Freshchat Alternative: AI Included, Not an Add-On
AI-first chat with WhatsApp included — without Freddy upsells or suite lock-in.
TL;DR
Freshchat has a generous free tier, but AI (Freddy) costs extra, WhatsApp is limited, and you're nudged toward the whole Freshworks suite.
Andy includes AI in every plan, treats WhatsApp as a first-class channel, and doesn't upsell you into a multi-product suite.
Choose Freshchat if: You want free live chat for 10 agents and don't need advanced AI.
Choose Andy if: You need AI that's actually included, strong WhatsApp support, or multiple agents for different use cases.
Why Teams Look for Freshchat Alternatives
Freshchat looks attractive on paper — especially that free tier. But dig deeper:
The AI Upsell Problem
Freshchat's AI features (Freddy AI) aren't included. They're add-ons:
- Freddy Self Service: Extra cost
- Freddy Copilot: Extra cost
- Freddy Insights: Extra cost
You sign up for "AI-powered chat," then discover the AI costs more. It's like buying a car and finding out the engine is a paid upgrade.
The Freshworks Suite Creep
Freshchat is designed to hook you into Freshworks:
- Need ticketing? Add Freshdesk
- Need CRM? Add Freshsales
- Need marketing? Add Freshmarketer
Each product has its own pricing, its own interface, its own learning curve. Before you know it, you're managing four products and paying four bills.
The WhatsApp Problem
Freshchat supports WhatsApp, but:
- It's not a strength
- Setup is more complex than needed
- WhatsApp-specific features are limited
- Not the focus of their roadmap
If WhatsApp is critical for your business, Freshchat treats it as a side channel.
The One-Bot Limitation
Freshchat gives you one chatbot. But businesses often need:
- A support bot (helpful, resolves issues)
- A sales bot (friendly, qualifies leads)
- An internal bot (answers team questions in Slack)
One bot, one personality, one knowledge base — doesn't scale for multiple use cases.
Andy: AI-First, WhatsApp-Native, No Upselling
Andy takes a different approach: include the good stuff from day one.
What Makes Andy Different
1. AI Included (Actually Included)
Every Andy agent is AI-powered. Not "AI-ready" or "AI-compatible" — powered by AI from the start. No Freddy add-on, no surprise pricing.
| Freshchat | Andy | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic chat | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| AI responses | $ Extra (Freddy) | ✓ Included |
| AI training | $ Extra | ✓ Included |
| Smart routing | $ Extra | ✓ Included |
2. WhatsApp Done Right
On Andy, WhatsApp is a core channel:
- Deploy in minutes
- Full AI capabilities
- Lead capture mid-conversation
- No complex setup
- Same dashboard as web
If your customers prefer WhatsApp, Andy makes them first-class citizens.
3. Multi-Agent Platform
Create separate agents for separate purposes:
| Agent | Use | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Support | Answer product questions | Website |
| Sales | Capture and qualify leads | |
| Internal | Team knowledge assistant | Slack |
Each agent has its own knowledge base, personality, and deployment. No bleed-over.
4. No Suite Lock-In
Andy is one product that does chat well. Not a gateway to five other products. No pressure to add Freshdesk, Freshsales, or Freshmarketer.
Feature Comparison: Andy vs Freshchat
Core Features
| Feature | Andy | Freshchat |
|---|---|---|
| Website chat | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI chatbot | ✓ Included | $ Add-on (Freddy) |
| ✓ First-class | ⚠️ Available | |
| Slack | ✓ Full integration | ⚠️ Basic |
| Multiple agents | ✓ Native | ✗ One bot |
| Lead capture | ✓ With intent | ✓ Basic |
| Campaigns | ⚠️ Limited | ✓ Good |
Pricing Comparison
| Andy | Freshchat | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Trial | ✓ 10 agents |
| AI included | ✓ Yes | ✗ Extra cost |
| WhatsApp included | ✓ Yes | ⚠️ Varies |
| Suite upsells | ✗ None | ⚠️ Constant |
Ecosystem
| Andy | Freshchat | |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone product | ✓ Yes | ⚠️ Part of suite |
| Ticketing | Via integrations | Freshdesk |
| CRM | Via integrations | Freshsales |
| Complexity | Simple | Can get complex |
Who Should Choose Freshchat
Freshchat genuinely works for some teams:
- Budget is zero — Free tier with 10 agents is generous
- Basic needs — Just need simple live chat without AI
- Freshworks all-in — Already using Freshdesk + Freshsales
- Campaign-focused — Proactive messaging is Freshchat's strength
Freshchat's sweet spot: Teams with zero budget for chat, or those already deep in Freshworks ecosystem.
Who Should Choose Andy
Andy is built for teams who:
- Need real AI — Not "AI available as add-on"
- Prioritize WhatsApp — Customers expect instant WhatsApp responses
- Want multiple agents — Different bots for different jobs
- Value simplicity — One product, one bill, one dashboard
- Are growing — Need to scale beyond basic free tools
Andy's sweet spot: Growing businesses who've outgrown free tiers and want AI that actually works.
The "Free" Trap
Freshchat's free tier is generous: 10 agents, basic features. But consider:
What Free Gets You
- Basic chat widget
- Simple chatbot (rule-based)
- 100 campaign contacts
- Limited analytics
What Free Doesn't Get You
- AI that actually understands questions (Freddy = extra)
- Good WhatsApp integration
- Advanced automation
- Proper analytics
The Upgrade Path
Once you need AI, you're paying for:
- Freshchat plan ($19-79/agent)
- Plus Freddy AI add-on
- Plus WhatsApp fees potentially
"Free" becomes not-so-free quickly.
Andy's Approach
Start with a free trial. When you're ready:
- AI is included
- WhatsApp is included
- One predictable price
No bait-and-switch.
Switching from Freshchat
What You Can Bring
- FAQ content
- Knowledge base articles
- Contact lists (export as CSV)
- Chatbot scripts (for reference)
What Needs Rebuilding
- Bot flows (Andy uses AI, not decision trees)
- Freshworks integrations
- Campaign sequences
Timeline
Most teams switch in 3-5 days:
- Export content from Freshchat
- Create Andy agents
- Upload knowledge
- Deploy and redirect widget
Last updated: February 2026
Case Studies
See real results from businesses using Andy.
FAQ
Is Andy more expensive than Freshchat?
Freshchat's free tier is hard to beat on price. But once you need AI (Freddy) and scale up, costs add up. Andy includes AI from the start — often cheaper than Freshchat + Freddy for growing teams.
Does Andy integrate with Freshdesk?
Not natively (yet). You can use Andy for front-line AI chat and route complex issues to Freshdesk via webhooks or Zapier. Full integration is on our radar based on demand.
Can I migrate my Freshchat bot?
Not directly — Freshchat uses rule-based flows, Andy uses AI. You'll recreate the intent (what questions to answer) but not the exact flows. Andy's AI learns from your knowledge base instead.
Does Andy have proactive campaigns like Freshchat?
Andy focuses on conversational AI and lead capture, not outbound campaigns. For proactive messaging, you might keep Freshchat for campaigns and use Andy for AI-powered conversations.
Is Andy's AI really included?
Yes. Every Andy agent is AI-powered. No tiers, no add-ons, no "upgrade to unlock." AI is the core product.
Compare Andy to Other Platforms
Ready to Try a Freshchat Alternative?
If you've outgrown the free tier, or you're tired of paying extra for AI, Andy was built for you. AI included. WhatsApp included. No Freddy required.