What is a proactive chat?

An automated chat invitation that a website sends to a visitor based on predefined triggers, such as time on page, browsing behavior, or referral source. It's used to initiate engagement without the visitor having to click the chat widget first.

Who uses one?

Teams adding live chat and chatbots to their site

What does it cost?

Pricing varies. The cheapest provider in our Top 11 starts around $74/mo. See the cheapest providers ranked.

How do I pick one?

Read the full methodology for our 9.4-point scoring framework, then look at the canonical The 11 Best Live Chat Software. If you want a slice of the ranking by price, fit, or compliance, jump to: cheapest · highest-rated · fastest onboarding.

Source: Top 11 The 11 Best Live Chat Software, verified June 8, 2026.