Software · head to head
Olark vs Zendesk Chat
The short version
- Only Olark has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Olark the AI website agent is a $400 a month flat plan billed annually at $4,800, which is a large step from the $29 per agent human only plan; 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: Olark covers Live chat, Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Olark and Zendesk Chat actually diverge.
| Attribute | Olark | Zendesk Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $49/month |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 2009 | 2007 |
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 Olark
- Live chat
- Chat transcripts
- Visitor insights
- Customization
- Offline messaging
- Shortcuts
- HubSpot
- Slack
Only in Zendesk Chat
- Web messaging
- Mobile messaging
- Chatbots
- Proactive chat
- Analytics
- Triggers
- Zendesk Support
- Shopify
Both cover
- Salesforce
- GDPR
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Olark
- Live chat on a website with a small support teamnot Zendesk Chat
- Running an AI agent on website conversations with human handoffnot Zendesk Chat
Zendesk Chat
- Support teams wanting live chat bundled with ticketing rather than a standalone chat widgetnot Olark
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Olark
- The AI website agent is a $400 a month flat plan billed annually at $4,800, which is a large step from the $29 per agent human only plan
- That flat price covers only one human seat, with each additional seat at $29 a month
- Regional routing, SSO and custom SLAs require a custom enterprise plan with no published price
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
Olark
Free- FreeFree
- 20 chats/month
- 1 agent
- Basic customization
- Standard$29/month
- Unlimited chats
- Chat transcripts
- Integrations
- Pro$undefined/month
- Co-browsing
- Chatbot
- Priority support
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 Olark if
- You need live chat.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want chat transcripts.
Choose Zendesk Chat if
- You need web messaging.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want mobile messaging.
Questions people ask
- Is Olark or Zendesk Chat better?
- Neither clearly leads. Olark starts at Free and Zendesk Chat at $49/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Olark or Zendesk Chat?
- Olark has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Olark and $49/month for Zendesk Chat.
- Does Olark or Zendesk Chat run on more platforms?
- Olark runs on Web. Zendesk Chat runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- Can I use Olark for free?
- Yes. Olark has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zendesk Chat starts at $49/month.
- What is Olark best used for?
- Olark is most often used for live chat on a website with a small support team, running an ai agent on website conversations with human handoff. Of those, live chat on a website with a small support team and running an ai agent on website conversations with human handoff are not what Zendesk Chat is typically brought in for.
- What can Olark do that Zendesk Chat cannot?
- Olark covers Live chat, Chat transcripts, Visitor insights, Customization. Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging, Mobile messaging, Chatbots, Proactive chat. Both handle Salesforce, GDPR, Web support.
Related pages
More on Zendesk Chat
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