Software · head to head
Zendesk Chat vs Ada
The short version
- Only Ada has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: 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; Ada pricing is not published anywhere and requires a sales conversation
- They diverge on capability: Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging, Ada covers Conversational AI.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Zendesk Chat and Ada actually diverge.
| Attribute | Zendesk Chat | Ada |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49/month | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Web, Mobile, SMS, Messaging apps |
| Founded | 2007 | 2016 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Zendesk Chat
- Web messaging
- Mobile messaging
- Chatbots
- Proactive chat
- Triggers
- Zendesk Support
- Shopify
- WordPress
Only in Ada
- Conversational AI
- Automatic resolution
- Multi-language support
- Zendesk
- Slack
- API
- Mobile support
- SMS support
Both cover
- Analytics
- Salesforce
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Zendesk Chat
- Support teams wanting live chat bundled with ticketing rather than a standalone chat widgetnot Ada
Ada
- AI agents resolving customer queries over chat, voice and emailnot Zendesk Chat
- Deflecting repetitive contacts before they reach an agentnot Zendesk Chat
- Automating multi-step actions such as order lookups and returnsnot Zendesk Chat
- Multilingual support across a global customer basenot Zendesk Chat
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Ada
- Pricing is not published anywhere and requires a sales conversation
- Sold to enterprises rather than to small support teams
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Ada
Free- FreeFree
- Basic chatbot
- Single language
- Growth$100/month
- Advanced AI
- Multi-language
- Scale$undefined/month
- Enterprise features
- Dedicated support
Which should you pick?
Choose Zendesk Chat if
- You need web messaging.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want mobile messaging.
Choose Ada if
- You need conversational ai.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Mobile, SMS, Messaging apps.
- You also want automatic resolution.
Questions people ask
- Is Zendesk Chat or Ada better?
- Neither clearly leads. Zendesk Chat starts at $49/month and Ada at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Zendesk Chat or Ada?
- Ada has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $49/month for Zendesk Chat and Free for Ada.
- Does Zendesk Chat or Ada run on more platforms?
- Zendesk Chat runs on Web, Ios, Android. Ada runs on Web, Mobile, SMS, Messaging apps.
- Can I use Ada for free?
- Yes. Ada has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zendesk Chat starts at $49/month.
- What is Zendesk Chat best used for?
- Zendesk Chat is most often used for support teams wanting live chat bundled with ticketing rather than a standalone chat widget. Of those, support teams wanting live chat bundled with ticketing rather than a standalone chat widget is not what Ada is typically brought in for.
- What can Zendesk Chat do that Ada cannot?
- Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging, Mobile messaging, Chatbots, Proactive chat. Ada covers Conversational AI, Automatic resolution, Multi-language support, Zendesk. Both handle Analytics, Salesforce, Web support.
Related pages
More on Zendesk Chat
Keep looking
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