Softwr

CRM · head to head

Copper vs Zendesk

Copper logo

Copper

CRM

Gmail-native CRM for growth teams

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Zendesk logo

Zendesk

Customer Support

Champions of customer service

From
$19/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Copper has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Copper the Basic plan caps at 2,500 contacts and 25 companies, which is small for a CRM at $23 per user per month; Zendesk aI agents operate on per-resolution billing; customers pay only when an AI agent successfully resolves a ticket without escalation
  • They diverge on capability: Copper covers Gmail integration, Zendesk covers Ticket management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 2 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Copper and Zendesk actually diverge.

Attributes where Copper and Zendesk differ
AttributeCopperZendesk
Starting priceFree$19/month
Free tierYesNo
CategoryCRMCustomer Support
Founded20142007

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), platforms (Web), 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 Copper

  • Gmail integration
  • Contact management
  • Deal tracking
  • Pipeline management
  • Email tracking
  • Gmail
  • Google Calendar
  • Zapier

Only in Zendesk

  • Ticket management
  • Omnichannel support
  • Knowledge base
  • Live chat
  • Call center
  • Analytics & reporting
  • Customer satisfaction
  • Salesforce

Both cover

  • Automation
  • Slack
  • SOC2

What people use each for

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

Copper

  • CRM for teams working inside Google Workspacenot Zendesk
  • Pipeline and deal trackingnot Zendesk
  • Contact enrichment and activity capturenot Zendesk
  • Workflow automation on the higher tiersnot Zendesk

Zendesk

  • Help desk and ticketing system managementnot Copper
  • Omnichannel customer supportnot Copper
  • Knowledge base and self-service portalsnot Copper
  • AI-assisted customer servicenot Copper

Where each one falls short

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

Copper

  • The Basic plan caps at 2,500 contacts and 25 companies, which is small for a CRM at $23 per user per month
  • Professional at $59 per user per month still caps at 15,000 contacts and 50 companies
  • Workflow automation, bulk email and reporting all require Professional
  • Email sequences, custom reports and multi-currency are Business tier only at $99 per user per month
  • The advertised prices are the annual rates; monthly billing runs from $29 to $134 per user

Zendesk

  • AI agents operate on per-resolution billing; customers pay only when an AI agent successfully resolves a ticket without escalation
  • Copilot and Contact Center features available as separate add-ons at £50+/agent/month
  • Advanced routing, workforce engagement, and approval workflows limited to Enterprise tier
  • Highest tier requires sales consultation and custom pricing

Pricing, plan by plan

Copper

Free
  • Basic$undefined/mo
  • Professional$undefined/mo
  • Business$undefined/mo

Zendesk

$19/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Zendesk review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Copper if

  • You need gmail integration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want contact management.
Copper review

Choose Zendesk if

  • You need ticket management.
  • You also want omnichannel support.
Zendesk review

Questions people ask

Is Copper or Zendesk better?
Neither clearly leads. Copper starts at Free and Zendesk at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Copper or Zendesk?
Copper has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Copper and $19/month for Zendesk.
Does Copper or Zendesk run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Copper for free?
Yes. Copper has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zendesk starts at $19/month.
What is Copper best used for?
Copper is most often used for crm for teams working inside google workspace, pipeline and deal tracking, contact enrichment and activity capture, workflow automation on the higher tiers. Of those, crm for teams working inside google workspace and pipeline and deal tracking are not what Zendesk is typically brought in for.
What can Copper do that Zendesk cannot?
Copper covers Gmail integration, Contact management, Deal tracking, Pipeline management. Zendesk covers Ticket management, Omnichannel support, Knowledge base, Live chat. Both handle Automation, Slack, SOC2.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Copper: How much does Copper cost per person?

Basic is $29/month (or $23/month annual). Professional is $69/month (or $59/month annual). Business is $134/month (or $99/month annual). All pricing is per seat in USD, excluding taxes.

Source
Zendesk: What is included in the free trial?

You'll have access to all features on the Zendesk Customer Service Suite Professional plan for 14 days, with Copilot included by default.

Source
Copper: What contact limit does each plan allow?

Basic allows 2,500 contacts. Professional allows 15,000 contacts. Business allows unlimited contacts.

Source
Zendesk: How is Zendesk pricing calculated?

Base subscription pricing is determined by your selected plan tier and the number of agent seats needed. Additional costs include usage-based features like App Builder and Voice, plus optional add-ons.

Source
Copper: How much can I save by paying annually?

Annual billing saves 14-26% vs. monthly: Basic saves 20%, Professional saves 14%, Business saves 26%. For example, Professional costs $69/month on monthly billing but only $59/month when billed annually.

Source
Zendesk: What are the contract terms?

Zendesk subscriptions are month to month, annual, or multi-year. Annual billing typically costs less than monthly payments.

Source
Copper: Is there a free trial or free plan?

Yes. Copper offers a 14-day free trial with instant activation and no credit card required. Trial includes full access to all features.

Source
Zendesk: Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan?

Yes, changes may apply immediately or at renewal depending on your subscription terms.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Copper

More on Zendesk

Keep looking

Other head to heads