Softwr

CRM · head to head

lemlist vs Zendesk

lemlist logo

lemlist

CRM

Multichannel cold outreach platform for email, LinkedIn, SMS and calling

From
$55/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
Zendesk logo

Zendesk

Customer Support

Champions of customer service

From
$19/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: lemlist no standalone free plan, only a 14-day trial after which new campaigns cannot be launched without upgrading.; 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: lemlist covers Multichannel sequences, Zendesk covers Ticket management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which lemlist and Zendesk actually diverge.

Attributes where lemlist and Zendesk differ
AttributelemlistZendesk
Starting price$55/month$19/month
Platformsweb, apiWeb
CategoryCRMCustomer Support
Founded20182007

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 lemlist

  • Multichannel sequences
  • Lead database
  • Deliverability hub
  • AI agents
  • CRM integrations
  • API, CLI and MCP access

Only in Zendesk

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

What people use each for

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

lemlist

  • Running multichannel outbound campaigns across email and LinkedInnot Zendesk
  • Finding verified emails and phone numbers for prospectsnot Zendesk
  • Protecting sender reputation with automated inbox warm-upnot Zendesk
  • Combining calling and messaging into a single outreach sequencenot Zendesk

Zendesk

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

Where each one falls short

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

lemlist

  • No standalone free plan, only a 14-day trial after which new campaigns cannot be launched without upgrading.
  • Multichannel plan pricing scales per sender/user, which can get costly for larger teams.
  • Enterprise features like SSO/SAML require a custom-priced plan and a 5-user minimum.
  • Advanced AI agent capabilities are newer and less proven than long-established outreach features.

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

lemlist

$55/month
  • Email$55/month
    • 50,000 emails/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Email and phone finder
  • Multichannel$87/month
    • Unlimited emails and messages
    • 5 senders per user
    • LinkedIn, SMS and WhatsApp automation
  • Enterprise$undefined/mo
    • 5+ users minimum
    • Dedicated account manager
    • SSO/SAML security

Zendesk

$19/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Zendesk review.

Which should you pick?

Choose lemlist if

  • You need multichannel sequences.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want lead database.
lemlist review

Choose Zendesk if

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

Questions people ask

Is lemlist or Zendesk better?
Neither clearly leads. lemlist starts at $55/month and Zendesk at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, lemlist or Zendesk?
lemlist starts at $55/month and Zendesk at $19/month.
Does lemlist or Zendesk run on more platforms?
lemlist runs on web, api. Zendesk runs on Web.
What is lemlist best used for?
lemlist is most often used for running multichannel outbound campaigns across email and linkedin, finding verified emails and phone numbers for prospects, protecting sender reputation with automated inbox warm-up, combining calling and messaging into a single outreach sequence. Of those, running multichannel outbound campaigns across email and linkedin and finding verified emails and phone numbers for prospects are not what Zendesk is typically brought in for.
What can lemlist do that Zendesk cannot?
lemlist covers Multichannel sequences, Lead database, Deliverability hub, AI agents. Zendesk covers Ticket management, Omnichannel support, Knowledge base, Live chat.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

lemlist: What does lemlist cost?

lemlist's Email plan starts at $55/month (billed annually) for 50,000 emails, the Multichannel plan starts at $87/month for unlimited emails and messages plus LinkedIn/SMS/WhatsApp, and Enterprise is custom-priced.

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

lemlist offers a 14-day free trial with full Multichannel plan access and no credit card required; after the trial, the account remains accessible but new campaigns cannot be launched without a paid subscription.

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
lemlist: What does lemlist integrate with?

lemlist integrates with CRMs like HubSpot, Salesforce and Pipedrive, automation tools like Zapier, Make and n8n, VoIP platforms such as Aircall and Ringover, and offers API, CLI and MCP access.

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
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 lemlist

More on Zendesk

Keep looking

Other head to heads