GreetMode vs Crisp: which one fits a small business?

Crisp is a well-established live-chat platform known for a polished shared inbox and a broad feature set. GreetMode is the opposite bet: a chat bubble plus a simple owner inbox for solo owners who answer every message themselves. GreetMode's facts below are verified; Crisp is described only in general terms, since platforms like it update plans regularly. Check their current pricing page before deciding.

1. Best-fit customer

GreetMode fits solo owners and tiny teams who reply personally — tradespeople, shop owners, freelancers, small services. Shared-inbox platforms like Crisp typically fit teams where several people triage conversations together. If your chat has "staff," go bigger; if it has "you," go simpler.

2. Monthly cost

GreetMode charges Standard $14.99/month for up to 3 sites and Multi $19.99/month for 4–6 sites (7+ sites: custom plan via /contact), billed monthly through Stripe. Crisp-style platforms typically tier pricing by features or usage — compare their current page against the flat $14.99–$19.99 before deciding.

3. Per-agent fees

GreetMode has none — no per-agent fees, no per-conversation fees, so a helper or a record month never moves the bill. Team platforms often scale cost with seats: sensible when seats are shared across shifts, painful when one person logs in. Check how your shortlist counts agents.

4. Number of websites

Standard covers up to 3 sites and Multi covers 4–6 on one owner dashboard, with 7+ on a custom plan via /contact. One shop site fits Standard; a small portfolio shares one Multi inbox. Bigger platforms set their own per-plan site limits — check their current terms for multi-domain setups.

5. Installation

GreetMode is one script tag per site — https://www.greetmode.com/widget-1.js with your site id in data-site — pasted into HTML, a WordPress footer, Squarespace Code Injection, or Wix Custom Code. No plugin, no rebuild. Larger platforms offer plugins and deeper setup that suit complex sites but add steps a simple site skips.

6. Replying from your phone

GreetMode's owner inbox is web-only and runs in any phone browser — deliberately no app to download, so replies take zero setup. Bigger platforms typically ship native mobile apps that teams living in chat prefer, but casual owners experience as one more thing to manage.

7. Live human chat

GreetMode is live human chat only — visitors type, you reply, per-site threads sync through the backend. No queues, routing, or departments; every conversation lands in one place. If you need team routing, assignment, or agent collision detection, a shared-inbox platform is the right call.

8. AI automation and bots

GreetMode has none — no AI automation, no chatbots, every reply typed by a human, by design. This is the sharpest dividing line: if you want bots, canned flows, or AI-drafted replies, choose the Crisp-style platform. If visitors should always reach you, GreetMode's human-only approach is the point.

9. Offline message capture

When you're closed or away, GreetMode shows your online/offline display (from your open/closed hours) and visitors leave a message instead of leaving your site. Unread badges and reply alerts prompt follow-up. Shared-inbox platforms add their own offline handling plus team assignment — compare specifics if after-hours volume is high.

10. Integrations

GreetMode integrates with nothing — standalone snippet plus inbox, no CRM or helpdesk links. Owners who use none of those tools get simplicity; owners who do should treat this as a dealbreaker. If chat must plug into your stack, the bigger platform wins outright.

11. Support-style features

GreetMode covers the essentials: canned replies for repeat questions, chat color matching, and open/closed hours, with contact via the /contact form. If you need knowledge bases, status tooling, or analytics depth, a larger platform is the honest choice.

Who should choose which?

Choose GreetMode if: you answer chat yourself, you want to be live in about five minutes (pick a plan, pay through Stripe, set a password, paste the snippet), and you want the bill fixed at $14.99 or $19.99 a month.

Choose the Crisp-style platform if: several people share support, you need automation or bots, you want a native app, or chat must connect to your CRM and helpdesk. Real needs, well served by bigger tools. See the general case at our alternatives hub.