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Zendesk Sunshine Conversations vs Zoho Desk

Zendesk Sunshine Conversations logo

Zendesk Sunshine Conversations

Live Chat

Omnichannel messaging and customer engagement platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoho Desk logo

Zoho Desk

Customer Support

Context-aware help desk software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Zoho Desk has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Zendesk Sunshine Conversations cannot be purchased standalone; requires expensive Zendesk Suite Professional or higher plans; Zoho Desk free plan caps at three user licenses; paid plans (Express, Standard, Professional, Enterprise) are billed annually to get the listed rate, with monthly billing costing more, and light user seats are priced separately from full agent seats
  • They diverge on capability: Zendesk Sunshine Conversations covers Live chat, Zoho Desk covers Ticket management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Zendesk Sunshine Conversations and Zoho Desk actually diverge.

Attributes where Zendesk Sunshine Conversations and Zoho Desk differ
AttributeZendesk Sunshine ConversationsZoho Desk
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
CategoryLive ChatCustomer Support
Founded20151996

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), platforms (Web, iOS, Android), 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 Zendesk Sunshine Conversations

  • Live chat
  • SMS messaging
  • Facebook Messenger
  • WhatsApp integration
  • Zendesk Support
  • API
  • Mobile app support
  • IOS support

Only in Zoho Desk

  • Ticket management
  • Multi-channel support
  • AI assistant
  • Automation
  • Knowledge base
  • Reporting
  • Zoho CRM
  • G Suite

Both cover

  • Salesforce
  • Slack
  • Web support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Zendesk Sunshine Conversations

  • Customer engagementnot Zoho Desk
  • Lead generationnot Zoho Desk
  • Customer supportnot Zoho Desk
  • Sales automationnot Zoho Desk

Zoho Desk

  • Multi-channel supportnot Zendesk Sunshine Conversations
  • IT help desknot Zendesk Sunshine Conversations
  • Customer servicenot Zendesk Sunshine Conversations

Where each one falls short

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

Zendesk Sunshine Conversations

  • Cannot be purchased standalone; requires expensive Zendesk Suite Professional or higher plans
  • Low included monthly active users (1,000 MAU) and notifications (1,000) necessitate paid add-ons for most businesses
  • Custom implementations require developer resources for webhooks and API configuration

Zoho Desk

  • Free plan caps at three user licenses; paid plans (Express, Standard, Professional, Enterprise) are billed annually to get the listed rate, with monthly billing costing more, and light user seats are priced separately from full agent seats

Pricing, plan by plan

Zendesk Sunshine Conversations

On request
  • Team$19/month
    • Chat + messaging
    • Basic features
    • Limited agents
  • Growth$49/month
    • Omnichannel
    • Advanced automation
    • Routing
  • Professional$99/month
    • All features
    • Custom workflows
    • Premium support

Zoho Desk

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 agents
    • Email ticketing
    • Help center
  • Standard$14/month
    • Social channels
    • Workflow automation
    • Customer happiness ratings
  • Professional$23/month
    • Multi-department
    • Round-robin assignment
    • Custom fields
  • Enterprise$40/month
    • AI Zia
    • Multi-brand help center
    • Advanced analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Zendesk Sunshine Conversations if

  • You need live chat.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want sms messaging.
Zendesk Sunshine Conversations review

Choose Zoho Desk if

  • You need ticket management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want multi-channel support.
Zoho Desk review

Questions people ask

Is Zendesk Sunshine Conversations or Zoho Desk better?
Neither clearly leads. Zendesk Sunshine Conversations starts at On request and Zoho Desk at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Zendesk Sunshine Conversations or Zoho Desk?
Zoho Desk has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Zendesk Sunshine Conversations and Free for Zoho Desk.
Does Zendesk Sunshine Conversations or Zoho Desk run on more platforms?
Zendesk Sunshine Conversations runs on Web, iOS, Android. Zoho Desk runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Zoho Desk for free?
Yes. Zoho Desk has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zendesk Sunshine Conversations starts at On request.
What is Zendesk Sunshine Conversations best used for?
Zendesk Sunshine Conversations is most often used for customer engagement, lead generation, customer support, sales automation. Of those, customer engagement and lead generation are not what Zoho Desk is typically brought in for.
What can Zendesk Sunshine Conversations do that Zoho Desk cannot?
Zendesk Sunshine Conversations covers Live chat, SMS messaging, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp integration. Zoho Desk covers Ticket management, Multi-channel support, AI assistant, Automation. Both handle Salesforce, Slack, Web support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Zendesk Sunshine Conversations: Can I buy Zendesk Sunshine Conversations standalone?

No. Sunshine Conversations is only available with Zendesk Suite Professional, Enterprise, or Enterprise Plus plans. It cannot be purchased as a standalone product.

Source
Zoho Desk: What is the starting price and trial period?

Zoho Desk offers a free forever plan with 3 user licenses, plus paid tiers starting from ₹420 per user per month when billed annually. A 15-day free trial is available without requiring a credit card.

Source
Zendesk Sunshine Conversations: What messaging channels does Sunshine Conversations support?

Sunshine Conversations connects 15+ messaging channels including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Telegram, SMS, and provides a Web Widget for on-site chat.

Source
Zoho Desk: Are there lock-ins or hidden costs?

No lock-ins and no hidden costs. Once your 15-day free trial ends, your plan automatically downgrades to the free plan.

Source
Zendesk Sunshine Conversations: What are the usage limits on Zendesk Sunshine Conversations?

The base includes 1,000 Monthly Active Users and 1,000 notifications per month. Additional usage requires $50 add-ons for each 2,500 MAU pack or $50 for each 25,000 notification pack.

Source
Zoho Desk: What payment methods are accepted?

Zoho Desk accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and PayPal. Bank transfer or check transfer is accepted for yearly subscriptions.

Source
Zoho Desk: Are there discounts for annual commitments?

Yes, Zoho Desk offers discounts on upfront annual commitments, with savings up to 34% off monthly rates.

Source
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