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Chatwoot vs Kayako: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of Chatwoot and Kayako. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: Chatwoot starts at $19/mo, making it $60/mo cheaper than Kayako ($79/mo). Chatwoot offers a free plan.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026

Chatwoot vs Kayako: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureChatwootKayako
Starting Price$19/mo$79/mo
Number of Plans41
Free TierYesNo
Pricing Modelopen-sourceper-seat
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Chatwoot is the more affordable option, starting at $19/mo compared to Kayako's $79/mo. Both are Customer Support tools with 5 combined pricing plans and 29 features compared.

Chatwoot stands out with a free plan for getting started. Chatwoot uses open-source pricing while Kayako uses per-seat pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.

Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Customer Support needs.

Pricing Plans
Chatwoot
Chatwoot
Try it free
Tier 1
Hacker
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Conversations
  • 500/month
  • Live chat
  • Data retention
  • 30 days
Start with Hacker
Kayako One
$79/month
Includes
  • Unified inbox
  • Ticketing system
  • Knowledge base
  • Live chat widget
  • Automation rules
  • Reporting & analytics
Start with Kayako One
Tier 2
Startups
$19/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Conversations
  • Unlimited *
  • All
  • 300 credits
  • Data retention
  • 1 year
Start with Startups
Tier 3
Business
$39/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Conversations
  • Unlimited *
  • All
  • 500 credits
  • Data retention
  • 2 years
Start with Business
Tier 4
Enterprise
$99/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Conversations
  • Unlimited *
  • All
  • 800 credits
  • Data retention
  • 3 years
Start with Enterprise

Swipe to compare plans →

Chatwoot

Open-source customer engagement suite with live chat

View all Chatwoot plans

Kayako

Unified customer service platform with chat and ticketing

View all Kayako plans
Our Pick

Chatwoot

Chatwoot offers a free plan, starts at $60/mo lower ($19/mo vs $79/mo), offers 4 tiers vs 1.

Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.

Best value: Chatwoot

Try Chatwoot free

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Chatwoot if:

  • You want lower per-user costs—Chatwoot starts at $19/mo, saving $60/mo compared to Kayako at $79/mo
  • You need a free plan with Conversations, 500/month—Chatwoot offers no-cost access with no credit card required
  • You need 4 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
  • You want more features built-in—Chatwoot offers 17 additional features across its plans

Choose Kayako if:

  • You want Kayako's approach to incremental feature unlocking across its 1 pricing tier
  • Kayako keeps its feature set lean, which means faster onboarding and less complexity
  • You need a Customer Support tool that scales with your team — Kayako's tier progression supports that

Chatwoot is the more affordable choice [1], starting at $19/mo compared to Kayako's $79/mo. For a 50-person team on paid plans, this translates to Chatwoot saving approximately $3000/month. Chatwoot offers 4 pricing tiers compared to Kayako's 1, giving you more granular control over scaling costs as your team grows. Across all tiers, Chatwoot provides 23 total features versus 6 for Kayako, offering a richer feature set depending on your specific needs. For budget-conscious teams seeking predictable costs, Chatwoot delivers superior value. Kayako may justify its premium for specialized needs, but most organizations will find Chatwoot the smarter financial choice.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Chatwoot vs Kayako

Which is cheaper, Chatwoot or Kayako?
As of March 2026, Chatwoot starts at a lower price point. Chatwoot starts at $19/mo while Kayako starts at $79/mo. However, the best value depends on the features you need at each tier.
How many pricing plans does Chatwoot have vs Kayako?
Chatwoot offers 4 pricing plans, while Kayako offers 1 plan. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Chatwoot or Kayako offer a free plan?
Chatwoot offers a free plan, while Kayako does not. If budget is a concern, Chatwoot lets you get started at no cost.
What pricing models do Chatwoot and Kayako use?
Chatwoot uses a open-source pricing model, while Kayako uses per-seat pricing. The right model depends on your team size and usage patterns.
How do Chatwoot and Kayako compare for Customer Support?
Both Chatwoot and Kayako are Customer Support tools. Chatwoot offers 4 plans starting at $19/mo, while Kayako offers 1 plan starting at $79/mo. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Customer Support needs.

Sources

  1. Chatwoot Official PricingVendor pricing page
  2. Kayako Official PricingVendor pricing page

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