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Prices and features checked against official pages: October 2026.
Quick Answer
Pick one of three modes for the hours you are away: switch chat off, leave an offline form with a stated reply time, or let AI answer routine questions and queue the rest for morning. Say clearly which one visitors will get, and review the queue at the start of each day.
Start with LiveChat’s 14-day free trial
For a step-by-step chat setup, see our guide on handling website chat as a small team.
What problem does an unstaffed chat widget create?
A visitor types a question at night and sees silence. They leave, and you never learn what they wanted. A clear after-hours plan avoids that.
Which after-hours mode fits you?
| Mode | How it works | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Chat off | Widget hidden outside set hours | Few inquiries at night |
| Offline form | Visitor leaves an email and gets a reply next day | Questions need a person |
| AI plus morning follow-up | AI answers routine questions; the rest wait for a person | Many repeat questions |
What should the message say?
State your hours, the time zone and when to expect a reply. Keep it to two sentences.
How do you run the morning queue?
- Open the offline messages first thing.
- Answer the oldest first.
- Tag items that need a quote or a call-back.
How can you set this up with LiveChat?
- Work scheduler: the help page says it switches agents between accepting and not accepting chats automatically, and it can be set for bots too. That page lists the scheduler for the Business and Enterprise plans, which are the older plan names. The current pricing page (checked 2026-10-19) shows working hours in Growth and Enterprise but not in Essential.
- Time zone: confirm how working-hours time zones are applied in your account before you publish your schedule.
- Offline form: the small-business page says it collects an email address so you can reply in the morning.
- AI Agent: the same page says it answers after your team logs off; the Essential plan includes 10 AI resolutions a month.
- Chat off: routing rules can turn the widget off on chosen pages.
Cost and fit
| Plan | Per user / month, billed annually | Per user / month, billed monthly | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $19 | $25 | 14 days, no credit card |
| Growth | $79 | $99 | 14 days, no credit card |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Request a call |
Some help pages still use older plan names (Starter, Team, Business); their prices and limits are not verified here, so this article uses the current pricing page. Check the page you see before you decide.
When is this not the right fit?
If you get almost no after-hours questions, a contact form is simpler. If you want a free tool for after-hours messages, look at Tidio’s free plan, which does not include operating hours.
FAQ
Should I leave chat on at night with nobody there?
No. Either hide it or tell visitors when you will reply.
How quickly should I reply to offline messages?
Choose a window you can keep, such as the next business morning, and say so in the message.
Can AI cover nights?
For routine questions, with the monthly allowance in mind. Anything else should wait for a person.
Does the scheduler change my own status?
You can still change your status manually, according to the help page.
Summary
Choose a mode, publish your hours and reply time, and clear the offline queue each morning.
Start with LiveChat’s 14-day free trial
This article is general information, not a guarantee of results. Plans, prices and features change, so confirm them on the official pages before you decide.
