14 Best Drift Alternatives to Enhance Sales Conversion in 2024

Drift is a powerful communication software that combines live chat, conversational marketing, and conversational sales. It's user-friendly interface and robust features makes it favorite for businesses looking to engage customers in real time and convert leads efficiently.

While it has established itself as the best-known brand within the chat app niche, it has some clear downsides. These downsides are the main reason that digital businesses hunt for Drift chatbot alternatives.

In this article, we’ll take you through the top 14 Drift competitors offering amazing customization capabilities and integration options.

The tools mentioned in the list offer a mix of CRM/CSM tools and services meant for specific business types. They fall into a similar price range or offer more affordable pricing plans.

However, before we review the 14 alternatives let’s begin with a brief overview of the Drift chatbot.

Drift- A Brief Overview

Drift is a cloud-based live chat and conversational marketing platform for sales designed to optimize your business’s sales and marketing efforts. Like any other conversational marketing platform, Drift offers an AI-based virtual assistant to streamline customer experience.

So, why is Drift effective?

• AI-powered chatbots: These function as round-the-clock sales assistants by interacting with website visitors through automated natural language communications.
• Visitor intelligence data: By analyzing visitor behavior, this tool assists in starting the most pertinent interactions.
• Forms for quick chat: Conventional internet forms can be instantaneously converted into chat experiences.

In addition to supporting customer service, Drift excels at marketing and sales initiatives. It helps generate leads and close deals.

Drift’s smart artificial intelligence (AI) can read customer or lead requirements and respond automatically when appropriate. This feature alone can handle all fundamental customer queries, saving countless hours of manual labor.

However, there’s also downsides.

Despite the tremendous value it offers, Drift isn’t the right fit for every business. Here are some drawbacks that compels businesses to find Drift alternatives:

Drift drawbacks:

• High cost: Deploying the Drift chatbot across multiple teams and accessing its full capabilities can cost thousands of dollars per month. For example, their Premium plan, designed for small businesses, costs $2,500 per month (billed annually).
• Limited integration with major marketing channels: Unlike many top live chat solutions, Drift doesn't integrate with key marketing channels like SMS text messaging, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp. To be considered one of the best marketing chatbots, offering solutions beyond just live chat for your website is essential.
• Restrictions for multiple teams: Drift strongly encourages companies to opt for their most expensive Enterprise plan. This is understandable, but it means that features like routing leads and conversations to different departments are only available at this high price point. Many other live chat providers offer this functionality at a much more affordable price.
• Initial learning curve: Setting up and configuring the Drift chatbot can be challenging. A user review on G2 highlights this issue: "Initial setup can be burdensome. The workflows, chat mappings, and workflow can be difficult. It would be great to see more pre-made templates.”

Now that we know the drawbacks, let’s quickly move on to the top 14 Drift alternatives to try in 2024.

Top 14 Drift alternatives to try in 2024

Let’s check out some of the best alternatives to Drift.

1. Botsonic by Writesonic

Botsonic, developed by Writesonic, represents the future of conversational commerce technology.

This no-code AI chatbot builder enables businesses to create customized chatbots trained on specific business data quickly and easily. This is designed to engage customers 24/7, providing human-like responses to inquiries based on previous interactions.

Why is Botsonic the tool for your business?

1. No-code simplicity

Botsonic is designed for all users, regardless of their technical expertise. The platform adheres to a 'No Code' philosophy, allowing anyone to build AI chatbots without writing a single line of code.

With an intuitive interface, users can select pre-defined responses and set up conversation flows effortlessly. This makes it an ideal solution for small to medium-sized businesses.

2. High customizability

Unlike generic chatbots, Botsonic offers extensive customization options. Users can tailor their chatbot’s appearance, from naming it to designing its avatar and color scheme.

This customization ensures the chatbot aligns with the business's brand identity, providing a personalized and cohesive customer experience.

3. AI-powered and ChatGPT-trained

Botsonic leverages the latest AI technology, including GPT-4, to deliver intelligent, context-aware responses. The platform continuously learns from customer interactions, adapting and improving its responses over time.

This advanced AI capability enables Botsonic to provide quick, accurate answers and a more engaging customer experience.

4. Train on custom data

Businesses can train Botsonic using their own data, such as FAQs, knowledge bases, or customer feedback. This enhances the chatbot’s relevance and accuracy, ensuring it provides detailed, specific responses to customer inquiries.

5. Chat data analysis

Botsonic includes comprehensive analytics tools that provide insights into chatbot performance. Businesses can monitor interactions, measure user satisfaction, and identify areas for improvement. This data-driven approach helps businesses refine their chatbot's functionality and better meet customer needs.

