Best Drift alternatives in 2025: Top competitors compared

Drift has long been seen as a pioneer in conversational marketing. But in 2025, its evolution—especially after being acquired by Salesloft—has left many businesses asking a bigger question: is Drift still the right fit for their engagement strategy?
 

In this article, we explore leading alternatives to Drift for customer engagement in 2025. We compare Zoho SalesIQ, Intercom, and LiveChat across key areas like pricing, features, AI capabilities, and integrations to find the best conversational sales, marketing, and support platform for your business.

Key takeaways 

• Drift’s pricing and packaging shifts have forced many businesses of all sizes to seek more transparent, flexible solutions.
• Modern alternatives to Drift prioritize AI, CRM integration, and omnichannel engagement as must-haves.
• There are diverse options to choose from, but Zoho SalesIQ, Intercom, and LiveChat emerge as top Drift alternatives, each excelling in different areas (e.g., AI features, in-app engagement, or simplicity).
• These tools vary in pricing (including free tiers), integrations (CRM, ecommerce, analytics), and AI/chatbot capabilities.

We provide guidance on selecting the best platform for your business needs and steps to switch from Drift.

Why consider an alternative to Drift? 

First of all, Drift is being phased out (Salesloft is taking it offline), and its enterprise-oriented pricing has long been a pain point for SMBs. Its customer chat and bot solution will soon no longer work, and many users cited high cost and setup complexity as issues. The situation was made worse by a recent security incident where attackers exploited Drift’s Salesforce integration tokens to exfiltrate customer data, leading to its suspension (The Hacker News, 2025).

Newer alternatives like our own Zoho SalesIQ offer similar or richer capabilities (live chat, AI chatbots, visitor tracking) at much lower cost. Alternative platforms also tend to provide broader integrations (e.g., CRM, ecommerce, social channels), and more transparent pricing models. For businesses looking for the long game and flexibility, evaluating Drift alternatives has never been more relevant.

For years, Drift marketed itself as the conversational marketing pioneer. But here’s the top few reasons why many companies are looking elsewhere:

• Pricing uncertainty – Following its Salesloft acquisition, Drift moved upmarket. Features SMBs once relied on—AI assistants, advanced routing, and reporting—are now gated behind enterprise-level plans, with annual costs that often outweigh ROI.
• AI paywalls – Conversational AI is no longer optional—it’s now core. But Drift’s AI features are primarily bundled into premium tiers, making it costly for businesses that want to experiment or scale gradually.
• Limited ecosystem integration – Drift excels in sales engagement but lags in CRM-native workflows. Businesses seeking a unified CRM + chat experience often face gaps in efficiency and automation.
• Support gaps – Mid-market customers frequently report inconsistent support compared to enterprise accounts, adding friction to adoption and daily operations.
• Migration and continuity risk – With Drift being phased out, businesses face potential downtime, data migration headaches, and retraining costs.
• Compliance and privacy considerations – Beyond the recent breach, SMBs increasingly demand platforms that enforce strong data governance, secure token management, and compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and other regulations.
• Scalability and ease of use – Modern alternatives are designed to scale with growing businesses without sudden cost spikes and with simpler onboarding that reduces IT dependency.

What to look for in a Drift alternative 

If you’re exploring alternatives to Drift in 2025, here are the must-have criteria:

• Native AI and automation – Conversational AI, proactive triggers, and automation flows should be embedded, not an afterthought.
• Transparent pricing – No hidden AI add-ons or mandatory enterprise bundles. Clear free-to-paid pathways matter.
• CRM integration – For sales and marketing alignment, CRM-native platforms deliver efficiency Drift struggles to match.
• Omnichannel reach – Not just website chat. WhatsApp, Instagram, and email should all connect seamlessly.
• Scalability – A platform that works for a 5-person startup should also scale to a 50,000-employee enterprise.
• Industry-specific use cases – Ecommerce, SaaS, healthcare, and finance all require tailored engagement flows.

