Add live chat to ReadMe docs. DeskCrew support widget
DeskCrew adds AI live chat and ticketing to a ReadMe developer hub with one paste in Admin Settings → Custom CSS, JS, HTML. Into the Header HTML field.
One paste on ReadMe
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 ReadMe
In your ReadMe project, open Admin Settings and go to the Custom CSS, JS, HTML section.
Paste the DeskCrew widget snippet into the Header HTML field. ReadMe includes it inside the <head> of every page of your hub.
Save. The chat bubble appears across your docs; 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: ReadMe gates Custom CSS, JS, HTML to select (paid) plans, if the section is missing from your Admin Settings, your plan doesn’t include it.
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 ReadMe docs
How do I add live chat to a ReadMe developer hub?
Open Admin Settings → Custom CSS, JS, HTML and paste the DeskCrew script tag into the Header HTML field. Header HTML lands in the <head> of every page. One paste, no theme work.
Should the snippet go in Custom Javascript or Header HTML?
Header HTML. ReadMe describes it as the place for meta tags and loading external CSS or JS in the head, and it takes the script tag as-is. The Custom Javascript box is for raw JS code and is included at the bottom of the page.
Is custom code available on every ReadMe plan?
No. ReadMe includes Custom CSS and JavaScript on select plans. If Admin Settings has no Custom CSS, JS, HTML section, the feature isn’t in your plan; the DeskCrew widget itself is free.
Why add a support widget to API docs?
Because “the docs didn’t cover it” is the ticket you want to hear about: developers ask in place, the AI drafts an answer grounded in your DeskCrew knowledge base, and every unanswered gap becomes a ticket your team can turn into a doc fix.
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 ReadMe hub 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 developers who already left get the answer by email.