These are the exact features you were looking for, weren’t you? So, what makes Botsonic the perfect alternative to Drift?

Botsonic combines ease of use with powerful AI capabilities. The no-code platform democratizes chatbot creation, making it accessible to businesses without technical teams.

The high level of customization allows businesses to maintain brand consistency, while its AI and machine learning features ensure intelligent, adaptive customer interactions.

Additionally, Botsonic’s ability to train on specific business data means it can provide more precise and personalized customer support than many generic chatbots.

Pricing plans

• Professional plan: $40.83 per month (billed annually)
• Advanced plan: $249 per month (billed annually)
• Custom pricing: Contact sales team

Botsonic's robust features and flexible pricing make it a compelling choice for businesses looking to enhance customer engagement with a sophisticated AI chatbot solution.

Reviews and ratings: 4.6/5 ⭐️(80+ reviews)

2. Tidio

Tidio combines live chat and chatbots to enhance customer engagement and sales. Known for its affordability and ease of setup, Tidio includes robust analytics and reporting tools.

These features help businesses monitor performance, track user interactions, and identify areas for improvement. Tidio's mission is to redefine customer support, creating exceptional experiences that drive business success.

Key features:

• Lyro AI: Advanced chatbot that uses AI to understand and respond to customer queries naturally, improving support efficiency.
• Analytics: Offers detailed insights into customer interactions and chatbot performance for better decision-making.
• Email marketing automation: Automates email campaigns, allowing targeted customer communication.
• Integrations: Includes 17 built-in integrations, including a standout connection to Zapier for linking over 1,000 additional tools.

Pros:

• Real-time view of customer messages
• Reliable Android application
• Integrates with various platforms, including Shopify, WordPress, and BigCommerce

Cons:

• Reporting features need improvement
• Limited features in the chatbot builder

Pricing plans:

• Free plan
• Starter plan: $24.17/month (billed annually)
• Growth plan: $49.17/month (billed annually)

Reviews and ratings: 4.7/5 ⭐️ (1,500+ reviews)

Also Read: Best Tidio Alternatives and Competitors in 2024

3. Freshchat

Freshchat is a versatile messaging app with a strong presence across multiple channels, including web chat, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, SMS, Telegram, WhatsApp, Apple Business Chat, and LINE.

The platform features automated chatbots to handle common queries, reducing the workload on support agents.

Freshchat's unified inbox allows for seamless team collaboration, with all members having access to conversation history, making it easier to manage complex issues.

Key features:

• Freddy AI: Offers AI-driven automation for customer support, including intent detection and automated responses, which helps reduce the workload on support agents.
• Customizable chat widgets: Allows businesses to tailor chat interfaces to match their brand, enhancing the customer experience with personalized greetings and aesthetics.
• Multilingual support: Communicate in over 33 languages, enhancing global customer service.

Pros:

• Comprehensive integration options
• User-friendly interface praised for ease of use
• Customizable chat window

Cons:

• Higher pricing compared to some alternatives
• Less optimized mobile experience

Pricing plans:

• Free Plan
• Growth Plan: $19/user/month
• Pro Plan: $50/user/month
• Enterprise Plan: $88/user/month

Reviews and ratings: 4.4/5 ⭐️ (450+ reviews)

4. Gorgias

Gorgias is a CRM designed for e-commerce businesses on platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, and Magento. The platform offers CRM features alongside unique tools such as social media sentiment analysis and loyalty programs, making it a powerful Drift chatbot alternative.

Over 7,200 brands use Gorgias to improve consumer support, retention, and conversion rates. The platform's CX-Driven Growth Playbook has proven to boost revenue by up to 44%.

Gorgias integrates seamlessly with e-commerce platforms, automating responses to common questions and optimizing support workflows.

Key features:

• Ticket management: Streamlines ticket creation, response, and workflow management, enhancing efficiency and customer satisfaction.
• Revenue dashboard: Tracks the impact of customer service on revenue, aiding in financial analysis and agent performance rewards.
• Automation rules: Automates FAQ responses, reducing manual workload and improving response times.
• Conversion optimization features: Enhances online stores with features like countdown timers and free shipping progress bars.

Pros:

• Pre-configured chatbot templates
• E-commerce-focused features
• Strong integrations

Cons:

• Occasional technical issues due to updates
• Confusing ticket filtering process

Pricing plans:

• Starter Plan: $10/month
• Basic Plan: $60/month
• Pro Plan: $360/month
• Advanced Plan: $900/month
• Enterprise: Contact sales

Reviews and ratings: 4.6/5 ⭐️ (500+reviews)

5. Olark

Olark offers a simple yet effective platform for customer relationship management, emphasizing the "human touch" in customer interactions.