Top drift alternatives 

• Zoho SalesIQ – An AI-powered live chat and chatbot platform designed for businesses of all sizes. SalesIQ combines live chat, Zobot (custom AI chatbots), and Zia (Zoho’s AI assistant) with robust visitor tracking and multi-channel messaging across WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, and more. Its deep integration with Zoho CRM and other Zoho apps ensures seamless customer data flow, advanced automation, and actionable insights. SalesIQ’s free and low-cost plans make it attractive for businesses of all sizes.
• Intercom – A comprehensive customer support suite known for proactive in-app messaging and AI-assisted support. It includes the Fin AI agent and marketing tools (push notifications, product tours) to engage users within web/mobile apps. It targets SaaS/product-led companies, though pricing ($29–$132+/seat/mo) can be steep for small teams.
• LiveChat – A straightforward live-messaging tool praised for ease of use and extensive integrations (Shopify, WooCommerce, WhatsApp, HubSpot, etc.). It focuses on web chat (no built-in AI agent) and works well for ecommerce and support teams. Pricing starts at $20–$59 per agent/mo (Starter to Business plans).

Comparison table 

Detailed reviews of the best Drift alternatives

Zoho SalesIQ 

Overview 

Zoho SalesIQ is a AI-powered live chat and chatbot platform designed to engage website and app visitors in real time. It provides a unified inbox for multiple channels (web, mobile SDK, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, etc.), AI-driven chatbots, and real-time visitor intelligence. For example, SalesIQ’s dashboard shows who’s on your site and what they’re viewing, enabling targeted outreach. It also includes an AI assistant (Zia) that can summarize conversations, suggest responses, route intelligently, and more. Overall, SalesIQ helps businesses capture leads and support customers with contextual data-backed conversations.

Key features 

• Visitor tracking and lead scoring: Real-time maps of site visitors with customizable criteria (location, pages viewed) and automated lead scoring to prioritize high-value prospects.
• Multichannel chat and bots: Support for chat across web, mobile SDKs, and messaging apps (WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger) from one dashboard. A codeless Zobot builder lets you create AI chatbots (multilingual, 24/7) to handle FAQs, qualify leads, and automate workflows.
• In-app and outbound messaging: Proactive chat and message campaigns inside web/mobile apps. You can trigger messages based on user behavior (product-led growth tactics).
• AI productivity tools: In-house AI features (Zia) such as chat transcription summaries, writing assistance, and chatbot response suggestions help agents work faster. Zoho’s GenAI integration (ChatGPT-powered bots) can answer context-specific questions using your business data.
• Customization and automations: Proactive chat triggers (by visitor behavior), chat routing/group chat, audio/video calls and screen-sharing in chat, plus custom workflows to automate actions (e.g., send email alerts or tag leads).

Zoho SalesIQ also offers a robust mobile app, enabling teams to engage visitors, respond to chats, and manage Zobot workflows on the go—ensuring customer support and lead engagement never stops, even outside the office.

Pros and cons 

• Pros: Fast setup with intuitive flow-builder, built-in ChatGPT/Zia AI support, multi-channel chatbot publishing, and a free entry-level plan. The platform is affordable (free basic plan + low per-agent pricing) and tightly integrated with Zoho CRM/apps. Its deep reporting and visitor analytics aid data-driven engagement.
• Cons: While basic chat and bot setup is easy, mastering complex workflows, automation rules, and Zia integrations can still take time for new users.

Integration 

SalesIQ integrates with Zoho and third-party applications across CRM, ticketing, email marketing, analytics platforms, and more. It works natively with Zoho CRM/Desk/MarketingHub and includes popular integrations (Salesforce, Zendesk, Google Analytics, Mailchimp, etc.). This unified ecosystem means leads and chat data flow seamlessly into your CRM, email campaigns, and helpdesk.

Use cases 

SalesIQ is ideal for lead capture and customer support on websites and apps. It excels at:

• Sales and marketing teams: Engaging website visitors in real time to convert leads (via proactive chat, lead scoring, and CRM sync).
• Support teams: Providing omnichannel support (chat, call, social messaging) with a single interface, augmented by AI (Zia) to resolve queries.
• Businesses using Zoho CRM: Teams that already use Zoho CRM/One can leverage native data sharing for seamless sales and support workflows. SalesIQ suits small to mid-size businesses and enterprises looking for an affordable, integrated chat and bot solution.

