Chatwoot vs Drift
Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.
The verdict
Both Chatwoot and Drift are credible live chat tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.
Choose Chatwoot if you want a lower starting price (free – $19/agent/mo), a free plan to start on and broader platform coverage. Open-source customer engagement.
Drift — Conversational marketing and sales.
Chatwoot vs Drift: side by side
| Dimension | Chatwoot | Drift |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free – $19/agent/moWinner | From $2500/yr |
| Free plan | YesWinner | No |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Subscription |
| Best for | Startups, Developers | B2b, Sales Teams |
| Platforms | Web, Self Hosted, Ios, AndroidWinner | Web, Api |
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.4/5 |
Chatwoot key facts
- Vendor
- Chatwoot
- Pricing
- Freemium — Free – $19/agent/mo
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Self Hosted, Ios, Android
- Best for
- Startups, Developers
- Editor rating
- 4.5 / 5
- Founded
- 2017
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, CA, USA
Drift key facts
- Vendor
- Salesloft
- Pricing
- Subscription — From $2500/yr
- Free tier
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Api
- Best for
- B2b, Sales Teams
- Editor rating
- 4.4 / 5
- Founded
- 2015
- Headquarters
- Boston, MA, USA
Frequently asked questions
Is Chatwoot better than Drift?
Neither is universally better — Chatwoot edges ahead on overall rating, but the best choice depends on price, platforms, and your use case. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Chatwoot or Drift cheaper?
Chatwoot is the more affordable of the two to get started, at free – $19/agent/mo. Chatwoot starts at free – $19/agent/mo; Drift starts at from $2500/yr.
Can Chatwoot replace Drift?
Yes for most teams — both are live chat tools with heavily overlapping features. The main trade-offs are pricing and platform support, covered in the comparison above.