This Drift competitor provides standard features like automated FAQs and ticketing, but its focus on personalization sets it apart.

Olark's user-friendly interface and attention to detail make it a favored choice for businesses seeking a cost-effective and straightforward customer support tool.

Key features:

• Live chat: Real-time communication with customers to address their queries and concerns.
• Customizable chatbox: Tailor the chatbox's appearance and functionality to align with your brand.
• Visitor insights: Access information about website visitors to provide personalized support.

Pros:

• Advanced personalization features
• Cost-effective compared to other alternatives
• User-friendly and comprehensive for the price

Cons:

• Lacks dynamic capabilities found in other solutions
• No trial plan

Pricing plans:

• Standard plan: Starting at $29/month/operator
• Olark Pro: Contact sales for details

Reviews and ratings: 4.3/5 ⭐️ (220+ reviews)

6. Birdeye

Birdeye is designed to improve the reputation and customer experience of local businesses.

As a Drift chatbot alternative, Birdeye is trusted by over 100,000 businesses and provides tools for online reputation management, customer engagement, and experience insights.

Birdeye is a robust solution for businesses aiming to connect with potential customers through digital channels.

Key features:

• Consumer intelligence: Provides analytics on reviews, leads, conversion rates, and website interactions, helping businesses understand and improve customer experience.
• Feedback management: Collects feedback from reviews, surveys, and social media, enabling businesses to address customer concerns promptly.
• Sentiment analysis: Uses AI to understand customer sentiment to gauge brand perception and make informed decisions.

Pros:

• User experience-centric design
• Advanced analytics and insights
• Versatile integrations, including invoicing tools like Peachtree

Cons:

• Challenges with setting up integrations
• Higher costs, potentially prohibitive for very small businesses

Pricing plans:

• Starter: Contact sales for pricing
• Growth: Contact sales for pricing
• Dominate: Contact sales for pricing

Reviews and ratings: 4.8/5 ⭐️(2700+ reviews)

7. LiveAgent

LiveAgent, formerly known as Salesforce Live Agent, is a CRM alternative to Drift that offers a range of tools, including live chatbots and ticket routing.

The tool is particularly noted for its free plan, which offers a comprehensive set of features, making it an attractive option for small businesses and those new to CRM systems.

Key features:

• Omnichannel help desk: Combines various communication channels, enabling efficient customer service management across email, live chat, social media, and calls.
• Advanced ticketing system: Provides robust ticket management features, including automated ticket routing and prioritization.
• Integrated call center: Built-in call center capabilities that allow seamless voice support, enhancing customer interactions.

Pros:

• Comprehensive free plan
• Ideal for start-ups and small businesses
• Simple and intuitive user interface

Cons:

• Less comprehensive compared to other options
• Limited interoperability with some tools

Pricing plans:

• Small Plan: $9/month/agent
• Medium Plan: $29/month/agent
• Large Plan: $49/month/agent
• Enterprise Plan: $69/month/agent

Reviews and ratings: 4.5/5 ⭐️ (1400+reviews)

8. LiveChat

LiveChat is a popular and adaptable web chat tool that excels in managing support requests and improving sales.

While it lacks some advanced features like video calling and AI-driven chatbots found in other Drift competitors, LiveChat offers unique functionalities that enhance customer interactions.

One notable feature is the ability to view messages as they are typed, allowing agents to anticipate customer needs and respond promptly.

Key features:

• Data security: Ensures secure handling of customer data through encryption and compliance with data protection regulations.
• Performance optimization: Tools to enhance customer service effectiveness, including chat routing and response time analytics.
• Multi-channel communication: Engage with customers across various platforms, such as web chat, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp.

Pros:

• Strong integration with platforms like WordPress, Shopify, and Facebook Messenger
• Easy to use with a user-friendly interface
• Excellent customer service, with positive feedback even from critical reviews

Cons:

• Higher pricing for the range of features
• Some issues with emails being marked as spam

Pricing plans:

• Starter Plan: $20/month
• Team Plan: $41/month
• Business Plan: $59/month
• Enterprise Plan: Contact sales for details

Reviews and Ratings: 4.5/5 ⭐️ (750+reviews)

9. FreshSales

FreshSales, part of the Freshworks suite, is a powerful CRM solution that streamlines sales processes and enhances customer engagement.

