Crisp

What is Crisp?

Crisp is a customer messaging platform that helps businesses handle customer support, live chat, email, and chatbot automation from one dashboard. It allows real-time communication with website visitors, integrates with popular tools like Slack and WhatsApp, and provides a shared inbox for teams.

With features like automated chatbots, knowledge base creation, and CRM integration, Crisp boosts customer engagement and simplifies support workflows. It's perfect for startups, e-commerce stores, and SaaS companies seeking an all-in-one customer support solution that enhances response times and customer satisfaction without needing complex setups.

Key Features of Crisp

• Live Chat & Messaging – Engage with website visitors in real time through a customizable chat widget, improving customer support and sales interactions.
• Shared Inbox – Manage customer conversations from multiple channels, including email, live chat, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram, in a single, unified inbox.
• Chatbots & Automation – Automate responses with AI-powered chatbots, set up automated workflows, and reduce response times without human intervention.
• Knowledge Base & Help Center – Create a self-service knowledge base where customers can find answers to common questions without contacting support.
• Multichannel Support – Connect Crisp with messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, and Slack to communicate with customers on their preferred platforms.
• CRM & Customer Profiles – Store customer data, track interactions, and access conversation history to provide personalized support and improve engagement.
• Co-Browsing & Video Calls – Assist customers in real time by taking control of their browser screen or initiating video calls directly from the chat.
• Automated Campaigns – Set up automated email and chat campaigns to nurture leads, onboard new customers, and send targeted messages based on user behavior.
• Team Collaboration Tools – Assign conversations to specific team members, use internal notes, and tag colleagues for seamless collaboration within the support team.
• Third-Party Integrations – Integrate with tools like Slack, Zapier, HubSpot, and Shopify to streamline workflows and enhance customer communication.

Benefits of Crisp

• Simplifies Customer Support Management – With a shared inbox that unifies all customer conversations across multiple channels, Crisp makes it easy for teams to manage support requests without switching between platforms.
• Reduces Response Time & Improves Satisfaction – Automated chatbots and canned responses help businesses respond faster, ensuring customers get instant assistance even outside business hours.
• Enhances Team Collaboration – Internal notes, conversation assignments, and mentions allow teams to work together efficiently, ensuring no customer query goes unanswered or overlooked.
• Cost-Effective Alternative to Enterprise Solutions – Crisp provides advanced support features like live chat, automation, and CRM without the high costs associated with enterprise-level customer service platforms.
• Scales with Business Growth – Whether you're a small startup or a growing enterprise, Crisp’s flexible pricing and automation tools allow you to scale customer support operations without increasing workload.
• Increases Customer Retention & Engagement – By offering proactive communication through automated campaigns and personalized interactions, Crisp helps businesses build stronger relationships with customers.
• Improves Onboarding & Lead Nurturing – Automated chat sequences and in-app messages help onboard new users and guide potential customers through the sales funnel without manual follow-ups.
• Works Without Complex Setup – Unlike traditional CRM and support systems that require extensive configurations, Crisp is easy to install and integrates seamlessly with websites and apps.

Limitations of Crisp

• Limited Free Plan – The free version offers only basic live chat features, making it unsuitable for businesses that need automation, integrations, or multichannel support.
• No Built-in Ticketing System – Unlike some help desk solutions, Crisp does not offer a traditional ticketing system, which might be a drawback for teams managing high volumes of customer inquiries.
• Basic AI & Chatbot Capabilities – While Crisp provides chatbot automation, it lacks the advanced AI-powered features found in dedicated chatbot platforms like Intercom or Drift.
• Can Get Expensive for Large Teams – The pricing structure is per workspace rather than per seat, but businesses needing advanced features like automation, integrations, and analytics may find it costly as their needs grow.
• Limited CRM Features – While Crisp includes customer profiles and conversation history, it lacks advanced CRM functionalities like deal tracking, lead scoring, and detailed customer segmentation.
• Learning Curve for Automation Setup – Setting up automated workflows, chatbots, and integrations can take time, especially for users unfamiliar with automation tools.
• No Native Call Center Integration – Crisp supports video calls and co-browsing, but it does not offer a built-in call center solution, requiring businesses to integrate with external VoIP services.

Pricing of Crisp

• Free Plan ($0/month, forever) – Best for solopreneurs and entrepreneurs starting with basic customer support. Includes 2 seats, 100 user profiles, a chat widget, shared inbox, contact form, and mobile applications.
• Essentials Plan ($95/month per workspace) – Designed for small businesses needing a full-featured support platform. Includes everything in the Free Plan, plus 10 seats, 50,000 user profiles, an omnichannel AI chatbot, internal data AI training, writing tools, and email & chat campaigns.
• Plus Plan ($295/month per workspace) – Ideal for medium-sized businesses looking for AI-powered, omnichannel support. Includes everything in the Essentials Plan, plus 20+ seats, 200,000 user profiles, advanced AI features, topic tags, conversation summaries, and advanced internal AI data training.

