Add live chat to Jekyll. DeskCrew support widget
DeskCrew adds AI live chat, an AI support chatbot and a help center to a Jekyll site through the official jekyll-deskcrew gem: one plugin line in _config.yml, every page and post, no layout edits. A single script tag in _includes/head.html works too, including on GitHub Pages.
An official gem
Add jekyll-deskcrew to your Gemfile and configure it in _config.yml. Every page and post carries the widget without touching your theme.
AI drafts, humans approve
The AI drafts replies grounded in the knowledge base you publish, and every draft waits in an approval queue until a human sends it.
Every conversation is a ticket
Widget chats, emails, and board posts land in one dashboard with full history; visitors who leave get their answer by email.
Free plan, no card
The free plan includes the chat widget, a public knowledge base, and ticketing. Start free and upgrade only when you outgrow it.
How to install DeskCrew on Jekyll
Add the official gem to the :jekyll_plugins group in your Gemfile: gem "jekyll-deskcrew", then bundle install.
In _config.yml, list jekyll-deskcrew under plugins: and add a deskcrew: block with your key and board slug.
Rebuild the site. A post-render hook adds the widget before </body> on every page and post, with no layout or include edits. GitHub Pages’ built-in build runs no custom plugins, so build with GitHub Actions there, or use the paste route below.
<script src="https://deskcrew.io/desk.js" data-key="pub_YOUR_KEY" data-board="your-board" defer></script>
pub_YOUR_KEY and your-board are placeholders. Your real widget key and board slug are in your DeskCrew dashboard under Install (free signup, no card).
Note: Prefer no plugin, or building on GitHub Pages? Paste the tag below into _includes/head.html instead.
DeskCrew vs the usual suspects
| DeskCrew | Tidio | Crisp | Zendesk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes. Free plan, no card | Yes (limited) | Yes (basic) | Free trial only |
| AI included | Yes. AI drafts on every plan, human-approved | Paid add-on | Higher plans | Paid add-on |
| Setup | About 2 minutes. One script tag or plugin | Minutes. Script tag | Minutes. Script tag | Longer. Full workspace setup |
| Price floor | $0 free plan · paid from $29/mo | Free plan; paid tiers above | Free plan; paid tiers above | Per-agent pricing, no free plan |
Competitor cells generalize their public pricing pages. Always check current plans.
DeskCrew has a free plan with no card. Chat widget, public knowledge base, and ticketing included. Every new workspace starts with full Team features free for 14 days, and paid plans start at $29/mo. Full details on the pricing page.
FAQ. add live chat to Jekyll
Last updated: September 2026
Is there a Jekyll plugin instead of pasting the snippet?
Yes. Add jekyll-deskcrew to the :jekyll_plugins group in your Gemfile and to plugins: in _config.yml, then set your key under deskcrew:. It injects the widget on every page and post with no layout edits. GitHub Pages does not run custom plugins, so use the snippet there or build with GitHub Actions. Listed at rubygems.org/gems/jekyll-deskcrew.
How do I add live chat to a Jekyll site?
Paste the widget script into _includes/head.html, which every layout includes. One edit covers every page and post on the site.
Where is head.html if my theme is a gem?
Gem themes keep their files outside your project. Run bundle info --path followed by the theme name to locate them, then copy the file you want to override into your own _includes directory. Jekyll prefers your copy.
Does it work on GitHub Pages?
Yes. The widget is a plain script tag in your generated HTML, so it needs no plugin. That matters because GitHub Pages only allows an approved plugin list, and this does not require one.
Should it go in a layout instead?
An include is better because layouts often vary between pages and posts. Editing the shared include means you cannot accidentally cover one and miss the other.
Is there a free live chat widget for Jekyll?
Yes. The DeskCrew free plan includes the chat widget, ticketing, a public help center, and a monthly AI answer allowance, with no credit card.