Papercups

What is papercups

Papercups is an open-source customer messaging platform that combines a lightweight live chat widget with a shared inbox and developer APIs. Teams use Papercups to run support and sales conversations directly inside their web product, to centralize messages across channels, and to automate routine tasks with webhooks and integrations. The project offers both a self-hosted version (source available) and a managed cloud offering to simplify deployment and scaling.

Papercups focuses on being developer-friendly: the widget is embeddable with minimal code, the backend exposes HTTP and websocket endpoints for real-time messaging, and the platform provides SDKs and webhooks for custom workflows. Because there is a self-hosted option, companies that need to control data residency, comply with internal security policies, or extend the core product can run Papercups on their own infrastructure.

Typical teams that adopt Papercups include early-stage product teams that want conversational support inside their product, engineering teams that prefer API-first tools, and companies that want a lower-cost alternative to larger proprietary chat platforms while keeping source control of the chat stack.

Papercups features

Papercups provides a mix of user-facing chat features and developer-centric primitives. Key feature areas include:

• Live chat widget: A lightweight embeddable chat widget that can be customized to match brand colors and behavior. The widget supports proactive messages, pre-chat forms, and attachments.
• Shared inbox: Conversations from the widget appear in a shared, searchable inbox where teammates can claim, respond to, and tag conversations. The inbox supports internal notes and basic message routing.
• Multichannel routing: Centralize messages from multiple sources (website widget, email, and integrations) into the same inbox so agents can handle all customer touchpoints in one place.
• Developer APIs and SDKs: REST endpoints and real-time websocket APIs for sending and receiving messages, creating customers, and programmatically managing conversations. There are frontend SDKs for embedding the widget.
• Webhooks: Real-time event webhooks that notify external systems about new messages, conversation state changes, and agent activity for automation and analytics.
• Integrations: Native and third-party integrations with tools such as Slack for notifications and forwarding, Zapier for automation, and webhook-based links to CRMs and analytics systems.
• Custom workflows and bots: Hooks and APIs that let teams build bots, auto-responders, or integrations that enrich messages with context from internal systems.
• Self-hosted option: Full source code is available so engineering teams can self-host Papercups, customize features, and control data storage.

What does papercups do?

Papercups provides an embeddable chat interface for websites and web apps, funnels those conversations into a shared inbox for agents, and exposes APIs so teams can automate and extend behavior. The widget captures user context (URL, browser, and pre-chat inputs) and associates it with customer records in the inbox so agents see relevant information without asking the same questions.

For engineering teams, Papercups is a flexible building block: you can embed it with a JavaScript snippet, push conversation events to an internal analytics pipeline, or connect messages to a CRM through webhooks. The platform supports real-time chats through websockets, which keeps the agent experience fast and synchronizes state across multiple agent clients.

For support and sales teams, the product is a practical inbox: messages can be labeled, assigned, and archived; internal notes help triage complex requests; and integrations with team tools let agents escalate or follow up using existing workflows.

Papercups pricing

Papercups offers these pricing plans:

• Free Plan: $0/month — self-hosted open-source option and a basic hosted tier with core chat and inbox features
• Starter: $20/month per inbox (hosted) — adds higher message volume, basic integrations, and email routing
• Professional: $99/month per inbox (hosted) — includes SLA, advanced integrations, SSO, and higher rate limits
• Enterprise: custom pricing — dedicated support, advanced security controls, white-glove migration, and on-premise deployment assistance

Self-hosted: The open-source repository is available at no cost; on-premises hosting costs depend on infrastructure and maintenance.

Check Papercups' current pricing plans (https://papercups.io/pricing) for the latest rates and any new tiers or metered billing options.

How much is papercups per month

Papercups starts at $0/month for the open-source self-hosted option and the hosted Free Plan. For teams that prefer the managed cloud product, typical paid hosted tiers begin around $20/month per inbox for small teams and scale up to $99/month or more per inbox for professional needs and enterprise features. Contact Papercups for exact per-seat, per-inbox, or usage-based pricing for high-volume deployments.

How much is papercups per year

Papercups costs $0/year for the self-hosted open-source baseline. Hosted customers who choose annual billing typically receive discounted yearly rates compared to month-to-month, with common examples being roughly 10–20% lower annually on Starter and Professional tiers; exact yearly amounts vary by contract and volume. Check Papercups' hosted annual plans on their official Papercups pricing page (https://papercups.io/pricing) for current annual pricing and enterprise licensing options.

How much is papercups in general

Papercups pricing ranges from $0 (self-hosted open-source) to $99+/month per inbox for hosted tiers, with enterprise agreements available for larger teams or regulatory requirements. Total cost of ownership depends on whether you self-host (infrastructure, maintenance, developer time) or choose the hosted tier (subscription fees, seats/inboxes, add-ons). When budgeting, include integration work, storage for conversation history, and any third-party services used for backups or monitoring.

What is papercups used for

Papercups is used primarily for in-product support and customer messaging. Companies embed the chat widget into their website or application to capture questions from users, provide immediate help, and route conversations to the right support or product team. The shared inbox consolidates those interactions so teams can manage open conversations, see conversation history, and assign responsibility.

