A Crisp alternative that lives in your Telegram
Crisp is a polished multichannel inbox — and one more inbox to keep open. chatrelay takes the opposite bet: the chat on your website relays to the messenger you already check fifty times a day, your own Telegram. Here's an honest comparison so you can pick the right tool.
chatrelay vs Crisp at a glance
| Feature | chatrelay | Crisp |
|---|---|---|
| Install | One script tag, before </body>. No SDK, no app. | Script snippet or platform plugins. |
| Where you reply | Your own Telegram bot (a thread per visitor), or the web dashboard — replies appear in the visitor's widget live. | The Crisp app/inbox (web, desktop, mobile). Telegram is not a reply surface. |
| Pricing model | Flat $15–50/mo per account — unlimited messages, no per-seat math. Free plan included. | Free 2-seat plan, then per-workspace tiers with feature gates (as of 2026). |
| AI assistance | AI drafting/analysis included (50 drafts/mo on Starter, unlimited on Pro). | AI bot available on higher tiers / add-ons. |
| Scope | Focused: website chat → your Telegram/dashboard, with email copies for identified users. | Broad: shared inbox, knowledge base, campaigns, co-browsing, status page. |
| Bot ownership | You create the Telegram bot yourself at @BotFather and can revoke its token any time — your bot, your audience. | You operate inside Crisp's platform and apps. |
Comparison reflects publicly listed plans and features as of mid-2026 — shapes, not exact prices. Always check current pricing on both sites.
When Crisp is the better choice
- You want a multichannel shared inbox — email, Messenger and Instagram DMs in one queue.
- You need a built-in knowledge base or co-browsing for support sessions.
- A support team works shifts inside one tool with assignment and notes.
When chatrelay is the better choice
- You answer support yourself (or with a tiny team) and live in Telegram anyway.
- You want flat pricing and unlimited conversations instead of feature-gated tiers.
- You want the widget installed and forgotten — one script tag, no inbox ritual.
Switching from Crisp
Remove their widget snippet, paste this one before </body>, and connect your Telegram bot in the setup — most people are live in a couple of minutes. Your project id arrives on signup.
<script src="https://www.chatwithdev.com/widget.js" data-chatrelay-project="your-project" data-chatrelay-convex="https://impressive-quail-820.convex.cloud" data-chatrelay-title="Chat with us" defer></script>
FAQ
Can Crisp send chats to Telegram?
Crisp is built around its own inbox apps; chatrelay is built Telegram-first — every website chat relays to a bot you own, with a thread per visitor, and your Telegram reply appears on the visitor's screen live.
Is chatrelay cheaper than Crisp?
Pricing models differ: chatrelay is flat ($15–50/mo, unlimited messages, free plan included) while Crisp sells per-workspace tiers with feature gates. For a solo founder or small team, flat usually wins; compare against your seat count.
Can I migrate from Crisp?
Switching is removing Crisp's snippet and pasting chatrelay's — about two minutes. Chat history doesn't transfer, but new conversations start arriving in your Telegram immediately.
Do my visitors see any difference?
Visitors see a clean chat bubble on your site either way. With chatrelay they never need an account or app — and they never see where you reply from.