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tawk.to vs Zendesk Chat

tawk.to logo

tawk.to

Live Chat

100% free live chat software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zendesk Chat logo

Zendesk Chat

Live Chat

Live chat software from Zendesk

From
$19/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only tawk.to has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: tawk.to removing the Powered by tawk.to branding costs an extra $29/month even on the free plan; Zendesk Chat enterprise plan requires custom pricing quote
  • They diverge on capability: tawk.to covers Live chat, Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which tawk.to and Zendesk Chat actually diverge.

Attributes where tawk.to and Zendesk Chat differ
Attributetawk.toZendesk Chat
Starting priceFree$19/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, MacWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20132007

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Live Chat).

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 tawk.to

  • Live chat
  • Ticketing
  • Knowledge base
  • CRM
  • Video chat
  • Screen sharing
  • Wix
  • Google Analytics

Only in Zendesk Chat

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

Both cover

  • WordPress
  • Shopify
  • Zapier
  • GDPR
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

tawk.to

  • Website live chat and visitor engagementnot Zendesk Chat
  • Customer support automationnot Zendesk Chat

Zendesk Chat

  • Customer support team managementnot tawk.to
  • Multi-channel messagingnot tawk.to
  • AI-powered contact centersnot tawk.to

Where each one falls short

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

tawk.to

  • Removing the Powered by tawk.to branding costs an extra $29/month even on the free plan
  • Enhanced AI Assist chatbot is a paid add-on starting at $29/month rather than included free
  • Human staffed chat agents are billed at $1/hour as a separate add-on

Zendesk Chat

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

Pricing, plan by plan

tawk.to

Free
  • Free Core SoftwareFree
    • Live chat software with no feature limitations
    • Chat pages
    • Knowledge base (hosted help center)
  • Branding Removal$29/month
    • Remove Powered by tawk.to widget branding
  • AI Assist Premium$29/month
    • AI-powered chatbot automation
  • Hired Chat Agents$1/hour
    • Professional trained agents 24/7/365

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 tawk.to if

  • You need live chat.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac.
  • You also want ticketing.
tawk.to 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 tawk.to or Zendesk Chat better?
Neither clearly leads. tawk.to starts at Free and Zendesk Chat at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, tawk.to or Zendesk Chat?
tawk.to has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for tawk.to and $19/month for Zendesk Chat.
Does tawk.to or Zendesk Chat run on more platforms?
tawk.to runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Mac. Zendesk Chat runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use tawk.to for free?
Yes. tawk.to has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zendesk Chat starts at $19/month.
What is tawk.to best used for?
tawk.to is most often used for website live chat and visitor engagement, customer support automation. Of those, website live chat and visitor engagement and customer support automation are not what Zendesk Chat is typically brought in for.
What can tawk.to do that Zendesk Chat cannot?
tawk.to covers Live chat, Ticketing, Knowledge base, CRM. Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging, Mobile messaging, Chatbots, Proactive chat. Both handle WordPress, Shopify, Zapier, GDPR.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

tawk.to: How much does tawk.to cost?

tawk.to is free for core live chat, knowledge base, ticketing, and CRM. Premium add-ons start at $29/month for branding removal or AI Assist, and $1/hour for hired chat agents.

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
tawk.to: Is tawk.to free forever?

Yes, tawk.to's core software including live chat, knowledge base, ticketing, and contacts is free forever with no feature limitations.

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
tawk.to: How are tawk.to's hired chat agents priced?

Hired chat agents are billed at $1 per hour with professional trained staff providing 24/7/365 support.

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
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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