Product teams use Papercups to gather user feedback in context: since the widget captures the URL and user state, product managers and engineers can reproduce issues faster and collect qualitative data about friction points. Sales teams use the widget to capture qualified leads and start one-to-one conversations with prospective customers while they browse the pricing or features pages.

Engineering teams use Papercups as a lightweight messaging platform that can be integrated with their existing toolchain. The exposed APIs and webhooks let teams push messages into analytics, enrich conversations with user metadata, or automate common replies with simple server-side logic.

Operational use cases include lightweight help centers, pre-sales qualification, shipping real-time notifications to Slack channels, and routing messages to specialist queues depending on tags or keywords. Because of the self-hosted option, Papercups is also used in environments where data control or security constraints make a fully managed SaaS undesirable.

Pros and cons of papercups

Pros:

• Open-source core: teams can self-host and modify the codebase to meet specific requirements, avoiding vendor lock-in.
• Developer-friendly APIs: REST endpoints, websockets, SDKs, and webhooks make it straightforward to integrate with internal systems and automate workflows.
• Lightweight embed: a small JavaScript widget that is easy to customize and deploy across pages or customer-facing apps.
• Cost flexibility: free self-hosted option plus pay-as-you-grow hosted tiers make it attractive to startups and small teams.

Cons:

• Feature depth vs. large incumbents: Papercups focuses on messaging and inbox capabilities and may lack some enterprise features found in larger platforms (advanced automation builders, built-in knowledge base UX, or advanced routing and SLA tooling) without custom development.
• Maintenance for self-hosting: teams that self-host must manage scaling, backups, and upgrades themselves, which requires engineering resources.
• Integrations: while Papercups supports common integrations like Slack and webhook-based connectors, very large enterprises may require deeper built-in connectors to CRM or ERP systems that need custom work or third-party middleware.

Real-world trade-offs depend on whether you prioritize control and cost (self-hosted) or out-of-the-box managed convenience (hosted enterprise tiers).

Papercups free trial

Papercups typically offers a free hosted tier and a time-limited trial for hosted paid plans so teams can evaluate the managed service before committing. The free offering includes the core chat widget and the basic shared inbox, letting teams test workflow, message volume, and widget behavior in production environments.

For the hosted paid tiers, Papercups commonly provides a trial period or a low-cost Starter tier so teams can validate integrations such as Slack notifications or CRM forwarding. Trials often include access to email routing and a limited set of advanced features to test multi-agent workflows.

If you plan to evaluate Papercups in a production-like context, install the self-hosted version in a staging environment or sign up for the hosted free tier and connect your core integrations to assess the real-time performance and agent workflow.

Is papercups free

Yes, Papercups offers a free self-hosted plan and a free hosted tier that provides the core chat widget and shared inbox functionality. The self-hosted option is fully open-source and can be run without subscription costs, while hosted paid plans add usage limits, integrations, and enterprise features at a cost. For detailed comparisons between the free and paid hosted tiers, view Papercups' hosted versus self-hosted documentation (https://papercups.io/pricing).

Papercups API

Papercups exposes APIs intended for real-time messaging, conversation management, and automation. The platform commonly provides:

• REST endpoints for creating and updating conversations, creating customers, and fetching message history.
• Websocket or real-time connections for two-way live messaging so the agent UI and client widget stay synchronized without polling.
• Webhooks that emit events for new messages, updated conversation states, and agent actions so external systems can react to chat events.
• Frontend SDK (JavaScript) to embed and configure the widget, manage session tokens, and customize appearance and behavior.

Developers use the API to programmatically seed conversations with context, route messages into CRM records, or build custom bot logic that triggers on specific inbound messages. The documentation includes examples for authenticating with API keys, streaming messages via websockets, and subscribing to webhook events.

For implementation details and complete reference information, consult the Papercups API documentation (https://docs.papercups.io/). The docs include endpoint specifications, code samples, and guidance on self-hosted configuration and authentication.

10 Papercups alternatives

• Intercom — a full-featured customer messaging and product engagement suite with rich automation, customer data, and in-app messages.
• Drift — conversational marketing and chat platform focused on qualifying sales leads and routing conversations to sales reps.
• Zendesk — ticketing-first support platform that also offers live chat, knowledge base, and omnichannel support features.
• LiveChat — a dedicated live chat product with robust agent tools, reporting, and out-of-the-box integrations.
• Crisp — messaging platform that blends chat, shared inbox, and basic CRM features with a focus on small businesses.
• Freshdesk — customer support suite that includes Freshchat for messaging alongside ticketing and automation tools.
• Help Scout — a shared inbox and knowledge base aimed at small to mid-size support teams that need email-first workflows.
• Olark — simple live chat solution with basic automation and integration features for small teams.
• HubSpot Conversations — part of HubSpot's CRM platform that ties chat to contact records, marketing automation, and sales pipelines.
• Tawk.to — a free hosted live chat service with paid add-ons and a focus on cost-sensitive teams.

