Crisp vs Hiver: Complete Comparison (2026)

Updated: March 12, 20268 min read

Choosing between Crisp and Hiver is a common decision for customer support buyers in 2026. Both Crisp and Hiver are established players, founded in 2015 and 2011 respectively. Crisp serves 500K+ orgs users while Hiver has 10K+ orgs users globally. Crisp differentiates with shared inbox and live chat, while Hiver leads with shared gmail inbox and email assignment. In this head-to-head comparison, Crisp earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 90/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.

🟢
Crisp
Customer Support
90
hiltonsoftware.co Score
VS
📧
Hiver
Customer Support
90
hiltonsoftware.co Score

Quick Comparison

Crisp
Hiver
Starting Price
$25/mo
$19/user/mo
Free Plan
Yes
Yes
Users
500K+ orgs
10K+ orgs
Founded
2015
2011
Rating
4.5/5
4.5/5
Best For
Startups wanting free, all-in-one customer messagi...
Gmail-first teams wanting shared inbox help desk w...

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

CrispHiver
91Ease of Use94
93Features94
97Value for Money91
85Customer Support90
94Integrations91
88Scalability89
97Learning Curve91

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Crisp
+Generous free plan
+All-in-one for early-stage companies
-Limited scalability for enterprise
-Mobile app needs improvement
Hiver
+Works inside Gmail natively
+No context switching needed
-Gmail only
-Limited beyond email support
AI Verdict

After comparing Crisp and Hiver across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Crisp takes the lead with a score of 90/100 versus Hiver's 90/100. Crisp's key advantages include "generous free plan" and "all-in-one for early-stage companies". That said, Hiver has its own strengths — particularly "works inside gmail natively" — making it a viable alternative for specific use cases.

Both Crisp and Hiver offer free plans, lowering the barrier to entry. Crisp's paid plans start at $25/mo while Hiver begins at $19/user/mo. Evaluate which paid features — Chatbots, Email integration (Crisp) vs Collision alerts, SLA tracking (Hiver) — justify upgrading for your team.

Bottom line: Choose Crisp if you need startups wanting free, all-in-one customer messaging from day one. Go with Hiver if your priority is gmail-first teams wanting shared inbox help desk without leaving gmail. Both are strong customer support tools — we recommend trying the free plan of each before committing.

CHOOSE CRISP IF:

Startups wanting free, all-in-one customer messaging from day one.

CHOOSE HIVER IF:

Gmail-first teams wanting shared inbox help desk without leaving Gmail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Crisp better than Hiver in 2026?
Crisp scores 90/100 on hiltonsoftware.co compared to Hiver's 90/100. Crisp stands out for "generous free plan" and is best for Startups wanting free, all-in-one customer messaging from day one. Hiver is known for "works inside gmail natively" and suits Gmail-first teams wanting shared inbox help desk without leaving Gmail. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Crisp and Hiver?
Both offer free plans. Crisp starts at $25/mo and Hiver at $19/user/mo. When comparing value, consider that Crisp (founded 2015, 500K+ orgs users) includes features like Shared inbox, Live chat, Chatbots. Hiver (founded 2011, 10K+ orgs users) offers Shared Gmail inbox, Email assignment, Collision alerts. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Crisp and Hiver?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Crisp excels at Shared inbox, Live chat, Chatbots, while Hiver focuses on Shared Gmail inbox, Email assignment, Collision alerts. Crisp's main advantage is "generous free plan", though some users note "limited scalability for enterprise". Hiver's strength is "works inside gmail natively", but "gmail only" can be a drawback. Both serve the Customer Support market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Crisp to Hiver?
Switching between Crisp and Hiver is possible since both operate in the Customer Support space. Before migrating, export your data from Crisp and check Hiver's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Shared inbox, Live chat, Chatbots (Crisp) vs Shared Gmail inbox, Email assignment, Collision alerts (Hiver). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Crisp or Hiver?
Both tools offer free plans, so evaluate based on features. Crisp is ideal for Startups wanting free, all-in-one customer messaging from day one, while Hiver fits Gmail-first teams wanting shared inbox help desk without leaving Gmail. Try both during their trial periods to see which fits your team's workflow.

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