Software · head to head
LiveChat vs Zendesk Chat
The short version
- Each has a real cost: LiveChat the Starter plan retains only 60 days of chat history, so an audit trail requires the Team plan at $49 per person per month; Zendesk Chat messaging and live chat require at least the Suite Team plan at $55/agent/month paid yearly; the base Support Team plan at $19/agent/month does not include chat at all
- They diverge on capability: LiveChat covers Live chat, Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which LiveChat and Zendesk Chat actually diverge.
| Attribute | LiveChat | Zendesk Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $20/month | $49/month |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Desktop | Web, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 2002 | 2007 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 LiveChat
- Live chat
- Ticketing
- Chat routing
- Canned responses
- File sharing
- HubSpot
- PCI DSS
- HIPAA-ready
Only in Zendesk Chat
- Web messaging
- Mobile messaging
- Chatbots
- Proactive chat
- Triggers
- Zendesk Support
- SOC2
- HIPAA
Both cover
- Analytics
- Shopify
- WordPress
- Salesforce
- Zapier
- GDPR
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
LiveChat
- Live chat support on a website with agent routingnot Zendesk Chat
- Handling customer conversations across chat, SMS and messaging channelsnot Zendesk Chat
Zendesk Chat
- Support teams wanting live chat bundled with ticketing rather than a standalone chat widgetnot LiveChat
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
LiveChat
- The Starter plan retains only 60 days of chat history, so an audit trail requires the Team plan at $49 per person per month
- Pricing is per agent, so support cost scales with headcount rather than with conversation volume
- AI reply suggestions are capped by plan, at 3 knowledge sources on Starter and 10 above it
- Surveys and eye catchers are predefined rather than customisable below the Enterprise plan
- SSO, white labelling and HIPAA compliance are Enterprise only
Zendesk Chat
- Messaging and live chat require at least the Suite Team plan at $55/agent/month paid yearly; the base Support Team plan at $19/agent/month does not include chat at all
- Enterprise-grade chat features (Admin Copilot, skills-based routing) require Suite Professional at $115/agent/month or higher
Pricing, plan by plan
LiveChat
$20/month- Starter$20/month
- 60-day chat history
- Basic customization
- Ticketing system
- Team$41/month
- Unlimited history
- Advanced reporting
- Branding removal
- Business$59/month
- Staffing prediction
- Work scheduler
- Apple Business Chat
- Enterprise$undefined/month
- Dedicated account manager
- Product training
- SSO
Zendesk Chat
$49/month- Suite Team$49/month
- Messaging
- Help center
- Basic bots
- Suite Growth$79/month
- Team + Multiple brands
- Custom fields
- Suite Professional$99/month
- Growth + AI
- Custom analytics
Which should you pick?
Choose LiveChat if
- You need live chat.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
- You also want ticketing.
Choose Zendesk Chat if
- You need web messaging.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want mobile messaging.
Questions people ask
- Is LiveChat or Zendesk Chat better?
- Neither clearly leads. LiveChat starts at $20/month and Zendesk Chat at $49/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, LiveChat or Zendesk Chat?
- LiveChat starts at $20/month and Zendesk Chat at $49/month.
- Does LiveChat or Zendesk Chat run on more platforms?
- LiveChat runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop. Zendesk Chat runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- What is LiveChat best used for?
- LiveChat is most often used for live chat support on a website with agent routing, handling customer conversations across chat, sms and messaging channels. Of those, live chat support on a website with agent routing and handling customer conversations across chat, sms and messaging channels are not what Zendesk Chat is typically brought in for.
- What can LiveChat do that Zendesk Chat cannot?
- LiveChat covers Live chat, Ticketing, Chat routing, Canned responses. Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging, Mobile messaging, Chatbots, Proactive chat. Both handle Analytics, Shopify, WordPress, Salesforce.