Add live chat to Payload CMS. DeskCrew support widget
DeskCrew adds AI live chat and ticketing to any Payload-powered site. One script tag in the frontend that renders it.
One paste on Payload CMS
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 Payload CMS
Payload is headless (visitors load your frontend, not Payload), so the widget goes in the site that renders your content. Most Payload sites are Next.js: one <Script> tag in app/layout.tsx (see the Next.js guide).
Paste the DeskCrew widget snippet into that layout’s head or body. The Payload admin panel needs nothing.
Deploy your frontend. The chat bubble appears on every page; 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 Payload CMS
Where does a chat widget go on a Payload CMS site?
In your frontend, not in Payload. Visitors never load the CMS. Payload serves content to the site that renders it (usually Next.js), so the script tag goes in that app’s root layout.
Does DeskCrew work with a Payload CMS site?
Yes. The widget is one script tag in your frontend’s layout, so it works on any Payload-powered site regardless of how the backend is set up. Nothing installs inside Payload itself.
Is there a Payload plugin for DeskCrew?
None is needed. The widget never runs inside Payload. It is one script tag in your frontend’s layout, and the Next.js guide shows the exact line for the most common Payload setup.
Does it work with Payload’s Next.js templates?
Yes. Templates that render the site from a frontend layout (e.g. app/(frontend)/layout.tsx) take the tag there; a custom frontend on Astro, Nuxt, or plain HTML works the same way through its own layout.
Is the DeskCrew widget free?
Yes. DeskCrew’s free plan includes the chat widget, a public knowledge base, and ticketing, no card required.
Where do chats from my Payload 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.