Along with its user-friendly interface, FreshSales offers robust features such as lead and contact management, email tracking, sales automation, and built-in phone capabilities.

Overall, this platform helps businesses manage leads, track communications, and automate sales tasks, all while providing valuable insights through visual sales pipelines and reports.

Key features:

• Lead management: Captures, manages, and prioritizes leads effortlessly with AI-driven scoring, enabling sales teams to focus on high-potential prospects
• Sales automation: Automate repetitive tasks, such as email follow-ups and task assignments, streamlining workflows and improving efficiency
• Visual sales pipelines: Offers customizable pipelines to track deal progress and forecast sales accurately

Pros:

• Intuitive, customizable interfaces
• Advanced forecasting, analytics, and insights
• Enhanced sales processes with rich marketing features

Cons:

• Most of the valuable features are in the higher-priced plans
• Limited third-party integrations

Pricing plans:

• Free plan
• Freshsales & Freshsales Suite: Growth: $11/month/agent
• Freshsales & Freshsales Suite: Pro: $47/month/agent
• Freshmarketer: Enterprise: $18/month/agent
• Freshsales & Freshsales Suite: Enterprise: $71/month/agent

Reviews and ratings: 4.5/5 ⭐️ (1180+reviews)

10. HubSpot

HubSpot is a leading CRM and online marketing platform offering a comprehensive suite of tools, including the HubSpot Service Hub.

This versatile platform helps businesses manage customer engagement, lead generation, and real-time communication.

With features such as live chat, email, calling, and chatbot capabilities, HubSpot stands out as a powerful Drift alternative. Its free CRM offering allows businesses to explore its features before committing to more advanced paid packages, making it a popular choice for growing teams.

Key features:

• Conversational tools: Integrated live chat, email, and calling streamline communication across multiple channels, enhancing customer interaction.
• Chatbot builder: Easily create automated chatbots to handle routine queries without needing any coding skills.
• Lead capture and management: Efficient tools for capturing and nurturing leads, including detailed tracking of customer interactions.

Pros:

• Integrates well with other HubSpot services for a complete marketing solution
• Rich range of integrations, including Slack and SurveyMonkey
• Feature-rich free plan suitable for small businesses

Cons:

• More comprehensive plans are costly
• Limited customer support in free plans

Pricing plans:

• Free plan

For individuals and small teams-

• Marketing Hub Starter: $15/month/seat
• Starter Customer Platform: $15/month/seat
• Marketing Hub Professional: $800/month/3 seats

For businesses and enterprises-

• Marketing Hub Professional: $800/month/3 seats
• Marketing Hub Enterprise: $3.600/month/5 seats

Reviews and ratings: 4.4/5 ⭐️ (11,400+reviews)

11. Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is a robust customer relationship management platform designed to enhance sales, marketing, and customer support operations.

As a comprehensive Drift alternative, Zoho CRM offers a wide range of features, including contact management, sales automation, and analytics.

The tool also includes unique features like gamification tools and multi-channel messaging, making it an attractive option for businesses seeking a versatile CRM solution.

Key features:

• Real-time visitor tracking: Monitor website visitors in real time for better engagement and conversion. This helps businesses interact with potential customers as they navigate the site.
• Advanced analytics: Gain insights into sales and customer data, enabling data-driven decision-making to improve business strategies.
• Mobile CRM: Access CRM features on the go with a fully functional mobile app, ensuring productivity from anywhere.
• Gamification: Motivate and engage sales teams through gamified elements such as points, badges, and leaderboards, enhancing productivity and team morale.

Pros:

• Strong emphasis on data security and privacy
• Extensive feature set, including robust customization options
• Cost-effective pricing for the features offered

Cons:

• Some users report issues with the user interface
• Can be slow at times and difficult to use

Pricing plans:

• Standard: $20/month/user
• Professional: $35/month/user
• Enterprise: $50/month/user
• Ultimate: $65/month/user

Reviews and ratings: 4.1/5 ⭐️ (2,640+reviews)

12. Zendesk

Zendesk is a well-established platform for customer service and engagement, offering a broad range of features suitable for businesses of all sizes.

The platform provides tools for multi-channel support, including email, chat, social media, and phone, all integrated into a single platform.

Zendesk excels with its AI-powered automation that helps streamline repetitive tasks, suggest responses, and optimize support operations.

Customization options allow businesses to tailor the platform to their specific needs, making it a strong alternative to Drift.

