Add live chat to Rails. DeskCrew support widget
DeskCrew adds AI live chat, an AI support chatbot and helpdesk ticketing to a Ruby on Rails app through the official deskcrew-rails gem: a view helper or middleware for the widget, Hotwire and Turbo safe, and a client that turns contact forms into tickets. A single script tag in the application layout works too.
An official gem
Add deskcrew-rails, run the generator, and one helper or one config flag puts the widget on every page. Hotwire and Turbo safe, nothing in the asset pipeline.
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
Add the official gem to your Gemfile: gem "deskcrew-rails", then bundle install and bin/rails generate deskcrew:install.
Put your key in config/initializers/deskcrew.rb (widget_key, board and site_url), then either add <%= deskcrew_widget_tag %> before </body> in app/views/layouts/application.html.erb, or set config.auto_inject = true and let the middleware add it to every HTML response.
Run bin/rails deskcrew:register_origin once per environment so the widget is allowed on your domain, then deploy. Deskcrew::Client.create_ticket(name:, email:, message:) files a ticket from a controller, a form object or a background job.
<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 gem? Paste the tag below into app/views/layouts/application.html.erb before </body> 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 Rails
Last updated: September 2026
Is there a Ruby gem for Rails?
Yes. Add gem "deskcrew-rails" to your Gemfile, run bin/rails generate deskcrew:install, and put <%= deskcrew_widget_tag %> in your layout, or set auto_inject for every page. It also ships a client that turns a contact form or a background job into a ticket. Listed at rubygems.org/gems/deskcrew-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.