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Software · head to head

Hive vs Zendesk

Hive logo

Hive

Software

Project management built for speed

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zendesk logo

Zendesk

Software

Champions of customer service

From
$19/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Hive the free plan is capped at 200 MB of storage; 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: Hive covers Tasks, Zendesk covers Ticket management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hive and Zendesk actually diverge.

Attributes where Hive and Zendesk differ
AttributeHiveZendesk
Starting priceOn request$19/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, DesktopWeb
Founded20152007

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Hive

  • Tasks
  • Gantt view
  • Kanban
  • Time tracking
  • Forms
  • Zoom
  • Google Drive
  • Dropbox

Only in Zendesk

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

Both cover

  • Slack

What people use each for

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

Hive

  • Project and task management with multiple project viewsnot Zendesk
  • Coordinating work, proofing and resourcing for teamsnot Zendesk

Zendesk

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

Where each one falls short

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

Hive

  • The free plan is capped at 200 MB of storage
  • The Starter plan at $5 per user per month is limited to 10 projects
  • Eight capabilities are sold as $5 per user add ons on the Teams plan, including CRM, timesheets, proofing, resourcing, advanced dashboards, external users and SSO
  • Buying SSO plus a few of those add ons therefore costs more than the $12 base seat itself
  • AI credits are metered monthly at 1,000, 3,000 and 5,000 by plan

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

Hive

On request
  • FreeFree
    • Basic features
    • 10 users
  • Teams$12/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Time tracking
    • Automations

Zendesk

$19/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Zendesk review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Hive if

  • You need tasks.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
  • You also want gantt view.
Hive review

Choose Zendesk if

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

Questions people ask

Is Hive or Zendesk better?
Neither clearly leads. Hive starts at On request and Zendesk at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hive or Zendesk?
Hive starts at On request and Zendesk at $19/month.
Does Hive or Zendesk run on more platforms?
Hive runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop. Zendesk runs on Web.
What is Hive best used for?
Hive is most often used for project and task management with multiple project views, coordinating work, proofing and resourcing for teams. Of those, project and task management with multiple project views and coordinating work, proofing and resourcing for teams are not what Zendesk is typically brought in for.
What can Hive do that Zendesk cannot?
Hive covers Tasks, Gantt view, Kanban, Time tracking. Zendesk covers Ticket management, Omnichannel support, Knowledge base, Live chat. Both handle Slack.
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