Crisp vs Kustomer

Crisp and Kustomer, side by side across AI, pricing, channels, security, and seven more categories. We pull every figure from public sources and don’t pick a winner.

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Crisp

The AI customer support platform for every business. Omnichannel shared inbox plus AI agent.

Best for SMBs and growing teams wanting affordable all-in-one AI support; bootstrapped companies.

2015 · Nantes, France.

Kustomer

AI-native customer service platform and CRM. Unifies AI agents, omnichannel, and CRM in one timeline.

Best for Mid-market to enterprise retail, travel, and finance replacing legacy ticketing (e.g. Turo, Everlane, Sweetgreen).

2015 · New York, NY

Claimed: from the vendor, not independently verified.
3rd-party: sourced elsewhere, not on the vendor's site.
Everything else: from the vendor's own pages and verifiable.

Pricing

List prices, seat rules, trials, and pricing transparency.

Pricing model
CrispFlat rate per workspace/mo, not per-seat (extra seats $10/mo each).
KustomerPer-seat, annual; two plans (Enterprise, Ultimate); voice/SMS/WhatsApp pay-as-you-go on top.
Free plan
CrispYes. Forever free; 2 seats, 100 profiles, no AI credits.
KustomerNo
Free trial / guarantee
Crisp14-day; all features; no card.
KustomerNot disclosed
Price
Crisp$45/mo (Mini, 4 seats, 5,000 profiles, ~$5 AI credits). · $95/mo (Essentials, 10 seats, 50,000 profiles, ~$25 AI credits). · $295/mo (Plus, 20+ seats, ~$75 AI credits); Enterprise custom.
KustomerEnterprise ~$89/seat/mo (annual). · Ultimate ~$139/seat/mo (annual).(3rd-party)source
Seat minimum
Crisp2 (Free); 4 (Mini); 10 (Essentials); 20+ (Plus); extra seats $10/mo.
Kustomer8 seats minimum.(3rd-party)source
Unlimited agents
CrispNo. Extra agents $10/mo.
KustomerNo. Seat-based.
Implementation fee
CrispNone.
KustomerPaid add-on; price not disclosed.
Transparency
CrispHigh. All tier prices public.
KustomerLow. Base prices not published; Talk to Sales required.
Pricing last verified
Crisp2026-06-02
Kustomer2026-06-02

Channels

Where each tool can talk to customers.

Email
CrispNative
KustomerNative
Live chat
CrispNative
KustomerNative
In-app messenger
CrispNative (SDK iOS/Android/React Native/JS)
KustomerNative (web/mobile SDKs).
Voice
CrispVia integration (Aircall, Ringover, KrispCall; no native phone)
KustomerNative (Kustomer Voice; $0.02/min US/CA inbound).
SMS
CrispVia integration (Twilio)
KustomerNative (pay-as-you-go).
WhatsApp
CrispNative (WhatsApp Business)
KustomerNative (up to 5 accounts; Meta fee + 20% markup).
Social
CrispNative. Instagram, Messenger, Telegram, Line, Viber, Twitter/X.
KustomerNative (up to 50 FB pages, 50 IG accounts).
Unified inbox
CrispNative
KustomerNative. Single customer timeline.(claimed)source

Voice & Telephony

Native voice vs telephony integrations.

Native vs via integration
CrispVia integration. Aircall/Ringover/KrispCall; no native PSTN.
KustomerNative. AI-powered voice native; also 8x8, Aircall, Amazon Connect, Cordless integrations.
Voice AI / transcription
CrispYes. Voice-to-text for audio messages and recorded calls.
KustomerAI conversation summaries confirmed; real-time transcription not explicit; PCI redaction across voice.
Telephony billed separately
CrispYes. Via third-party provider.
KustomerYes. Pay-as-you-go from $0.02/min US/CA.

AI & Automation

Autonomous resolution, agentic actions, models, and how AI is priced.