Who Should Use Crisp

• Startups & Small Businesses – Crisp is perfect for growing businesses that need an affordable, all-in-one customer support platform without the complexity of enterprise-level tools.
• E-commerce Stores – Online retailers can use Crisp to provide real-time support, send automated messages, and engage with customers across multiple channels, improving conversions and customer satisfaction.
• SaaS Companies – Software businesses benefit from Crisp’s shared inbox, live chat, and chatbot automation, allowing them to handle support efficiently while scaling their user base.
• Customer Support Teams – Companies looking to centralize communication across email, live chat, and social media can streamline workflows with Crisp’s multichannel support and automation features.
• Freelancers & Consultants – Independent professionals can use Crisp to manage client communication, automate responses, and provide instant support without needing a complex CRM system.
• Marketing & Sales Teams – Crisp’s automation, email campaigns, and customer data tools make it valuable for nurturing leads, engaging prospects, and converting visitors into paying customers.

Crisp May Not Be Right for You If

• You Need a Traditional Ticketing System – Crisp focuses on live chat and messaging rather than a structured ticketing system. If you require detailed ticket tracking and escalation, platforms like Zendesk or Freshdesk may be a better fit.
• You Require Advanced CRM Features – While Crisp offers basic customer profiles, it lacks advanced CRM tools like pipeline management, lead scoring, and sales automation that platforms like HubSpot or Salesforce provide.
• You Have a Large Customer Support Team – Crisp’s pricing is per workspace, not per user, but larger teams might find it expensive as they scale. Alternatives like Intercom or Drift may offer better enterprise-level features.
• You Need Extensive AI & Automation – Crisp has chatbot automation, but it’s not as advanced as dedicated AI-driven support solutions like Ada or ChatBot, which offer deeper learning and NLP capabilities.
• You Rely Heavily on Phone Support – Crisp supports video calls and chat, but it does not offer built-in VoIP or call center functionalities. If phone support is critical, you may need to integrate third-party solutions or use a dedicated call center platform.

Alternatives to Crisp

• Intercom – A powerful customer communication platform with live chat, chatbots, email automation, and detailed customer insights. Ideal for SaaS businesses and enterprises needing advanced automation and support tools. Read our detailed review of Intercom.
• Zendesk – A comprehensive help desk solution offering live chat, ticketing, knowledge base, and phone support. Best for businesses that need structured support workflows and multi-channel ticket management. Read our detailed review of Zendesk.
• Freshdesk – A cost-effective alternative with strong ticketing, AI-powered chatbots, and omnichannel support. Great for companies looking for an easy-to-use customer support platform.
• Tidio – A budget-friendly live chat and chatbot platform for small businesses and e-commerce stores. It provides AI-powered chatbots and real-time customer engagement features.
• Drift – A conversational marketing and sales tool that helps businesses engage with leads through AI chatbots and personalized messaging. Suitable for companies focusing on lead generation and customer engagement.
• LiveChat – A simple, fast, and reliable live chat platform with integrations for e-commerce and CRM tools. Best for businesses needing real-time support without complex automation.
• Gorgias – Designed for e-commerce businesses, Gorgias integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento, offering automated responses, customer insights, and multi-channel messaging.

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FAQs About Crisp

Does Crisp offer a free plan?

Yes, Crisp has a free plan that includes basic live chat, a shared inbox, and up to two seats. However, it lacks advanced features like automation, integrations, and AI chatbots. If you need more functionality, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan like Essentials or Plus, which offer features such as omnichannel support, AI automation, and customer data tracking.

Can I use Crisp for email and social media support?

Yes, Crisp allows businesses to manage customer messages from multiple channels, including email, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram, in one shared inbox. However, the free plan only supports live chat, while email and social media integrations are available in paid plans like Essentials and Plus. This makes Crisp a good option for businesses that want an all-in-one communication hub.

Does Crisp have a built-in chatbot?

Yes, Crisp offers chatbot functionality, but it’s only available in the Essentials and Plus plans. The chatbot can automate responses, handle common queries, and assist with customer support. However, it is not as advanced as AI-powered chatbot platforms like Intercom or Drift, making it more suitable for basic automation rather than deep conversational AI.

Is Crisp suitable for large teams?

Crisp can work for large teams, but its pricing is based on workspaces rather than individual users. While this can be cost-effective for small teams, larger businesses may find platforms like Zendesk or Intercom more scalable, as they offer enterprise-grade support features, advanced automation, and structured ticketing systems.

Does Crisp support phone or VoIP calls?

Crisp does not have built-in VoIP or phone call support, but it does offer video calls and co-browsing features. If you need full call center capabilities, you’ll need to integrate Crisp with third-party VoIP services. Businesses that rely heavily on phone support may prefer platforms like Zendesk or Freshdesk, which include built-in telephony options.

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