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Software · head to head

Crisp vs Zendesk Chat

Crisp logo

Crisp

Software

Customer messaging platform for startups and SMBs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zendesk Chat logo

Zendesk Chat

Software

Live chat software from Zendesk

From
$49/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; Zendesk Chat messaging and live chat require at least the Suite Team plan at $55/agent/month paid yearly; the base Support Team plan at $19/agent/month does not include chat at all
  • They diverge on capability: Crisp covers Live chat, Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Crisp and Zendesk Chat actually diverge.

Attributes where Crisp and Zendesk Chat differ
AttributeCrispZendesk Chat
Starting priceFree$49/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsCloud-based SaaSWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20152007

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
  • Knowledge base
  • Video calls
  • CRM
  • Slack
  • Segment
  • SSL

Only in Zendesk Chat

  • Web messaging
  • Mobile messaging
  • Proactive chat
  • Analytics
  • Triggers
  • Zendesk Support
  • Salesforce
  • SOC2

Both cover

  • Chatbots
  • WordPress
  • Shopify
  • Zapier
  • GDPR
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android 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 Zendesk Chat
  • Teams seeking omnichannel support consolidating email, chat, WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagramnot Zendesk Chat

Zendesk Chat

  • Support teams wanting live chat bundled with ticketing rather than a standalone chat widgetnot 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)

Zendesk Chat

  • Messaging and live chat require at least the Suite Team plan at $55/agent/month paid yearly; the base Support Team plan at $19/agent/month does not include chat at all
  • Enterprise-grade chat features (Admin Copilot, skills-based routing) require Suite Professional at $115/agent/month or higher

Pricing, plan by plan

Crisp

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Crisp review.

Zendesk Chat

$49/month
  • Suite Team$49/month
    • Messaging
    • Help center
    • Basic bots
  • Suite Growth$79/month
    • Team + Multiple brands
    • Custom fields
  • Suite Professional$99/month
    • Growth + AI
    • Custom analytics

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 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 Crisp or Zendesk Chat better?
Neither clearly leads. Crisp starts at Free and Zendesk Chat at $49/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Crisp or Zendesk Chat?
Crisp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Crisp and $49/month for Zendesk Chat.
Does Crisp or Zendesk Chat run on more platforms?
Crisp runs on Cloud-based SaaS. Zendesk Chat runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Crisp for free?
Yes. Crisp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zendesk Chat starts at $49/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 Zendesk Chat is typically brought in for.
What can Crisp do that Zendesk Chat cannot?
Crisp covers Live chat, Shared inbox, Knowledge base, Video calls. Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging, Mobile messaging, Proactive chat, Analytics. Both handle Chatbots, WordPress, Shopify, Zapier.
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Related pages

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