Chatwoot
MantisBT
| Feature | Chatwoot | MantisBT |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $19/mo | Free / from $4.95/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Best For | startups, small-businesses, privacy-focused-companies, self-hosters | developers, small-teams, open-source-projects, budget-conscious-teams |
| Founded | 2017 | 2000 |
| Live Chat | ✓ | ✗ |
| Omnichannel Inbox | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Assist | ✓ | ✗ |
| Automations | ✓ | ✗ |
| Canned Responses | ✓ | ✗ |
| Reports | ✓ | ✗ |
| Self Hostable | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bug Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom Fields | ✗ | ✓ |
| Email Notifications | ✗ | ✓ |
| Role Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Plugins | ✗ | ✓ |
| Time Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ MantisBT Pros
- Free and open-source
- Easy to set up
- Lightweight
- Extensible with plugins
✗ MantisBT Cons
- Dated interface
- Limited agile features
- Small community vs alternatives
The Verdict
Chatwoot is built for startups and small businesses, with a focus on live-chat and omnichannel-inbox. MantisBT targets developers and small teams and leads with bug-tracking and custom-fields.
On pricing, MantisBT is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $4.95/mo compared to $19/mo for Chatwoot. That $14.05/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Chatwoot edges out on user ratings (4.4 vs 3.9). 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 MantisBT takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Chatwoot has a slight overall edge — but if free and open-source matters most to you, MantisBT may still be the right call.