Pricing 

Zoho SalesIQ offers a free plan (3 operators, 10K tracked visitors/month, 100 chats/month, basic features). Paid plans (Basic $7, Professional $12.75, Enterprise $20 per agent/mo, billed annually) add advanced features like unlimited chats, more visitor tracking, chatbot templates, social messaging (WhatsApp, Messenger), and AI bots. There are no hidden AI add-on fees – Zia AI features are included. Overall, SalesIQ provides competitive, transparent pricing for companies of all sizes.

Best for 

Zoho SalesIQ is best for businesses of all sizes, especially those on a budget or using the Zoho suite. Its free tier and low entry price make it accessible to small teams. It’s also well-suited for companies requiring rich integrations (e.g., with Zoho CRM) and AI features without the enterprise cost of platforms like Drift.

Intercom 

Overview 

Intercom is a leading conversational platform focused on in-app messaging and support. It provides live chat, a shared inbox, and a next-gen helpdesk on one platform. A key differentiator is its Fin AI Agent (an AI chatbot) that can auto-respond to customer queries across channels. Intercom’s suite emphasizes guiding users within your product via tooltips, banners, product tours, and outbound messages. The platform also includes robust email and SMS support.

Key features 

• AI-powered chat (Fin): The Fin AI Agent can be trained on your data to automatically answer questions and perform simple tasks. It handles FAQs and hands off to humans when needed. Intercom charges per AI resolution (e.g., $0.99/response).
• Integrated helpdesk: A unified inbox and ticketing system for live chat, email, and social messages. Agents get full customer context in one thread. Workflows and automation (round-robin assignment, SLAs) are built-in.
• Product tours and marketing tools: Built-in campaign tools (banners, product tours, checklists) help onboard and educate users without code. You can design in-app experiences to drive engagement and upsells.
• Rich analytics and apps: Intercom includes an extensive reporting suite and a marketplace of 450+ integrations. It integrates with major CRMs (Salesforce, HubSpot), analytics platforms, and tools for collaboration.

Pros and cons 

• Pros: Intercom is feature-rich and scalable. It offers very smooth, personalized in-app user engagement (strong targeting and messaging tools). The platform has a strong ecosystem of integrations and constant innovation (latest AI features). Its AI chatbot (Fin) can relieve support load by handling complex requests. Many reviews note its ease of setup and powerful automation.
• Cons: Intercom can be overwhelming and expensive. New users often face a learning curve due to many overlapping features. Pricing scales quickly: even the Essential plan is ~$29/seat/month and advanced plans are ~$85–$132/seat/mo. This cost may be prohibitive for small teams. Some customers also report that AI and complex workflows can feel “bolted on” and that customer support response times are slow.

Integration 

Intercom integrates with 100+ external tools (CRMs, helpdesks, marketing apps). It works with Salesforce, HubSpot, Slack, Shopify, and more. It also supports connecting multiple channels (intercom widget on site, mobile SDK, Facebook, WhatsApp). The Fin AI Agent can feed information to CRMs or update orders in real time.

Use cases 

Intercom excels for SaaS and tech-driven products. It’s ideal for:

• Onboarding and engagement: Software companies that need to onboard users in-app (via tooltips, tours) and nudge them to adopt features or upgrade.
• Multichannel support: Teams that interact with customers across web, mobile, and social apps (it handles email, chat, SMS, Messenger, etc. in one inbox).
• Enterprise support: Firms that want a unified customer profile and AI assistant for their support agents. Enterprises benefit from advanced features like multilingual help centers, SSO, and SLAs.
   

Pricing 

Intercom’s pricing is seat-based plus AI. The Essential plan (includes Fin AI) starts at $29 per seat/month (billed annually), and the Advanced plan at $85 and Expert at $132 (Fin usage at $0.99 per resolution). Each higher tier adds more inboxes, automation, and security features. There are no free plans, only a 14-day trial. For reference, Zoho notes that Drift’s legacy pricing was an order of magnitude higher and locked to enterprise deals. In practice, Intercom is a significant investment, especially once agent count and AI usage increase.

