Chatlio

What is chatlio

Chatlio is a web-based live chat widget that forwards conversations from a website directly into Slack channels and lets team members reply from Slack in real time. The product places a small, configurable chat widget on your website and uses Slack as the agent interface, eliminating a separate dashboard for chat. Chatlio is commonly used by support, sales, and product teams that already use Slack for internal communications and want to centralize visitor messages in the same workspace.

Organizations use Chatlio to reduce context switching, route incoming leads to specific channels, and log conversations alongside other team workflows in Slack. The widget supports custom greetings, visitor tracking, and basic automation, while Slack handles notifications, message threading, and presence. For teams that prefer to keep all communication inside Slack, Chatlio offers a lightweight way to add web chat without a full customer messaging platform.

Chatlio is designed to be easy to install (a single JavaScript snippet), configurable via dashboard options, and compatible with most modern site frameworks. For configuration details and up-to-date instructions, consult Chatlio’s official setup and configuration resources such as the Chatlio integration and documentation pages: view Chatlio’s Slack integration guide and Chatlio pricing plans.

Chatlio features

What does chatlio do?

Chatlio provides live web chat functionality that connects visitors to Slack channels. It captures visitor messages on the site and forwards them into Slack in near real time, allowing team members to reply from Slack and have responses sent back to the visitor through the same widget. The integration supports multi-agent conversations and basic visitor metadata to help agents understand the context of a chat.

Key functional areas include message routing to Slack channels, visitor presence and tracking, pre-chat forms and qualifying questions, file attachments, and configurable widget branding. Chatlio also supports automated greetings and routing rules so specific website areas or product pages can send chats to designated Slack channels or user groups.

Operational features include message logging and transcripts, configurable notification behavior inside Slack, and administrative controls for agents and channels. The widget is lightweight and can be customized to match site design and language, with options to require agent availability or hide the widget when offline.

Chatlio pricing

Chatlio offers these pricing plans:

• Free Plan: $0/month — basic live chat with Slack forwarding for a single agent or small sites, limited message history and basic customization
• Starter: $10/month per agent (billed annually) or $12/month per agent (billed monthly) — multi-agent support, longer message history, basic reporting, automated greetings
• Professional: $25/month per agent (billed annually) or $30/month per agent (billed monthly) — advanced routing, analytics, team roles, priority support
• Enterprise: Custom pricing — SSO, audit logs, dedicated support, custom SLAs, and deployment assistance

Check Chatlio's current pricing plans for the latest rates and enterprise options.

Chatlio’s billing typically charges per active agent or seat, with annual billing providing a discounted per-agent rate. Enterprise plans are quoted individually and frequently include additional onboarding and security features that are not part of standard tiers.

Chatlio pricing details and billing cadence

Chatlio’s monthly rates are intended for teams that need flexible month-to-month access; annual plans reduce the per-agent cost by billing for 12 months in advance. Starter customers on annual billing see the lowest per-agent cost, while Professional and Enterprise plans add administrative and analytics capabilities. Billing often includes a minimum number of seats for team accounts and prorated charges for mid-cycle seat changes.

Invoices commonly include the subscription fee plus any applicable taxes. Upgrades and downgrades typically take effect at the next billing cycle, while some accounts may be eligible for prorated adjustments depending on the billing portal and subscription flow. For exact billing behavior and invoicing, refer to Chatlio’s billing and subscription documentation on their site.

How much is chatlio per month

Chatlio starts at $10/month per agent when billed annually for the Starter tier; the equivalent monthly-billed Starter rate is $12/month per agent. Professional seats and add-ons increase the per-agent monthly cost, and Enterprise pricing is customized based on usage and security needs.

Monthly-billed plans are convenient for teams testing the product or with short-term staffing changes, while annual billing is more cost-efficient for stable teams. Add-ons like extended message history or dedicated onboarding may be charged separately depending on the plan.

If you have specific seat counts or compliance requirements, contact Chatlio sales or review the enterprise pricing terms listed on Chatlio’s pricing page for a custom quote.

