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Customer Support · head to head

LiveAgent vs Zendesk Chat

LiveAgent logo

LiveAgent

Customer Support

All-in-one help desk software

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Zendesk Chat logo

Zendesk Chat

Live Chat

Live chat software from Zendesk

From
$19/month
Free plan
No
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 Chat enterprise plan requires custom pricing quote
  • They diverge on capability: LiveAgent covers Ticketing system, Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where LiveAgent and Zendesk Chat differ
AttributeLiveAgentZendesk Chat
Starting priceFree$19/month
Free tierYesNo
CategoryCustomer SupportLive Chat
Founded20042007

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), 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 LiveAgent

  • Ticketing system
  • Live chat
  • Call center
  • Social media
  • Knowledge base
  • Customer portal
  • Magento
  • Slack

Only in Zendesk Chat

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

Both cover

  • 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.

LiveAgent

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

Zendesk Chat

  • Customer support team managementnot LiveAgent
  • Multi-channel messagingnot LiveAgent
  • AI-powered contact centersnot 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 Chat

  • Enterprise plan requires custom pricing quote
  • AI agent usage beyond plan allowance billed separately

Pricing, plan by plan

LiveAgent

Free
  • Small Business$10/month
    • Ticketing
    • Live chat
    • Knowledge base
  • Medium Business$19/month
    • Everything in Small
    • Call center
    • IVR
  • Large Business$33/month
    • Everything in Medium
    • Social channels (Facebook, Instagram, X, WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber)
  • Enterprise$46/month
    • Everything in Large
    • Dedicated account manager
    • Priority support

Zendesk Chat

$19/month
  • Support Team$19/month
    • Email ticketing
    • Routing and analytics
    • Pre-written responses
  • Suite Team$55/month
    • All Support features
    • AI Agents
    • Knowledge Base
  • Suite Professional$115/month
    • Suite Team features
    • Admin Copilot
    • App Builder

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 live chat.
LiveAgent 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 LiveAgent or Zendesk Chat better?
Neither clearly leads. LiveAgent starts at Free and Zendesk Chat at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LiveAgent or Zendesk Chat?
LiveAgent has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for LiveAgent and $19/month for Zendesk Chat.
Does LiveAgent or Zendesk Chat run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use LiveAgent for free?
Yes. LiveAgent has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zendesk Chat 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 Chat is typically brought in for.
What can LiveAgent do that Zendesk Chat cannot?
LiveAgent covers Ticketing system, Live chat, Call center, Social media. Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging, Mobile messaging, Chatbots, Proactive chat. Both handle WordPress, Shopify, Zapier, GDPR.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

LiveAgent: How much does LiveAgent cost?

LiveAgent charges per agent on annual billing: Small Business at $10/agent/month, Medium at $19/agent/month, Large at $33/agent/month, and Enterprise at $46/agent/month (regular rates are $15, $29, $49, and $69 respectively). Monthly billing costs 30% more.

Source
Zendesk Chat: Can Messaging be used for live, session-based conversations or asynchronous chats?

Both. Messaging supports real-time sessions for fast help as well as ongoing asynchronous conversations, so customers can chat at their own pace and agents stay flexible.

Source
LiveAgent: Does LiveAgent offer a free trial?

Yes, LiveAgent provides a 30-day free trial with no credit card required, offering full access to all features including AI agents.

Source
Zendesk Chat: Do agents need a separate tool or tab to use Messaging?

No. Messaging is built right into the Zendesk Agent Workspace, so agents can manage conversations seamlessly without switching tools or tabs.

Source
LiveAgent: Are AI agents included in all LiveAgent plans?

Yes, all LiveAgent plans include free AI agents with features like chatbots, answer assistants, human handover, and autoresponders.

Source
Zendesk Chat: How do I know if my AI agents are handling my tickets effectively?

Zendesk QA automatically reviews all conversations, enabling performance tracking and continuous improvement of AI and agent support.

Source
Zendesk Chat: Once I build an AI agent, can I deploy it across more than one social channel?

Yes. Build your AI Agent once and deploy it to web, mobile, and social messaging channels like WhatsApp, Facebook, and more.

Source
Zendesk Chat: Why should I switch from legacy live chat to Messaging?

Messaging enables users to replicate and enhance live chat experiences by leveraging AI agents and omnichannel routing capabilities.

Source
Zendesk Chat: Can I build something custom or go beyond the out-of-the-box experience?

Absolutely. With access to the Zendesk messaging platform, you can create fully custom experiences that fit your unique business needs.

Source
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