and use AI-powered bots to qualify leads by gathering relevant information before handing them off to a sales rep.

Gain Personalized Customer Insights

Your chat widget collects customer behavior data, such as visited pages and previous interactions. This data can be used to provide tailored recommendations, offer a personalized experience for returning customers, and improve marketing efforts by analyzing customer pain points.

6 Best Use Cases Of Chat Widgets For Websites

employees on a laptop - Chat Widget for Website

1. Reducing Customer Wait Times

Patience is a virtue, but not in the digital world. When users land on your site, they want answers fast. A chat widget with a timer showcasing estimated wait times helps set clear expectations. This transparency reduces frustration and prevents users from bouncing due to uncertainty. Plus, it can prioritize queries so urgent issues get handled quicker.

2. Enhancing Customer Support Efficiency

Time is money, and nowhere is that more accurate than in customer support. Setting a time limit per session optimizes efficiency for businesses with high chat volumes.

This ensures interactions don't drag on unnecessarily, allowing agents to assist more customers. Plus, it provides a metric for tracking agent response times and improving overall performance.

3. Encouraging Faster Sales Conversions

In eCommerce, urgency drives conversions. Limited-time chat offers can spur customers into action. Imagine this: “Chat with us now for a 10-minute exclusive discount on your purchase!” Or how about: “This special offer expires in 5 minutes—let’s finalize your order!” These strategies encourage quick decision-making, ultimately boosting your bottom line.

4. Managing Free vs. Premium Support

Not all support is created equal, and that’s okay. A chat timer can differentiate the two if your business offers free and paid customer support. Free users might get 5-minute chat sessions, while premium users enjoy unlimited support.

After a time limit, the chat can prompt users to upgrade for extended help, balancing customer service while monetizing premium support.

5. Automating Chatbot Handoffs to Live Agents

Chatbots are great for handling common inquiries, but a human touch is sometimes needed. A timer ensures that if a chatbot can’t resolve an issue within a set period—say, 2 minutes—the chat escalates to a live agent.

This proactive approach improves customer satisfaction by ensuring complex issues get the attention they deserve.

6. Preventing Abandoned Chats & Follow-Ups

Nothing is more frustrating than a chat that goes silent. A timer-based inactivity detector can notify agents when a customer has been inactive for a certain period, like 30 seconds. This allows for proactive follow-ups: “Are you still there? We’re here to help!”

If a session is abandoned, the system can send an automated follow-up via email or SMS, helping recover potential leads.

Boosting Blog Conversions with Programmatic CTAs: How Blog CTAs Drive Engagement

Regarding getting proactive, Blog CTAs are a programmatic CRO tool for your blog. Increase your blog conversion rate by 3-7%+ with sidebar CTAs. Sign up for the waitlist today.

6 Best Practices For Adding Chat Widgets To Your Website

1. Perfect Placement

Position matters. Your chat widget should be where users expect it. Typically, the bottom right corner is familiar territory. Keep it visible on critical pages like 'Contact Us' and product pages, where users often need assistance. Avoid intrusive spots that mess with the user experience.

2. Style and Substance

Your chat widget should match your site’s look. Customize colors, fonts, and button styles to blend seamlessly. Ensure it’s mobile-friendly. A consistent design enhances user experience and reinforces your brand.

3. AI: Your Silent Partner

AI-powered chatbots can tackle repetitive tasks, saving your team from complex issues. Use them to handle common queries efficiently—balance automation with a human touch. Set up smooth transitions for complex problems needing human intervention.

4. Keep Improving

Track chat performance with analytics. Use data to refine your support strategy. Regularly update chatbot responses and training materials. This continual refinement boosts user experience and efficiency.

5. Privacy First

Be transparent about data collection and usage through your chat widget. Follow relevant laws, mainly if you operate in areas with strict privacy regulations. Transparency builds trust with your users.

6. Clear Goals and Expectations

Define what success looks like for your chat widget. Align it with your customer service strategy. Set user expectations for availability and capabilities. If it’s only available during business hours, make that clear to avoid frustration.

Getting The Most Out Of Live Chat

man in an office - Chat Widget for Website

Mastering Communication with Live Chat: Stay on Brand

Engaging with customers through live chat can feel like walking a tightrope. You must balance being helpful with staying authentic to your brand's voice. Are you the cool, casual type, or is your brand more buttoned-up and formal?

Train your chat agents to maintain this tone. Consistency builds trust, and when customers see your brand’s personality reflected in every interaction, it fosters a deeper connection.

Chat Scripts: Your Guide, Not Your Gospel

Scripts can be a lifeline, especially for new agents. They ensure the accuracy of information and keep conversations on track. A conversation that sounds robotic is a surefire way to lose your customer’s interest. Think of scripts as blueprints.

Encourage your team to personalize and improvise as they grow more comfortable. This flexibility allows agents to respond to customers’ unique needs while delivering a consistent brand experience.

Combat Shopping Cart Abandonment with Timely Chats

Shopping cart abandonment is a headache for any business. But imagine this: a customer hovers over the checkout page for a few minutes, seemingly stuck or hesitant. This is your moment.

‍An automated chat can nudge the customer, offering assistance when needed. If they engage, a live agent can provide personalized help. This proactive approach can make all the difference in sealing the deal.

Chatbots: Your After-Hours Ally

When live agents aren't available, chatbots can pick up the slack. They handle FAQs and guide visitors on when a human will return online. While they might lack the personal touch, they ensure your customers aren't left hanging. This seamless transition keeps your support running smoothly, even outside business hours.

Live chat is a powerful tool in your customer service arsenal. It can elevate your brand, enhance customer engagement, and boost your bottom line.

Capture More Leads from Your Blog for Free Today with Blog CTAs

Simplifying Blog CTAs for Content Management Systems

Setting up blog-wide CTAs shouldn't be a complex task, but it is on many content management systems. Framer, Webflow, Ghost, Strapi, WordPress, Sanity, Tina, and a slew of others all demand significant technical effort to get a simple blog-wide CTA running.

Your engineering team has more pressing tasks than spending 3 to 7 days rigging a CTA system. Blog CTAs change the game, letting you implement sidebar CTAs and start capturing more leads from your blog within just five minutes.

Improve Your Blog Conversion Rates Significantly

Did you know that sidebar CTAs can improve your blog conversion rates by 3 to 7% or more? With Blog CTAs, you can easily tap into this potential, skipping the frustrating, manual setup process that most CMSs demand.

The result? More leads, more engagement, and more success. Get ahead of the competition by signing up for today’s Blog CTAs waitlist.

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