Online communication is evolving rapidly, and chat scripts have become a critical component in customer support, internal team collaboration, social networks, and e-commerce. Whether you’re building a community website, a helpdesk, or a mobile app, choosing the right chat script can save significant development time and offer robust, scalable performance.
Below are the top 5 online chat scripts in 2025 that stand out for their performance, flexibility, integration capabilities, and ease of deployment. Each of these chat systems can be self-hosted or embedded in other applications and offers both frontend and backend capabilities.
1. LiveChat – PHP + AJAX + WebSocket-Based Chat Script
Website: Codecanyon.net
LiveChat is one of the most reliable PHP-based chat systems on the market. Built with AJAX and optional WebSocket integration, it enables real-time communication between users and customer support agents. The system can be deployed on any standard LAMP stack, making it extremely easy to install.
Key Features:
- Multi-agent chat support
- User typing indicators
- Operator-to-operator messaging
- Visitor browser information and IP logging
- Sound notifications for new messages
- File attachments and image previews
- Clean and responsive user interface
Why Choose LiveChat: LiveChat is ideal for customer support teams that want a self-hosted, fully controllable environment. Its user-friendly interface and moderate pricing make it suitable for startups and small businesses.
Use Cases:
- E-commerce customer support
- CRM systems
- SaaS dashboards
- In-house helpdesks
2. CometChat – Full SDK + JavaScript API
Website: CometChat.com
CometChat is a developer-friendly chat platform that provides ready-to-use SDKs for JavaScript, React, Angular, Flutter, iOS, and Android. This powerful and scalable chat engine is used by marketplaces, gaming platforms, dating apps, and mobile apps globally.
Key Features:
- One-on-one and group chats
- Video and voice calling via WebRTC
- Real-time notifications and message receipts
- File sharing, emojis, reactions, and mentions
- Role-based access controls
- Support for 92 languages
- Webhook and Firebase integration
Why Choose CometChat: It offers a plug-and-play environment for developers and product managers looking to implement scalable chat features without having to build backend architecture from scratch.
Use Cases:
- Dating apps
- Social media platforms
- Marketplaces and e-learning portals
- Gaming platforms
3. Chatvia – Laravel + Vue.js Chat Application
Website: Codecanyon.net
Chatvia is a modern Laravel-based messaging script combined with Vue.js on the frontend. It mimics the design of popular apps like WhatsApp Web and Slack, and is great for team communication or community platforms.
Key Features:
- Private and group messaging
- Built-in support for Pusher or Laravel Echo
- Real-time notifications and typing status
- Contact lists and online/offline indicators
- Dark/light theme toggle
- Fully responsive interface
Why Choose Chatvia: Perfect for full-stack developers familiar with Laravel who need complete control over both the frontend and backend. It can be extended to include more modules like bots, file sharing, or task tracking.
Use Cases:
- Team communication tools
- Private communities
- Freelance project management portals
- Corporate intranets
4. Support Board – Smart Customer Chat with AI Integration
Website: Board.support
Support Board is a PHP-based smart chat solution that integrates deeply with WordPress, Slack, and Dialogflow. It’s a feature-rich support chat tool enhanced by automation and AI, making it a great solution for businesses wanting both human and chatbot support.
Key Features:
- Chatbot builder with Dialogflow or OpenAI integration
- Live agent takeover
- WooCommerce and WordPress compatibility
- Slack handover and ticketing support
- Push notifications and email piping
- Admin dashboard with analytics
Why Choose Support Board: Support Board is designed for businesses wanting to automate part of their support process. Its chatbot capabilities allow you to reduce agent workload significantly while still offering real-time human support.
Use Cases:
- Online stores
- WordPress-powered websites
- Service-based businesses
- Educational platforms
5. Socket.IO Real-Time Chat – Node.js + Express + WebSocket
Website: GitHub / Open Source
This is the classic open-source Node.js chat example using Socket.IO, ideal for developers building from scratch or integrating into custom-built applications. Though it requires more configuration and deployment steps, it offers the most flexibility and learning opportunity.
Key Features:
- Real-time WebSocket-based communication
- Multi-user room support
- Typing and connection status indicators
- Scalable backend architecture using Node.js
- Can be deployed on Heroku, Vercel, DigitalOcean
Why Choose Socket.IO Chat: If you need to build a scalable and highly customisable real-time messaging system, and you have a technical team in place, this is a flexible solution that you can expand into anything.
Use Cases:
- Multiplayer games
- Custom CRM messaging
- Enterprise chat platforms
- IoT chat integration
Feature Comparison Table
| Script Name | Stack | Group Chat | Voice/Video | File Sharing | Mobile-Friendly | AI Integration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LiveChat | PHP + AJAX + WebSocket | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| CometChat | JavaScript SDK + API | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Chatvia | Laravel + Vue.js | Yes | No | Limited | Yes | No |
| Support Board | PHP + Dialogflow | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Socket.IO Chat | Node.js + Socket.IO | Yes | Custom | Optional | Yes | No |
Final Thoughts
When selecting an online chat script, consider your technical capabilities, scalability needs, and whether you require additional features such as AI, file sharing, or voice/video support.
For fast deployment, LiveChat or Support Board are excellent choices for non-technical teams. If you’re building mobile apps or social platforms, CometChat provides enterprise-grade tools. For developers seeking control and flexibility, Chatvia and Socket.IO offer full-stack extensibility.
Whether you’re building customer service infrastructure, private social communities, or integrating chat into an existing product, these top 5 chat scripts provide powerful, flexible solutions that meet both user expectations and developer needs.
