Drift for Startups vs Charla
Choose Charla if you need a chat and support product you can sign up for now; consider Drift for Startups only if you are an existing Drift customer reviewing your options. Salesloft announced in March 2026 that it is gradually sunsetting Drift and referring existing customers to 1mind. Charla currently publishes free and paid plans for live chat, AI chatbots, a knowledge base and a help desk.
Last updated October 24, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | Drift for Startups | Charla |
|---|---|---|
| Current status | Gradually sunsetting; 1mind named successor | Free and paid sign-up offered |
| Published price | Not published | Free; paid plans from $12 per agent monthly |
| Published plans | Not published | Free, Starter, Essentials, Plus |
| Free-plan limits | Not published | 1 agent, 1 site, 3 knowledge base articles |
| Primary use | Website buyer engagement | Live chat and customer support |
| Conversation channels | Website chat | Website, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, Messenger, email |
| Help desk and knowledge base | NA | Ticketing and knowledge base |
| AI and automation | Legacy documentation lists custom chatbots | AI chatbots and automated chatflows |
| Integrations | Legacy documentation lists Salesforce, HubSpot, Slack | Shopify, WordPress, Magento; webhooks |
| Agent apps | Legacy documentation lists desktop and mobile apps | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS |
| Deployment | Website chat widget | Hosted service; self-hosted option by inquiry |
| Conversation limits | NA | No live-chat or chatbot conversation limits |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose Drift for Startups if
- Existing Drift customers assessing their current setup
- Teams discussing a Drift-to-1mind transition with Salesloft
Choose Charla if
- New buyers who want published prices
- Small teams starting with one free agent and site
- Support teams needing a knowledge base and help desk
- Teams handling website and messaging-channel conversations
The verdict
The deciding factor is availability. Charla is the clearer fit for a new buyer who wants published pricing and a support-focused product. Existing Drift customers may still need to assess their current setup, but should confirm its remaining availability and migration terms with Salesloft rather than rely on an older Drift for Startups offer.
Drift for Startups vs Charla: common questions
- Can I still sign up for Drift for Startups?
- Salesloft has announced a gradual sunset of Drift and says it will refer existing Drift customers to 1mind. It does not publish current Drift for Startups sign-up terms or pricing; confirm availability directly with Salesloft.
- How much does Charla cost?
- Charla publishes a Free plan, Starter at $12 per agent per month, Essentials at $25 per month and Plus at $59 per month. Drift for Startups has no current published price.
- What does Charla’s free plan include?
- Charla says its free plan allows one agent, one site and three knowledge base articles. Its chat widget displays Charla branding.
- Which product is intended for customer support?
- Charla publishes a help desk with ticketing and a knowledge base alongside live chat. Salesloft describes Drift primarily in terms of website buyer engagement and is gradually sunsetting the product.
- Can either product handle messaging channels beyond website chat?
- Charla lists WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, Messenger and email alongside website conversations. Current channel availability for Drift for Startups is not published.
- Do these products offer mobile apps?
- Charla lists iOS and Android apps, plus Windows and macOS desktop apps. Salesloft’s legacy Drift package documentation lists desktop and mobile apps, but does not establish current Drift for Startups availability.
- Can Charla be self-hosted?
- Charla says it offers a self-hosted option for customers who want to run the product in their own data centers and asks interested buyers to contact it. It does not publish a self-hosted price.
- Is 1mind the same product as Drift for Startups?
- No. Salesloft identifies 1mind as Drift’s successor for existing customers as it gradually sunsets Drift. Buyers should evaluate 1mind’s terms separately rather than assume an older Drift for Startups plan carries over.