Hiver
Hiver is a multi-channel customer service platform that transforms your Gmail interface into a collaborative help desk for managing shared inboxes, live chat, and voice support without leaving your email.
SupportPal
SupportPal is a self-hosted help desk software that allows you to manage customer inquiries across multiple channels while maintaining complete control over your data and infrastructure.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Hiver | SupportPal |
|---|---|---|
| Website | hiverhq.com | supportpal.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $15/month | $14.95/month |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 7 days free trial | ✓ 0 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2011 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | San Jose, USA | London, UK |
Overview
Hiver
Hiver transforms your existing Gmail interface into a powerful customer service hub. Instead of jumping between different tools, you can manage shared inboxes like support@ or info@ directly from the email environment you already know. You can assign emails to team members with one click, track status in real-time, and write internal notes on email threads to collaborate behind the scenes without forwarding messages to colleagues.
Beyond just email, you can handle live chat, WhatsApp messages, and even voice calls from the same sidebar. It eliminates the need for complex help desk training because it lives right inside Gmail. You can also automate repetitive tasks, build custom reports to track team performance, and ensure no customer query ever falls through the cracks. It is ideal for teams that want professional support capabilities without the steep learning curve of traditional software.
SupportPal
SupportPal is a powerful self-hosted help desk solution designed for organizations that prioritize data privacy and infrastructure control. You can manage customer conversations from email, Twitter, Facebook, and your website through a single, unified interface. The platform is built to handle high volumes of tickets while remaining fast and responsive, ensuring your support team stays productive regardless of your company size.
You can automate repetitive tasks using a robust triggers and macros system, which helps you maintain consistent service levels. Because it is self-hosted, you have the flexibility to customize the software to your specific needs and integrate it deeply with your existing internal systems. It is particularly well-suited for service providers, web hosts, and security-conscious enterprises that need a reliable, scalable support tool.
Overview
Hiver Features
- Shared Inboxes Manage group aliases like support and sales directly from Gmail while keeping track of who is working on what.
- Email Notes Collaborate with your teammates through private notes on email threads instead of using messy forwards or external chat apps.
- Collision Detection See in real-time when another team member is replying to an email so you never send duplicate responses.
- Automated Workflows Set up rules to automatically assign emails based on keywords or sender, saving you hours of manual sorting every week.
- Multi-Channel Support Handle live chat, WhatsApp, and voice calls from a single sidebar without ever leaving your Gmail browser tab.
- Visual Analytics Track key metrics like first response time and resolution rate with built-in dashboards to improve your team performance.
- Email Templates Create and share canned responses with your team to answer common customer questions instantly and maintain a consistent voice.
- Customer Surveys Insert feedback surveys directly into your email signatures to measure customer satisfaction immediately after you resolve an issue.
SupportPal Features
- Multichannel Ticketing. Manage all your customer inquiries from email, social media, and web forms in one centralized and organized dashboard.
- Self-Service Portal. Build a comprehensive knowledge base and community forum so your customers can find answers themselves 24/7.
- Smart Automations. Set up automated triggers and macros to handle routine tasks and ensure tickets are routed to the right person.
- Multi-Brand Support. Manage multiple brands or products from a single installation with distinct branding and settings for each portal.
- Internal Operator Chat. Collaborate with your team members in real-time using built-in chat to resolve complex customer issues faster.
- Advanced Reporting. Track team performance and customer satisfaction with detailed analytics that help you identify areas for improvement.
Pricing Comparison
Hiver Pricing
- Up to 10 users
- 2 Shared Inboxes
- Shared Labels
- Email Notes
- Collision Detection
- Slack Integration
- Everything in Lite, plus:
- Unlimited users
- Unlimited Shared Inboxes
- WhatsApp & Chat channels
- Automations
- Detailed Analytics
- CSAT Surveys
SupportPal Pricing
- Single brand support
- Unlimited operators
- All core features included
- Self-hosted installation
- Access to all updates
- Standard technical support
- Everything in Monthly Owned, plus:
- Support for up to 3 brands
- Multi-brand configuration
- Separate frontend portals
- Centralized operator panel
- Priority email support
Pros & Cons
Hiver
Pros
- Zero learning curve since it works entirely inside Gmail
- Eliminates duplicate replies with effective collision detection
- Internal notes keep team communication organized and private
- Setup is extremely fast compared to traditional help desks
Cons
- Requires a Google Workspace account to function
- Mobile app experience is more limited than desktop
- Can feel cluttered if managing many shared inboxes
- No forever-free tier for very small startups
SupportPal
Pros
- Unlimited operators allow you to scale your team without extra costs
- Self-hosted nature ensures you maintain total ownership of customer data
- Clean and modern interface is easy for agents to navigate
- Highly customizable through a well-documented API and plugin system
Cons
- Requires technical knowledge to install and maintain on your server
- Social media integrations are more limited compared to SaaS competitors
- Mobile experience is functional but less polished than the desktop version