You know you need better website engagement. The question is: which platform? With options ranging from chat-first giants to voice-first innovators, making the right choice matters.
This guide provides an objective comparison of four major platforms: AskAloud, Drift, Intercom, and LivePerson.
Platform Overview
AskAloud
Category: Voice-first customer engagement
Proactive voice AI on websites, grounded responses (zero hallucination), focus on lead capture, simple implementation (days, not weeks).
Ideal for: B2B companies prioritizing lead capture, companies wanting voice differentiation, teams seeking simple implementation.
Drift
Category: Conversational marketing platform
Chat-first engagement, revenue acceleration focus, deep Salesloft integration.
Ideal for: Sales-driven B2B organizations, companies using Salesloft, enterprise deployments with complex routing needs.
Intercom
Category: Customer messaging platform
Multi-purpose: sales, support, engagement. Fin AI agent, comprehensive messaging.
Ideal for: Companies wanting unified messaging, teams needing sales + support in one platform, startups and scaling companies.
LivePerson
Category: Enterprise conversational AI
Omnichannel AI messaging, enterprise-scale operations.
Ideal for: Enterprise with complex needs, omnichannel requirements, high-volume support operations.
Feature Comparison
Engagement Modality
| Platform | Primary Modality | Voice Capability |
|---|---|---|
| AskAloud | Voice-first | Native, core feature |
| Drift | Chat-first | Third-party add-on |
| Intercom | Chat-first | Third-party integration |
| LivePerson | Text messaging | Via integration |
AI Grounding and Accuracy
| Platform | AI Approach | Hallucination Risk |
|---|---|---|
| AskAloud | Grounded/RAG | Low (content-constrained) |
| Drift | GPT-based | Moderate |
| Intercom | Fin AI | Moderate |
| LivePerson | Various AI | Variable |
Engagement Metrics
| Metric | AskAloud | Drift | Intercom | LivePerson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engagement rate | 12-15% | 3-5% | 3-5% | 2-4% |
| Conversation completion | 82% | 35-45% | 35-45% | Variable |
Pricing Comparison
| Platform | Model | Entry Price |
|---|---|---|
| AskAloud | Flat monthly | ~$300/month |
| Drift | Seat + usage | $2,500+/month |
| Intercom | Seat + resolution | $29/seat/month |
| LivePerson | Per conversation | Custom (enterprise only) |
Cost per Engaged Visitor
At 10,000 monthly visitors:
- AskAloud: $300 / (10,000 × 14%) = $0.21/conversation
- Drift: $2,500 / (10,000 × 4%) = $6.25/conversation
- Intercom: $1,000 / (10,000 × 4%) = $2.50/conversation
Use Case Recommendations
Choose AskAloud If...
You want voice-first differentiation, lead capture is primary goal, you value simple implementation, grounded AI accuracy is critical, you're budget-conscious but want premium engagement.
Choose Drift If...
You're already in the Salesloft ecosystem, you have operations resources for complex setup, sales process integration is paramount.
Choose Intercom If...
You need sales AND support in one platform, you want broad messaging capabilities, startup/scale-up DNA resonates.
Choose LivePerson If...
Enterprise scale with complex requirements, omnichannel is essential (SMS, WhatsApp), you have significant IT resources.
Making Your Decision
- Do you want voice or chat engagement?
- Is lead capture or support your primary use case?
- What's your implementation capacity?
- What's your budget?
- How important is AI accuracy?
Conclusion
AskAloud: Voice-first engagement with grounded AI. Higher engagement, simpler implementation.
Drift: Established conversational marketing. Mature platform, higher complexity.
Intercom: All-in-one customer messaging. Unified sales and support.
LivePerson: Enterprise omnichannel AI. Maximum scale and channel coverage.
Ready to try voice-first engagement? Start your free AskAloud pilot and experience the difference.