Here are cost-effective customer-communication platforms that work especially well for bootstrapped startups — grouped by common needs with one-line pros/cons and links to official pricing/info.

Top picks (quick list)

• Tawk.to — Free forever live chat + ticketing (unlimited agents/sites); great if you want zero hosting cost and fast setup. (tawk.to)
• Chatwoot — Open‑source, self‑hosted multichannel inbox (chat, email, social); ideal if you can run a small server and want to avoid per‑seat fees. (chatwoot.com)
• HubSpot (Free CRM + Conversations) — Free shared inbox, live chat, chatbots and CRM; good all‑in‑one starter for sales + support. (hubspot.com)
• Freshdesk (Free plan) — Simple helpdesk/ticketing with knowledge base for small teams (free for up to 2 agents); good email-first support. (freshworks.com)
• Help Scout — Email-first helpdesk with a generous free tier for very small volume and a startup program; great for friendly, email-centric support. (helpscout.com)
• Tidio — Lightweight live chat + AI/chatbot with freemium tiers; useful if you want chatbots to reduce agent load. (tidio.com)
• Crisp — Freemium live chat + shared inbox and knowledge base; simple and affordable for solo founders or one-person support teams. (crisp.chat)
• Mailchimp / SendGrid — Use Mailchimp (marketing/email campaigns) or SendGrid (transactional email API) for affordable email sending and automations. (quickbooks.intuit.com)

When to pick each (short guide)

• You need zero monthly cost and instant chat: Tawk.to (free, unlimited agents/sites). (tawk.to)
• You want to self‑host and control data/costs long‑term: Chatwoot community edition (free self‑host). (chatwoot.com)
• You want CRM + shared inbox + growth tools bundled (no upfront cost): HubSpot Free (Conversations + CRM). (hubspot.com)
• You mainly handle email tickets and want a tidy helpdesk: Freshdesk Free or Help Scout (email‑centric, Help Scout has startup offers). (freshworks.com)
• You want chatbots / AI to reduce live‑agent hours: Tidio or Crisp (both have AI/freemium options). (tidio.com)
• You need reliable transactional email or newsletters: SendGrid for API/sending; Mailchimp for marketing lists and campaigns. (resources.sendgrid.com)

Notes on growth and hidden costs

• Many popular tools (Intercom, Zendesk, etc.) are excellent but become expensive as you scale; Intercom does run startup discounts/programs, but budget for growth if you choose them later. (intercom.com)
• Self‑hosted/open‑source (Chatwoot) saves recurring per‑seat fees but needs ops time to run and secure. (chatwoot.com)
• Free tiers vary by limits (agents, contacts, messages, automations). Always check the provider’s definition of “contact,” “seat,” or “billable conversation” before committing. (helpscout.com)

My three practical starter bundles for a bootstrapped startup

• Lowest cost & fastest: Tawk.to (chat + ticketing) + SendGrid (transactional email). (tawk.to)
• Balanced (CRM + chat + email): HubSpot Free (Conversations/CRM) + Mailchimp for marketing emails. (hubspot.com)
• More control (no vendor lock): Chatwoot self‑hosted for multichannel inbox + Mailchimp/SendGrid as needed. (chatwoot.com)

If you want, I can:

• Recommend 1 configuration for your exact stack (website platform, expected message volume, tech comfort), or
• Compare pricing for 2–3 options at your current expected monthly volume so you can see real cost differences.

Which direction do you prefer?