Add live chat to Jekyll. DeskCrew support widget
DeskCrew adds AI live chat and ticketing to a Jekyll site with one script tag in _includes/head.html, inherited by every page and post.
One paste on Jekyll
One script tag. No build step, no package to maintain, nothing that can break on a platform update. The exact steps are below.
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
Open _includes/head.html. If your theme is a gem and the file is not in your project, run bundle info --path <theme-name> to find it and copy it into your own _includes directory first.
Paste the DeskCrew widget snippet into that include.
Rebuild with jekyll build, or push to GitHub Pages. Every page and post carries the tag; your real key and board slug are on the DeskCrew dashboard’s Install page.
<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).
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
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.