8x8
Chatwoot
| Feature | 8x8 | Chatwoot |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $28/mo | Free / from $19/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best For | international-businesses, contact-centers, healthcare, financial-services | startups, small-businesses, privacy-focused-companies, self-hosters |
| Founded | 1987 | 2017 |
| Unlimited Calling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Video Conferencing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Team Chat | ✓ | ✗ |
| Contact Center | ✓ | ✗ |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Call Recording | ✓ | ✗ |
| Live Chat | ✗ | ✓ |
| Omnichannel Inbox | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ai Assist | ✗ | ✓ |
| Automations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Canned Responses | ✗ | ✓ |
| Reports | ✗ | ✓ |
| Self Hostable | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 8x8 Pros
- Unlimited international calling
- Strong contact center features
- Good uptime and reliability
- Compliant for healthcare and finance
✗ 8x8 Cons
- Interface feels dated
- Support can be slow
- Pricing not transparent
✓ Chatwoot Pros
- Open-source with full self-hosting option
- Omnichannel (chat, email, WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.)
- AI-powered response suggestions and summaries
- Free for self-hosted with unlimited agents
✗ Chatwoot Cons
- Self-hosting requires DevOps knowledge
- Fewer integrations than established help desks
- Mobile apps less polished than competitors
The Verdict
8x8 is built for international businesses and contact centers, with a focus on unlimited-calling and video-conferencing. Chatwoot targets startups and small businesses and leads with live-chat and omnichannel-inbox.
On pricing, Chatwoot is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $19/mo compared to $28/mo for 8x8. That $9/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Chatwoot has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. 8x8 requires a paid subscription from day one.
Chatwoot edges out on user ratings (4.4 vs 4). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Feature-wise, Chatwoot offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while 8x8 takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Chatwoot has a slight overall edge — but if unlimited international calling matters most to you, 8x8 may still be the right call.