Best for 

Intercom is best for product-led growth companies and tech enterprises. It shines when companies need sophisticated in-app messaging and cross-channel support. Startups and SMBs may find the cost steep, but for growing SaaS firms it offers a unified platform. Intercom suits businesses with dedicated support teams and the resources to leverage its full feature set.

LiveChat 

Overview 

LiveChat is a mature, user-friendly web chat platform focused on real-time customer messaging. It provides a clean, intuitive agent interface for handling multiple chat conversations simultaneously. LiveChat doesn’t attempt to be a full CRM or all-in-one suite; instead, it specializes in fast, reliable live chat with robust features. It also offers companion products like HelpDesk (ticketing) and ChatBot (AI bot builder).

Key features 

• Real-time web chat: Instant messaging widget for websites and apps. Customers see typing indicators, and agents see pre-typing “sneak peeks” to respond faster. The chat widget is highly customizable (themes, position, mobile adaptation) to match your brand.
• Chat routing and queuing: Automatic distribution of incoming chats to available agents or departments, with queue management during peak times. This ensures customers are served promptly even under high load.
• Canned responses and tags: Agents can use saved replies for FAQs, saving typing time. Chats can be tagged and categorized for analytics and follow-up.
• File sharing and transcripts: Both agents and visitors can exchange images/files in chat, aiding problem resolution. All chat transcripts are stored and can be exported or emailed for record-keeping.
• Chatbot integration: LiveChat offers an optional AI chatbot add-on (separately priced), as well as an open API. Businesses often integrate third-party chatbots or use LiveChat’s ChatBot product to automate responses.

Pros and cons 

• Pros: LiveChat’s interface is very user-friendly and easy to navigate, which reduces training time. It offers robust integrations (WordPress, Shopify, Mailchimp, etc.) out of the box, enabling seamless workflow with marketing and ecommerce tools. Its live chat is fast and dependable, with excellent support.
• Cons: LiveChat has no permanent free plan (only a 14-day trial), and pricing can be a concern for some growing teams. Advanced customization (beyond the basics) often requires technical skill. Unlike Intercom or SalesIQ, LiveChat’s core product lacks built-in AI chatbots or advanced workflow automation.

Integration 

LiveChat boasts 200+ integrations. Key ones include ecommerce (Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce), CRMs (Salesforce, HubSpot), marketing tools (Mailchimp, Facebook Ads), and messaging apps (WhatsApp, Messenger). Its open API and Zapier support allow custom workflows. However, note that LiveChat’s AI capabilities are limited; for AI-driven automation, you’d integrate with a chatbot solution (e.g., LiveChat’s ChatBot or a third-party bot).

Use cases 

LiveChat is especially popular for ecommerce and web-based support. Its ideal use cases include:

• Ecommerce stores: For online retailers, LiveChat’s Shopify and WooCommerce integrations and proactive chat campaigns help reduce cart abandonment and boost sales.
• Customer support teams: Any business with high web traffic can use LiveChat to offer immediate support. Teams benefit from features like chat tagging, analytics, and canned replies to manage volume.
• Sales and lead capture: Companies focused on lead generation use LiveChat’s chat widget to engage website visitors and qualify prospects in real time. (Its simple chat workflow is easy for sales reps to adopt.)
   

Pricing 

LiveChat’s plans (billed annually) start at $20 per agent/month (Starter) for small teams and go up to $59 per agent/month (Business) for larger support departments. A 14-day free trial is available. The Starter plan covers basic chat features (chat history up to 60 days, 1 user), while higher plans increase visitor tracking, history, reporting, and add features like work scheduling and SMS integration. Overall, LiveChat is pricier than Zoho SalesIQ’s basic plans but still more affordable than enterprise chat suites; however, some small businesses may find costs add up as agents scale.

Best for 

LiveChat is best for online retailers and straightforward customer service teams. It’s an excellent fit for businesses that need an out-of-the-box chat widget (especially on ecommerce sites) and value ease of use. Its strong integration ecosystem makes it ideal for companies that want to plug live chat into existing workflows (e.g., CRM, ecommerce, marketing).

