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Customer Support · head to head

8x8 Contact Center vs Zendesk Chat

8x8 Contact Center logo

8x8 Contact Center

Customer Support

Integrated cloud communications and contact center

From
$85/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zendesk Chat logo

Zendesk Chat

Live Chat

Live chat software from Zendesk

From
$19/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 8x8 Contact Center listed on G-Cloud 14 directly by 8x8 UK Limited (not a reseller) at £0.68 to £113.40 per user per month for 8x8 Contact Centre; Zendesk Chat enterprise plan requires custom pricing quote
  • They diverge on capability: 8x8 Contact Center covers Voice, Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 8x8 Contact Center and Zendesk Chat actually diverge.

Attributes where 8x8 Contact Center and Zendesk Chat differ
Attribute8x8 Contact CenterZendesk Chat
Starting price$85/month$19/month
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, Ios, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryCustomer SupportLive Chat
Founded19872007

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 8x8 Contact Center

  • Voice
  • Digital channels
  • IVR
  • ACD
  • WFM
  • Quality management
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Zendesk

Only in Zendesk Chat

  • Web messaging
  • Mobile messaging
  • Chatbots
  • Proactive chat
  • Triggers
  • Zendesk Support
  • Shopify
  • WordPress

Both cover

  • Analytics
  • Salesforce
  • SOC2
  • HIPAA
  • GDPR
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

8x8 Contact Center

  • Unified communicationsnot Zendesk Chat
  • Contact centernot Zendesk Chat
  • Remote worknot Zendesk Chat
  • Customer supportnot Zendesk Chat

Zendesk Chat

  • Customer support team managementnot 8x8 Contact Center
  • Multi-channel messagingnot 8x8 Contact Center
  • AI-powered contact centersnot 8x8 Contact Center

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

8x8 Contact Center

  • Listed on G-Cloud 14 directly by 8x8 UK Limited (not a reseller) at £0.68 to £113.40 per user per month for 8x8 Contact Centre

Zendesk Chat

  • Enterprise plan requires custom pricing quote
  • AI agent usage beyond plan allowance billed separately

Pricing, plan by plan

8x8 Contact Center

$85/month
  • X6$85/month
    • Voice contact center
    • ACD
    • IVR
  • X7$110/month
    • X6 + Digital channels
    • Quality management
  • X8$140/month
    • X7 + WFM
    • Speech analytics
    • Advanced AI

Zendesk Chat

$19/month
  • Support Team$19/month
    • Email ticketing
    • Routing and analytics
    • Pre-written responses
  • Suite Team$55/month
    • All Support features
    • AI Agents
    • Knowledge Base
  • Suite Professional$115/month
    • Suite Team features
    • Admin Copilot
    • App Builder

Which should you pick?

Choose 8x8 Contact Center if

  • You need voice.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Ios, Android.
  • You also want digital channels.
8x8 Contact Center review

Choose Zendesk Chat if

  • You need web messaging.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want mobile messaging.
Zendesk Chat review

Questions people ask

Is 8x8 Contact Center or Zendesk Chat better?
Neither clearly leads. 8x8 Contact Center starts at $85/month and Zendesk Chat at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 8x8 Contact Center or Zendesk Chat?
8x8 Contact Center starts at $85/month and Zendesk Chat at $19/month.
Does 8x8 Contact Center or Zendesk Chat run on more platforms?
8x8 Contact Center runs on Web, Desktop, Ios, Android. Zendesk Chat runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is 8x8 Contact Center best used for?
8x8 Contact Center is most often used for unified communications, contact center, remote work, customer support. Of those, unified communications and contact center are not what Zendesk Chat is typically brought in for.
What can 8x8 Contact Center do that Zendesk Chat cannot?
8x8 Contact Center covers Voice, Digital channels, IVR, ACD. Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging, Mobile messaging, Chatbots, Proactive chat. Both handle Analytics, Salesforce, SOC2, HIPAA.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Zendesk Chat: Can Messaging be used for live, session-based conversations or asynchronous chats?

Both. Messaging supports real-time sessions for fast help as well as ongoing asynchronous conversations, so customers can chat at their own pace and agents stay flexible.

Source
Zendesk Chat: Do agents need a separate tool or tab to use Messaging?

No. Messaging is built right into the Zendesk Agent Workspace, so agents can manage conversations seamlessly without switching tools or tabs.

Source
Zendesk Chat: How do I know if my AI agents are handling my tickets effectively?

Zendesk QA automatically reviews all conversations, enabling performance tracking and continuous improvement of AI and agent support.

Source
Zendesk Chat: Once I build an AI agent, can I deploy it across more than one social channel?

Yes. Build your AI Agent once and deploy it to web, mobile, and social messaging channels like WhatsApp, Facebook, and more.

Source
Zendesk Chat: Why should I switch from legacy live chat to Messaging?

Messaging enables users to replicate and enhance live chat experiences by leveraging AI agents and omnichannel routing capabilities.

Source
Zendesk Chat: Can I build something custom or go beyond the out-of-the-box experience?

Absolutely. With access to the Zendesk messaging platform, you can create fully custom experiences that fit your unique business needs.

Source
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