Crisp vs OTOBO
Both Crisp and OTOBO are European-built, GDPR-compliant solutions in the customer support space. This comparison breaks down their features, pricing, compliance posture, and data residency so you can make an informed choice for your team.
Quick Overview
Crisp
EU- Headquarters
- Nantes, FR
- Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
- No
OTOBO
EU- Headquarters
- Oberursel, DE
- Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
- Yes
Key Differences
- Crisp offers a free tier, while oTOBO offers a free tier. The different pricing models mean you should evaluate which approach better fits your usage pattern.
- OTOBO is open source, giving you full code transparency and the option to self-host. Crisp is proprietary — typically offering a more streamlined setup and managed support, but without the ability to inspect or modify the source code.
- Data residency differs: Crisp hosts data in France, Netherlands, while OTOBO hosts in Germany. If your organisation requires data to stay in a specific EU country, this distinction matters for compliance.
- Crisp was founded in 2015, giving it a 5-year head start over OTOBO (founded 2020). More time in market often means a larger user community and more mature integrations, though newer entrants may offer more modern architectures.
- Each product has unique strengths: Crisp offers Live chat and Shared inbox, while OTOBO provides Ticket system and ITIL processes. Your choice depends on which capabilities matter most for your workflow.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Crisp | OTOBO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Crisp | OTOBO |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | ||
| GDPR | ||
| ISO 27001 | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Headquarters | Nantes, FR | Oberursel, DE |
| Data Centers | FR, NL | DE |
| Live chat | ||
| Shared inbox | ||
| Chatbot builder | ||
| Knowledge base | ||
| CRM | ||
| Status page | ||
| Video calls | ||
| Campaigns | ||
| Co-browsing | ||
| Ticket system | ||
| ITIL processes | ||
| SLA management | ||
| Email and phone channels | ||
| Customer portal | ||
| Process management | ||
| Reporting | ||
| Self-hosting |
Pricing Comparison
Crisp
Freefreemium
OTOBO
Freefree (open source) / managed
Compliance Comparison
Crisp
GDPRDPA
OTOBO
GDPRDPA
Get Started
Categories
How to Choose
You need code transparency or self-hosting
Choose OTOBO
You want a fully managed, turnkey solution
Choose Crisp
Crisp vs OTOBO — FAQ
What is the main difference between Crisp and OTOBO?
Both Crisp and OTOBO are European customer support solutions with full GDPR compliance. The key differences lie in their approach: OTOBO is open source while Crisp is proprietary, and Crisp uses freemium pricing while OTOBO uses free (open source) / managed. Crisp is headquartered in Nantes, France, while OTOBO is based in Oberursel, Germany. Your choice should depend on your specific requirements for features, pricing, and data residency.
Which is more affordable, Crisp or OTOBO?
Both Crisp and OTOBO offer free tiers, so you can try either without cost. Pricing models differ (freemium vs. free (open source) / managed), so compare based on your usage pattern rather than just the starting price.
Are both Crisp and OTOBO GDPR compliant?
Yes. Both Crisp and OTOBO are European companies that store data within the EU/EEA and offer Data Processing Agreements. Neither is subject to the US CLOUD Act or FISA surveillance. For GDPR purposes, either option eliminates the legal risks associated with using US-based services.