Autonomous AI agent
CrispYes. Hugo AI agent resolves tickets 24/7.
KustomerYes. Concierge customer-facing agent. Multi-step workflows, refunds, subscriptions, GET/POST/PUT/DELETE API calls.
Copilot / Assist mode
CrispYes. Reply suggestions, grammar, rephrasing, summarization, transcription, translation.
KustomerYes. Envoy (ex KIQ Agent Assist): suggested responses, summaries, text enhancement, 2-way translation.
Claimed automation rate
CrispResolves up to 60% of repetitive questions automatically.(claimed)source
Kustomer70% of chat fully automated (Vuori); 98% WhatsApp AI-powered (unnamed); copilot up to 65% efficiency.(claimed)source
AI channel coverage
CrispWeb chat, WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, email, SMS, Telegram, Line, Viber, Twitter/X.
KustomerChat, email, voice, SMS, WhatsApp, forms.
Agentic actions (API) vs answer-only
CrispActions via API. HTTP calls in workflows (Shopify refunds, order lookup, password resets).
KustomerActions via API. Refunds, subscription changes, shipment tracking (GET/POST/PUT/DELETE).
Knowledge sources
CrispAnswer snippets, KB articles (auto-reindexed), website crawl, conversation history, file importer (PDF/CSV).
KustomerKB articles, public web pages, full CRM timeline (purchase history, conversations, loyalty), Guru integration.
Underlying model
CrispNot fully disclosed. Can connect Claude, Llama, or ChatGPT; in-house private LLM mentioned.
KustomerOpenAI (GPT-3.5/GPT-4), Anthropic, AWS Bedrock; Amazon Translate.
Trains on past tickets
CrispYes. Conversation history is a knowledge source.
KustomerCustomer data not used to train global models; OpenAI zero-retention.
Pre-deploy simulation / sandbox
CrispWorkflow testing available; no dedicated simulation sandbox.
KustomerYes. AI Evaluations (hundreds of test conversations); Automation Assistant flags conflicts pre-launch; sandbox.
Multilingual
CrispYes. Multilingual snippets, language detection, translation.
KustomerYes. 2-way translation in 53 languages; agent templates in FR/NL/DE/Amharic.
Runs on your existing helpdesk vs native-only
CrispNative only.
KustomerNative only. The Kustomer AI layer needs the Kustomer platform for full functionality.
AI pricing model
CrispAI credits bundled per plan tier.
KustomerCustomer-facing agents per engaged conversation; rep copilot per user/mo.(3rd-party)source
AI unit price
Crisp~$0.055/automated conversation implied (Mini $5 credit ~90; Essentials $25 ~450; Plus $75 ~1,350).
Kustomer$0.60 per engaged conversation (add-on).(3rd-party)source
Copilot / Assist price
CrispNot disclosed (bundled).
Kustomer$40/user/mo (AI for Reps/Envoy); historically $39 KIQ Agent Assist.(3rd-party)source

How Open.cx compares

Open.cx runs on top of Crisp or Kustomeras an AI layer, or works as its own helpdesk. Here's where it lands on the same questions.

Runs on your existing helpdesk vs native-only
Both. Add it on top of the helpdesk you already run, or use it as your own inbox. Works with Zendesk, Intercom, Front, Freshdesk, Gorgias, Salesforce, HubSpot, Dynamics 365, Twilio Flex, and Creatio.
Autonomous AI agent
Yes. Autopilot resolves tickets end to end on its own, across every channel.
AI pricing model
Per resolution, so you pay for outcomes. Escalations to a human are free.
Claimed automation rate
77% average automation; up to 80% (Trunkrs)(claimed)source

Security & Compliance

Certifications, data residency, and access controls.

SOC 2 Type II
CrispNot certified. No SOC2 audit; self-assessed only.
KustomerSOC 2 Type II.
GDPR
CrispYes. Fully GDPR-compliant; DPA; EU-only storage; DPO.
KustomerYes. Data processor; DPA; US and EU hosting; CCPA.
HIPAA / PCI
CrispNot disclosed.
KustomerPaid add-on (Enterprise/Ultimate); BAA; requires SSO+MFA.
SSO / SAML
CrispOIDC SSO (Enterprise); SAML not confirmed.
KustomerYes. SAML; Google and MS365 SSO; SCIM.
Data residency
CrispEU only. Messaging in Netherlands, plugin data in Germany; relay (no storage) US/UK/SG.
KustomerAWS US and EU via sub-processors; customer-selectable residency not disclosed.

Integrations

Marketplace breadth, APIs, and developer tooling.

