ReplyKit vs LiveChat: the per-agent website live chat product with a metered AI agent, against a WhatsApp AI agent with a website assistant, booking and CRM in one plan

LiveChat has been the standard-bearer for website live chat for well over a decade, with a per-agent price and, on its current plans, an AI agent with a monthly allowance of AI resolutions. ReplyKit bundles an AI agent, website assistant, booking and CRM into one plan built around WhatsApp. The comparison is two specialised products against one general one.

By Ritchie, ReplyKit · Published 5 October 2026 · Updated 17 October 2026 · 7 min read

Quick answer

Choose LiveChat if website live chat staffed by a team is your core, you value its reporting, integrations and polish, and you are comfortable with per-agent pricing from $19 a month billed yearly ($25 monthly), with 10 AI resolutions a month on Essential or 200 on Growth at $79 per agent (WhatsApp via integration on the official API with Meta fees). Choose ReplyKit if you want one AI agent to answer and book on WhatsApp and your website, with an inbox for hand-overs, from $29 with 1,000 AI replies included and no Meta fees. ReplyKit pairs by QR, instant but not sanctioned by Meta.

Side by side Where LiveChat wins Where ReplyKit wins Who should choose which FAQ

Side by side

Rival prices and features are as listed on the vendor's public pricing page when we checked in October 2026 and are summarised in US dollars; they change, so confirm on the vendor's page. ReplyKit's figures are current. We sell ReplyKit, and we have tried to say plainly where the other tool is the better choice.

	ReplyKit	LiveChat
Core	AI agent for WhatsApp and website	Staffed website live chat
Pricing basis	Per plan with AI replies, $29 to $99	Per agent from $19 a month billed yearly, $25 monthly; Growth $79 billed yearly
AI answering	Included	AI agent included; 10 AI resolutions a month on Essential, 200 on Growth
WhatsApp	Native, QR pairing	As a channel via integration on the official API; Meta fees
Human live chat	Inbox with takeover	Core strength, with reporting
Booking and reminders	Built in	Via integrations
CRM	Built in, lead-focused	Integrations with CRMs
Integrations	Few	Hundreds
Number risk	Restriction possible	None on the official API

Where LiveChat wins

Staffed live chat with agent reporting, tags, and years of refinement.
Integrations with most e-commerce and CRM tools.
E-commerce features for stores with a support team.
Official WhatsApp API as a channel, no number risk.

LiveChat's prices and AI resolution allowances are on its pricing page; extra resolutions are sold in packs of 50. The staffed-versus-AI question is in live chat vs AI chat widget.

Where ReplyKit wins

One plan. Agent, website assistant, booking, CRM and inbox, with AI included.
WhatsApp-first behaviour: hand-over, reminders, pacing.
No seats. Add staff to the inbox without changing the bill.
Owner setup in an afternoon.

The honest caveat on our side, repeated in every comparison: ReplyKit pairs with your number as a linked device. It is instant and free of Meta fees, and it is not sanctioned by Meta, so a number can be restricted. Rivals on the official API do not carry that risk and pay Meta per message instead. The trade-off is in API vs QR pairing and our ban guide.

ReplyKit plans: Starter $29 (1 number, 1 agent, 1 website assistant, 1,000 replies), Growth $49 (3 numbers, 5 agents, 5 website assistants, 5,000 replies, follow-up nudges), Pro $99 (15 numbers, unlimited agents, 20,000 replies). Extra replies are $10 per 1,000. AI is included and there are no Meta fees. Details in what it costs.

Who should choose which

Support team on a website-first business: LiveChat, on Growth if you want the AI to handle a real share of chats.
WhatsApp-led service business: ReplyKit.
Need hundreds of integrations: LiveChat.
Want AI, booking and CRM in one bill: ReplyKit.

Frequently asked questions

Does LiveChat include AI?

Yes, in a limited way. Its Essential plan includes one AI agent and 10 AI resolutions a month, Growth includes 200, and extra resolutions cost $49.50 per 50.

Does LiveChat do WhatsApp?

As a channel via integration on the official API, with Meta fees. ReplyKit is WhatsApp-native.

Which is better for a staffed support team?

LiveChat, for reporting and agent tooling.

Which is cheaper with automation?

ReplyKit at $29 with 1,000 AI replies included; LiveChat's per-agent plans include 10 or 200 AI resolutions a month, with more sold in packs.

Can ReplyKit replace LiveChat on my website?

For AI-first answering with occasional takeover, yes. For a team working live chat all day, LiveChat is the stronger tool.

WhatsApp-first, website included

AI replies in the plan, booking and CRM built in. 7-day free trial.

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Written by Ritchie, ReplyKitPart of the small team in Malaysia that builds and runs ReplyKit. Writes about WhatsApp automation, AI customer service and small business lead response.

How we know this. We compared LiveChat's October 2026 public pricing and feature pages with ReplyKit's plans, and the recommendations reflect where each product's customers sit. Product figures in this article (limits, prices, per-reply costs) are taken from ReplyKit as it runs today and are re-checked when we update the page. Where we cite outside research, the source is linked below. We sell ReplyKit, so read our product claims with that in mind; we say where a different tool or no tool is the better choice. About ReplyKit.

Sources and further reading

WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy · opt-in, opt-out and prohibited-use rules every business must follow
ReplyKit, Will WhatsApp ban my number for automation? · our own account of the risk and the limits we enforce

ReplyKit is an independent product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Meta or WhatsApp. This article is general guidance for running a small business, not legal, financial or regulatory advice.