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Olark vs Papercups: Pricing Comparison 2026

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

Bottom line: Olark starts at $29/mo and Papercups starts at Custom pricing. Compare all 3 pricing tiers side by side.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026

Olark vs Papercups: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureOlarkPapercups
Starting Price$29/moCustom pricing
Number of Plans21
Free TierNoYes
Pricing Modelper-seatopen-source
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Olark and Papercups are both priced at $29/mo, making them equally accessible Customer Support tools. Together they offer 3 pricing plans with 18 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.

Papercups stands out with a free plan for getting started. Olark uses per-seat pricing while Papercups uses open-source 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
Papercups
Papercups
Try it free
Tier 1
Olark Standard
$29/month
Includes
  • Customizable chatbox
  • Advanced reporting
  • Agent groups
  • Targeted chat
  • Basic integrations
  • Comprehensive security
  • Email and chat support
  • Built in WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility certification
Start with Olark Standard
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Open-source live chat
  • Self-hosted
Start with Free
Tier 2
Olark Pro
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Powerful chatbots, AI & automation
  • All Powerups included
  • Dedicated account manager
  • Live training
  • Professional services including legal and procurement
  • Video chat, SMS, or call us for help
  • Custom chat routing
  • First priority in our support queue
Start with Olark Pro

Swipe to compare plans →

Olark

Live chat software for sales and customer support

View all Olark plans

Papercups

Open-source live chat widget for websites

View all Papercups plans

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Olark if:

  • You need 2 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
  • You want more features built-in—Olark offers 14 additional features across its plans
  • Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—Olark offers negotiated terms for large deployments

Choose Papercups if:

  • You need a free plan with Open-source live chat, Self-hosted—Papercups offers no-cost access with no credit card required
  • You prioritize Papercups's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
  • You need predictable billing — Papercups's open-source model avoids surprise overages

Papercups offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Olark requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Papercups a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Papercups's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately Custom pricing provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against Olark's tiering starting at $29/mo to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Papercups's 1 tier provide flexibility at different budgets, while Olark's 2 tiers structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, Papercups is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Olark vs Papercups

How many pricing plans does Olark have vs Papercups?
Olark offers 2 pricing plans, while Papercups offers 1 plan. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Olark or Papercups offer a free plan?
Papercups offers a free plan, while Olark does not. If budget is a concern, Papercups lets you get started at no cost.
Does Olark or Papercups offer custom enterprise pricing?
Olark offers a custom-priced enterprise tier for larger teams. Papercups lists all its pricing publicly.
What pricing models do Olark and Papercups use?
Olark uses a per-seat pricing model, while Papercups uses open-source pricing. The right model depends on your team size and usage patterns.
How do Olark and Papercups compare for Customer Support?
Both Olark and Papercups are Customer Support tools. Olark offers 2 plans starting at $29/mo, while Papercups offers 1 plan starting at Custom pricing. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Customer Support needs.

Sources

  1. Olark Official PricingVendor pricing page
  2. Papercups Official PricingVendor pricing page

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