Marketplace / integrations (approx.)
Crisp~73 integrations across 7 categories.
Kustomer~60+ integrations.(3rd-party)source
Shopify depth
CrispOrder history in inbox; refunds actionable; live chat widget; built-in ecommerce features.
KustomerDeep native. One-click; full order history, SKUs, images, LTV; process returns/exchanges; Shopify Plus.
Open / public API
CrispYes. REST API; Developer Hub.
KustomerYes. REST API + webhooks; MCP server.
Developer SDK / MCP
CrispYes. Chat SDK (JS, iOS, Android, React Native); open-source on GitHub.
KustomerYes. Chat SDKs (web, iOS, Android, React Native); Apps Platform.

Automation & Workflows

Builders, triggers, routing, and SLAs.

Workflow builder
CrispYes. No-code visual builder; conditional logic, HTTP calls.
KustomerYes. Visual builder with Workflow Assistant (AI-guided).
Triggers / automations
CrispYes. Auto-trigger on conversation start/events/Hugo scenarios.
KustomerYes. Up to 200 business rules; message-attribute AI activation; Automation Assistant.
Routing
CrispYes. Round Robin, origin-based, intent-based, custom rules.
KustomerYes. Smart routing, business-hours-aware, team filtering, queue routing.
Macros / canned responses
CrispYes. Shortcuts (templated, dynamic data).
KustomerYes. Shortcuts; AI-suggested responses.
SLA management
CrispPersonalized SLA at Enterprise only; SLA tracking in analytics.
KustomerYes. SLA management with visual dashboard; up to 10 queues/teams.

Collaboration

How support teams work a queue together.

Internal notes
CrispYes. Agent-only private notes.
KustomerYes. Visible to team; @mentions.
Collision detection
CrispYes. Real-time alerts when another agent is replying.
KustomerYes. Presence indicators when multiple agents view.(3rd-party)source
Side conversations
CrispNot disclosed (@mentions exist).
KustomerNot disclosed (notes/@mentions confirmed).
Shared inbox
CrispYes. Omnichannel shared inbox.
KustomerYes. Unified omnichannel timeline.(claimed)source

Self-Service & Knowledge

Knowledge base, help center, and deflection.

Knowledge base
CrispYes. Customizable, brandable, multilingual.
KustomerYes. SEO-optimized; internal and public; theme builder, multi-brand/language.
Help center
CrispYes. Public-facing, widget plus standalone URL.
KustomerYes. Customer portal with search; request submission and tracking.
Community forum
CrispNot offered.
KustomerYes. Referenced as help center component.
AI answers from knowledge base
CrispYes. Hugo uses KB articles as primary source.
KustomerYes. Concierge surfaces AI answers from KB; KB Assistant improves accuracy.

Reporting & Analytics

Dashboards, custom reports, and CSAT.

Dashboards
CrispYes. Line/bar/treemap/heatmap, operator performance, geo, ratings.
KustomerYes. Prebuilt dashboards (volume, handle time, CSAT, SLA); real-time.
Custom reports
CrispYes. Custom analytics playground; filtering; formulas; export.
KustomerYes. Chart Editor; Data Explorer (NL analytics).
Included in lowest tier
CrispAnalytics across plans; advanced gating not disclosed.
KustomerReporting in base platform (no tier gating noted).(claimed)source
CSAT surveys
CrispYes. Automated post-interaction CSAT via email and chat.
KustomerYes. Native CSAT; real-time tracking; AI Evaluations scores every AI interaction.

Onboarding & Support

Implementation, CSM tiers, and partners.

Onboarding
CrispSelf-service all tiers; dedicated onboarding plus training at Enterprise; Plus gets onboarding assistance.
KustomerImplementation services paid add-on; vendor-managed onboarding; ~2 months typical.
Support channels
CrispKB; chat; email. Per-tier channels not disclosed.
KustomerHelp Center, community portal; direct channels not public.
Dedicated CSM
CrispEnterprise only. Dedicated onboarding/personalized service.
KustomerEvery customer gets a CSM.
Implementation partners
CrispNot disclosed. No partner program found.
KustomerYes. Referral/Reseller/Developer/Integration partner tiers.

Frequently asked questions

Powered by Open.cx

Keep Crisp or Kustomer. Add Open.cx on top.

Open.cx runs on top of whichever you pick and resolves tickets end to end across chat, email, voice, and WhatsApp. You keep the helpdesk your team already knows. Here's how it compares to each: