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Freshchat integration

Customize the Freshchat chat button with an animated character

Swap the plain Freshchat bubble for a character in your brand colors. Opens your Freshchat widget.

Try it with FreshchatInstall guides

Can you change the Freshchat chat icon?

Yes, more than most: Freshchat lets you set a separate launcher color, use a custom icon or a button with your own text, choose bottom left or right with pixel offsets, and hide the button to open the chat from code. Its docs don't describe animation or mobile-specific launcher settings.

What Freshchat lets you change

  • Set a separate launcher color
  • Use a custom icon or a button with custom text
  • Choose bottom left or right with pixel offsets
  • Hide the button and open the chat from code (hideChatButton and window.fcWidget.open())

What it doesn't

  • Animate the launcher or use a character
  • Set different launcher options for mobile (not documented)

Source: Freshworks: configure the Freshchat web widget, checked 2026-10-18. More tools compared in how to customize your website's chat button.

Add an animated character to Freshchat, step by step

  1. Create a free Chatmello account and enter your website address.
  2. Pick a character (or upload your own mascot), your brand colors, a personality and a greeting.
  3. Publish, then paste your snippet before </body> on every page, next to your Freshchat code. It looks like this:
    <script src="https://www.chatmello.com/chatmello.js" data-site="YOUR-SITE-ID" async></script>
  4. Open your website. Your pet finds Freshchat on the page by itself and takes over its button. The dashboard shows "Found Freshchat on your site".
  • Keep your Freshchat code (wchat.freshchat.com, window.fcWidget) on the page.

How the pet works with Freshchat

  • Chatmello hides the Freshchat button while the pet is showing and brings it back if the pet can't work.
  • Clicking the pet opens the Freshchat widget.
  • Freshchat's unread count shows on the pet while the chat is closed.

What stays the same

  • Your Freshchat account, inbox, team and routing
  • Your bots, automations and office hours
  • The Freshchat chat window your visitors see
  • If Freshchat fails to load or open, the pet steps aside and the normal Freshchat button comes back

Performance and accessibility

  • The Chatmello script is about 12 KB (gzipped), loads after your page and downloads only the character you use.
  • No cookies, and it never records what visitors type.
  • The pet is a real button with a label, works with the keyboard, and keeps still for visitors who ask for reduced motion.

Troubleshooting

The Freshchat button still shows
Check that the Freshchat code loads on the same pages as Chatmello, then hard-refresh. If Freshchat takes more than about 15 seconds to start, the pet steps aside.
I already set a custom Freshchat icon
That's fine: it's hidden while the pet shows, and comes back if the pet can't work.
The pet doesn't appear
Check the website address in your Chatmello settings and that your design is published.

What visitors get

  • A friendly character instead of a plain bubble
  • A greeting bubble with your message
  • The Freshchat chat opens when they click the pet
  • Unread messages shown on the pet while the chat is closed

Questions

Freshchat already allows a custom icon. Why use Chatmello?

A custom icon is a still image. Chatmello gives you an animated character that greets visitors, reacts and shows unread messages, without code.

Do I need a particular Freshchat plan?

No. Chatmello works with any Freshchat plan that includes the web widget.

Do Freddy bots and my Freshchat routing still work?

Yes. Chatmello only replaces the button; everything inside Freshchat stays the same.

Will Freshchat's unread count still show?

Yes, on the pet while the chat is closed.

Does it work with Freshdesk Messaging?

If your website widget is loaded with Freshchat's web SDK (window.fcWidget), yes. Otherwise, Chatmello's automatic detection may still find its button.

Can I show the pet on some pages only?

Yes. In Chatmello's settings, show it only on pages you list, or everywhere except some.

Will it slow down my website?

No. The script is about 12 KB, loads in the background, and only fetches the files your pet needs.

Is there a free plan?

Yes: one website, every character and every chat tool, free forever.

Give Freshchat a face

Free for one website. Pick a character, choose your colors, paste one line of code.

Create your pet free