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Chatwoot

Open-source multi-channel support inbox with cloud and self-hosted plans.

What it is

Chatwoot centralizes supported website, email, messaging, social and API channels in shared inboxes. It is available as Chatwoot Cloud or a self-hosted codebase, but enterprise features and the operational burden differ across editions. The choice between cloud and self-hosted is the real decision, because it changes who carries the uptime and upgrade work.

Chatwoot pricing

Chatwoot does not publish a plan ladder we could verify. Free tier available.

Prices read from the vendor's own pricing page on 2026-08-24. Vendors change plans without notice — check the source before you budget.

Key features

  • Shared inboxes

    Routes conversations from supported channels to assigned agents and teams.

  • Website and messaging channels

    Connects live chat, email, WhatsApp, SMS, social and other documented providers.

  • API channel

    Allows a custom application or unsupported messaging source to create an inbox.

  • Cloud or self-hosted

    Offers managed subscriptions and multiple infrastructure deployment methods.

Strengths and trade-offs

What works well

  • Self-hosting path: Community code outside the enterprise directory is MIT-licensed.
  • Channel coverage: Supports live chat, email and multiple messaging or social providers.
  • Custom channel API: Connects unsupported applications through an API inbox.
  • Deployment choice: Use the managed cloud or operate Chatwoot on your infrastructure.

Where it falls short

  • Self-hosting stack: Production requires web and worker processes, PostgreSQL, Redis, email and object storage.
  • Edition boundaries: Community Edition excludes SSO, SLA policies and several enterprise controls.
  • Cloud tier limits: Channels, automation, retention and conversation quotas vary by plan.
  • Provider setup: External messaging channels require their own credentials, permissions and sometimes provider charges.

Who it is for

Support teams that want a multi-channel shared inbox and are choosing between managed cloud convenience and self-hosted control.

Pick it or skip it

Pick Chatwoot if

  • Teams consolidating supported chat, email and messaging channels
  • Organizations with infrastructure staff and a requirement to host conversation data
  • Custom support channels that can integrate through Chatwoot's API inbox

Skip it if

  • You expect Community Edition to include enterprise SSO, SLA and advanced controls
  • Your team cannot operate and update the required self-hosted services
  • A required external channel or retention period is absent from your selected cloud plan

Our verdict

Choose Chatwoot after comparing cloud-plan limits with the real cost of operating its full self-hosted stack; open source does not make every enterprise feature free.

Closest alternatives we track

Same category, ordered by verified starting price.

Frequently asked questions

Does Chatwoot have a free plan?
Yes. Chatwoot offers a free tier with limits; paid plans unlock higher usage or team features.
Who is Chatwoot best for?
Support teams that want a multi-channel shared inbox and are choosing between managed cloud convenience and self-hosted control.
What are the closest alternatives to Chatwoot?
In the same category we track Zendesk and Tidio. Each has its own review page with verified pricing, and the comparison links above show them side by side.
What are the main drawbacks of Chatwoot?
The trade-offs we noted: Self-hosting stack: Production requires web and worker processes, PostgreSQL, Redis, email and object storage.; Edition boundaries: Community Edition excludes SSO, SLA policies and several enterprise controls.; Cloud tier limits: Channels, automation, retention and conversation quotas vary by plan..
When should you not use Chatwoot?
Skip Chatwoot if: You expect Community Edition to include enterprise SSO, SLA and advanced controls; Your team cannot operate and update the required self-hosted services; A required external channel or retention period is absent from your selected cloud plan.

What we checked

  • Public APIOffers a documented API you can build against.Yes
  • Mobile appHas a native app for iOS or Android, not just a mobile website.Yes
  • Open source / self-hostableSource is open and the tool can be run on your own infrastructure.Yes
  • SSO (SAML)Supports SAML single sign-on on at least one plan.Yes

“Not checked” means exactly that — we have not verified it, and we do not guess.

Evidence and freshness

Status: Source listed, figures not recordedReviewed: 2026-08-24

Limit: Vendor documentation was reviewed; ToolCompare did not independently test channel reliability, migration, reporting, self-hosted security, cloud uptime or total infrastructure cost.

Compare Chatwoot with alternatives

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