Softwr

Software · head to head

Zendesk vs Zoho People

Zendesk logo

Zendesk

Software

Champions of customer service

From
$19/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoho People logo

Zoho People

Software

Cloud HR software for growing businesses

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Zoho People has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Zendesk aI agents operate on per-resolution billing; customers pay only when an AI agent successfully resolves a ticket without escalation; Zoho People slow response times and slow loading on the platform affecting user efficiency
  • They diverge on capability: Zendesk covers Ticket management, Zoho People covers Employee Database.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Zendesk and Zoho People actually diverge.

Attributes where Zendesk and Zoho People differ
AttributeZendeskZoho People
Starting price$19/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
Founded20071996

Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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

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

Only in Zoho People

  • Employee Database
  • Time Off
  • Time Tracking
  • Attendance
  • Performance
  • Onboarding
  • Self-Service
  • Zoho CRM

Both cover

  • Slack

What people use each for

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

Zendesk

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

Zoho People

No use cases recorded yet. See the Zoho People review.

Where each one falls short

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

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

Zoho People

  • Slow response times and slow loading on the platform affecting user efficiency
  • Limited customization options for leave and performance management workflows
  • Mobile app is missing key features available in desktop version, like timesheets and reporting
  • Customer support is ticket-based only with no live chat unless on premium plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Zendesk

$19/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Zendesk review.

Zoho People

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Zoho People review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Zendesk if

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

Choose Zoho People if

  • You need employee database.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want time off.
Zoho People review

Questions people ask

Is Zendesk or Zoho People better?
Neither clearly leads. Zendesk starts at $19/month and Zoho People at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Zendesk or Zoho People?
Zoho People has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $19/month for Zendesk and Free for Zoho People.
Does Zendesk or Zoho People run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Zoho People for free?
Yes. Zoho People has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zendesk starts at $19/month.
What is Zendesk best used for?
Zendesk is most often used for help desk and ticketing system management, omnichannel customer support, knowledge base and self-service portals, ai-assisted customer service. Of those, help desk and ticketing system management and omnichannel customer support are not what Zoho People is typically brought in for.
What can Zendesk do that Zoho People cannot?
Zendesk covers Ticket management, Omnichannel support, Knowledge base, Live chat. Zoho People covers Employee Database, Time Off, Time Tracking, Attendance. Both handle Slack.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Zoho People: Does Zoho People have a free tier?

Yes, the Free plan supports up to 5-10 users with essential HR tools, email support, and 30-day free trial available on all paid plans with no credit card required.

Source
Zoho People: What is the pricing for Zoho People?

Pricing starts at $1.25 per user per month when billed annually. The Essential HR plan costs $1.50 monthly per user, dropping to $1.25 annually with five tiers available: Free, Essential HR, Professional, Premium, and Enterprise.

Source
Zoho People: Does Zoho People work with other Zoho applications?

Yes, Zoho People integrates with the Zoho ecosystem including Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, and other Zoho applications for unified business management.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Zendesk

More on Zoho People

Keep looking

Other head to heads