Windows Server & IIS

Live chat software that runs on your own Windows Server

ZChat installs on the stack you already run - Windows Server, IIS, and SQL Server - so live chat, an AI assistant, and every transcript stay on your network. It is software you own for a one-time license, not another monthly cloud subscription.

Fits your Windows stack

Deploy to IIS as an ordinary web application and point it at SQL Server. No Docker requirement, no third-party runtime lock-in - it runs where your other line-of-business apps already run, managed the way your IT team already manages Windows Server.

Two editions, one feature set

Run the modern ASP.NET Core build, or the classic ASP.NET Web Forms edition that runs on the .NET Framework already in Windows - ideal for older servers and classic IIS with nothing extra to install. Both use the same SQL Server database and the same admin console.

Your SQL Server, your data

Every conversation, visitor record, rating, and audit entry lives in a database you control. Back it up with your existing SQL Server tooling, query it directly for reporting, and satisfy GDPR requests with built-in export and erasure.

What you need to get started

A typical Windows Server deployment. Everything is included in the download.

Requirement ASP.NET Core edition Web Forms edition
Operating system Windows Server (or Windows) with IIS Windows Server (or Windows) with IIS
Runtime .NET 8 Hosting Bundle .NET Framework 4.8 (built into Windows)
Database SQL Server (Express and up) SQL Server (Express and up)
Real-time transport SignalR (WebSocket) with polling fallback HTTP polling
AI chatbot Local Ollama or your OpenAI/Anthropic keys Local Ollama or your OpenAI/Anthropic keys

Not sure which to pick? The step-by-step IIS setup guide walks through both.

Built for on-premise

Live chat that never leaves your network

Regulated industries, internal help desks, and privacy-first teams often cannot send customer conversations to a third-party cloud. Because ZChat runs on your own Windows Server and stores everything in your SQL Server, you keep the data - and with a local AI model, even the chatbot runs air-gapped.

Great fit

Windows-centric IT shops, internal help desks, healthcare and finance, agencies self-hosting for clients, and anyone replacing a per-agent SaaS bill with software they own.

Runs alongside

Your existing IIS sites, Active Directory, SQL Server backups, and monitoring - managed with the Windows tooling you already use.

What do I need to run ZChat on Windows Server?
Windows Server with IIS and a SQL Server database (Express is fine to start). The ASP.NET Core edition needs the .NET Hosting Bundle; the ASP.NET Web Forms edition runs on the .NET Framework already built into Windows, so it works on classic IIS with no extra runtime to install.
Which edition should I choose - ASP.NET Core or Web Forms?
Both share the same SQL Server schema and feature set. Choose ASP.NET Core for the modern cross-platform stack and SignalR real-time transport. Choose the Web Forms edition if you run older Windows Server or classic IIS and prefer not to install the .NET Hosting Bundle - it is a drop-in ASP.NET 4.8 web application.
Where is the chat data stored?
In your own SQL Server database. Conversations, visitor records, transcripts, ratings, audit logs, and analytics never leave your network. GDPR export and erasure are built in.
Does it work behind our firewall or on an internal network?
Yes. ZChat is installed on your infrastructure and can run entirely on an internal network or behind a corporate firewall. Paired with a local Ollama model, even the AI chatbot runs without any outbound internet traffic.
How much does it cost?
A one-time license from $299 for a single production domain, $499 for up to ten domains, and $999 for unlimited domains and agents. No per-agent seats and no monthly subscription. A source-code license is available as an option.
One-time pricing

Own it once, run it on your server

Domain, 1 production domain$299
Small Business, up to 10 domains$499
Enterprise, unlimited domains and agents$999

All prices one-time. Both Windows editions and the AI chatbot are included in every license. Source code license also available.

Compare Licenses Download Free Evaluation
Owned customer support software

Deploy live chat on your own terms, not on someone else's pricing model.

ZChat gives you the installable server, web dashboard, website widget, and desktop agent tools in one self-hosted product you buy once and keep. Run it on infrastructure you trust and connect AI only if and how you want it.

Deployment

Install on Windows or Linux, behind IIS or Nginx, in a VM, or in Docker if that fits your stack.

Commercial model

One-time purchase, perpetual license, and no monthly per-agent bill attached to growth.

AI Flexibility

Use Ollama locally or connect OpenAI and Anthropic with your own provider accounts.