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 people like about 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
Common complaints about Chatwoot
- 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
What people like about 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
Common complaints about Tawk.to
- 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
Chatwoot or Tawk.to?
Choose Chatwoot if you want genuine multichannel support and are willing to either self-host or pay per agent for Cloud. Choose Tawk.to if you want a free, badge-aside, no-infrastructure chat tool and don't need channels beyond chat. Neither is priced or built for a team that just wants unmetered chat routed somewhere they already check.
Or consider a third option
Chatwoot's breadth costs either your ops time or a per-agent Cloud bill. Tawk.to's simplicity costs a badge, or $29/mo per add-on to remove it. Neither routes replies to Telegram itself. Bubblegram sends widget messages straight into a Telegram group: no server, no badge, no add-ons, $10/mo flat for up to 10 sites.
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.
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