Crisp
ServiceNow
| Feature | Crisp | ServiceNow |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $25/mo | Contact sales |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | startups, small-businesses, saas-companies, e-commerce | enterprise, it-departments, large-organizations, government |
| Founded | 2015 | 2004 |
| Live Chat | ✓ | ✗ |
| Chatbot | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shared Inbox | ✓ | ✗ |
| Knowledge Base | ✓ | ✗ |
| Campaigns | ✓ | ✗ |
| Status Page | ✓ | ✗ |
| Video Chat | ✓ | ✗ |
| Itsm | ✗ | ✓ |
| Itom | ✗ | ✓ |
| Workflow Automation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cmdb | ✗ | ✓ |
| Service Portal | ✗ | ✓ |
| Virtual Agent | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Crisp Pros
- Very generous free tier (2 seats included)
- Per-workspace pricing instead of per-seat
- Built-in chatbot builder with no-code
- Clean and modern interface
✗ Crisp Cons
- Limited advanced automation compared to Intercom
- Chatbot AI less sophisticated than competitors
- Fewer integrations than larger platforms
✓ ServiceNow Pros
- Industry leader in ITSM
- Highly customizable
- Powerful workflows
- AI integration
✗ ServiceNow Cons
- Very expensive
- Complex implementation
- Requires dedicated admin
The Verdict
Crisp is built for startups and small businesses, with a focus on live-chat and chatbot. ServiceNow targets enterprise and it departments and leads with itsm and itom.
ServiceNow uses custom enterprise pricing, while Crisp starts at $25/mo — a tangible advantage for teams with a fixed budget.
Crisp has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. ServiceNow requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, Crisp offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while ServiceNow takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.