Softwr

Software · head to head

Rasa vs Zendesk Chat

Rasa logo

Rasa

Software

Open-source framework for building conversational AI

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zendesk Chat logo

Zendesk Chat

Software

Live chat software from Zendesk

From
$49/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Rasa has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Rasa free Developer Edition caps conversations at 1,000 external or 100 internal per company 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: Rasa covers NLU engine, Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Rasa and Zendesk Chat differ
AttributeRasaZendesk Chat
Starting priceFree$49/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsOn-premise, Cloud deployment, Docker, KubernetesWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20162007

Identical on both: 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 Rasa

  • NLU engine
  • Dialogue management
  • Multi-language support
  • Testing tools
  • Slack
  • Teams
  • Custom channels
  • API

Only in Zendesk Chat

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

What people use each for

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

Rasa

  • Developers self-hosting an open source conversational AI framework before needing enterprise scalenot Zendesk Chat

Zendesk Chat

  • Support teams wanting live chat bundled with ticketing rather than a standalone chat widgetnot Rasa

Where each one falls short

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

Rasa

  • Free Developer Edition caps conversations at 1,000 external or 100 internal per company per month
  • Rasa Pro and the Business Plan (Pro plus Studio) are not priced on the site and require contacting sales

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

Rasa

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full framework access
    • Community support
  • Rasa Pro$50/month
    • Additional tools
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Advanced features
    • Dedicated 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 Rasa if

  • You need nlu engine.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on On-premise, Cloud deployment, Docker, Kubernetes.
  • You also want dialogue management.
Rasa 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 Rasa or Zendesk Chat better?
Neither clearly leads. Rasa 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, Rasa or Zendesk Chat?
Rasa has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Rasa and $49/month for Zendesk Chat.
Does Rasa or Zendesk Chat run on more platforms?
Rasa runs on On-premise, Cloud deployment, Docker, Kubernetes. Zendesk Chat runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Rasa for free?
Yes. Rasa has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zendesk Chat starts at $49/month.
What is Rasa best used for?
Rasa is most often used for developers self-hosting an open source conversational ai framework before needing enterprise scale. Of those, developers self-hosting an open source conversational ai framework before needing enterprise scale is not what Zendesk Chat is typically brought in for.
What can Rasa do that Zendesk Chat cannot?
Rasa covers NLU engine, Dialogue management, Multi-language support, Testing tools. Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging, Mobile messaging, Chatbots, Proactive chat.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Rasa

More on Zendesk Chat

Keep looking

Other head to heads