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Software · head to head

Zendesk Chat vs Crisp

Zendesk Chat logo

Zendesk Chat

Software

Live chat software from Zendesk

From
$49/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Crisp logo

Crisp

Software

Customer messaging platform for startups and SMBs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Crisp 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; Crisp free tier includes only 2 agents and no AI credits; AI capability requires paid tier
  • They diverge on capability: Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging, Crisp covers Live chat.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Zendesk Chat and Crisp differ
AttributeZendesk ChatCrisp
Starting price$49/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidCloud-based SaaS
Founded20072015

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 Zendesk Chat

  • Web messaging
  • Mobile messaging
  • Proactive chat
  • Analytics
  • Triggers
  • Zendesk Support
  • Salesforce
  • SOC2

Only in Crisp

  • Live chat
  • Shared inbox
  • Knowledge base
  • Video calls
  • CRM
  • Slack
  • Segment
  • SSL

Both cover

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

Crisp

  • Growing startups needing affordable all-in-one customer support with AI automationnot Zendesk Chat
  • Teams seeking omnichannel support consolidating email, chat, WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagramnot 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

Crisp

  • Free tier includes only 2 agents and no AI credits; AI capability requires paid tier
  • Free tier customer profile limit of 100; higher limits require upgrade
  • Omnichannel support and workflow automation excluded from Free and Mini tiers
  • White labelling only available in Plus tier ($295+/month)

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

Crisp

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Crisp review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Zendesk Chat if

  • You need web messaging.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want mobile messaging.
Zendesk Chat review

Choose Crisp if

  • You need live chat.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud-based SaaS.
  • You also want shared inbox.
Crisp review

Questions people ask

Is Zendesk Chat or Crisp better?
Neither clearly leads. Zendesk Chat starts at $49/month and Crisp at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Zendesk Chat or Crisp?
Crisp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $49/month for Zendesk Chat and Free for Crisp.
Does Zendesk Chat or Crisp run on more platforms?
Zendesk Chat runs on Web, Ios, Android. Crisp runs on Cloud-based SaaS.
Can I use Crisp for free?
Yes. Crisp 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 Crisp is typically brought in for.
What can Zendesk Chat do that Crisp cannot?
Zendesk Chat covers Web messaging, Mobile messaging, Proactive chat, Analytics. Crisp covers Live chat, Shared inbox, Knowledge base, Video calls. Both handle Chatbots, Shopify, WordPress, Zapier.
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Related pages

More on Zendesk Chat

More on Crisp

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