Tidio vs Crisp: which one should you use?
Last updated July 3, 2026
Tidio and Crisp both sell more than a chat widget, but they’re built around different bets. Tidio bets on AI: its Lyro chatbot and visual flow builder aim to resolve questions before a human gets involved, with pricing that meters every conversation, human or bot. Crisp bets on unification: one inbox for email, SMS, WhatsApp, and chat, priced per seat with no conversation cap.
If you’re deciding between them, the real question is whether automation (Tidio) or channel breadth (Crisp) matters more to your support workflow.
Pricing
Tidio’s free plan allows 50 conversations/mo across 3 seats; Starter and Growth raise the cap but still meter it, up to 2,000/mo on Growth at $59/seat. Crisp’s free plan has no conversation cap but stops at 2 seats; paid tiers start at $45/mo for 4 seats with unlimited conversations included.
Feature comparison
Tidio’s edge is automation: a genuine chatbot flow builder and deep Shopify integrations. Crisp’s edge is breadth: a real omnichannel inbox that Tidio doesn’t attempt to match.
What each one does well
If your traffic is ecommerce-heavy and repetitive (“where’s my order?”), Tidio’s Lyro AI and flow builder can genuinely cut human workload. If your support spans multiple channels and you want them in one place without counting conversations, Crisp’s inbox is built for exactly that.
Verdict
Neither tool is priced for a site that just wants simple chat without caps or seat multipliers. If that’s your situation, it’s worth checking what unmetered, flat-rate chat costs elsewhere before picking either dashboard.
Also see our full breakdowns: Tidio alternative, Crisp alternative, Tidio pricing, Crisp pricing.
Pricing at a glance
Feature comparison
| Feature | Tidio | Crisp |
|---|---|---|
| AI chatbot included on paid tiers | ||
| Visual chatbot flow builder | ||
| Multichannel inbox (email, SMS, WhatsApp) | ||
| Shopify / ecommerce integrations | ||
| Telegram integration | ||
| Conversation caps on every tier | ||
| Unlimited conversations on paid plan | ||
| Shared inbox with internal notes | ||
| Canned responses | ||
| Automated workflows |
What people like about Tidio
- Purpose-built chatbot flow editor with ecommerce triggers
- Deep Shopify integration: order status, cart abandonment, product recs
- Free plan works for genuinely low-volume sites
- Lyro AI can resolve common questions before a human sees them
Common complaints about Tidio
- Every tier, including paid ones, meters conversations
- Lyro AI is a separate add-on with its own per-conversation billing
- Growth-to-Plus jump goes from $59/mo to $749/mo with no middle tier
- No native way to reply from Telegram
What people like about Crisp
- Unlimited conversations included on paid tiers, no metering
- True omnichannel inbox: email, SMS, WhatsApp alongside chat
- Telegram messages land in the same shared inbox as other channels
- Shared inbox with internal notes for team collaboration
Common complaints about Crisp
- Free plan caps at 2 seats with no workflows or AI
- No chatbot flow builder or ecommerce-specific integrations
- Seat pricing jumps in large steps: $45 to $95 to $295/mo
- "Telegram support" means replying from Crisp, not Telegram itself
Tidio or Crisp?
Choose Tidio if your priority is an AI chatbot deflecting common questions, especially for a Shopify store, and your volume is genuinely low enough to fit the conversation caps. Choose Crisp if you need unlimited conversations and a real omnichannel inbox across email, SMS, and WhatsApp, and don't need ecommerce-specific automation. Neither caps out cleanly for a growing site that just wants simple, unmetered chat.
Or consider a third option
Tidio meters every conversation, even on paid tiers, and Crisp gates Telegram and workflows behind seat-based pricing that climbs fast. Neither routes replies to Telegram itself. If what you actually want is simple chat that lands somewhere you already check, Bubblegram sends widget messages straight to a Telegram group: no seat multipliers, 100 free conversations/mo (double Tidio's cap) and unlimited on Pro, $10/mo flat for up to 10 sites.
Common questions
Which has a better free plan?
Tidio's free plan supports more team members (3 vs Crisp's 2) but caps at 50 conversations/mo. Crisp's free plan has no conversation cap but stops at 2 seats and excludes workflows and AI entirely.
Does either one avoid conversation limits?
Crisp doesn't meter conversations on any tier, including free. Tidio meters every tier: 50/mo free, up to 2,000/mo on Growth, with no unlimited option below the custom Plus tier.
Which is better for a Shopify store?
Tidio, by a wide margin. Its integrations pull order status and trigger flows from cart activity in ways Crisp doesn't attempt.
Which is cheaper for a 3-person team?
It depends on usage. Tidio Growth for 3 seats is $177/mo for 2,000 conversations. Crisp Essentials (needed for Telegram and workflows) is $95/mo flat for up to 10 seats. Crisp is usually cheaper unless you specifically need Tidio's AI or Shopify tooling.
Can I reply from Telegram with either tool?
No. Tidio has no Telegram integration. Crisp can pull Telegram messages into its shared inbox, but replies still go out from Crisp's dashboard, not from Telegram.
Reply from Telegram.
Skip the dashboard.
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