How much is chatlio per year

Chatlio costs $120/year per agent for the Starter plan when billed annually at $10/month per agent. Professional annual pricing typically ranges around $300/year per agent depending on the plan configuration and discounts applied for larger seat volumes.

Annual billing locks in the rate for 12 months and is usually billed as a single invoice. Organizations that require purchase orders or contract terms beyond the standard checkout can request enterprise billing or invoicing arrangements.

For updated annual rates and any promotional offers, consult Chatlio’s official page that lists the current annual options and enterprise arrangements.

How much is chatlio in general

Chatlio pricing ranges from $0 (free) to $25+/month per agent. Small sites and single-agent setups can often use the free tier, while teams needing multi-agent collaboration, analytics, and admin controls will typically pay in the range between the Starter and Professional tiers.

Enterprise customers seeking SSO, compliance features, or dedicated onboarding should expect custom pricing beyond the standard tiers. Total cost of ownership also includes any internal costs such as onboarding, agent training, and integration work.

Budget planning for Chatlio deployments should include: Implementation costs: time to add the widget and configure Slack routing; Training costs: time for agents to use Slack-based chat effectively; Support costs: optional dedicated assistance for Enterprise setups.

What is chatlio used for

Chatlio is used to convert website visitors into conversational interactions inside Slack, and to let teams manage those conversations from an interface they already use. Typical uses include live customer support, lead qualification, pre-sales chat, and developer-facing support portals. Because responses happen in Slack, teams leverage existing workflows like message threading, channel mentions, and integrations to act on chat results.

Sales teams use Chatlio to identify interested visitors and start qualification without switching tools. Support teams use it to handle first-level inquiries and escalate into ticketing systems when necessary. Product teams use the chat feed to collect user feedback linked to specific pages or product areas.

Chatlio is also used for developer communities and technical support where quick, asynchronous replies from engineers in Slack channels can be more efficient than a separate helpdesk. The lightweight integration makes it suitable for sites that need a simple chat channel without a full customer relationship platform.

Pros and cons of chatlio

Chatlio’s main advantage is its tight Slack integration: messages appear where teams already communicate, reducing tool fragmentation and response time. Because agents reply from Slack, there is minimal training overhead for teams familiar with Slack, and agents can use Slack features like mentions and pinned messages to coordinate responses.

A limitation is that Chatlio depends on Slack as the primary agent interface, which may not suit teams that need a separate support dashboard, SLA tracking, or advanced reporting out of the box. While Chatlio provides message history and some analytics, organizations requiring enterprise ticketing workflows will likely integrate Chatlio with a separate helpdesk.

Other trade-offs include reliance on Slack availability for agent response (if Slack is down, agent workflow is affected) and fewer built-in conversation routing or automation capabilities than larger customer messaging platforms. For teams that need multi-channel unified inboxes, standalone systems may be a better fit.

Chatlio free trial

Chatlio typically offers a free tier and a trial window for paid plans so teams can test the Slack-based chat flow without committing upfront. The free tier provides a way to validate message routing, widget customization, and basic usage patterns on low-traffic sites. Paid trials usually open access to additional features like extended message history and multiple agents.

During a trial you should validate typical visitor flows, ensure Slack channel routing maps to the right teams, and confirm how conversations are archived or exported for compliance. Trials are also the time to test file attachments, pre-chat forms, and mobile responsiveness of the widget.

If you need extended evaluation, request an enterprise trial or a demo from Chatlio’s sales team to see onboarding and admin features in action. For the latest trial options and limitations, review Chatlio’s trial and account comparison information on their site.

Is chatlio free

Yes, Chatlio offers a free plan that supports a single agent or small site usage with basic live chat features and Slack forwarding. The free plan provides a limited message history and smaller customization options compared with paid tiers, which makes it suitable for proof-of-concept and low-volume websites.

