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CRM · head to head

Hunter vs Zoho Desk

Hunter logo

Hunter

CRM

Email finding, verification and cold outreach platform for B2B prospecting

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Zoho Desk logo

Zoho Desk

Customer Support

Context-aware help desk software

From
Free
Free plan
Yes

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Hunter free plan is limited to 50 credits per month and a single connected inbox, restricting real usage.; Zoho Desk free plan caps at three user licenses; paid plans (Express, Standard, Professional, Enterprise) are billed annually to get the listed rate, with monthly billing costing more, and light user seats are priced separately from full agent seats
  • They diverge on capability: Hunter covers Domain search, Zoho Desk covers Ticket management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hunter and Zoho Desk actually diverge.

Attributes where Hunter and Zoho Desk differ
AttributeHunterZoho Desk
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Platformsweb, apiWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryCRMCustomer Support
Founded20151996

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Hunter

  • Domain search
  • Email verifier
  • Campaign sender
  • AI writing assistant
  • Browser extension
  • CRM integrations

Only in Zoho Desk

  • Ticket management
  • Multi-channel support
  • AI assistant
  • Automation
  • Knowledge base
  • Reporting
  • Zoho CRM
  • Slack

What people use each for

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

Hunter

  • Finding verified email addresses for a target companynot Zoho Desk
  • Verifying email lists before a campaignnot Zoho Desk
  • Running cold outreach sequences from connected inboxesnot Zoho Desk
  • Enriching CRM records with contact emailsnot Zoho Desk

Zoho Desk

  • Multi-channel supportnot Hunter
  • IT help desknot Hunter
  • Customer servicenot Hunter

Where each one falls short

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

Hunter

  • Free plan is limited to 50 credits per month and a single connected inbox, restricting real usage.
  • Mobile phone or firmographic data is thinner than dedicated sales intelligence platforms.
  • Multichannel outreach (LinkedIn, calls, SMS) is not supported, unlike some competitors.
  • Higher-volume plans require annual billing to get the advertised discounted price.

Zoho Desk

  • Free plan caps at three user licenses; paid plans (Express, Standard, Professional, Enterprise) are billed annually to get the listed rate, with monthly billing costing more, and light user seats are priced separately from full agent seats

Pricing, plan by plan

Hunter

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 50 credits per month
    • 1 connected email account
    • Up to 500 recipients per sequence
  • Starter$34/month
    • 2,000 monthly credits (billed yearly)
    • 3 connected email accounts
    • Advanced filters
  • Growth$104/month
    • 10,000 monthly credits (billed yearly)
    • 10 connected email accounts
    • Priority support
  • Scale$209/month
    • 25,000 monthly credits (billed yearly)
    • 20 connected email accounts
    • Account manager included

Zoho Desk

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 agents
    • Email ticketing
    • Help center
  • Standard$14/month
    • Social channels
    • Workflow automation
    • Customer happiness ratings
  • Professional$23/month
    • Multi-department
    • Round-robin assignment
    • Custom fields
  • Enterprise$40/month
    • AI Zia
    • Multi-brand help center
    • Advanced analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Hunter if

  • You need domain search.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want email verifier.

Choose Zoho Desk if

  • You need ticket management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want multi-channel support.

Questions people ask

Is Hunter or Zoho Desk better?
Neither clearly leads. Hunter starts at Free and Zoho Desk at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hunter or Zoho Desk?
Hunter starts at Free and Zoho Desk at Free.
Does Hunter or Zoho Desk run on more platforms?
Hunter runs on web, api. Zoho Desk runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Hunter for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Hunter best used for?
Hunter is most often used for finding verified email addresses for a target company, verifying email lists before a campaign, running cold outreach sequences from connected inboxes, enriching crm records with contact emails. Of those, finding verified email addresses for a target company and verifying email lists before a campaign are not what Zoho Desk is typically brought in for.
What can Hunter do that Zoho Desk cannot?
Hunter covers Domain search, Email verifier, Campaign sender, AI writing assistant. Zoho Desk covers Ticket management, Multi-channel support, AI assistant, Automation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Hunter: What does Hunter cost?

Hunter's Free plan gives 50 credits/month. Paid plans (billed yearly) start at $34/month for Starter (2,000 credits), rising to $104/month for Growth and $209/month for Scale, with custom Enterprise pricing above that.

Source
Zoho Desk: What is the starting price and trial period?

Zoho Desk offers a free forever plan with 3 user licenses, plus paid tiers starting from ₹420 per user per month when billed annually. A 15-day free trial is available without requiring a credit card.

Source
Hunter: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

Yes, Hunter's Free plan includes 50 monthly credits, basic database filters, one connected email account, and sequences capped at 500 recipients.

Source
Zoho Desk: Are there lock-ins or hidden costs?

No lock-ins and no hidden costs. Once your 15-day free trial ends, your plan automatically downgrades to the free plan.

Source
Hunter: How is usage metered?

Hunter meters usage in credits, consumed once per billing cycle for searches and verifications; credits reset monthly or accumulate annually depending on the billing plan.

Source
Zoho Desk: What payment methods are accepted?

Zoho Desk accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and PayPal. Bank transfer or check transfer is accepted for yearly subscriptions.

Source
Hunter: What does Hunter integrate with?

Hunter offers a browser extension, a Google Sheets add-on, CRM connections, and an API, alongside MCP support for AI tool integrations.

Source
Zoho Desk: Are there discounts for annual commitments?

Yes, Zoho Desk offers discounts on upfront annual commitments, with savings up to 34% off monthly rates.

Source
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