How to Add Live Chat to Your Website (Free & Easy Setup)

Live chat helps businesses respond to customers faster, improve satisfaction, and boost sales. Here’s why you should add live chat to your website today:

Speed: Customers get replies in seconds, not hours.
Higher Satisfaction: 92% of users prefer live chat over email or phone.
Increased Sales: Companies like Bella Sante and eye-oo saw revenue increases of $66,000 and $193,000 respectively.

The best free tool? Tawk.to offers unlimited agents, chats, and features like CRM integration and mobile apps – all at no cost. Setup is simple: just copy and paste a code snippet onto your site.

Want to decide between live chat and AI chatbots? Live chat is ideal for personalized support, while AI handles routine queries 24/7. Combining both can boost customer satisfaction by 33%.

Get started today with these 4 steps:

Choose your live chat tool (e.g., Tawk.to).
Customize your chat window.
Add the code to your site.
Test and optimize your setup.

Live chat transforms website engagement – start connecting with visitors now!

Best Free Live Chat Software

Looking for a way to connect with customers without spending a dime? Tawk.to is one of the leading options for free live chat software. Let’s explore what makes it a popular choice and how you can get started quickly.

Tawk.to Features and Setup

Tawk.to is a widely-used live chat platform, powering over 35% of websites. Its feature set includes:

Unlimited agents and chats: No restrictions on how many team members or conversations you can handle.
Multi-channel support: Includes live chat, ticketing, and a knowledge base to cover all your customer support needs.
CRM integration: Track visitors and manage interactions seamlessly.
Real-time monitoring: Keep tabs on visitor activity as it happens.
Mobile apps: Available for both iOS and Android, so you can stay connected on the go.

Getting started is incredibly quick. Just add a small JavaScript snippet to your website, and you’re ready to go – this takes about 30 seconds. With over 3 billion interactions managed monthly and a 98% customer satisfaction rating, it’s clear why tawk.to is a trusted choice.

"You shouldn’t have to pay to chat with the visitors on your website. They’re your visitors!" – Robert, founder of tawk.to

Tawk.to’s free tools are designed to meet your interaction needs. Up next, find out the four simple steps to add the chat code to your site.

sbb-itb-58cc2bf

4 Steps to Add Live Chat to Your Website

If you’ve decided to use a live chat tool, here’s how you can get it set up on your website in four simple steps.

1. Pick Your Live Chat Software

Start by selecting a live chat tool that fits your needs and budget. Here’s what to consider:

Team size: How many agents will need access? Some free plans limit the number of users.
Chat limits: Look into monthly conversation caps (e.g., Tidio‘s free plan allows up to 50 chats).
Key features: Decide on must-haves like canned responses or chat routing.
Compatibility: Ensure the chat tool integrates smoothly with your existing software.

For instance, tawk.to offers unlimited agents and chats at no cost, making it a great option for small businesses looking to grow without additional expenses.

2. Design Your Chat Window

Once you’ve chosen your software, customize the chat window to make it more inviting for your visitors:

Set up your profile with business hours and team details.
Adjust the chat window’s colors and placement on your site.
Write a friendly, welcoming message.
Create quick replies for frequently asked questions.

Pro tip: Keep your welcome message short and clear. Instead of a generic “How can we help?”, try something more specific like “Need pricing info or help with technical support?”

3. Add Chat Code to Your Site

Adding the chat widget to your website is straightforward:

Open your live chat dashboard and copy your unique installation code.
For HTML-based sites, paste the code just before the closing </body> tag.
For WordPress sites, use the platform’s plugin or insert the code using a header-footer widget.

4. Test and Optimize Your Chat

Run a test chat to ensure everything works as expected – messages should display correctly, and notifications should function properly. To keep things running smoothly:

Monitor chat traffic and adjust agent availability as needed.
Review chat logs to identify recurring questions.
Use analytics to assess how well your chat is performing.
Export reports (e.g., as CSV files) to analyze trends and improve.

According to research, nearly 80% of American consumers value speed, convenience, knowledgeable assistance, and friendly service as key elements of a great customer experience. Additionally, 87% of customers report positive experiences with live chat.

With your live chat fully set up, you’re ready to explore how it stacks up against AI chatbots in the next section.

Live Chat or AI Chatbots: Making the Right Choice

Once you’ve set up live chat, you may wonder how AI chatbots can fit into your support strategy. Here’s a quick comparison of their key features:

Feature	Live Chat	AI Chatbots
Response Time	Average 47 seconds	Instant
Availability	Business hours only	24/7 service
Cost Impact	Higher staffing costs	Cuts costs by ~30%
Query Handling	Handles complex issues with personalized support	Manages basic questions and repetitive tasks
Scalability	Limited by team size	Handles large volumes of inquiries
Customer Feedback	73% satisfaction rate	64% appreciate 24/7 availability

Live chat works best for tasks like:

Resolving complex customer issues that need human judgment
Offering tailored recommendations
Supporting high-value transactions

AI chatbots shine when you need:

24/7 availability
Efficient handling of routine, high-volume inquiries
Lower operational costs

Understanding these strengths helps you decide whether to use live chat, AI chatbots, or a mix of both.

Using Both: Live Chat + AI Solutions

Platforms like Quidget combine AI chatbots with live chat to handle simpler inquiries while escalating more complex ones to human agents. Here’s how this approach works:

Initial Contact: AI takes care of basic questions and collects customer details.
Smart Routing: Complex issues are automatically passed to live agents.
Cost Efficiency: Chatbots manage up to 60% of queries, easing the load on your team.
24/7 Coverage: AI ensures round-the-clock support, while live agents step in during peak times.

Recent data shows that businesses using both live chat and AI chatbots experience a 33% boost in customer satisfaction scores. This improvement comes from blending AI’s quick responses with human expertise for more intricate problems.

Conclusion: Set Up Your Live Chat Today

Getting live chat up and running on your website is quick and doesn’t have to cost a dime. Tools like tawk.to, which serve over 3 billion people monthly and boast a 98% customer satisfaction score, make it easy to start engaging with your visitors right away.

Take tawk.to, for example. It provides:

No costs for core features: Unlimited agents, chats, and website widgets at zero cost.
A complete set of tools: Includes live chat, ticketing, a knowledge base, and CRM features.
Affordable support options: Hire live agents starting at just $1 per hour.

If you’re considering a mix of human and automated support, platforms like Quidget can help. This approach uses AI to handle routine questions round the clock, while more complex issues are directed to live agents.

Before launching, test your chat widget across devices, ensure it matches your brand’s look, and set clear response guidelines. Whether you choose a free tool or a hybrid setup, start connecting with your visitors today.