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ERP · head to head

Striven vs Zendesk Chat

Striven logo

Striven

ERP

All-in-one business management for growing companies

From
$35/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zendesk Chat logo

Zendesk Chat

Live Chat

Live chat software from Zendesk

From
$19/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Striven occasional performance issues with slow load times in some modules; Zendesk Chat enterprise plan requires custom pricing quote
  • They diverge on capability: Striven covers CRM, Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Striven and Zendesk Chat differ
AttributeStrivenZendesk Chat
Starting price$35/month$19/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, APIWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryERPLive Chat
Founded20082007

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Striven

  • CRM
  • Project management
  • Accounting
  • HR management
  • Inventory
  • QuickBooks
  • Outlook
  • Google Workspace

Only in Zendesk Chat

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

Both cover

  • Zapier
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Striven

  • Software consolidationnot Zendesk Chat
  • Business operationsnot Zendesk Chat
  • Project-based businessesnot Zendesk Chat

Zendesk Chat

  • Customer support team managementnot Striven
  • Multi-channel messagingnot Striven
  • AI-powered contact centersnot Striven

Where each one falls short

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

Striven

  • Occasional performance issues with slow load times in some modules
  • Dated UI in places with clunky mobile app experience
  • Very limited customization options compared to enterprise ERP solutions
  • No Zapier or third-party app marketplace integration

Zendesk Chat

  • Enterprise plan requires custom pricing quote
  • AI agent usage beyond plan allowance billed separately

Pricing, plan by plan

Striven

$35/month
  • Standard$35/month
    • Accounting
    • CRM and sales
    • Project management
  • Enterprise$70/month
    • All Standard features
    • Advanced customization
    • Priority support

Zendesk Chat

$19/month
  • Support Team$19/month
    • Email ticketing
    • Routing and analytics
    • Pre-written responses
  • Suite Team$55/month
    • All Support features
    • AI Agents
    • Knowledge Base
  • Suite Professional$115/month
    • Suite Team features
    • Admin Copilot
    • App Builder

Which should you pick?

Choose Striven if

  • You need crm.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, API.
  • You also want project management.
Striven 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 Striven or Zendesk Chat better?
Neither clearly leads. Striven starts at $35/month and Zendesk Chat at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Striven or Zendesk Chat?
Striven starts at $35/month and Zendesk Chat at $19/month.
Does Striven or Zendesk Chat run on more platforms?
Striven runs on Web, Mobile, API. Zendesk Chat runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is Striven best used for?
Striven is most often used for software consolidation, business operations, project-based businesses. Of those, software consolidation and business operations are not what Zendesk Chat is typically brought in for.
What can Striven do that Zendesk Chat cannot?
Striven covers CRM, Project management, Accounting, HR management. Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging, Mobile messaging, Chatbots, Proactive chat. Both handle Zapier, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Striven: What is Striven's pricing model?

Striven uses user-based pricing: Standard plan at $35/user/month and Enterprise plan at $70/user/month. For accounts with fewer than 5 users, an additional $25 per user applies.

Source
Zendesk Chat: Can Messaging be used for live, session-based conversations or asynchronous chats?

Both. Messaging supports real-time sessions for fast help as well as ongoing asynchronous conversations, so customers can chat at their own pace and agents stay flexible.

Source
Striven: Does Striven offer a free trial or free tier?

Yes, Striven offers a 7-day free test drive with no credit card required. However, there is no permanent free version or free tier for production use.

Source
Zendesk Chat: Do agents need a separate tool or tab to use Messaging?

No. Messaging is built right into the Zendesk Agent Workspace, so agents can manage conversations seamlessly without switching tools or tabs.

Source
Striven: What modules does Striven include?

Striven includes accounting, CRM and sales management, project management, task management, inventory, HR, OKRs, and workflow automation across all plans.

Source
Zendesk Chat: How do I know if my AI agents are handling my tickets effectively?

Zendesk QA automatically reviews all conversations, enabling performance tracking and continuous improvement of AI and agent support.

Source
Striven: Does Striven offer optional add-ons like customer portals?

Yes, Striven offers optional monthly portal plans: free tier for up to 100 customers/vendors/applications per month, $99/month for 500, and $499/month for unlimited access.

Source
Zendesk Chat: Once I build an AI agent, can I deploy it across more than one social channel?

Yes. Build your AI Agent once and deploy it to web, mobile, and social messaging channels like WhatsApp, Facebook, and more.

Source
Zendesk Chat: Why should I switch from legacy live chat to Messaging?

Messaging enables users to replicate and enhance live chat experiences by leveraging AI agents and omnichannel routing capabilities.

Source
Zendesk Chat: Can I build something custom or go beyond the out-of-the-box experience?

Absolutely. With access to the Zendesk messaging platform, you can create fully custom experiences that fit your unique business needs.

Source
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