AAbout Hiver
Hiver turns Gmail into a full-featured customer support helpdesk, allowing teams to manage shared inboxes like support@ or info@ without leaving their existing email workflow. It's built for teams that prefer the simplicity of Gmail over standalone ticketing systems, offering shared labels, email delegation, collision detection, and internal notes right inside the inbox. Hiver also includes analytics, SLA tracking, and customer satisfaction surveys, making it a practical choice for small to mid-sized teams. What makes it unique is that there's virtually no learning curve — if your team already uses Gmail, they can start using Hiver almost immediately.
BAbout Olark
Olark is a live chat platform that lets businesses talk with website visitors in real time to answer questions, provide support, and capture leads. It's designed primarily for small to medium-sized businesses that want a straightforward, no-frills chat solution without the complexity of enterprise tools. Olark stands out for its simplicity and ease of setup — you can have a chat widget running on your site in minutes. It also offers useful features like automated messages, chat transcripts, and visitor insights, making it a practical choice for teams that want to be more accessible to their customers without overhauling their support stack.
Pricing Comparison
Feature Comparison
Choose Hiver
Hiver transforms Gmail into a collaborative helpdesk, streamlining customer support.
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Olark is a live chat solution that helps businesses connect with customers in real-time.
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Score Comparison
Our Verdict
Your small team wants to transform Gmail into a collaborative helpdesk for efficient customer support.
You need a straightforward live chat solution that connects your business with customers in real-time.
Hiver vs Olark: The Bottom Line
Both Hiver and Olark are strong customer support tools, but they serve different needs. Hiver has a higher user rating (4.3 vs 4.2). On pricing, Olark is more affordable starting at $17/mo.
Still unsure? Check the full reviews for Hiver and Olark, explore Hiver alternatives, or use our AI search to describe exactly what you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hiver or Olark better?
It depends on your needs. Hiver (4.3★) is from $19/mo, while Olark (4.2★) is from $17/mo. Hiver has a higher user rating.
Can I switch from Hiver to Olark?
Yes. Most SaaS tools offer data export features. Check if Olark has a migration guide or import tool specifically for Hiver users. Many offer onboarding assistance for switchers.
Which is cheaper, Hiver or Olark?
Olark starts at $17/mo, which is cheaper than Hiver at $19/mo.
What are the main differences between Hiver and Olark?
Hiver focuses on shared inbox for team collaboration and email assignment and tracking, while Olark emphasizes real-time chat with website visitors and automated chat greetings and responses. Both are in the Customer Support category but serve slightly different use cases.