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6 Best Hippo Alternatives in 2026 — Free Options Included

Explore 6 alternatives to Hippo — vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

A side-by-side look at 6 free Hippo alternatives

Quick answer

For a quick answer, the leading Hippo alternatives are LiveAgent, LiveChat and Zoho SalesIQ. LiveAgent ranks highest with a SpotScore of 9.8 and a 4.67★ rating. The table below lines up all 6 on score, rating, and price.

Finding a strong Hippo alternative is mostly about knowing which tools deliver. These 6 live chat software free alternatives do, ranked by SpotScore, which combines real-user satisfaction with market presence, plus star ratings and pricing. We vet each one. Skim the table, then read the breakdowns below.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
LiveAgentConnect with your customers on all channels.9.8★★★★★ 4.67(870)Freefrom $15 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
LiveChatStreamline customer support and boost satisfaction with LiveChat.9.8★★★★☆ 4.35(791)Freefrom $16 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
Zoho SalesIQRevolutionize your customer engagement.8.9★★★★☆ 4.42(283)Freefrom $7 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
MyLiveChatConvert visitors into loyal customers with MyLiveChat.8.8★★☆☆☆ 2.33(6)Freefrom $15/moteams of all sizes
Let's ConnectConnect, convert, and succeed with real-time communication.8.2★★★★★ 5(9)Freefrom $275/moteams of all sizes
LinkedChatSeamless customer experience, no frustration, happy customers.7.7★★★★☆ 4.28(46)Freefrom $9/moteams of all sizes

9.8

SpotScore

LiveAgent - Help Desk Software

LiveAgent

Connect with your customers on all channels.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.7

870 verified reviews

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What is LiveAgent?

LiveAgent is online support software that gives users the freedom to talk with their customers, manage projects and deliver live chat, e‑mail and phone support. It's mobile‑enabled too so it doesn't matter where customers are based, users be able to connect with them seamlessly. LiveAgent ...

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Free Trial

9.8

SpotScore

LiveChat - Live Chat Software

LiveChat

Streamline customer support and boost satisfaction with LiveChat.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.3

791 verified reviews

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What is LiveChat?

Introducing LiveChat, an advanced live chat software that offers a range of features to enhance communication between businesses and their customers. With a user base of over 23,000 companies across 150 countries, including the ability to view customers' messages in real-time, prepare canned ...

Read more about LiveChat
Free Trial·

LiveChat offers custom pricing plan

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8.9

SpotScore

Zoho SalesIQ

Zoho SalesIQ

Revolutionize your customer engagement.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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4.4

283 verified reviews

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What is Zoho SalesIQ?

Zoho SalesIQ is a customer engagement platform combining live chat, chatbots, website visitor tracking, lead generation, and visitor analytics in a single dashboard. Businesses use it to engage website visitors in real time, automate chat responses, and capture lead information for sales ...

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8.8

SpotScore

MyLiveChat - Live Chat Software

MyLiveChat

Convert visitors into loyal customers with MyLiveChat.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

2.3

6 verified reviews

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What is MyLiveChat?

Introducing MyLiveChat – the ultimate solution to convert website visitors into loyal customers. Our platform offers a personalized and fast messaging experience, allowing businesses to engage with their clients in real-time with a human touch. With tools like a floating chat button, proactive ...

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Free Trial

8.2

SpotScore

Let's Connect - Live Chat Software

Let's Connect

Connect, convert, and succeed with real-time communication.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

5.0

9 verified reviews

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What is Let's Connect?

Let’s Connect is the perfect solution for businesses who want to increase their customer conversions. Improve your engagement rate with real-time communication methods such as live chat, phone, and video calls. Maximize customer interest and make it easier to turn them into lifelong customers! ...

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Free Trial

7.7

SpotScore

LinkedChat - Live Chat Software

LinkedChat

Seamless customer experience, no frustration, happy customers.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.3

46 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is LinkedChat?

LinkedChat is a must-have tool for any SaaS business. Providing a seamless customer experience has never been easier with this platform. Directly chat with customers through popular communication channels like Slack, HipChat, and Telegram. What's even better is that no additional software is ...

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Hippo vs its closest competitors

Hippo competes with 6 other live chat software tools tracked on Spotsaas. The closest by feature overlap are LiveAgent, LiveChat and Zoho SalesIQ. Each is compared against Hippo on rating, pricing and feature coverage below.

What else works like Hippo?

Searches for "sites like Hippo" and "apps like Hippo" land on the same shortlist as "Hippo alternatives" — the 6 options below cover both, whether you want a like-for-like replacement or something lighter.

Why each Hippo alternative is here

LiveAgent9.8Best for teams of all sizes

Multi-channel support across channels

Watch for: Can be overwhelming for new users

LiveChat9.8Best for teams of all sizes

Integration capabilities with third-party software tools, enhancing customer engagement and marketing efforts.

Watch for: Limited number of active accounts, hindering flexibility during certain periods of high volume.

Zoho SalesIQ8.9Best for teams of all sizes

Integrates with other Zoho products including CRM, Desk, and Campaigns.

Watch for: Limited advanced features and integrations compared to competitors like HubSpot or Salesforce.

MyLiveChat8.8Best for teams of all sizes

Fast messaging experience

Watch for: Limited integrations

Let's Connect8.2Best for teams of all sizes

Real-time communication

Watch for: Limited advanced features

LinkedChat7.7Best for teams of all sizes

Seamless customer experience

Watch for: Limited analytics features

Why teams look for a Hippo alternative

The motivation to leave Hippo usually centers on a few specifics:

  • Limited advanced features
  • Basic analytics
  • May require training
  • No mobile app

How to pick the right Hippo replacement

How these 6 live chat software free alternatives measure up: 6 offer a free tier; paid plans run $7–$275, with Zoho SalesIQ the cheapest entry point; and Let's Connect is the highest rated at 5★ across 9 reviews.

How we score these.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

The top-rated alternatives to Hippo are Let's Connect (5.0★), LiveAgent (4.7★), Zoho SalesIQ (4.4★). Compare all 6 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to Hippo, prioritize: Visitor Targeting, Transfers, Shortcut Messages, Persistent Chat, Offline Form, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

Hippo starts from $17 /Month. Many alternatives offer similar functionality at different price points — some with free tiers, others with more flexible per-seat pricing. Use the filters above to narrow by budget.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Hippo is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend narrowing to 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

Finding the right Hippo alternative for your team

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — LiveAgent, LiveChat and Zoho SalesIQ let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: Let's Connect has the strongest star rating (5★) among the options with verified reviews.
  • Want the safest pick: LiveAgent has the highest Spotsaas Score (9.8) in this list — a strong default if you're unsure.

Planning your switch from Hippo

Leaving Hippo is mostly about avoiding surprises. Export your data, check the new tool can import it, and confirm feature parity for what you actually use. Run a pilot before the full switch, and keep your Hippo account open until migration wraps. The free tiers above let you trial without spending.

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].