Paid alternatives to papercups

• Intercom: Comprehensive product messaging and customer engagement platform with extensive automation and audiences. Best for teams focused on lifecycle messaging and marketing-qualified lead capture.
• Drift: Conversational marketing and sales-first chat with routing to sales reps and playbooks. Suitable for B2B companies with inbound lead capture needs.
• Zendesk: Enterprise-grade support platform with omnichannel routing, reporting, and ticketing. Better suited for larger support operations that need mature workflows.
• LiveChat: Robust live chat product with agent productivity features and integrations that scale with enterprise needs.
• Help Scout: Email-first shared inbox with chat add-ons and strong support-centric workflows; simpler than Intercom but easier to adopt.
• HubSpot Conversations: Chat tied directly to HubSpot CRM; good if you already use HubSpot for sales and marketing.

Open source alternatives to papercups

• Chatwoot: Open-source customer engagement platform that provides live chat, shared inbox, and omnichannel messaging with self-hosting support.
• Rocket.Chat: Open-source team chat system that can be adapted for customer messaging in self-hosted environments.
• Mibew: A lightweight open-source live chat application aimed at web-based support with a simple self-hosted footprint.
• Botpress: Open-source conversational AI platform for building chatbots and advanced bot logic that can power automated responses in messaging platforms.
• Matrix + Element: While not a traditional customer chat product, Matrix is an open communication protocol with clients like Element that can be used to build custom messaging solutions with full control over hosting.

Frequently asked questions about Papercups

What is Papercups used for?

Papercups is used for in-product live chat and a shared customer messaging inbox. Teams embed the widget in web apps to capture user questions, centralize responses in a shared inbox, and integrate conversation data into product and support workflows. It is used by support, product, and sales teams that want a lightweight messaging solution.

Does Papercups offer a self-hosted option?

Yes, Papercups is open-source and can be self-hosted. The repository and deployment instructions let engineering teams run Papercups on their own infrastructure, which is useful for data control, custom extensions, or regulatory requirements.

How much does Papercups cost per user?

Papercups starts at $0/month for the open-source self-hosted option and a hosted free tier; paid hosted tiers begin around $20/month per inbox with higher tiers such as $99/month per inbox for professional needs. Exact per-user or per-inbox pricing varies by plan and contract.

Can Papercups integrate with Slack?

Yes, Papercups supports Slack integration. You can forward new conversations or notifications into Slack channels, receive message alerts, and use Slack for agent notifications and routing alongside the Papercups inbox.

Does Papercups have an API?

Yes, Papercups exposes REST endpoints, websockets, and webhooks. The API supports creating and updating conversations, streaming messages in real time, and subscribing to event webhooks so external systems can react to chat activity. Full API references are available in the Papercups API documentation (https://docs.papercups.io/).

Is Papercups suitable for enterprise use?

Yes, with caveats: Papercups can serve enterprise needs but may require custom work. The hosted Enterprise tier provides SLA and advanced security options, while self-hosting enables on-premise deployments and tighter control. Enterprises should evaluate integration needs, compliance requirements, and support SLAs before choosing the self-hosted or hosted path.

Can I import chat history into Papercups?

Yes, you can import data via the API or migration scripts. The REST API and data import hooks let teams migrate conversation history from other systems, though the exact migration process depends on source formats and required data transformations.

Does Papercups support offline messages and email fallback?

Yes, Papercups supports email routing and offline message capture. If agents are unavailable, visitors can leave messages that are routed into the inbox or forwarded to email so no customer inquiry is lost.

How secure is Papercups?

Papercups provides standard security controls but specifics depend on deployment choice. The hosted service includes industry-standard transport encryption and managed infrastructure, while self-hosted deployments require teams to implement encryption, access controls, and monitoring appropriate to their compliance needs.

What developer resources does Papercups provide?

Papercups publishes API docs, SDKs, and source code to support developers. The documentation includes code samples for embedding the widget, authenticating API requests, connecting websockets, and handling webhook events. See the Papercups API documentation (https://docs.papercups.io/) for detailed guides.

papercups careers

Papercups, like many open-source-first startups, typically hires across engineering, developer relations, and product roles. Roles often emphasize backend and frontend engineers familiar with real-time systems, customer-facing SDKs, and open-source contribution. Candidates should look for positions that require experience in chat or messaging systems, web sockets, and cloud deployment.

papercups affiliate

Papercups may run partner or referral programs through direct partnerships or ecosystem integrations, but affiliate program availability and terms can change. For up-to-date information about partner or referral opportunities, check Papercups' official pages or contact their sales team via the company website.

Where to find papercups reviews

You can find user reviews and community discussion about Papercups on software directories, developer forums, and GitHub. Common places to check include product review platforms, the Papercups GitHub issues and discussions for developer feedback, and technical blogs where teams publish post-mortems about self-hosting and integrations. For official feature lists and pricing, consult Papercups' website and documentation: Papercups pricing page (https://papercups.io/pricing) and Papercups API documentation (https://docs.papercups.io/).