Key features

• Omnichannel support: Unified workspace for agents to manage interactions across multiple channels, enhancing efficiency and customer experience.
• 360-degree customer view: Consolidates data to provide a comprehensive view of the customer, enabling personalized interactions.
• Advanced knowledge base and self-service: Offers AI-powered chatbots, help centers, and a robust knowledge base for 24/7 customer support.
• Generative AI: Utilizes AI for advanced features such as generative replies, tone adjustment, and content expansion. This helps agents create more natural and engaging conversations and efficiently manage high volumes of customer queries.

Pros

• Extensive customization capabilities
• Effective alerts and escalation management
• Competitive pricing for the features offered

Cons

• Some users experience technical issues with data migration
• Higher pricing plans may not be suitable for small businesses

Pricing plans

• Support Team: $19 per agent/month
• Support Professional: $55 per agent/month
• Support Enterprise: $115 per agent/month
• Suite Team: $55 per agent/month
• Suite Growth: $89 per agent/month
• Suite Professional: $115 per agent/month
• Suite Enterprise: Contact sales
• Suite Enterprise Plus: Contact sales (Plans are billed annually)

Reviews and ratings: 4.3/5 ⭐️ (5850+reviews)

Also Read: 15 Best Zendesk Alternatives and Competitors for 2024

13. Customerly

Customerly is a customer experience management platform that integrates automation with human support.

While it lacks an omnichannel workspace, it offers a shared inbox for centralized agent information. The platform includes a built-in CRM for storing customer data and facilitates real-time communication through advanced live chat features.

Customerly is designed to enhance customer service and marketing automation, making it a versatile choice for businesses seeking to improve conversions and growth.

Key features

• Advanced live chat capabilities: Includes video live chat and mobile compatibility, enhancing customer interaction with real-time, personalized communication.
• Visitor segmentation: Allows segmentation and personalized engagement, crucial for marketing and sales, enabling businesses to tailor their communications based on user behavior and preferences.
• Unified dashboard: Integrates various communication channels into one intuitive interface, simplifying management and improving efficiency.
• AI help desk: Enhances team collaboration with AI-powered support, accelerating query resolution and delivering superior service

Pros

• Multifunctional platform with comprehensive tools
• Enhances customer engagement with personalized communication
• Intuitive user interface

Cons

• Complex for small businesses
• Expensive compared to basic chat solutions

Pricing plans

• Essential Plan: $9/month
• Startup Plan: $49/month
• Pro Plan: $99/month
• Enterprise Plan: $299/month

Reviews and ratings: 4.3/5 ⭐️ (17+reviews)

14. HelpCrunch

HelpCrunch combines CRM capabilities with online marketing tools, making it a suitable option for businesses looking for a versatile platform.

The platform offers a shared inbox for managing multichannel support and automated email follow-ups to ensure continuous customer engagement.

HelpCrunch is particularly beneficial for SaaS and e-commerce companies due to its integrated email marketing tools and customer data profiling features.

Key features

• Smart chatbot: Provides instant customer support and responses, improving customer satisfaction and reducing response times.
• Knowledge base: Offers self-service support through a comprehensive information repository, reducing the workload on support agents.
• Email marketing tools: Enables creation and management of automated email campaigns, targeting customers with personalized messages to increase engagement and conversions.

Pros

• Offers a free trial for feature exploration
• Cost-effective for small and medium-sized businesses
• Supports inter-channel communication

Cons

• Occasional performance issues reported by several users
• Limited language support

Pricing plans

• Basic Plan: $12/month
• Pro Plan: $20/month
• Unlimited Plan: $495/month

Reviews and Ratings: 4.7/5 ⭐️ (210+reviews)

The best alternative to Drift is…

Choosing the right Drift alternative requires evaluating your business's specific needs, including industry, budget, size, and workflow complexity. It's essential to find a tool that aligns with your goals and enhances customer engagement.

All the alternatives reviewed offer valuable features that can cater to various business requirements.

These tools provide a range of benefits such as robust analytics, multilingual support, advanced ticket management, and seamless platform integrations. They are designed to enhance customer service, streamline workflows, and boost engagement across multiple channels.

Whether you need strong customization, comprehensive support features, or powerful marketing automation, there is a solution tailored to fit your specific needs.

That said, one tool clearly stands out as the best alternative to Drift: Botsonic by Writesonic.

Botsonic emerges as the best overall choice for its ease of use, no-code setup, and advanced AI capabilities. The platforms offers a highly customizable chatbot experience powered by GPT-4, making it ideal for businesses looking to create interactive, personalized customer interactions effortlessly.

If you're looking to elevate your customer engagement and streamline your operations, consider giving Botsonic a try and experience its advanced capabilities for yourself.