FastSpring
FastSpring is a comprehensive merchant of record platform that handles global payments, sales tax compliance, and subscription management for software companies to accelerate international growth and reduce operational risk.
Smartsupp
Smartsupp is a comprehensive customer service platform that combines live chat, email, and Facebook Messenger into one unified dashboard to help you convert website visitors into loyal customers.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | FastSpring | Smartsupp |
|---|---|---|
| Website | fastspring.com | smartsupp.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 14 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2005 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Santa Barbara, USA | Brno, Czech Republic |
Overview
FastSpring
FastSpring acts as your merchant of record, taking over the complex burdens of global commerce so you can focus on building great software. Instead of managing multiple payment gateways and tax jurisdictions yourself, you get a single solution that handles everything from localized checkouts to VAT collection and remittance worldwide.
You can scale your software or SaaS business globally without worrying about compliance or financial liability in different countries. The platform manages your entire customer lifecycle, including trial conversions, recurring billing, and proactive churn prevention. It simplifies your back-office operations by consolidating global payments into a single, manageable system that grows with your revenue.
Smartsupp
Smartsupp is a conversational commerce platform designed to help you build personal relationships with your website visitors. By combining live chat, chatbots, and video recordings, you can see exactly where your customers get stuck and reach out to them at the perfect moment. It consolidates messages from your website, email, and Facebook Messenger into a single inbox, ensuring you never miss a sales opportunity or support request.
You can automate repetitive questions with AI-powered chatbots that work 24/7, freeing up your team for more complex inquiries. The platform is particularly effective for online stores looking to increase conversion rates through proactive engagement. Whether you are a solo shop owner or manage a large support team, you can track team performance and customer satisfaction through detailed analytics and real-time visitor monitoring.
Overview
FastSpring Features
- Merchant of Record Offload your global tax collection, remittance, and compliance liabilities to a partner that assumes all financial responsibility.
- Global Payment Methods Accept dozens of local currencies and popular payment methods like Pix, Alipay, and cards to increase your international conversion rates.
- Subscription Management Set up flexible billing models including monthly subscriptions, tiered pricing, and usage-based billing to match your product strategy.
- Localized Checkout Provide your customers with a checkout experience in their native language and currency based on their specific geographic location.
- Dunning Management Recover lost revenue automatically with smart payment retries and customizable email reminders for failed or expired credit cards.
- Interactive Quotes Empower your sales team to create and send digital quotes that allow B2B customers to complete purchases instantly.
- Fraud Protection Reduce your risk with built-in fraud detection that screens every transaction to prevent chargebacks before they happen.
- Developer APIs Connect your existing tech stack and automate data flow using robust APIs and webhooks designed for software developers.
Smartsupp Features
- Unified Dashboard. Manage all your live chat, email, and Facebook Messenger conversations from one central location to save time.
- Video Recordings. Watch how visitors move through your site so you can identify friction points and improve your user experience.
- AI Chatbots. Automate your customer service with bots that answer common questions and qualify leads while you sleep.
- Mobile App. Stay connected with your customers on the go using native iOS and Android apps with instant push notifications.
- Real-time Visitor List. See who is browsing your website right now, including their location and what products they are currently viewing.
- Proactive Messages. Set up automatic triggers to send personalized messages to visitors based on their behavior or specific page visits.
Pricing Comparison
FastSpring Pricing
Smartsupp Pricing
- 1 agent included
- Live chat functionality
- 14-day conversation history
- Mobile app access
- Email notifications
- Everything in Free, plus:
- 3 agents included
- 1-year conversation history
- Automated messages
- Google Analytics integration
- Detailed statistics and reporting
Pros & Cons
FastSpring
Pros
- Handles all global VAT and sales tax compliance automatically
- Reduces the need for a large internal accounting team
- Fast and helpful customer support for technical setup
- Easy to implement localized checkouts for international buyers
- Reliable payment processing with high authorization rates
Cons
- Transaction fees can be higher than standard gateways
- Dashboard interface feels dated compared to newer competitors
- Payout schedules can be restrictive for very small businesses
Smartsupp
Pros
- Very easy to set up on most ecommerce platforms
- Video recordings provide unique insights into visitor behavior
- Clean and intuitive interface for support agents
- Affordable pricing compared to many enterprise competitors
Cons
- Free version is limited to one agent only
- Mobile app notifications can occasionally be delayed
- Chatbot customization options are basic on lower tiers