Realtime chat as the default, not a sidecar to email.
Front is a shared inbox for mail and apps. GiovChat is a live-chat inbox that can take email later, with visitor context on every thread.
GiovBot handoff
Full thread to an operator
Built for operators who need live chat, a shared inbox, and GiovBot in one place.
GiovChat vs. Front: what operators actually get
| Feature | GiovChat | Front |
|---|---|---|
| AI agent | GiovBot with knowledge, credits, and human handoff. BYOK on Advanced. | Front is strongest as a shared mailbox. |
| Live chat | Included on Starter, Pro, and Advanced. | Live chat is secondary to email. |
| Shared inbox | Operators, assignment, filters, history, and exports in one queue. | The inbox is excellent for mail, lighter for realtime chat. |
| Starter plan | Starter includes live chat. GiovBot is an add-on there, included on Pro and Advanced. | Plans follow mailbox seats. |
| Support email joins the same inbox on Pro and Advanced. | Email is the native channel. | |
| Messaging channels | WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and Telegram on Advanced. | Messaging is not the centre of gravity. |
| Mobile SDK | React Native and Expo with the same tenant as the website widget. | Visitor mobile SDK is uncommon. |
| AI cost | One hosted credit is one AI reply. Unused credits reset monthly. BYOK has no hosted cap. | AI helps drafts more than a live site agent. |
| Human handoff | When GiovBot is unsure or credits run out, the full thread goes to an operator. | Handoff is between teammates on email threads. |
| Install | One script for the web, plus WordPress, React Native, and Expo. | No storefront widget as the default install. |
All your customer support in one workspace
Live chat, a shared inbox, and GiovBot — without turning Front into a second queue your team has to check.
- One inbox for unassigned, assigned, and resolved chats
- Visitor context, notes, and history beside the thread
- GiovBot that answers from your knowledge, then hands off intact
- Website widget plus React Native and Expo from one tenant
GiovChat is the support-shaped alternative to Front.
Metered AI, a real operator inbox, and channels that expand with the plan — from Fegig Technologies Limited.
Install the widget, invite operators, and run GiovChat beside Front for a week. Keep the queue your team finishes.
Get started for freeGiovChat vs. Front frequently asked questions
Is GiovChat a replacement for Front?
If your team lives in live chat and needs a shared inbox plus an AI agent that hands off, yes — that is the job GiovChat is built for. If you need the full Front suite (ticketing, marketing automation, or a store-native helpdesk), keep what you use for that and run Giov beside it only if the queue still needs a chat home.
Does live chat cost extra?
No. Live chat is included on every Giov plan. What changes as you upgrade is operators, history depth, email, messaging channels, and GiovBot credits.
How does GiovBot billing work?
One hosted credit is one AI reply. Pro includes 500 credits per month. Advanced includes 2,000. Starter can add GiovBot as a 500-credit add-on. Advanced can bring your own OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, or compatible key with no hosted cap.
Can I try GiovChat while I still use Front?
Yes. Install the widget on a staging domain or a single page, invite operators, and run both for a week. Keep the product your team actually finishes conversations in.
Where do conversations go after a visitor writes in?
Into one Giov inbox. Operators claim, transfer, and close threads. Page context, notes, and history stay beside the chat. GiovBot can answer first, then hand off without losing the transcript.
Ready to compare GiovChat with Front in your own queue?
Start free. No card. Live chat is included on every plan.