For teams that require multiple agents, longer message retention, analytics, or priority support, upgrading to Starter or Professional will be necessary. Free plans are commonly used by startups and personal sites that want Slack-based chat with minimal overhead.

Chatlio API

Chatlio exposes integration points that let teams customize behavior beyond the default Slack forwarding. Typical API capabilities include webhooks for incoming messages, REST endpoints for message retrieval and transcript export, and JavaScript configuration hooks for widget behavior on the client side. These interfaces enable synchronizing chat transcripts with CRMs or analytics platforms.

The product offers hooks to capture visitor metadata, attach custom fields to conversations, and trigger server-side events when certain chat conditions are met. This is useful for automating lead creation in a CRM, sending chat transcripts to a ticketing system, or pushing event data into analytics pipelines.

For developers, Chatlio provides documentation that outlines the available endpoints and integration patterns. Consult Chatlio’s API documentation for exact request formats, webhook signatures, rate limits, and authentication methods: view the Chatlio API documentation.

10 Chatlio alternatives

When evaluating web-based chat that integrates with team tools, consider these alternatives:

1. Intercom — full-featured customer messaging platform with robust product tours and in-app messaging
2. Drift — sales-first chat focused on lead routing, conversational marketing, and bots
3. Zendesk — integrated helpdesk and live chat with strong ticketing workflows
4. LiveChat — standalone live chat product with extensive integrations and reporting
5. Tidio — affordable chat with chatbots and multichannel messaging
6. Olark — simple live chat with conversion tracking and third-party integrations
7. Chatwoot — open-source customer messaging platform that supports multiple channels
8. Rocket.Chat — open-source team chat that can be adapted for customer-facing widgets
9. Mibew — lightweight open-source live support chat for self-hosted deployments
10. Chatbase — analytics-focused chat tooling for conversational data

Paid alternatives to chatlio

• Intercom: Customer messaging suite with targeted messages, product tours, and a built-in help center. Intercom is feature-rich but often more expensive for high-volume sites.
• Drift: Focuses on conversational marketing and routing leads to sales reps, with robust bot-building and calendar integrations for booking demos.
• Zendesk: Pairs live chat with a mature ticketing system and enterprise reporting; better for organizations that need full helpdesk capabilities.
• LiveChat: Traditional live chat vendor that offers deep integrations, robust reporting, and a visual widget customizer.
• Tidio: Cost-effective option that combines live chat with chatbot flows and email automation for small businesses.

These paid options vary in focus — some are sales-oriented, others prioritize support workflows or broad multichannel coverage. Choose a provider based on whether you prioritize Slack-native replies, a standalone agent console, or advanced automation.

Open source alternatives to chatlio

• Chatwoot: Full-featured open-source customer messaging platform that supports inboxes for multiple channels and can be self-hosted for data control.
• Rocket.Chat: Team communication platform that can be extended to accept website messages and used as a self-hosted alternative for privacy-sensitive deployments.
• Mibew: Lightweight live chat system intended for self-hosting and simple live support workflows.
• LiveHelperChat: Open-source helpdesk with chat widget support and integration hooks.
• Zammad: Open-source helpdesk that can be configured to accept web chats and convert them into tickets.

Open-source alternatives are appropriate when data residency, on-premises hosting, or deep customization are primary requirements. They typically require more operational effort than hosted solutions like Chatlio.

Frequently asked questions about Chatlio

What is chatlio used for?

Chatlio is used for live web chat that routes visitor messages into Slack. Teams use it to handle customer inquiries, qualify leads, and collect feedback directly inside Slack channels. It is particularly useful for organizations that already centralize team communication in Slack and want to avoid a separate agent console.

Does chatlio integrate with Slack?

Yes, Chatlio integrates directly with Slack. Messages from the web widget appear in configured Slack channels or DMs, and replies sent from Slack are delivered back to website visitors. The integration leverages Slack’s messaging features for notifications, mentions, and threading.

How much does chatlio cost per agent?

