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Software · head to head

LiveAgent vs Zendesk

LiveAgent logo

LiveAgent

Software

All-in-one help desk software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zendesk logo

Zendesk

Software

Champions of customer service

From
$19/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only LiveAgent has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: LiveAgent social and messaging channels are separately priced add ons rather than plan features, at $19 to $39 a month each on top of the seat price; 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: LiveAgent covers Ticketing system, Zendesk covers Ticket management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LiveAgent and Zendesk actually diverge.

Attributes where LiveAgent and Zendesk differ
AttributeLiveAgentZendesk
Starting priceFree$19/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
Founded20042007

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 LiveAgent

  • Ticketing system
  • Social media
  • Customer portal
  • WordPress
  • Magento
  • Zapier
  • GDPR
  • SSL

Only in Zendesk

  • Ticket management
  • Omnichannel support
  • Analytics & reporting
  • Automation
  • Customer satisfaction
  • Salesforce
  • Jira
  • Microsoft Teams

Both cover

  • Live chat
  • Call center
  • Knowledge base
  • Shopify
  • Slack

What people use each for

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

LiveAgent

  • Multichannel help desk covering email, chat, calls and social messagesnot Zendesk
  • Ticketing and shared inbox for customer support teamsnot Zendesk

Zendesk

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

Where each one falls short

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

LiveAgent

  • Social and messaging channels are separately priced add ons rather than plan features, at $19 to $39 a month each on top of the seat price
  • The entry plan is limited to 3 email accounts, 2 live chat buttons and 3 contact forms
  • WhatsApp numbers are rationed by plan, at 5 on Large Business and 20 on Enterprise
  • The advertised prices require annual billing, and monthly billing raises the entry plan from $10 to $13 per agent
  • Every published price is a discounted rate against a higher regular price

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

LiveAgent

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 7-day ticket history
    • 1 chat button
    • 1 email account
  • Small$9/month
    • Unlimited ticket history
    • 3 email accounts
    • Customer portal
  • Medium$29/month
    • Call center
    • 10 email accounts
    • Advanced reporting
  • Large$49/month
    • Everything unlimited
    • Senior account manager
    • White glove setup

Zendesk

$19/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Zendesk review.

Which should you pick?

Choose LiveAgent if

  • You need ticketing system.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want social media.
LiveAgent review

Choose Zendesk if

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

Questions people ask

Is LiveAgent or Zendesk better?
Neither clearly leads. LiveAgent starts at Free and Zendesk at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LiveAgent or Zendesk?
LiveAgent has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for LiveAgent and $19/month for Zendesk.
Does LiveAgent or Zendesk run on more platforms?
LiveAgent runs on Web, Ios, Android. Zendesk runs on Web.
Can I use LiveAgent for free?
Yes. LiveAgent has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zendesk starts at $19/month.
What is LiveAgent best used for?
LiveAgent is most often used for multichannel help desk covering email, chat, calls and social messages, ticketing and shared inbox for customer support teams. Of those, multichannel help desk covering email, chat, calls and social messages and ticketing and shared inbox for customer support teams are not what Zendesk is typically brought in for.
What can LiveAgent do that Zendesk cannot?
LiveAgent covers Ticketing system, Social media, Customer portal, WordPress. Zendesk covers Ticket management, Omnichannel support, Analytics & reporting, Automation. Both handle Live chat, Call center, Knowledge base, Shopify.
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