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Software · head to head

Ada vs Kayako

Ada logo

Ada

Software

Conversational AI platform powered by machine learning

From
Free
Rated
-
Kayako logo

Kayako

Software

Effortless customer service

From
$30/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Ada has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Ada pricing is not published anywhere and requires a sales conversation; Kayako the AI agent is billed at $1 per resolved ticket, so support cost scales with ticket volume rather than being a fixed subscription
  • They diverge on capability: Ada covers Conversational AI, Kayako covers Unified inbox.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ada and Kayako actually diverge.

Attributes where Ada and Kayako differ
AttributeAdaKayako
Starting priceFree$30/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, SMS, Messaging appsWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20162001

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Ada

  • Conversational AI
  • Automatic resolution
  • Multi-language support
  • Analytics
  • Zendesk
  • API
  • Mobile support
  • SMS support

Only in Kayako

  • Unified inbox
  • Live chat
  • Help center
  • Customer journey
  • Automation
  • Reporting
  • Zapier
  • Stripe

Both cover

  • Salesforce
  • Slack
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Ada

  • AI agents resolving customer queries over chat, voice and emailnot Kayako
  • Deflecting repetitive contacts before they reach an agentnot Kayako
  • Automating multi-step actions such as order lookups and returnsnot Kayako
  • Multilingual support across a global customer basenot Kayako

Kayako

  • Help desk ticketing with a unified inbox and knowledge basenot Ada
  • Resolving support tickets automatically with an AI agentnot Ada

Where each one falls short

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

Ada

  • Pricing is not published anywhere and requires a sales conversation
  • Sold to enterprises rather than to small support teams

Kayako

  • The AI agent is billed at $1 per resolved ticket, so support cost scales with ticket volume rather than being a fixed subscription
  • A resolution counts when the AI solves the issue without human involvement, so the definition of a billable event is set by the vendor's own system
  • No per agent monthly price is published for the full Kayako One platform
  • Full platform pricing requires talking to an expert

Pricing, plan by plan

Ada

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic chatbot
    • Single language
  • Growth$100/month
    • Advanced AI
    • Multi-language
  • Scale$undefined/month
    • Enterprise features
    • Dedicated support

Kayako

$30/month
  • Inbox$30/month
    • Email & live chat
    • Help center
    • Basic automation
  • Growth$60/month
    • Everything in Inbox
    • Customer journey
    • SLA management
  • Scale$100/month
    • Everything in Growth
    • Advanced reporting
    • Custom roles

Which should you pick?

Choose Ada if

  • You need conversational ai.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, SMS, Messaging apps.
  • You also want automatic resolution.

Choose Kayako if

  • You need unified inbox.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want live chat.

Questions people ask

Is Ada or Kayako better?
Neither clearly leads. Ada starts at Free and Kayako at $30/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ada or Kayako?
Ada has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Ada and $30/month for Kayako.
Does Ada or Kayako run on more platforms?
Ada runs on Web, Mobile, SMS, Messaging apps. Kayako runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Ada for free?
Yes. Ada has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Kayako starts at $30/month.
What is Ada best used for?
Ada is most often used for ai agents resolving customer queries over chat, voice and email, deflecting repetitive contacts before they reach an agent, automating multi-step actions such as order lookups and returns, multilingual support across a global customer base. Of those, ai agents resolving customer queries over chat, voice and email and deflecting repetitive contacts before they reach an agent are not what Kayako is typically brought in for.
What can Ada do that Kayako cannot?
Ada covers Conversational AI, Automatic resolution, Multi-language support, Analytics. Kayako covers Unified inbox, Live chat, Help center, Customer journey. Both handle Salesforce, Slack, Web support.

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