Choosing between Kayako and LiveChat is a common decision for customer support buyers in 2026. Both Kayako and LiveChat are established players, founded in 2001 and 2002 respectively. Kayako serves 35K+ orgs users while LiveChat has 38K+ orgs users globally. Kayako differentiates with unified customer view and live chat, while LiveChat leads with live chat and ticketing. In this head-to-head comparison, LiveChat earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 90/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.
AI Verdict
After comparing Kayako and LiveChat across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, LiveChat takes the lead with a score of 90/100 versus Kayako's 82/100. LiveChat's key advantages include "reliable and stable chat platform" and "good widget customization". That said, Kayako has its own strengths — particularly "good unified customer journey view" — making it a viable alternative for specific use cases.
Neither Kayako nor LiveChat offers a free plan. Kayako starts at $30/agent/mo and LiveChat at $20/agent/mo. For the investment, Kayako delivers unified customer view and live chat, while LiveChat provides live chat and ticketing.
Bottom line: Choose Kayako if you need smbs wanting affordable help desk with a unified customer interaction view. Go with LiveChat if your priority is e-commerce and service businesses wanting reliable, real-time live chat. Both are strong customer support tools — we recommend trying a trial of each before committing.
CHOOSE KAYAKO IF:
SMBs wanting affordable help desk with a unified customer interaction view.
CHOOSE LIVECHAT IF:
E-commerce and service businesses wanting reliable, real-time live chat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kayako better than LiveChat in 2026?
LiveChat scores 90/100 on hiltonsoftware.co compared to Kayako's 82/100. Kayako stands out for "good unified customer journey view" and is best for SMBs wanting affordable help desk with a unified customer interaction view. LiveChat is known for "reliable and stable chat platform" and suits E-commerce and service businesses wanting reliable, real-time live chat. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Kayako and LiveChat?
Both offer paid-only plans. Kayako starts at $30/agent/mo and LiveChat at $20/agent/mo. When comparing value, consider that Kayako (founded 2001, 35K+ orgs users) includes features like Unified customer view, Live chat, Help center. LiveChat (founded 2002, 38K+ orgs users) offers Live chat, Ticketing, Chat archives. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Kayako and LiveChat?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Kayako excels at Unified customer view, Live chat, Help center, while LiveChat focuses on Live chat, Ticketing, Chat archives. Kayako's main advantage is "good unified customer journey view", though some users note "interface feels dated". LiveChat's strength is "reliable and stable chat platform", but "no free plan" can be a drawback. Both serve the Customer Support market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Kayako to LiveChat?
Switching between Kayako and LiveChat is possible since both operate in the Customer Support space. Before migrating, export your data from Kayako and check LiveChat's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Unified customer view, Live chat, Help center (Kayako) vs Live chat, Ticketing, Chat archives (LiveChat). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Kayako or LiveChat?
Both tools require paid subscriptions (Kayako: $30/agent/mo, LiveChat: $20/agent/mo), so evaluate based on features. Kayako is ideal for SMBs wanting affordable help desk with a unified customer interaction view, while LiveChat fits E-commerce and service businesses wanting reliable, real-time live chat. Try both during their trial periods to see which fits your team's workflow.