Top Drift Alternatives & Competitors based on 410 Reviews
Reviews collected from
trustpilot.com
gartner.com
reviews.io
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| Brand | Pricing |
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Drift offers a free tier with limited features, while its paid plans start with the ‘Essential’ plan at $400/month, which includes basic conversational marketing tools. The ‘Advanced’ plan is priced at $1,500/month, adding more automation and customization options. |
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Crisp provides a free version with essential features. The paid plans start from $25/month for the ‘Starter’ plan, which includes additional functionalities. The ‘Pro’ plan is priced at $95/month, and the ‘Unlimited’ plan is available at $180/month, offering more capabilities and unlimited usage. |
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Intercom does not list fixed pricing; instead, it customizes pricing based on the business’s needs. However, they provide basic information about starter packages for $39/month, with features scaling up based on specific requirements and functionalities. |
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LiveChat offers a free 14-day trial, with paid plans starting at $19/month for the ‘Starter’ plan, which includes basic chat functionalities. The ‘Team’ plan is $39/month, and ‘Business’ is $59/month, providing more features like chat routing and reporting. |
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Zendesk has a free trial option, with paid plans starting at $19/agent/month for the ‘Support Starter’ package. The ‘Team’ plan is priced at $49/agent/month, while more comprehensive plans like ‘Professional’ and ‘Enterprise’ go up to $99 and $150/agent/month, respectively, featuring advanced support tools. |
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Why should you be looking for a Drift alternative?
Users often seek alternatives to Drift for various reasons, such as specific feature requirements, ease of use, budget limitations, and varying levels of customer support. Businesses may find that other platforms better suit their unique needs or offer more competitive pricing. Key alternatives include Crisp, Freshdesk, Intercom, LiveChat, and Zendesk. This comparison will delve into each platform’s features, pricing structures, and target user demographics, helping you make an informed choice tailored to your business objectives.
Quick Overview of Top Drift Competitors
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Crisp – Affordable Drift Alternative for Startups
Crisp offers a streamlined chat solution with a focus on affordability. Key features include multi-channel messaging, chatbot automation, and team inbox functionality. Its user-friendly interface and cost-effective pricing make it an excellent choice for startups looking for efficient customer support tools without the heavy price tag. -
Freshdesk – Best Drift Alternative for Comprehensive Support
Freshdesk provides a robust customer support platform that integrates multi-channel support (email, phone, chat, and social media). Its ticketing system, collaborative features, and powerful analytics make it superior for teams needing scalability and process management that goes beyond chat alone. -
Intercom – Feature-Rich Drift Competitor for Product Engagement
Intercom stands out with its focus on user engagement and personalized communication. Its strong automation capabilities, targeted messaging, and customer insights tools help businesses engage customers at scale. Compared to Drift, Intercom offers deeper integration and customization options for a more impactful user experience. -
LiveChat – Simple Drift Alternative with Direct Communication
LiveChat emphasizes simplicity and speed in customer communication. Featuring real-time chat, visitor tracking, and reporting tools, it allows businesses to respond quickly to customer inquiries. Its straightforward setup and ease of use make it a strong alternative for teams prioritizing direct communication. -
Zendesk – Advanced Drift Competitor for Large Enterprises
Zendesk is a comprehensive customer service suite designed for larger organizations with complex support needs. Its advanced ticketing and multi-channel integration capabilities, combined with extensive customization options, position it as a top choice for companies requiring full-service solutions that exceed Drift’s focus on chat.
