diff --git a/packages/instantsearch.js/src/connectors/chat/__tests__/connectChat-test.ts b/packages/instantsearch.js/src/connectors/chat/__tests__/connectChat-test.ts
index c6664be037..97ce79da3c 100644
--- a/packages/instantsearch.js/src/connectors/chat/__tests__/connectChat-test.ts
+++ b/packages/instantsearch.js/src/connectors/chat/__tests__/connectChat-test.ts
@@ -183,6 +183,47 @@ describe('connectChat', () => {
         }),
       });
     });
+
+    it('uses custom `type` as key in getRenderState', () => {
+      const render = jest.fn();
+      const makeWidget = connectChat(render);
+      const widget = makeWidget({ type: 'customChat', agentId: 'agentId' });
+
+      const helper = algoliasearchHelper(createSearchClient(), '');
+
+      const instantSearchInstance: Pick<
+        InstantSearch,
+        'client' | 'getUiState'
+      > = {
+        client: createSearchClient(),
+        getUiState: () => ({ indexName: {} }),
+      };
+      const parent: Pick<IndexWidget, 'getIndexId' | 'setIndexUiState'> = {
+        getIndexId: () => 'indexName',
+        setIndexUiState: () => {},
+      };
+
+      const result = widget.getRenderState(
+        {
+          // @ts-expect-error
+          searchBox: {},
+        },
+        createInitOptions({
+          helper,
+          state: helper.state,
+          instantSearchInstance: instantSearchInstance as InstantSearch,
+          parent: parent as IndexWidget,
+        })
+      );
+
+      expect(result).toHaveProperty('customChat');
+      // @ts-expect-error access dynamic key
+      expect(result.customChat).toEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          widgetParams: expect.objectContaining({ type: 'customChat' }),
+        })
+      );
+    });
   });
 
   it('renders during init and render', () => {
diff --git a/packages/instantsearch.js/src/connectors/chat/connectChat.ts b/packages/instantsearch.js/src/connectors/chat/connectChat.ts
index a895454cb3..89875f0e47 100644
--- a/packages/instantsearch.js/src/connectors/chat/connectChat.ts
+++ b/packages/instantsearch.js/src/connectors/chat/connectChat.ts
@@ -117,12 +117,18 @@ export type ChatConnectorParams<TUiMessage extends UIMessage = UIMessage> = (
    * Configuration for client-side tools.
    */
   tools?: Record<string, Omit<UserClientSideTool, 'layoutComponent'>>;
+  /**
+   * Identifier of this type of chat widget. This is used for the key in renderState.
+   * @default 'chat'
+   */
+  type?: string;
 };
 
 export type ChatWidgetDescription<TUiMessage extends UIMessage = UIMessage> = {
   $$type: 'ais.chat';
   renderState: ChatRenderState<TUiMessage>;
   indexRenderState: {
+    // In IndexRenderState, the key is always 'chat', but in the widgetParams you can customize it with the `type` parameter
     chat: WidgetRenderState<
       ChatRenderState<TUiMessage>,
       ChatConnectorParams<TUiMessage>
@@ -146,7 +152,12 @@ export default (function connectChat<TWidgetParams extends UnknownWidgetParams>(
   ) => {
     warning(false, 'Chat is not yet stable and will change in the future.');
 
-    const { resume = false, tools = {}, ...options } = widgetParams || {};
+    const {
+      resume = false,
+      tools = {},
+      type = 'chat',
+      ...options
+    } = widgetParams || {};
 
     let _chatInstance: Chat<TUiMessage>;
     let input = '';
@@ -320,7 +331,8 @@ export default (function connectChat<TWidgetParams extends UnknownWidgetParams>(
       ): IndexRenderState & ChatWidgetDescription['indexRenderState'] {
         return {
           ...renderState,
-          chat: this.getWidgetRenderState(renderOptions),
+          // Type is casted to 'chat' here, because in the IndexRenderState the key is always 'chat'
+          [type as 'chat']: this.getWidgetRenderState(renderOptions),
         };
       },