Replacement Guide

How to Build Your Own LiveChat

Replace LiveChat with a custom build. The Best AI Live Chat Software for Business

Few Days
80 features12 integrations3-5 days

Estimated Timeline

Based on 80 features at Few Days difficulty, expect about 3-5 days with AI-assisted development.

1
Architecture & setup
Half day
2
Core features
2-3 days
3
Testing & polish
1 day

Recommended Tech Stack

Next.js 14

Full-stack React framework with API routes and server components

Supabase

PostgreSQL database, auth, and real-time subscriptions

Tailwind CSS

Utility-first styling for rapid UI development

Key Features to Replicate

Top features across 8 categories. See all 80 features

Chat Tools(14 features)

Canned Responses

Pre-set messages for quick and consistent responses to common inquiries

Chat Archives

Store and access historical chat conversations

Chat History

Access full chat history for context on returning customers

Chat Ratings

Allow customers to rate their chat experience

Chat Tags

Tag conversations for better organization and reporting

+9 more in this category

Messaging Channels(10 features)

Apple Messages for BusinessPremium

Let visitors message via the Messages app on iOS and macOS, reaching 1.5 billion Apple users

Chat Page

Dedicated chat page for visitors to communicate outside of website widget

Email IntegrationPremium

Integrate with email marketing software to include visitors in email campaigns

Facebook Messenger Integration

Bring all Facebook communication into LiveChat app for better customer connection

In-Chat Voice, Video & Screen-Sharing

Enable voice calls, video calls, and screen sharing directly within chat conversations

+5 more in this category

Reporting & Analytics(9 features)

Advanced ReportingPremium

In-depth reporting tools with advanced filtering and analysis

Agent Reports

Detailed performance reports for individual agents

Chat Reports

Detailed reports on chat activity and performance metrics

Customer Reports

Reports analyzing customer behavior and satisfaction

Data Export

Export chat data and reports for external analysis

+4 more in this category

Team Management(9 features)

Agent Accounts

Create and manage individual agent accounts

Agent Roles

Assign different roles and permissions to agents

Availability

Set agent availability status and manage online/offline presence

Chat Assignment

Automatically assign chats to available agents

Chat Limit

Set maximum concurrent chats per agent

+4 more in this category

Security(8 features)

Access Restriction

Control access to sensitive data based on user roles

Credit Card Masking

Automatically mask sensitive credit card information in chats

Data Storage

Secure storage of chat data and customer information

Encryption

Secure encryption for all chat data and communications

Google Login

Allow agents to log in using Google credentials

+3 more in this category

AI(7 features)

Chat SummaryAIPremium

AI-generated summaries of conversations without reading entire transcripts

Copilot - AI AssistantAIPremium

AI-powered assistant equipped with knowledge about LiveChat to help agents with daily tasks

Reply SuggestionsAIPremium

Get AI-powered reply suggestions from imported knowledge sources

Sentiment AnalysisAIPremium

Real-time AI sentiment analysis during chats to better understand customers

Tag SuggestionsAIPremium

Get one-click tag suggestions during chats based on previous tagging patterns

+2 more in this category

API & Integration(6 features)

Chat API

API for programmatic chat management and integration

Chat Widget JS API

JavaScript API for customizing chat widget behavior

Customer SDK

SDK for building custom customer-facing integrations

LiveChat APIs

Customer SDK, Webhooks, Chat Widget JS API, Chat API, and Reports API for custom integrations

Reports API

API for accessing and retrieving report data

+1 more in this category

Sales & Ecommerce(6 features)

Customer Data

Instant access to customer information during chats

Ecommerce Integrations

Direct integrations with popular ecommerce platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce

Goals & Sales Tracker

Track goals and measure sales impact from chat conversations

Pre-set Messages

Send conversation starter messages to engage visitors proactively

Product Cards

Share product information and recommendations directly in chat

+1 more in this category

Cost Calculator

Keep Paying LiveChat

Monthly$25/mo
Yearly$300/yr
5-Year Total$1.5k

Build It Yourself

Est. Build Time~9 hrs
Hosting$20/mo
DifficultyEasy

Total Cost Comparison

1 YearSave $60
SaaS
$300
DIY
$240
3 YearsSave $180
SaaS
$900
DIY
$720
5 YearsSave $300
SaaS
$1.5k
DIY
$1.2k

DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 80 features at easy complexity.

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