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Software · head to head

Trello vs Zendesk

Trello logo

Trello

Software

Organize anything, together

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zendesk logo

Zendesk

Software

Champions of customer service

From
$19/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Trello has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Trello free tier limited to 10 boards and 10 collaborators per workspace; 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: Trello covers Kanban boards, Zendesk covers Ticket management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Trello and Zendesk actually diverge.

Attributes where Trello and Zendesk differ
AttributeTrelloZendesk
Starting priceFree$19/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, MacosWeb
Founded20112007

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 Trello

  • Kanban boards
  • Cards & lists
  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • Activity feed
  • Due dates & reminders
  • File attachments
  • Comments & mentions
  • Power-Ups ecosystem

Only in Zendesk

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

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Salesforce
  • Jira
  • SOC2
  • ISO27001

What people use each for

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

Trello

  • Project trackingnot Zendesk
  • Content calendarsnot Zendesk
  • Sales pipelinesnot Zendesk
  • Onboarding processesnot Zendesk
  • Personal task managementnot Zendesk

Zendesk

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

Where each one falls short

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

Trello

  • Free tier limited to 10 boards and 10 collaborators per workspace
  • Free tier automation capped at 250 monthly Butler runs
  • No offline access; web-based platform requires internet connection
  • Advanced views (timeline, table, dashboard) not available on Standard plan
  • SSO only available on Enterprise plan

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

Trello

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 10 boards/workspace
    • Up to 10 collaborators
    • 250 monthly Butler automation runs
  • Standard$5/user/month
    • Unlimited boards
    • Unlimited Power-Ups
    • 1,000 monthly Butler runs
  • Premium$10/user/month
    • All Standard features
    • Timeline, table, dashboard, calendar views
    • Unlimited automation
  • Enterprise$17.5/user/month
    • All Premium features
    • Unlimited workspaces
    • SSO and user provisioning

Zendesk

$19/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Zendesk review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Trello if

  • You need kanban boards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Macos.
  • You also want cards & lists.
Trello review

Choose Zendesk if

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

Questions people ask

Is Trello or Zendesk better?
Neither clearly leads. Trello starts at Free and Zendesk at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Trello or Zendesk?
Trello has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Trello and $19/month for Zendesk.
Does Trello or Zendesk run on more platforms?
Trello runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Macos. Zendesk runs on Web.
Can I use Trello for free?
Yes. Trello has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zendesk starts at $19/month.
What is Trello best used for?
Trello is most often used for project tracking, content calendars, sales pipelines, onboarding processes. Of those, project tracking and content calendars are not what Zendesk is typically brought in for.
What can Trello do that Zendesk cannot?
Trello covers Kanban boards, Cards & lists, Drag-and-drop interface, Activity feed. Zendesk covers Ticket management, Omnichannel support, Knowledge base, Live chat. Both handle Slack, Salesforce, Jira, SOC2.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Trello: What are the free tier limitations for Trello?

Trello Free supports up to 10 boards per workspace, unlimited cards, 250 monthly Butler automation runs, and up to 10 Power-Up attachments. Limited to 10 collaborators per workspace.

Source
Trello: What features are included in the Standard plan?

Standard ($5-6/user/month) adds unlimited boards, custom fields, advanced checklists, 1,000 monthly automation runs, list colors, and calendar view access.

Source
Trello: Does Trello offer SSO and on which plan?

SSO through Atlassian Guard is included only on the Enterprise plan ($17.50/user/month or $210/year per user).

Source
Trello: How many file attachment options are available?

Free tier includes 2 Power-Ups per board, Standard adds unlimited Power-Ups, and Premium and above offer full Power-Up marketplace access with custom integration options.

Source
Trello: Is there offline access to Trello boards?

Trello is a web-based application requiring internet connection. Mobile apps are available for iOS and Android but do not support true offline editing.

Source
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Related pages

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