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CRM · head to head

Really Simple Systems vs Zendesk

R

Really Simple Systems

CRM

Easy CRM for small businesses

From
$15/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
Zendesk logo

Zendesk

Customer Support

Champions of customer service

From
$19/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Really Simple Systems the vendor's own pricing page as captured by the Internet Archive on 22 October 2019 listed four CRM tiers billed annually: Free at $0 for up to 2 users, Starter at $14 per user per month, Professional at $30 per user per month, and Enterprise at $46 per user per month (each roughly 7 to 10 percent higher if billed monthly); the Marketing add-on was $22 per month for up to 5,000 emails and Advanced Marketing scaled to 50,000 emails per month, though this capture is over five years old; Zendesk aI agents operate on per-resolution billing; customers pay only when an AI agent successfully resolves a ticket without escalation
  • They diverge on capability: Really Simple Systems covers Contact management, Zendesk covers Ticket management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Really Simple Systems and Zendesk actually diverge.

Attributes where Really Simple Systems and Zendesk differ
AttributeReally Simple SystemsZendesk
Starting price$15/month$19/month
CategoryCRMCustomer Support
Founded20092007

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web), 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 Really Simple Systems

  • Contact management
  • Sales pipeline
  • Task management
  • Email integration
  • Reporting
  • Zapier
  • Google Workspace
  • GDPR

Only in Zendesk

  • Ticket management
  • Omnichannel support
  • Knowledge base
  • Live chat
  • Call center
  • Analytics & reporting
  • Automation
  • Customer satisfaction

What people use each for

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

Really Simple Systems

  • Sales managementnot Zendesk
  • Contact trackingnot Zendesk

Zendesk

  • Help desk and ticketing system managementnot Really Simple Systems
  • Omnichannel customer supportnot Really Simple Systems
  • Knowledge base and self-service portalsnot Really Simple Systems
  • AI-assisted customer servicenot Really Simple Systems

Where each one falls short

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

Really Simple Systems

  • The vendor's own pricing page as captured by the Internet Archive on 22 October 2019 listed four CRM tiers billed annually: Free at $0 for up to 2 users, Starter at $14 per user per month, Professional at $30 per user per month, and Enterprise at $46 per user per month (each roughly 7 to 10 percent higher if billed monthly); the Marketing add-on was $22 per month for up to 5,000 emails and Advanced Marketing scaled to 50,000 emails per month, though this capture is over five years old

Zendesk

  • AI agents operate on per-resolution billing; customers pay only when an AI agent successfully resolves a ticket without escalation
  • Copilot and Contact Center features available as separate add-ons at £50+/agent/month
  • Advanced routing, workforce engagement, and approval workflows limited to Enterprise tier
  • Highest tier requires sales consultation and custom pricing

Pricing, plan by plan

Really Simple Systems

$15/month
  • Essential$15/month
    • Contact management
    • Task tracking
  • Professional$25/month
    • Everything in Essential
    • Sales pipeline
    • Reporting
  • Professional Plus$35/month
    • Everything in Professional
    • Advanced customization

Zendesk

$19/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Zendesk review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Really Simple Systems if

  • You need contact management.
  • You also want sales pipeline.
Really Simple Systems review

Choose Zendesk if

  • You need ticket management.
  • You also want omnichannel support.
Zendesk review

Questions people ask

Is Really Simple Systems or Zendesk better?
Neither clearly leads. Really Simple Systems starts at $15/month and Zendesk at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Really Simple Systems or Zendesk?
Really Simple Systems starts at $15/month and Zendesk at $19/month.
Does Really Simple Systems or Zendesk run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Really Simple Systems best used for?
Really Simple Systems is most often used for sales management, contact tracking. Of those, sales management and contact tracking are not what Zendesk is typically brought in for.
What can Really Simple Systems do that Zendesk cannot?
Really Simple Systems covers Contact management, Sales pipeline, Task management, Email integration. Zendesk covers Ticket management, Omnichannel support, Knowledge base, Live chat.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Zendesk: What is included in the free trial?

You'll have access to all features on the Zendesk Customer Service Suite Professional plan for 14 days, with Copilot included by default.

Source
Zendesk: How is Zendesk pricing calculated?

Base subscription pricing is determined by your selected plan tier and the number of agent seats needed. Additional costs include usage-based features like App Builder and Voice, plus optional add-ons.

Source
Zendesk: What are the contract terms?

Zendesk subscriptions are month to month, annual, or multi-year. Annual billing typically costs less than monthly payments.

Source
Zendesk: Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan?

Yes, changes may apply immediately or at renewal depending on your subscription terms.

Source
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