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Last Updated: October 16, 2026
LiveChat review: what it is
This LiveChat review is for the small business that wants customers to reach a real person on its website quickly, with AI taking the routine questions off the pile. LiveChat is one of the longest-running live chat platforms, and in 2026 its plans are marketed under the Text brand, so you will see “Text by LiveChat” on the pricing page. It gives you a fast chat widget for your site, one inbox for your conversations, an AI agent that resolves common questions, and Copilot, an assistant that suggests replies while you type. We researched and evaluated it as the most polished human-first chat tool in our support category.
How LiveChat saves you a hire
A support hire on chat does two things: answers visitors fast enough to keep the sale, and handles the repetitive questions so nothing piles up. LiveChat splits that work between you and AI.
The AI agent takes the first pass, answering the common questions about pricing, shipping, hours, and how your service works. Each plan includes a set number of AI resolutions a month, and LiveChat only counts a resolution when the AI actually answers, so a conversation it passes to you without answering is not billed. For the conversations that need a person, Copilot drafts replies and suggestions so one person can cover chat without typing every answer from scratch. That direction is where the whole industry is going: Gartner predicts AI agents will resolve 80 percent of common service issues on their own by 2029. LiveChat’s approach keeps a human close while that happens.
The realistic result for a small business is a chat box that feels staffed during your working hours, with AI catching the easy questions and the overflow.
Best for
- Service businesses that sell in conversation. Agencies, consultants, and high-ticket services where a quick, human chat turns a visitor into a booked call.
- Online stores with someone watching chat. Shops that want fast, professional live chat during business hours and AI coverage for the routine questions.
- Small teams that will grow. Businesses that expect to add a second or third person to chat and want a tool built for teams from day one.
Strengths
- Polished chat widget. A fast, customizable chat experience that looks professional on any site.
- AI agent included on every paid plan. Essential includes 1 AI agent with 10 AI resolutions a month; Growth includes 10 AI agents and 200 resolutions.
- Fair resolution billing. A resolution only counts when the AI answered, so handoffs without an answer are not charged.
- Copilot on all plans. Reply suggestions and AI edits for the human side of the conversation; Growth adds conversation summaries.
- One family of tools. The same company also makes ChatBot and HelpDesk, so you can add a ticketing desk or a chatbot builder later without switching vendors.
What it costs
| Plan | Monthly billing | Yearly billing (per month) | Billing unit | Key limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $25 | $19 | Per user | 1 AI agent, 10 AI resolutions a month, 5 reply suggestions and 5 AI edits per user |
| Growth | $99 | $79 | Per user | 10 AI agents, 200 AI resolutions a month, conversation summaries |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Quote | Contact sales |
There is no permanent free plan. The free trial lasts 14 days, needs no credit card, and does not charge you automatically when it ends. Extra AI resolutions cost $49.50 per 50, which works out to about 99 cents each. Yearly billing saves up to 24 percent. Prices verified on livechat.com on October 15, 2026. Pricing, plans, and limits are set by LiveChat and can change; confirm current pricing on their site before you subscribe.
What changed recently (as of October 2026): LiveChat’s plans are now sold under the Text brand, the product many readers still know as LiveChat. AI resolutions are now built into each plan rather than sold only as an add-on.
How LiveChat compares
- Tidio is the better value if you want AI to carry most of the load. It has a free plan and sells its Lyro AI agent as a conversation allowance. See our Tidio review.
- Zoho Desk fits if your support is mostly email and tickets rather than live chat. AI Agents start on its $7 per user plan. See our Zoho Desk review.
- Chatbase is the pick if you mainly want an AI agent trained on detailed documentation rather than a human-first chat tool.
All three appear in our ranked roundup of the best AI customer support tools.
Is LiveChat right for you?
Here is the honest fit test. If you want visitors to reach a real person fast on your website, and you want that experience to look and feel professional, LiveChat is built for exactly that. That describes most service businesses and many online stores that treat chat as a sales channel.
The time to skip it is if you want AI to answer most of your chats with nobody watching. Ten AI resolutions a month on Essential is a starter allowance, not full coverage, and an AI-first tool like Tidio fits that goal better.
For everyone else, LiveChat’s value is the conversation itself. Your visitors get a fast, polished chat, AI clears the routine questions, Copilot speeds up your replies, and the same platform grows with you when you add people.
The offer
Reader note, as of October 16, 2026: LiveChat offers a 14-day free trial that does not require a credit card and does not charge automatically when it ends.*
LiveChat FAQ
Is LiveChat the same as Text?
Yes. LiveChat’s plans are now marketed under the Text brand. The product, the widget, and your account work the same way.
Does LiveChat have a free plan?
No. It has a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. After that you choose a paid plan.
How are AI resolutions billed?
Each plan includes a monthly allowance: 10 on Essential and 200 on Growth. Extra resolutions cost $49.50 per 50. A resolution only counts when the AI actually answered the question.
Is LiveChat priced per user?
Yes. Essential is $19 per user a month billed yearly, or $25 monthly. Adding a second person doubles the seat cost.
LiveChat or Tidio?
Choose LiveChat if a human answering quickly is the priority and you want the most polished chat experience. Choose Tidio if you want a free plan and AI handling most conversations.
Bottom line
LiveChat is the polished choice for a small business that sees chat as a conversation worth having, not just a queue to clear. It pairs a professional chat widget with an AI agent, fair resolution billing, and Copilot to speed up the human replies. Start the 14-day trial, connect it to your site, and see how many of your chats the AI resolves before you pick a plan.
Compare the full field in our roundup of the best AI customer support tools, and build the rest of your stack with the AI Tool Guide for solopreneurs and small business.
* Pricing, plans, trial length, and terms are set by LiveChat (Text) and can change at any time. Check LiveChat’s website for current pricing and terms before you buy.
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