Add live chat to Rails. DeskCrew support widget
DeskCrew adds AI live chat and ticketing to a Rails app with one script tag in the application layout, so every rendered page carries the widget.
One paste on Ruby on Rails
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 Ruby on Rails
Open app/views/layouts/application.html.erb, the layout Rails wraps around every view by default.
Paste the DeskCrew widget snippet just before the closing </body> tag.
Reload. The chat bubble appears across the app; 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 Rails
How do I add live chat to a Rails app?
Paste the widget script into app/views/layouts/application.html.erb, just before the closing body tag. Rails wraps that layout around every view by default, so one edit covers the whole application.
Does it work with Turbo and Hotwire?
Yes. The widget mounts once into its own container, and Turbo replaces page bodies without touching it, so an open conversation survives navigation rather than resetting on each visit.
Do I need to add it to the asset pipeline or importmap?
No. It is a third-party script loaded from a CDN, not an application asset, so it needs no Sprockets entry, no importmap pin, and no bundling step.
What if I have more than one layout?
Add the tag to each layout you want the widget on. Many apps have a separate layout for marketing pages and for the signed-in app; the widget only appears where the tag is.
Is there a free live chat widget for Rails?
Yes. The DeskCrew free plan includes the chat widget, ticketing, a public help center, and a monthly AI answer allowance, with no credit card.