Last updated: October 4, 2019 at 12:40 pm
Tools for creating web-based asychronous discussion forums and/or live chat – either stand-alone or to embed into blog or web sites.. Listed in alphabetical order.
means is on the Top Tools for Learning 2019.
99Chats
Add your Chat Room to your Website, Blog or Social network profile.
Cost: Free | Available: Hosted
AddonChat
AddonChat is a full-featured HTML5 real-time Chat and Instant Messaging Solution for your site’s visitors.
Cost: Commercial. Free trial | Available: Hosted
AVchat
Video chat software for your web site. It supports group video chat, live streaming, instant messenger and pay per view.
Cost: Commercial. Free trial | Available: Hosted
Bankle
Talk with your website visitors in real-time, provide them excellent support and increase your sales.
Cost: Commercial. Free trial | Available: Hosted
Boldchat
Finding the right live chat software for your website is easy with BoldChat.
Cost: Commercial. Free trial | Available: Hosted
Bravenet
Chat with your website visitors live, in real time.
Cost: Free | Available: Add code
Chat4Support
Chat4Support lets you to live chat with website visitors, monitor site traffic, and analyze visitors’ web activities, including their search engine and keyword usage.
Cost: Free and premium plans | Available: Hosted
Chatandgo
Live group chat for websites.
Cost: Free | Available: Download code
ChatBadge
ChatBadge is a user friendly, live chat tool that increases online sales and improves customer service.
Cost: Free | Available: Download code
Chat by Keyreply
Add mobile-friendly chat support to your website in less than 5 minutes!
Cost: Free | Available: Hosted
Chatzy
Create a chat room immediately – only for you and people you invite.
Cost: Free | Available: Hosted
Click4Assistance
A complete live chat software solution for your website.
Cost: Commercial. Free trial | Available: Hosted
Discourse
Discourse is modern forum software for your community. Use it as a mailing list, discussion forum, long-form chat room, and more!
Cost: Commercial plans. Free trial. Educational discounts | Availability: Online
eAssistance Pro
Live chat software for your website.
Cost: Commercial. Free trial | Available: Hosted
Groupboard
Groupboard is a free online whiteboard and chat app that can be easily embedded into your website.
Cost: Free | Available: Hosted
Lefora Forums
Create and manage online discussion forums.
Cost: Free and premium plans | Available: Hosted
Live2Support
Web live chat software delivers a rich customer service experience because it is razor sharp and personalized.
Cost: Commercial. Free trial | Available: Hosted
LiveChatNow
Live Chat Software for Live Help and Sales.
Cost: Commercial. Free trial | Available: Hosted
LivePerson
LivePerson has been the leading provider of chat for more than 20 years.
Cost: Commercial. Free trial | Available: Hosted
MyBB
MyBB is free, open source, intuitive, extensible, and powerful forum software.
Cost: Free. Open source | Available: Download
Nabble
Free Forum Hosting & Online Web Apps!
Cost: Free | Available: Hosted
OggChat
Easy to install. Customizable. Integrates with Google Talk and your IM.
Cost: Commercial. Free trial | Available: Hosted
OneToOne
Real-time live chat.
Cost: Commercial. Free trial | Available: Hosted
OpenTok
OpenTok is the leading WebRTC platform for embedding live video, voice, and messaging into your websites and mobile apps.
Cost: Commercial. Free trial | Available: Hosted
PanFora
panFora is sophisticated web-based discussion forum software.
Cost: Free and premium plans | Available: Hosted
phpBB
phpBB is a free flat-forum bulletin board software solution that can be used to stay in touch with a group of people or can power your entire website.
Cost: Free and premium plans | Available: Hosted
PHPFreeChat
The interface is customizable on desktops, tablets and smartphones to fit your website design.
Cost: Free. Open Source | Available: Download/Hosted
Phorum
Phorum is the original PHP and MySQL forum software.
Cost: Free | Available: Download/Hosted
ProBoards
ProBoards is the largest host of free forums on the Internet.
Cost: Free and premium plans | Available: Hosted
ProvideSupport
Provide Support has been a leading Live Chat and Website Monitoring software provider since 2003.
Cost: Commercial. Free trial | Available: Hosted
QuickTopic
Start a message board in ten seconds! Friends can post on your board here or from their own e-mail. It’s private, or you can easily link to it.
Cost: Free | Available: Hosted
Rapid Live Chat
Provides Trained Live Chat Operators for 24*7 and Free live chat software. Free period for first month with no credit cards or additional cost.
Cost: Free | Available: Installed
ShoutMix
No software to instal, embed via HTML code.
Cost: Commercial. Free trial | Available: Download
Tal.ki
Now you can embed a forum just like a YouTube video.
Cost: Free and premium plans | Available: Hosted
Vanilla Forums
A robust cloud-based community forum solution. Used by many of the world’s leading brands.
Cost/Available: Free open source to Download | Premium plans for Hosted forums
VeriShow
Conduct complex transactions online, video chat, co-browse & share screen.
Cost: Commercial. Free trial | Available: Hosted
Volano
The VOLANO® chat software for the Java™ platform lets you add real-time social networking to your Web site.
Cost: Commercial | Available: Download
Website Alive
Live chat for your website and social networks
Cost: Commercia. Free trial | Available: Hosted
WhosOn
Customers can engage with you in real-time at any point whilst exploring your website, using the easily accessible chat button.
Cost: Commercial. Free trial | Available: Hosted
YellBox
YellBox is a shoutbox, a chat window you can include on your website that lets all visitors leave messages to you and each other.
Cost: Free | Available: Download code
ZaZaChat
A Complete Help Desk Software for e-businesses.
Cost: Commercial. Free trial | Available: Hosted
Zoho Chat
Embed a shoutbox in your blog/website so visitors can chat amongst themselves in real-time.
Cost: Free | Available: Download