About Olark
Olark is the Live Chat & Chatbots tool most SMBs on budget end up on once a free tool stops being enough. Fair SMB pricing from $29/mo. On top of that, simple + reliable. The two features you'll use most are Live chat and Chat history. It's quick to pick up, with a free plan to start and paid tiers from $29/mo. A reasonable budget chat tool for small businesses. Its sharpest edge: good customer service reputation.
Available on
Integrates with
Who it's for
A quick filter before you spend time on Olark — read both sides before committing.
Use it if…
- Small businesses needing basic chat
- First-time chat implementations
- Teams happy with simple tools
Skip it if…
- Modern SaaS wanting messenger-feel (Intercom wins)
- AI-chatbot teams (Tidio wins)
- Shopify-first support (Gorgias wins)
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fair SMB pricing from $29/mo
- Simple + reliable
- Good customer service reputation
- Hits the core live chat & chatbots workflow without forcing a hunt for second tools
- Pricing lands in the right band for its target buyer
Cons
- Less innovation than modern competitors
- No AI chatbot
- UI feels dated
- Not the cheapest option in the category — the free alternatives cover basics
- Advanced features sit behind higher-tier plans most small teams won't need
Features
The capabilities you actually get when you sign up for Olark.
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01
Live chat
Classic website chat widget
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02
Chat history
Searchable archive
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03
Triggers
Rule-based message triggers
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04
Core workspace
The main editor or dashboard where day-to-day live chat & chatbots work happens
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05
Integrations hub
Connects to the tools your stack already uses so data doesn't live in silos
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06
Reporting and dashboards
Built-in reports and exportable dashboards for stakeholder reviews
Pricing
A free plan to start, then paid tiers for the full set of features.
Full-featured
$29 /mo
- 1 seat
- All features
Pay-as-you-go
$17 /mo + usage
- Variable pricing
Frequently asked questions
What people usually want to know before signing up for Olark.
Is Olark still being developed?
Yes, slowly. Core product remains stable.
Does Olark have chatbots?
No AI chatbot — manual chat only.
Does the widget hurt Core Web Vitals?
Modern widgets lazy-load and stay under 50KB. If LCP shifts, you're on a 2020-era build — upgrade.
Can I run it alongside my existing helpdesk?
Yes — most tools can forward transcripts to Zendesk, Intercom or Help Scout so the chat lives alongside tickets.
How is pricing calculated?
Per seat for live agents, per conversation or per resolved issue for the AI tier.
Bottom line
Should you use Olark?
A reasonable budget chat tool for small businesses. For modern features, pick Crisp or Tidio.