Chatwoot vs Tawk.to: which one should you use?
Last updated July 7, 2026
Chatwoot and Tawk.to both offer a free tier with unlimited agents, but they’re solving different problems. Chatwoot is a genuine multichannel support platform, open-source and self-hostable, that happens to include chat among email, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Tawk.to is chat-first and free-forever, funded by optional paid add-ons rather than a tiered plan structure.
If you’re deciding between them, the question is whether you need multichannel breadth (Chatwoot) or just want free, simple chat with a badge you can optionally remove (Tawk.to).
Pricing
Chatwoot self-hosted has no license fee but real infrastructure costs; Cloud starts at $19/agent/mo. Tawk.to’s core product costs nothing, ever, with badge removal, AI Assist, and video each sold separately at $29/mo.
Feature comparison
Chatwoot wins decisively on channel breadth: email, WhatsApp, Instagram, SMS, and Telegram all live in one inbox. Tawk.to sticks to chat, ticketing, and a knowledge base, with no omnichannel ambitions.
What each one does well
If you’re fielding support across multiple channels and want it unified, or care about data ownership, Chatwoot is built for that, at the cost of either ops time or a per-agent bill. If you want free, simple chat and don’t mind a badge, Tawk.to gets you there with zero setup friction.
Verdict
Chatwoot is the stronger platform if you actually need multichannel support. Tawk.to is the simpler, cheaper pick if chat is genuinely all you use. Neither is built around Telegram as the primary channel, so if that’s your actual workflow, it’s worth comparing both against something narrower.
Also see our full breakdowns: Chatwoot alternative, Tawk.to alternative, Chatwoot pricing, Tawk.to pricing.
Pricing at a glance
Feature comparison
| Feature | Chatwoot | Tawk.to |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier with unlimited agents | ||
| Self-hosting option | ||
| Open-source / auditable | ||
| Multichannel inbox (email, SMS, WhatsApp) | ||
| Telegram integration | ||
| Built-in ticketing | ||
| Knowledge base builder | ||
| Badge-free by default | ||
| AI-assisted replies | ||
| Setup under 5 minutes |
What users say
Chatwoot
- Genuinely multichannel: email, WhatsApp, Instagram, SMS, Telegram in one inbox
- Full data ownership when self-hosted, open-source and auditable
- No badge or branding shown by default
- Unlimited agents on both self-hosted and reasonably on Cloud tiers
- Self-hosting requires setting up and maintaining Docker, Postgres, and Redis
- Cloud pricing is per-agent and climbs quickly
- Not a five-minute setup, self-hosted or Cloud
- No vendor support on self-hosted deployments
Tawk.to
- Genuinely free forever with unlimited agents and sites
- Ticketing, knowledge base, and CRM included at no cost
- Sign up and add the widget in minutes, no server involved
- No seat-based pricing to plan around
- No omnichannel inbox: chat, tickets, and a knowledge base, nothing more
- No native Telegram integration
- "Powered by tawk.to" badge shown unless you pay $29/mo to remove it
- AI Assist and video are separate $29/mo add-ons, each
The bottom line
Chatwoot or Tawk.to?
Chatwoot for genuine multichannel support, if you'll self-host or pay per agent. Tawk.to for free, no-infrastructure chat, if a badge and dashboard workflow don't bother you. Neither is built for unmetered chat routed somewhere you already check.
Or consider a third option
Chatwoot's breadth costs ops time or a per-agent bill. Tawk.to's simplicity costs a badge, or $29/mo per add-on to remove it. Neither replies from Telegram. Bubblegram routes widget messages into a Telegram group: no server, no badge, no add-ons, from $9/mo flat.
Try Bubblegram free →Common questions
Which one is actually free?
Self-hosted Chatwoot has no license fee but costs server time and maintenance. Tawk.to's core product is free forever, with a badge shown unless you pay $29/mo to remove it.
Which is easier to set up?
Tawk.to, by far. It's a script tag and a free account. Chatwoot means either self-hosting infrastructure or paying for Cloud.
Does either support Telegram?
Chatwoot does, as one inbox channel among several. Tawk.to has no Telegram integration at all.
Which has better analytics or CRM tooling?
Chatwoot's is more complete given its multichannel design. Tawk.to includes a basic CRM and visitor monitoring free, sufficient for simpler needs.
Which is cheaper for a small team?
Tawk.to, if the badge doesn't bother you: $0 indefinitely. Chatwoot's cheapest real option is either DIY self-hosting or $19/agent/mo on Cloud.
Reply from Telegram.
Skip the dashboard.
Most support tools are overkill. Bubblegram routes messages to Telegram and gets out of the way.
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