How to choose the best Drift alternative for your needs 

When evaluating Drift alternatives, consider your business profile and priorities:

• If cost is a key factor, Zoho SalesIQ stands out with its free plan and low starting price. LiveChat has moderate starter pricing, while Intercom can become expensive quickly.
• Small to mid-size businesses (SMBs) often prefer Zoho or LiveChat for affordability and simplicity. Tech startups or product-led companies lean toward Intercom for in-app engagement. Enterprises may consider all three, but note that Intercom and LiveChat target different needs (omnichannel vs. pure web chat). Zoho SalesIQ works “for businesses of all sizes,” especially those already using Zoho CRM.
• Identify your primary use cases. For ecommerce support, LiveChat’s Shopify integrations and proactive chat are ideal. For lead generation and CRM integration, SalesIQ’s lead tracking and Zoho CRM connectivity excel. For in-app customer engagement or product-driven growth, Intercom’s advanced in-app tools and AI features make it the best fit.
• Choose a tool that fits your tech stack. If you use Zoho One/CRM, SalesIQ offers native synergies. If you rely on a broad suite of SaaS tools, check that your chosen platform integrates with them. LiveChat supports many web platforms, while Intercom has deep CRM and analytics integrations.
• Determine whether you need built-in AI/chatbots (SalesIQ, Intercom) or just chat. If AI automation is critical, SalesIQ and Intercom provide it; LiveChat requires third-party bots. Also consider multi-channel support (all three cover web chat; SalesIQ and Intercom also handle messaging apps).

By matching these criteria to your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP), you can narrow down the best choice.

How to migrate from Drift to SalesIQ 

Switching from Drift to Zoho SalesIQ can be straightforward:

1. Sign up and set up SalesIQ: Create a Zoho SalesIQ account (free trial available) and configure your company profile.
2. Install SalesIQ widget: Embed the SalesIQ chat widget code on your website to replace the Drift widget. This instantly brings live chat and bots online without downtime.
3. Recreate bots and triggers: Rebuild your chatbot flows in SalesIQ’s bot builder. Zoho offers templates and AI bots, making this faster than building from scratch.
4. Train your team: Guide your agents on the SalesIQ interface. They'll use the SalesIQ dashboard instead of Drift’s console.

5. Test and launch: Conduct live tests to ensure chats and automations work as expected. Once confirmed, go live! Zoho’s support team can assist throughout the migration.

How to future-proof your conversational engagement stack 

Migrating away from Drift isn’t just about switching tools—it’s about rethinking your engagement approach. Here’s how to future-proof:

1. Don’t chase features—prioritize ecosystems. A chat tool that connects directly with your CRM or marketing stack will always deliver more value than a standalone widget.
2. Budget for AI early. AI is no longer optional. Choose a platform where automation isn’t locked behind enterprise pricing.
3. Think omnichannel. Customers expect to move seamlessly between web chat, WhatsApp, and email.
4. Plan for scale. The tool you pick should grow with you—from startup to enterprise—without forcing a rip-and-replace.

FAQ 

Is there a free alternative to Drift? 

Yes. Zoho SalesIQ offers a free edition (up to 3 agents) with basic live chat features: tracking 10K visitors/month and 100 chats/month. This lets small teams get started at no cost.

Do any alternatives bundle CRM + chat? 

Yes – for example, Zoho SalesIQ is part of the Zoho ecosystem, integrating tightly with Zoho CRM and Zoho Desk. This effectively bundles chat with CRM. Similarly, platforms like HubSpot come with a CRM and live chat built into one suite.

Which tools are better for ecommerce support? 

Tools like Zoho SalesIQ, LiveChat (with built-in Shopify/WooCommerce/Zoho Commerce integration), and Intercom are popular for ecommerce. SalesIQ/LiveChat, in particular, shines for online retailers, offering proactive chat features and cart recovery widgets. Intercom/SalesIQ’s messaging tools (and Facebook/Instagram chat) can also be leveraged for online sales support.

What’s the best value option for an SMB? 

Zoho SalesIQ often wins on value for SMBs. It provides a free plan and low-cost paid plans, making it accessible to small businesses. It covers essential chat and bot features (plus CRM integration) at a fraction of the cost of enterprise alternatives. In short, SalesIQ offers great ROI for businesses of all sizes.