kitio.aiTidio vs Activechat
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Tidio starts at $29/mo and Activechat starts at $3995 one-time. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Lyro AI agent
- Live chat widget
- Shared inbox
- Automation flows
- Shopify integration
- Natural language chatbots
- AI hints for live agents
- Visual chatbot builder
- Knowledge extraction from docs
- Smart chat routing
- Customer CRM tools
| Feature | Tidio | Activechat |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Live chat and Lyro AI agent for small online stores and businesses | Self-hosted customer service automation with AI chatbots and live chat |
| Category | Customer support | Customer support |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting price | $29/mo | $3995 one-time |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Made by | Tidio | Activechat |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Tidio starts at $29/mo and Activechat starts at $3995 one-time. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Starter
$29/mo
- 100 billable conversations
- Live chat and ticketing
- 50 one-off Lyro AI conversations
Growth
$59/mo
- Starting price, from 250 conversations
- Advanced analytics and permissions
- Automatic assignment and macros
Plus
$300/mo
- Plus monthly usage
- Dedicated success manager
- Discounted usage rates
Premium
Contact sales
- From 3,000 Lyro AI conversations
- Guaranteed 50% Lyro resolution rate
- Pay-per-resolution billing
2 plans
Company License
$3995 one-time
- One installation
- Unlimited projects
- Chatbots and live chat automation
Developer License
$9995 one-time
- Unlimited installations
- TypeScript source code
- Billing system and dev docs
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Tidio
- Quick to install on most sites
- Free plan available
- Affordable AI for small shops
- Several separate usage meters
- Limited for large support teams
- Lyro costs extra on top of plans
Activechat
- One-time payment, no subscription
- Source code on the Developer licence
- Flexible conversation flows
- High upfront cost
- Self-hosting needs technical staff
- No free plan
Which one should you choose?
Choose Tidio if you want:
- Quick to install on most sites
- Free plan available
- Affordable AI for small shops
Watch out: several separate usage meters.
Choose Activechat if you want:
- One-time payment, no subscription
- Source code on the Developer licence
- Flexible conversation flows
Watch out: high upfront cost.
Tidio vs Activechat FAQ
What is the difference between Tidio and Activechat?
Tidio: Live chat and Lyro AI agent for small online stores and businesses. Activechat: Self-hosted customer service automation with AI chatbots and live chat. Both are customer support tools.
Is Tidio or Activechat cheaper?
Tidio starts at $29/mo and Activechat starts at $3995 one-time. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Tidio and Activechat have free plans?
Tidio: Yes. Activechat: No.
Who makes Tidio?
Tidio is made by Tidio, based in United States.
Who makes Activechat?
Activechat is made by Activechat, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Tidio or Activechat?
Choose Tidio if you value quick to install on most sites and free plan available. Choose Activechat if you value one-time payment, no subscription and source code on the developer licence.