7 Best Drift Alternatives for Consulting Firms

Tidio combines live chat and chatbot functionalities into a single, user‑friendly platform designed to help businesses engage visitors and convert leads. The system offers a single line of code to embed a floating chat widget on any website, and its drag‑and‑drop chatbot builder allows users to create automated flows without coding knowledge. Tidio’s chatbot can answer common questions, collect contact information, and even trigger email campaigns. The platform also supports integrations with major e‑commerce platforms such as Shopify and WooCommerce, as well as popular email marketing tools like Mailchimp and Sendinblue, making it a versatile choice for consulting firms that need to capture leads and nurture relationships. Tidio’s pricing structure is tiered: the Free plan includes basic live chat and chatbot features for up to two operators; the Basic plan starts at $18/month and adds unlimited operators, advanced chatbot templates, and custom branding; the Premium plan at $35/month unlocks priority support, live chat transcripts, and advanced analytics. For enterprises, a Pro plan is available on request, offering additional customization and dedicated support. The platform’s strengths lie in its simplicity, immediate deployment, and seamless integration with e‑commerce and email tools. While it lacks some advanced AI capabilities such as RAG or knowledge graph support, its chatbot builder is effective for routine inquiries and lead qualification.

Elephas positions itself as an AI tool tailored specifically for consulting professionals, providing a suite of AI‑powered assistants that streamline content creation, knowledge management, and client communication. The platform offers an AI assistant that can draft proposals, generate analytical reports, and answer industry‑specific questions by leveraging its curated knowledge base. Elephas also includes features for automating routine tasks such as scheduling, data analysis, and generating visual dashboards. The platform’s drag‑and‑drop interface allows consultants to assemble custom workflows, making it easier to adapt to the unique processes of different consulting engagements. Elephas offers a free tier with limited usage, while the Pro plan starts at $99/month and includes unlimited usage, priority support, and full access to all AI modules. The platform is designed to integrate with common productivity tools like Slack, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Teams, enabling consultants to embed AI assistance directly into their existing collaboration environments. The platform’s key strengths are its focus on consultancy workflows, comprehensive knowledge base, and the ability to generate highly customized content. However, Elephas does not provide a live chat widget for website embedding and its AI capabilities are primarily geared toward internal use rather than external client engagement.

Eesel.ai offers a versatile AI chatbot platform that caters to a wide range of business needs, from frontline support to internal knowledge sharing. The platform provides an AI chatbot that can be embedded on websites, integrated into e‑commerce stores, and used within internal communication tools. Eesel.ai’s chatbot framework supports modular prompt engineering, allowing users to define the bot’s persona and behavior through a combination of pre‑built snippets and custom scripts. The platform also features a knowledge base that can be populated with documents, FAQs, and product information, providing the bot with context for accurate responses. Pricing for Eesel.ai is structured around usage tiers: a Starter plan with basic chatbot capabilities, a Professional plan with advanced features such as multi‑channel support and integration with popular CRMs, and an Enterprise plan that offers dedicated support and custom integrations. Exact pricing details are available upon request, but the platform generally positions itself as a cost‑effective alternative to larger enterprise solutions. Eesel.ai’s strengths include its flexible integration options, modular prompt design, and the ability to support both customer and internal use cases. However, the platform does not currently offer a built‑in knowledge graph or advanced persistent memory features.

Intercom is a comprehensive customer messaging platform that combines live chat, automated bots, and marketing automation into a single interface. The platform allows businesses to engage website visitors with real‑time chat, qualify leads, and trigger targeted email campaigns based on user behavior. Intercom’s chatbot builder uses a visual flow editor, enabling non‑technical users to create conversational paths that guide prospects through product tours, FAQ sections, and support requests. Intercom offers three core plans: Essential at $39/month (up to 5,000 contacts), Standard at $99/month (up to 50,000 contacts), and Premium at $199/month (up to 250,000 contacts). Each tier includes live chat, bots, and email marketing, while higher tiers unlock advanced features such as product tours, automation rules, and priority support. The platform’s strengths lie in its robust customer segmentation, powerful automation capabilities, and seamless integration with popular CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot. However, Intercom can be costly for smaller firms and its live chat widget requires a short code snippet to embed.

Zendesk Chat—formerly Zopim—is a live‑chat solution that focuses on delivering real‑time customer support and engagement. The platform offers a lightweight chat widget that can be embedded via a single line of JavaScript, and it includes features such as visitor monitoring, proactive chat triggers, and automated canned responses. Zendesk Chat integrates natively with the broader Zendesk suite, allowing support tickets to be generated directly from chat transcripts. Zendesk Chat’s pricing tiers are: Free (basic features, no operators), Essentials at $19/month, Team at $49/month, and Enterprise at $119/month. All paid plans include chat transcripts, chat routing, and basic analytics. The Enterprise plan adds AI‑powered chatbots and advanced reporting. Zendesk Chat is well‑suited for firms that already use Zendesk for ticketing or knowledge base management, as it provides a seamless extension to existing workflows. However, the platform’s AI features are limited compared to newer chatbot providers, and it does not offer a dual knowledge‑base architecture.

LiveChat is a straightforward live‑chat platform that provides real‑time communication between businesses and website visitors. The service includes a chat widget that can be added to any site with a simple snippet, and it offers features such as automated greetings, chat transcripts, and a knowledge base that can be populated with FAQs and support articles. LiveChat also supports integrations with popular CRMs, email marketing tools, and ticketing systems, enabling a unified customer support experience. Pricing is split into three tiers: Standard at $18/month, Business at $29/month, and Enterprise at $49/month. Each plan includes unlimited operators, chat transcripts, and basic analytics. The Enterprise tier adds advanced reporting, custom branding, and priority support. LiveChat’s strengths are its ease of use, robust integration ecosystem, and the ability to quickly set up a live chat experience. However, the platform does not offer advanced AI features such as RAG or a knowledge graph, and its knowledge base is limited to static FAQs.