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Live Chat · head to head

Pure Chat vs Zoho Desk

Pure Chat logo

Pure Chat

Live Chat

Simple and affordable live chat for any business

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoho Desk logo

Zoho Desk

Customer Support

Context-aware help desk software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Pure Chat growth plan limited to 1 website and 100 SMS notifications; Zoho Desk free plan caps at three user licenses; paid plans (Express, Standard, Professional, Enterprise) are billed annually to get the listed rate, with monthly billing costing more, and light user seats are priced separately from full agent seats
  • They diverge on capability: Pure Chat covers Live chat widget, Zoho Desk covers Ticket management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Pure Chat and Zoho Desk actually diverge.

Attributes where Pure Chat and Zoho Desk differ
AttributePure ChatZoho Desk
PlatformsWeb, Mobile app, IOS, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryLive ChatCustomer Support
Founded20111996

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), 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 Pure Chat

  • Live chat widget
  • Visitor information
  • Chat transcripts
  • Department routing
  • HubSpot
  • Zapier
  • API
  • Mobile app support

Only in Zoho Desk

  • Ticket management
  • Multi-channel support
  • AI assistant
  • Automation
  • Knowledge base
  • Reporting
  • Zoho CRM
  • Slack

Both cover

  • Salesforce
  • Web support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Pure Chat

  • Customer support chatnot Zoho Desk
  • Website engagementnot Zoho Desk
  • Lead capturenot Zoho Desk
  • Sales chatnot Zoho Desk

Zoho Desk

  • Multi-channel supportnot Pure Chat
  • IT help desknot Pure Chat
  • Customer servicenot Pure Chat

Where each one falls short

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

Pure Chat

  • Growth plan limited to 1 website and 100 SMS notifications
  • Additional operators cost extra: $13-$15/month per operator depending on plan and billing
  • Growth plan has significantly lower limits than PRO

Zoho Desk

  • Free plan caps at three user licenses; paid plans (Express, Standard, Professional, Enterprise) are billed annually to get the listed rate, with monthly billing costing more, and light user seats are priced separately from full agent seats

Pricing, plan by plan

Pure Chat

Free
  • Growth$49/month
    • 4 users/operators
    • 1 website
    • 100 SMS notifications
  • Growth Annual$39/month
    • Annual billing saves 20% off monthly rate
  • PRO$99/month
    • 10 users/operators
    • Unlimited websites
    • 1,000 SMS notifications
  • PRO Annual$79/month
    • Annual billing saves 20% off monthly rate

Zoho Desk

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 agents
    • Email ticketing
    • Help center
  • Standard$14/month
    • Social channels
    • Workflow automation
    • Customer happiness ratings
  • Professional$23/month
    • Multi-department
    • Round-robin assignment
    • Custom fields
  • Enterprise$40/month
    • AI Zia
    • Multi-brand help center
    • Advanced analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Pure Chat if

  • You need live chat widget.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app, IOS, Android.
  • You also want visitor information.
Pure Chat review

Choose Zoho Desk if

  • You need ticket management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want multi-channel support.
Zoho Desk review

Questions people ask

Is Pure Chat or Zoho Desk better?
Neither clearly leads. Pure Chat starts at Free and Zoho Desk at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Pure Chat or Zoho Desk?
Pure Chat starts at Free and Zoho Desk at Free.
Does Pure Chat or Zoho Desk run on more platforms?
Pure Chat runs on Web, Mobile app, IOS, Android. Zoho Desk runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Pure Chat for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Pure Chat best used for?
Pure Chat is most often used for customer support chat, website engagement, lead capture, sales chat. Of those, customer support chat and website engagement are not what Zoho Desk is typically brought in for.
What can Pure Chat do that Zoho Desk cannot?
Pure Chat covers Live chat widget, Visitor information, Chat transcripts, Department routing. Zoho Desk covers Ticket management, Multi-channel support, AI assistant, Automation. Both handle Salesforce, Web support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Pure Chat: How much does PureChat cost?

PureChat's Growth plan costs $49/month (or $39/month annually) with 4 users and 1 website. The PRO plan is $99/month (or $79/month annually) with 10 users and unlimited websites.

Source
Zoho Desk: What is the starting price and trial period?

Zoho Desk offers a free forever plan with 3 user licenses, plus paid tiers starting from ₹420 per user per month when billed annually. A 15-day free trial is available without requiring a credit card.

Source
Pure Chat: Does PureChat offer a free trial?

Yes, PureChat offers a free 30-day trial of the PRO plan to prospective customers.

Source
Zoho Desk: Are there lock-ins or hidden costs?

No lock-ins and no hidden costs. Once your 15-day free trial ends, your plan automatically downgrades to the free plan.

Source
Pure Chat: What is the difference between Growth and PRO plans?

Growth includes 4 users and 1 website with 100 SMS notifications per month. PRO includes 10 users, unlimited websites, and 1,000 SMS notifications. Additional operators can be added for $8-$15/month.

Source
Zoho Desk: What payment methods are accepted?

Zoho Desk accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and PayPal. Bank transfer or check transfer is accepted for yearly subscriptions.

Source
Zoho Desk: Are there discounts for annual commitments?

Yes, Zoho Desk offers discounts on upfront annual commitments, with savings up to 34% off monthly rates.

Source
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