Chatwoot vs Respond.io Comparison 2026
Both put conversations from every channel into one queue. Chatwoot publishes its source, so the whole thing can run on your own server for nothing but the cost of running it, with hosted plans from $19 an agent. Respond.io is hosted only and priced on monthly active contacts from $79. Where the data lives is the axis this decision turns on.
Open-source inbox for every channel at once
One inbox for DMs across every messaging app
At a glance
- Chatwoot starts cheaper, at $19.
- Only Chatwoot has a free tier.
Side by side
Chatwoot | Respond.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (they differ) | From $19 | From $79 |
| Pricing model (they differ) | Free plan, paid tiers | Paid subscription |
| Free tier (they differ) | Yes | No |
| Billing | Not stated | Monthly or annual |
| Free trial | Not stated | 7 days |
| API |
Chatwoot
Open-source inbox for every channel at once
Chatwoot collects website chat, email, Instagram, WhatsApp and the rest into one queue, and it is open source, so the version you self-host costs nothing and keeps the conversation data on your own server. That is the reason most people arrive. The hosted plans are priced per agent for anybody who would rather not run it. Setting up the self-hosted route is a real infrastructure job and the docs do not pretend otherwise.
Our note
Be honest about whether you have somebody who will keep a self-hosted deployment patched, because the free version is only free if that person already exists. If not, the hosted tier at $19 an agent is competitive on its own terms and the open source part is a nice fallback rather than the plan.
Only on this side
- Covers community platforms
Respond.io
One inbox for DMs across every messaging app
Respond.io pulls Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and the rest into a single queue, so a brand deal conversation does not get lost because it started on the wrong app. Routing and automation sit on top, and a person can take over from the bot mid-thread. Pricing counts the contacts you talk to each month, which punishes a big audience of light senders.
Why people weigh these two
- Respond.io instead of Chatwoot
- Respond.io collects DMs from every messaging app into one inbox from $79, a hosted swap for a team that would rather buy the queue than run it.
- Chatwoot instead of Respond.io
- Chatwoot is open source, so a team can self-host and sidestep the per-contact pricing that punishes a big quiet audience on Respond.io.
Which one should you pick
Chatwoot is the answer when you have a reason to care where conversations are stored, whether that is regulation, principle or cost, and somebody who will keep a deployment patched. Be honest about that last part, because the free version is only free if that person already exists. If not, the hosted tier at $19 an agent is competitive on its own terms and the open source part becomes a fallback rather than the plan. A free hosted tier covers 500 conversations a month with 30 days of history.
Respond.io is the smoother product for a team whose day is the inbox, with human takeover mid-thread, routing rules and contact merging across channels. It bills on people you actually messaged, so a quiet month costs less and a viral one costs more. Check the slider before signing.
Common questions
- Is self-hosting Chatwoot genuinely free?
- The software is, and self-hosted use is unlimited. The cost moves to your server and to whoever keeps it updated, which is the part worth pricing honestly before choosing it.
- How do the two price models differ?
- Chatwoot charges per agent, from $19 a month billed annually, with Captain AI credits included on each tier. Respond.io charges on monthly active contacts, from $79 at 1,000, so its bill tracks volume rather than headcount.
- Which suits a creator who wants Instagram replies working today?
- Respond.io, or a hosted automation tool. Chatwoot's draw is the self-hosted route, and that is a project rather than an afternoon.
Ratings are the average of reviews readers left. The facts are stated by each tool’s own listing and are not verified by CloutStack. How we make money.