LiveChat alternatives: 4 open-source picks
LiveChat costs $25/mo — $300 a year. These 4 alternatives replace it for $0, led by Chatwoot, Zammad and LibreDesk. All 4 are open source. License, stars and last commit checked by hand on 2026-08-11. No trials, no crippled tiers.
A proper support inbox with chat, email and a help center; free software, billable server chores.
licenseMIT
runsyour server
installDocker Compose on a Linux VM, followed by environment, database, reverse-proxy and TLS configuration
dataApplication data in PostgreSQL, queues/cache in Redis, and attachments on local disk or S3-compatible/cloud object storage
the catch vs LiveChatYou trade LiveChat's managed uptime, upgrades and deliverability for operating a multi-service server yourself.
setupProvisioning a Linux server and correctly wiring DNS/TLS, SMTP, PostgreSQL/Redis and storage
facts verified 2026-08-11
A serious ticket desk with email, chat, SLAs and a knowledge base; setup is the first ticket.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
installDeploy the Docker Compose/Portainer stack or install supported Linux packages
dataTicket and user data in PostgreSQL, search indexes in Elasticsearch, and attachments/backups in Docker volumes or server storage
the catch vs LiveChatZammad is a heavyweight ticket suite, so website chat is less focused and much harder to operate than LiveChat.
setupA comparatively large server and familiarity with Docker/Portainer, PostgreSQL and Elasticsearch
facts verified 2026-08-11
A modern email-and-live-chat desk in one compact stack, because apparently that was allowed.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
installRun Docker Compose with an edited config file, or launch the release binary against PostgreSQL
dataRecords in PostgreSQL, queues/cache in Redis, and uploads on the local filesystem or S3-compatible object storage
the catch vs LiveChatLibreDesk is much newer and less battle-tested, with a far smaller integration and support ecosystem than LiveChat.
setupDocker plus a correct config, encryption key, PostgreSQL/Redis and mail/channel credentials
facts verified 2026-08-11
A battle-tested live-chat desk with routing, transcripts and canned replies; the interface has seen some things.
licenseApache-2.0
runsyour server
installUpload the release archive to a PHP web server and run the browser installer, or deploy its Docker image
dataChats and settings in MySQL/MariaDB, with uploads and media in writable server-side storage directories
the catch vs LiveChatIts agent interface, reporting and integration catalog are markedly less polished than LiveChat's.
setupA PHP 8.2+/MySQL web host, a pre-created database and correct filesystem permissions
facts verified 2026-08-11
What each one is, in full: Chatwoot · Zammad
last updated 2026-08-11 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
the usual suspects · recommended everywhere, rejected here
PapercupsA once-obvious open-source pick whose main repo stopped in February 2024.
how to choose a LiveChat alternative
Most proven
Chatwoot, with 35,534 GitHub stars — the largest community of the 4, which usually means more answers when something breaks.
Works on your phone
Chatwoot has a mobile app on iOS and Android.
Needs real ops to self-host
Chatwoot, Zammad and Live Helper Chat are capable but expect someone to run a server, updates and backups. Budget for that before choosing one.
what you give up by leaving LiveChat
- global chat delivery, mobile apps, staffing tools, integrations, and support
- omnichannel integrations
- large-scale deliverability
- AI resolution tuning
- enterprise routing and compliance
None of the picks above covers all of it. The full verdict says which gaps matter.
LiveChat alternatives at a glance
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatwoot | MIT | self-host, real ops | web, ios, android, self-hosted | 35,534 | 2026-08 |
| Zammad | AGPL-3.0 | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted | 5,800 | 2026-08 |
| LibreDesk | AGPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 2,682 | 2026-08 |
| Live Helper Chat | Apache-2.0 | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted | 2,236 | 2026-08 |
why people still pay for LiveChat
People still pay for LiveChat because support software survives because missing or misrouting one customer message is expensive and every channel behaves differently. The recurring cost buys message delivery, webhooks, threading, identity, permissions, attachments, notifications, spam, search, uptime, and retention, not just the visible interface. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $300 a year.
questions about switching from LiveChat
Is there an open-source alternative to LiveChat?
Yes: Chatwoot, Zammad, LibreDesk and 1 more. Every tool on this page is open source: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Can open source really replace LiveChat?
Our verdict is YES. Chatwoot (36k stars), Zammad (6k stars), LibreDesk (3k stars) are mature open-source replacements for LiveChat — self-host with real ops work and stop paying $25/mo. The full verdict, and what you give up by switching, is at caniopensourceit.online/livechat.
What is the most popular open-source LiveChat alternative?
By GitHub stars, Chatwoot (35,534). Zammad is next with 5,800.