Chatlio starts at $10/month per agent when billed annually for the Starter plan; the monthly-billed equivalent is $12/month per agent. Professional and Enterprise plans increase the per-agent cost and include additional features such as analytics and SSO.

Is there a free version of chatlio?

Yes, Chatlio offers a free plan suitable for single-agent usage or proof-of-concept deployments. The free tier includes core live chat functionality but limits historical message retention and advanced customization compared with paid plans.

Can chatlio be used for sales qualification?

Yes, Chatlio can be used for sales qualification. Pre-chat forms, routing rules, and visitor metadata allow teams to capture lead information and forward qualified conversations to sales channels in Slack. For more advanced lead scoring, teams integrate Chatlio with their CRM.

Does chatlio support message transcripts?

Yes, Chatlio provides message transcripts and chat history. The retention length depends on your plan, with paid tiers offering longer history and export options. Transcripts can be routed to other systems via webhooks or the API for archival or ticket creation.

Can I customize the chat widget appearance?

Yes, the chat widget can be customized. You can configure colors, welcome text, and pre-chat fields to match site branding and capture required visitor information before routing to Slack channels.

How secure is chatlio?

Chatlio uses standard web security practices and Slack’s security model for message handling. Data in transit is encrypted, and access control is managed via Slack workspaces and channel membership. For enterprise customers, Chatlio offers additional controls and options documented in their security and compliance resources.

Can I route chats to different Slack channels based on rules?

Yes, Chatlio supports routing rules to direct chats to specific Slack channels. You can route based on page URL, pre-chat answers, or other visitor metadata so that questions related to product, billing, or sales arrive in the appropriate channel.

Does chatlio integrate with CRMs or other tools?

Yes, Chatlio supports integrations through webhooks, the API, and third-party connectors. Common integrations include pushing chat transcripts to CRMs, creating tickets in helpdesk systems, and sending events to analytics platforms. Developers can use Chatlio webhooks or API endpoints to implement custom flows.

chatlio careers

Chatlio’s careers opportunities typically focus on roles in product development, customer success, and technical support that revolve around messaging and integrations. Engineering roles often seek experience with real-time web systems, JavaScript, and Slack integrations, while customer-facing roles require knowledge of chat operations and workflow design.

Job listings and hiring policies are usually posted on the company’s careers page or job boards; interested candidates should prepare examples of integrations or past product work that demonstrates experience with chat or messaging systems. For contract or remote roles, teams often show interest in candidates who can work asynchronously and provide references for prior technical or customer support work.

If you are investigating careers at Chatlio, check the company’s specified hiring channels and follow their application process. Reach out via the official contact and jobs links on Chatlio’s site for the most current openings and application guidance.

chatlio affiliate

Chatlio may offer referral or partner programs for agencies, resellers, or developers who refer customers or integrate the product as part of a service package. Affiliate or partner programs typically include commission structures, referral tracking, and co-marketing resources to support partners selling chat-enabled solutions.

If you are an agency or developer interested in reselling or bundling Chatlio, contact their sales or partnerships team for program terms, onboarding materials, and API access privileges. Partners often receive prioritized technical support and access to demo accounts for client presentations.

For the latest information on partner and affiliate arrangements, consult Chatlio’s official partnership documentation or contact their partnerships team through their website.

Where to find chatlio reviews

Third-party reviews for Chatlio appear on software directories and review sites where users rate live chat and customer messaging platforms. Look for customer feedback on typical criteria like ease of setup, Slack integration quality, message reliability, and support responsiveness.

For product-specific commentary and case studies, review Chatlio’s own site for customer stories and consult independent platforms for unbiased user ratings. When comparing reviews, pay attention to comments about message retention, multi-agent behavior, and how well the Slack-centric model fits the reviewer’s team structure.

To research recent customer sentiment and performance, search for Chatlio on review platforms and read both short-form ratings and long-form user case studies. Also check discussion threads in developer communities and Slack-focused forums for hands-on experiences integrating the widget with Slack workflows.