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Software · head to head

Crisp vs Klaus

Crisp logo

Crisp

Software

Customer messaging platform for startups and SMBs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Klaus logo

Klaus

Software

AI-powered quality management for support teams

From
$50/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Crisp has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Crisp free tier includes only 2 agents and no AI credits; AI capability requires paid tier; Klaus no longer available as standalone product after Zendesk acquisition
  • They diverge on capability: Crisp covers Live chat, Klaus covers AI-powered QA.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Crisp and Klaus actually diverge.

Attributes where Crisp and Klaus differ
AttributeCrispKlaus
Starting priceFree$50/month
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsCloud-based SaaSWeb
Founded20152017

Identical on both: 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 Crisp

  • Live chat
  • Shared inbox
  • Chatbots
  • Knowledge base
  • Video calls
  • CRM
  • Slack
  • WordPress

Only in Klaus

  • AI-powered QA
  • Conversation reviews
  • Scorecards
  • Coaching
  • Performance analytics
  • Calibration
  • Zendesk
  • Intercom

Both cover

  • GDPR
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Crisp

  • Growing startups needing affordable all-in-one customer support with AI automationnot Klaus
  • Teams seeking omnichannel support consolidating email, chat, WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagramnot Klaus

Klaus

  • Quality assurancenot Crisp
  • Agent coachingnot Crisp
  • Performance trackingnot Crisp

Where each one falls short

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

Crisp

  • Free tier includes only 2 agents and no AI credits; AI capability requires paid tier
  • Free tier customer profile limit of 100; higher limits require upgrade
  • Omnichannel support and workflow automation excluded from Free and Mini tiers
  • White labelling only available in Plus tier ($295+/month)

Klaus

  • No longer available as standalone product after Zendesk acquisition
  • Requires separate Zendesk subscription (not included in base plan)
  • Cannot be used with non-Zendesk help desk systems

Pricing, plan by plan

Crisp

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Crisp review.

Klaus

$50/month
  • Workforce Engagement Bundle$50/month
    • Includes Zendesk QA (formerly Klaus)
    • Requires base Zendesk Support or Suite plan
    • 100% conversation review with AI

Which should you pick?

Choose Crisp if

  • You need live chat.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud-based SaaS.
  • You also want shared inbox.
Crisp review

Choose Klaus if

  • You need ai-powered qa.
  • You also want conversation reviews.
Klaus review

Questions people ask

Is Crisp or Klaus better?
Neither clearly leads. Crisp starts at Free and Klaus at $50/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Crisp or Klaus?
Crisp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Crisp and $50/month for Klaus.
Does Crisp or Klaus run on more platforms?
Crisp runs on Cloud-based SaaS. Klaus runs on Web.
Can I use Crisp for free?
Yes. Crisp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Klaus starts at $50/month.
What is Crisp best used for?
Crisp is most often used for growing startups needing affordable all-in-one customer support with ai automation, teams seeking omnichannel support consolidating email, chat, whatsapp, messenger, instagram. Of those, growing startups needing affordable all-in-one customer support with ai automation and teams seeking omnichannel support consolidating email, chat, whatsapp, messenger, instagram are not what Klaus is typically brought in for.
What can Crisp do that Klaus cannot?
Crisp covers Live chat, Shared inbox, Chatbots, Knowledge base. Klaus covers AI-powered QA, Conversation reviews, Scorecards, Coaching. Both handle GDPR, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Klaus: Is Klaus still available as a standalone product?

No. Klaus was acquired by Zendesk in February 2024 and is now integrated into Zendesk as Zendesk QA, requiring a paid Zendesk plan as the base.

Source
Klaus: What QA features does Klaus provide?

Klaus automatically reviews 100% of customer interactions using AI, provides immediate performance insights, reduces QA time by 80%, and improves CSAT scores through targeted coaching.

Source
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Related pages

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