When I started testing chat widgets for egerionreviews.com, I thought the decision would be simple. Install something beautiful, add AI, done.
It turned out to be more complicated. Every widget is a trade-off between speed, control, and automation. To make it easier for you, I’ve compared the top contenders in this table:
| Tool | Free Plan | AI in Free Version? | Impact on Speed | MailPoet Integration | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tidio | 50 chats/month | Limited (Lyro) | Medium | Via Zapier | AI-focused blogs |
| Tawk.to | Unlimited | Paid add-on | Low | Via Zapier | Budget users |
| Crisp ★ (My Choice) | Unlimited | Paid AI | Low | Via Zapier | Speed-focused blogs |
| WPBot | Lite version | Yes (API-based) | Server-based | Direct (Pro) | WordPress-native setups |
| HubSpot | Unlimited | Basic AI | High | Official connector | CRM-focused users |
Here is my honest breakdown.
Tidio – Beautiful, but Limited
I genuinely like how Tidio looks. It feels modern and polished. If first impression matters to you, this tool wins visually.
But the 50-conversation limit on the free plan bothers me. When traffic grows, that limit becomes a ceiling. I don’t like tools that feel generous at the beginning and restrictive later.
AI works well. Setup is simple. But long term, you will likely need to upgrade.
Tawk.to – The Honest Free Option
Tawk.to is simple. It works. It is completely free.
No hidden caps, no “upgrade pressure.”
But it feels slightly outdated in design. Not bad — just not modern.
If your main priority is zero budget, this is safe.
Crisp – The Balance I Was Looking For
Crisp feels different. It loads fast. The interface is clean. It does not overwhelm the site. For a blog built on Elementor, speed matters more than fancy automation. Crisp respects that.
Unlimited chats on free plan is a major advantage. No artificial restrictions. It does not have deep AI in the free version, but honestly — most blogs don’t need heavy automation at the beginning. As you can see in the example, it handles expert queries perfectly.
WPBot – Full Control Inside WordPress
WPBot is interesting because it runs inside WordPress. No external scripts. No SaaS dependency. If you use MailPoet, this is the most native integration option. But it requires more setup. It is not “install and forget.” You need to configure it properly.
HubSpot – Too Heavy for Small Blogs
HubSpot is powerful. It is also heavy. If you are not building your entire CRM around HubSpot, installing it just for chat feels excessive.
What I Would Choose Today
For my blog, I would choose Crisp.
Because:
– speed is priority
– no artificial free limits
– clean look
– scalable if needed
If one day I need advanced AI automation, I would reconsider Tidio.
But right now, performance wins.
Closing Thought
Before installing any chat widget, ask yourself one question:
Do I want more automation — or do I want a faster website?
That answer will decide everything.