Plain vs Chatwoot Pricing (2026)

Which one is cheaper?

Chatwoot is the cheaper option, starting at $19/mo vs $35/mo for Plain.

Can I use either one for free?

Chatwoot has a free plan. Plain doesn't — though they do offer a free trial.

How do they charge?

Both use a per-seat model, so the comparison is straightforward — it comes down to features and limits at each price point.

Which one is a better deal?

Depends on what you need. Plain: Foundation undercuts most support-tooling competitors at $35/seat, positioning Plain as the affordable modern alternative for startups and small teams. But Horizon's $299/seat price point pushes them into premium territory fast, so they're really playing a barbell strategy — cheap to get in the door, expensive once you need real firepower. Chatwoot: Chatwoot sits firmly in the budget-to-mid-tier bracket, especially compared to Intercom or Zendesk where per-seat costs can be 3-5x higher for similar tiers. They're clearly courting price-sensitive startups and teams that want an open-source alternative without sacrificing a polished UI.

Still deciding? See the best Plain alternatives or the best Chatwoot alternatives, ranked with verified pricing.