Add live chat to Joomla. DeskCrew support widget
DeskCrew adds live chat, a knowledge base, and ticketing to a Joomla site with one Custom HTML module. No extension to install, works on Joomla 4 and 5.
One paste on Joomla
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 Joomla
In the Joomla administrator, go to Content → Site Modules, click New, and choose “Custom”.
Paste the DeskCrew widget snippet in code view. Joomla’s TinyMCE editor strips <script> tags, so use the editor’s code view or set your profile’s editor to “None” first.
In the module’s Options tab, set “Prepare Content” to No.
Set Position to one your template renders on every page (a footer or debug position), set Menu Assignment to “On all pages”, and Save. 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).
Note: If the snippet vanishes when you save, the editor filtered it. Paste in code view (or with the editor set to None) and keep “Prepare Content” off.
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 Joomla
How do I add live chat to a Joomla website?
Create a Custom HTML site module, paste the DeskCrew script tag in code view, turn “Prepare Content” off, assign it to a site-wide template position on all pages, and save. No extension needed.
Why does Joomla remove my script tag when I save?
The TinyMCE editor filters <script> elements by default. Paste in the editor’s code view, or temporarily set your user profile’s editor to “Editor – None”. The module then stores the tag intact.
Do I need a Joomla extension for a chat widget?
No. A core Custom HTML module carries the one-line script site-wide. Extensions exist for this, but they add nothing a chat widget needs.
Does this work on Joomla 4 and Joomla 5?
Yes. Both have the same Custom module type under Content → Site Modules, the same “Prepare Content” option, and the same menu-assignment control, so the install is identical.
Do I need a developer to add DeskCrew to Joomla?
No. It is one module and one paste. Your widget key and board slug come from the DeskCrew dashboard’s Install page, and the whole setup takes a few minutes.
Where do chats from my Joomla site go?
Every conversation becomes a ticket in your DeskCrew dashboard. The AI drafts a reply grounded in your knowledge base, a human approves it, and visitors who already left get the answer by email.