Drift Alternatives: Feature by Feature Comparison
| Feature | Crisp | Freshdesk | Intercom | LiveChat | Zendesk | Comparison with Drift |
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| Live Chat | Customizable chat widget, proactive messaging, history, and shortcuts for chats | Multi-channel support, AI-driven interactions, robust reporting | Targeted messages based on user behavior, custom chatbots | Easy-to-use chat interface, analytics on chat performance | Integrated live chat with full support suite | Drift offers a streamlined approach to live chat with a focus on sales, but lacks some of the advanced automation features found in other platforms. |
| Chatbots | Simple setup with proactive messaging | Advanced AI to automate ticketing and replies | Highly customizable chatbots, engaging user experiences | Limited customizations compared to others | AI chatbot integrated with ticketing system | Drift’s chatbots are more sales-centric, whereas others focus on customer support functionalities. |
| Integration | Integrates with various apps (Slack, Discord, etc.) | Wide array of integrations with business tools | Extensive integration with CRMs and tools such as Zapier | Integrates well with various CMS and e-commerce platforms | Seamlessly integrates with numerous business applications | Drift has limited integrations compared to others like Freshdesk offering enterprise-level options. |
| Analytics & Reporting | Basic analytics dashboard, insights on messages | Advanced reporting tools combined with customer satisfaction metrics | Deep user insights, engagement tracking, and performance metrics | Detailed analytics on chat performance and user satisfaction | Comprehensive reporting and analytics tools | Drift focuses primarily on sales metrics rather than comprehensive customer support analytics seen in tools like Freshdesk. |
| Customer Support | 24/7 live chat support, multilingual support | Email and phone support, ticketing system for issue tracking | In-app messaging support and dedicated resources | Multi-channel support including email and phone | 24/7 support via various channels | Drift provides limited multi-channel support compared to Zendesk’s extensive ticketing and help desk integration. |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly interface, no setup needed | Intuitive UI, easy onboarding | Robust user-friendly design, straightforward usage | Clean and simple UI for user interaction | Complex setup but with guided support resources | Drift focuses on immediate engagement through sales but may sacrifice some usability features found across these competitors. |
| Multichannel Support | Supports chats, emails, web messaging | Covers email, phone, social media, and chat | Multi-channel messaging (web, email, Facebook) | Primarily web and mobile chat | One-stop solution for all channels (email, social media, chat) | Drift primarily focuses on web chat and does not provide full-service social media engagement like Zendesk. |
| Customization | High degree of customization for branding | Customizable helpdesk features, email templates | Extensive customization on messages and user experience | Limited customization compared to competitors | Highly customizable KPIs and dashboards | Drift has aesthetic customizability but lacks the detailed feature customizations offered by others, especially in support contexts. |
| Pricing | Competitive pricing tier, free plan available | Flexible pricing based on usage and needs | Tiered pricing aligned with feature access | Competitive pricing, pay-per-agent model | Tiered pricing can be higher based on features needed | Drift’s pricing might be appealing for small teams but lacks the extensive features available in higher tiers of the competitors. |
| Unique Features | Built-in email and CRM functionalities | Gamification features for user engagement | Advanced targeting based on segment analysis | Real-time visitor monitoring | Robust third-party applications through its Marketplace | Drift excels in conversational marketing but may not offer the same level of customer engagement tools as Freshdesk and Intercom. |
Note:
- The comparison is based on features as available on the respective websites on October 2023.
- "Crisp," "Freshdesk," "Intercom," "LiveChat," and "Zendesk" offer unique tools for enhanced customer support and experience, differing from Drift’s primarily sales-oriented focus.
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Integration Capabilities for each Drift competitor
| Alternative | Supported Integrations | Compatibility Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drift | Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, Zapier, Intercom, Slack, Facebook Ads, Google Analytics, and more. | Integrates primarily with marketing and sales tools. Efficient for lead generation and sales follow-ups. Supports automation through Zapier. |
| Crisp | Slack, WordPress, Shopify, Zapier, Salesforce, Intercom, Stripe, Facebook Messenger, Google Analytics, and more. | Strong in e-commerce and CMS integrations. Good for businesses using WordPress or Shopify. |
| Freshdesk | Shopify, Slack, Jira, Zapier, Microsoft Teams, Facebook, Google Apps, and others. | Robust integration for customer support and project management tools. Supports collaboration and communication across platforms. |
| Intercom | Salesforce, Zapier, Slack, HubSpot, Google Analytics, Stripe, WordPress, and others. | Great for customer engagement and support solutions. Excellent compatibility with CRM and marketing tools. |
| LiveChat | Shopify, WordPress, Zapier, Salesforce, HubSpot, Slack, Mailchimp, and others. | Focused on enhancing customer interactions and sales. Good for integrating with e-commerce and email marketing platforms. |
| Zendesk | Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Slack, HubSpot, Mailchimp, Google Analytics, and many others. | Highly versatile for customer support. Extensive compatibility with various tools, particularly beneficial for managing customer service interactions and ticketing systems. |
This comparison outlines the main third-party integrations supported by the selected customer support tools and highlights their compatibility with popular customer support tools.
