Looking for a Drift alternative that actually closes deals? Knock is faster, easier and built for real AI–human collaboration across Slack, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and more.
To keep a lead engaged, sales reps need to respond within seconds—but that’s impossible to scale. If no one replies instantly, the lead moves on.
SDRs waste time on low-quality chats
Website chats start anonymously, so SDRs have to engage with every visitor - relevant or not. There’s no way to filter out low-quality leads before a rep gets involved.
Chatbots make things worse
To save SDR time, companies use chatbots—but 93% of B2B buyers drop off when conversations aren’t human. Buyers want real, not scripted, interactions.
Leads ghost you the moment they leave
Once a visitor closes the tab, the chat disappears. SDRs are left chasing cold leads through outbound emails—which take more effort and rarely convert.
Why Choose Knock Over Drift A Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Criteria
Drift
Knock
Response Speed
Website Chat
Reps must respond immediately when leads request a human.
Knock
SDRs don't need to reply immediately. Leads get notified when the SDR replies - and in their preferred messaging app
Frictionless Engagement
Website Chat
Requires email entry to reveal lead info.
Knock
No forms, no emails, no friction. Knock auto-detects contact info and routes it to the right rep.
Chat Location
Website Chat
Chats only relevant for website visitors.
Knock
Leads can start chats from anywhere: LinkedIn posts, Medium, GitHub, G2, and more.
Re-engagement Capabilities
Website Chat
Once the lead leaves the website, the chat closes, moving the funnel to email outreach.
Knock
Sales conversations don’t stop when leads leave the site. Chats continue throughout the funnel—with an 83% reply rate that keeps deals moving.
Multi-Channel Continuity
Website Chat
Restricted to website-only engagement.
Knock
Works across Slack, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, iMessage, and more.
Asynchronous vs. Real-time Chat
Website Chat
Real-time only. If the website session expires, the chat closes.
Knock
Leads can return anytime and pick up the conversation in their favorite messaging app.
Ease of Use
Website Chat
Often intrusive pop-ups disrupt browsing. Mobile issues and lack of advanced features like file sharing and voice messages.
Knock
Seamless, mobile-friendly experience using familiar messaging apps.
Integration with Sales Tools
Website Chat
Basic CRM integration
Knock
Leads can return to chat directly from their CRM, which is already deeply integrated with sales & marketing tools
AI Agent
Website Chat
Bot-driven experience with limited flexibility in live sales conversations.
Knock
AI agents act like team members, joining chats based on routing rules. Knock also provides a co-pilot to help reps respond faster and better.
De-anonymization
Website Chat
Only for website visitors. Based on IP address only.
Knock
Identifies company, contact, and context using AI—no manual entry needed. Works even outside your site.
Follow-up Efficiency
Website Chat
Follow-ups occur via email, leading to longer cycles and lower reply rates.
Knock
Sales can follow up directly in chat, without losing conversation history.Reply rates exceed 83%, making it the most engaging way to connect.
Monitoring
Website Chat
Managed via Drift interface.
Knock
Monitor chats right from your Slack workspace.
Account-Based Engagement
Website Chat
Most chats start anonymously, making prioritization difficult before lead identification.
Knock
Identifies and prioritizes high-value accounts, ensuring they reach the right rep.
Sales Onboarding
Website Chat
Requires onboarding and training for each rep to learn the chat interface. Sales reps must work within a separate tool.
Knock
No training needed. Reps use Slack + CRM. Setup takes just 10–20 minutes.
Team Collaboration
Website Chat
One-on-one chat only.
Knock
Multiple team members can jump into shared conversations via Slack.
Set-Up & Maintenance
Website Chat
2–12 weeks setup with heavy admin load.
Knock
Live in under 2 hours. No code. No training. Zero maintenance.
Enterprise-Grade Security
Website Chat
Bot-driven experience with limited flexibility
Knock
AI agents act like team members, joining chats based on routing rules and lead intent.
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