In short
Crisp is a self-service customer messaging tool, billed per workspace rather than per seat, with a free plan and AI-automated conversations depending on the plan. KernChat is an assistant built with you on your documents, with no AI conversation quota to watch.
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Crisp is a customer messaging tool that small teams like: a free plan, billing per workspace rather than per seat, and AI-automated conversations in the paid plans. To start alone and without a budget, it is a solid starting point.
The two offers side by side
| Criterion | KernChat | Crisp |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Subscription from €100 excl. VAT a month, set-up from €1 500 excl. VAT | Free plan (no AI), then $45 a month per workspace (Mini) |
| AI included | Usage included in the subscription, no credits | About 90 automated conversations (Mini), 450 (Essentials), 1,350 (Plus) |
| Set-up | Done with you, after a one-hour audit | Self-service, 14-day trial with every feature |
| Billing | Per organization | Per workspace, with a number of seats depending on the plan |
What KernChat does differently
- No AI quota to watch. You do not count automated conversations or buy credits mid-month
- An assistant prepared with you. Knowledge is gathered and reviewed with you, and the assistant is tested on your real cases before going live
- Memory with rules. What the assistant remembers about a contact has a source, a date and an expiry, with their consent
- Actions in your tools. At the Connected collaborator level, the assistant checks your software or creates a request in it, within the limits you set
Example bill for an SME
An SME with ten employees that wants AI will need at least Essentials: $95 a month for the workspace, with about 450 AI-automated conversations and $25 in AI credits included, at the prices listed on 30/10/2026. Beyond that, you need to upgrade or buy credits under Crisp's terms. This calculation is an example, excl. VAT.
With KernChat, the included conversation volume depends on the level you choose, with no AI credits to buy during the month.
KernChat's limitations compared with Crisp
- No free plan. Crisp lets you start without paying; KernChat starts with an audit and set-up
- Fewer tools around the chat. Crisp offers a complete self-service messaging tool; KernChat focuses on the assistant, handover and connections to your tools
- A less immediate start. Set-up takes time to prepare and test your documents
Questions to ask before choosing
- How many conversations will the AI handle each month, and what happens beyond the quota?
- Do you have time to prepare the documents and configure the AI yourself?
- Does the assistant need to act in your tools, or only answer questions?
- Who will review its answers each month?
The right choice for your case
Crisp suits a small team that wants a complete messaging tool right away, free to start, and sets up its AI itself. KernChat suits cases where the assistant must answer correctly from your documents on day one, without you having to configure it.
Crisp's prices are those of its pricing page, checked on 30/10/2026, in dollars and excl. VAT. See also the comparison with Tidio and the article chatbot or AI assistant.