Pros and Cons of each Drift Alternative
Sure! Here’s a comparison table highlighting the primary pros and cons of the alternatives ("Crisp", "Freshdesk", "Intercom", "LiveChat", "Zendesk") compared to "Drift":
| Alternative | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Crisp | – Affordable pricing for startups and small businesses | – Limited integrations compared to larger competitors |
| – Simple and user-friendly interface | – Fewer advanced automation features | |
| – Supports multi-channel communication (chat, email, etc.) | – Some users report slower support response times | |
| Freshdesk | – Integrated ticketing system for comprehensive customer support | – Interface can be overwhelming for new users |
| – Strong automation and workflow capabilities | – Pricing can escalate quickly with add-ons and features | |
| – Good for larger organizations with complex needs | – Limited chat customization options compared to Drift | |
| Intercom | – Advanced targeting and messaging capabilities | – Higher pricing tier can be prohibitive for smaller businesses |
| – Robust analytics and reporting tools | – Can be complex to set up and manage | |
| – Integrates well with various third-party tools | – Customer support sometimes reported as lacking | |
| LiveChat | – Real-time chat capabilities with analytics | – Primarily focused on live chat, lacking comprehensive support |
| – Customizable chat widgets and themes | – Integrations may be limited compared to larger competitors | |
| – Good user experience with mobile apps | – Does not offer a full-service ticketing system | |
| Zendesk | – Comprehensive suite of support tools including ticketing and chat | – Higher complexity in setup and user interface |
| – Extremely robust reporting and analytics features | – Can become expensive as you scale and add features | |
| – Extensive integration options with various applications | – Steep learning curve for new users |
This table should help you understand the main strengths and weaknesses of each alternative compared to Drift, focusing on relevant factors for typical use cases.
Drift vs Competitors: Traffic & Marketing Comparison
Traffic Comparison:
Freshdesk leads significantly in organic traffic, peaking at about 3.3 million monthly visitors in January 2025. Following closely is Zendesk, reaching 31 million in January 2025. LiveChat exhibits remarkable performance too, with around 16 million visitors in January 2025. In contrast, Crisp and Drift show comparatively low traffic levels, with a maximum of around 200,000 and 1.1 million, respectively. Drift has shown substantial traffic fluctuations but generally remains the lowest, indicating the need for stronger marketing efforts.
Top Performing Keywords:
Freshdesk excels with its critical rankings in key phrases like “customer support software” and “service desk software,” both ranked 1st. Zendesk mirrors this strength, also dominating similar categories. Drift capitalizes on unique keywords like “sales pipeline software” and “pipeline CRM,” ranking 1st for all. Crisp has a diverse range of keywords, benefitting from specific terms like “messaging app for business,” indicating a focus on niche markets. Intercom has a broader spectrum but ranks lower overall for many prominent queries.
Conclusions on Visibility and Reach:
Freshdesk and Zendesk demonstrate the strongest online visibility and reach with their high organic traffic and dominant keyword rankings in customer support categories. Their strategies effectively establish authority in the customer service sector. LiveChat showcases strong traffic as well, particularly in chat software. Conversely, Drift and Crisp exhibit lower visibility with less competitive keyword strategies, suggesting they could enhance their presence through optimization or targeted campaigns in strategic niches.
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Other “Drift” Alternatives & Competitors that you can find for free
Here are five alternatives and competitors to Drift, along with their key features, strengths, and value propositions:
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Tawk.to
- Key Features: Live chat, automated messaging, and real-time visitor monitoring.
- Strengths: Free to use, extensive customization options, and a user-friendly interface.
- Value Proposition: Cost-effective solution for businesses looking for basic live chat functionalities without incurring high costs.
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Olark
- Key Features: Live chat, chat automation, reporting tools, and integrations with CRM tools.
- Strengths: Easy to set up and use, good analytics features, and strong customer support.
- Value Proposition: Provides businesses with essential live chat capabilities along with quantitative insights to improve customer engagement.
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HubSpot Live Chat
- Key Features: Live chat, automation through bots, ticketing system, and integration with the HubSpot CRM.
- Strengths: Seamless integration with HubSpot’s suite of marketing and sales tools.
- Value Proposition: Ideal for businesses already using HubSpot, offering a unified platform for marketing, sales, and service.
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Chatfuel
- Key Features: AI-powered chatbots, integration with Facebook Messenger, and analytics tools.
- Strengths: Strong focus on automation and AI, enabling efficient customer interactions through chatbots.
- Value Proposition: Perfect for businesses looking to enhance customer engagement through a tailored chatbot experience.
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HelpCrunch
- Key Features: Live chat, email automation, knowledge base, and CRM integration.
- Strengths: Comprehensive customer communication platform combining chat and email marketing.
- Value Proposition: Combines multiple communication channels into one platform, streamlining customer interactions and support management.
These alternatives provide a variety of options with different strengths and features to cater to diverse business needs.
