Olark

Olark is one of the original pioneers of live chat software, founded in 2009, known for its reliability, strong focus on customer relationships, and extensive customization options via its API. It provides a robust and stable chat platform with a wealth of features geared towards understanding and helping customers, such as detailed chat transcripts, co-browsing (with the 'Hindsight' feature), and rich visitor insights.

Its key characteristic is a balance between power and approachability, offering more customization and data than simpler tools while remaining more accessible than enterprise suites. It's ideal for small to medium-sized businesses, particularly in B2B or complex sales, that value the conversational history and want to customize their chat experience. Compared to newer flashy platforms, Olark is a steady, dependable workhorse. Its extensive integration library and API make it a favorite for developers who need to embed chat deeply into their applications or workflows.