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Customer Support · head to head

Zoho Desk vs LiveAgent

Zoho Desk logo

Zoho Desk

Customer Support

Context-aware help desk software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LiveAgent logo

LiveAgent

Customer Support

All-in-one help desk software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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; LiveAgent social and messaging channels are separately priced add ons rather than plan features, at $19 to $39 a month each on top of the seat price
  • They diverge on capability: Zoho Desk covers Ticket management, LiveAgent covers Ticketing system.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Zoho Desk and LiveAgent actually diverge.

Attributes where Zoho Desk and LiveAgent differ
AttributeZoho DeskLiveAgent
Founded19962004

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Customer Support).

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 Zoho Desk

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

Only in LiveAgent

  • Ticketing system
  • Live chat
  • Call center
  • Social media
  • Customer portal
  • WordPress
  • Shopify
  • Magento

Both cover

  • Knowledge base
  • Slack
  • GDPR
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Zoho Desk

  • Multi-channel supportnot LiveAgent
  • IT help desknot LiveAgent
  • Customer servicenot LiveAgent

LiveAgent

  • Multichannel help desk covering email, chat, calls and social messagesnot Zoho Desk
  • Ticketing and shared inbox for customer support teamsnot Zoho Desk

Where each one falls short

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

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

LiveAgent

  • Social and messaging channels are separately priced add ons rather than plan features, at $19 to $39 a month each on top of the seat price
  • The entry plan is limited to 3 email accounts, 2 live chat buttons and 3 contact forms
  • WhatsApp numbers are rationed by plan, at 5 on Large Business and 20 on Enterprise
  • The advertised prices require annual billing, and monthly billing raises the entry plan from $10 to $13 per agent
  • Every published price is a discounted rate against a higher regular price

Pricing, plan by plan

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

LiveAgent

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 7-day ticket history
    • 1 chat button
    • 1 email account
  • Small$9/month
    • Unlimited ticket history
    • 3 email accounts
    • Customer portal
  • Medium$29/month
    • Call center
    • 10 email accounts
    • Advanced reporting
  • Large$49/month
    • Everything unlimited
    • Senior account manager
    • White glove setup

Which should you pick?

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

Choose LiveAgent if

  • You need ticketing system.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want live chat.
LiveAgent review

Questions people ask

Is Zoho Desk or LiveAgent better?
Neither clearly leads. Zoho Desk starts at Free and LiveAgent at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Zoho Desk or LiveAgent?
Zoho Desk starts at Free and LiveAgent at Free.
Does Zoho Desk or LiveAgent run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Zoho Desk for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Zoho Desk best used for?
Zoho Desk is most often used for multi-channel support, it help desk, customer service. Of those, multi-channel support and it help desk are not what LiveAgent is typically brought in for.
What can Zoho Desk do that LiveAgent cannot?
Zoho Desk covers Ticket management, Multi-channel support, AI assistant, Automation. LiveAgent covers Ticketing system, Live chat, Call center, Social media. Both handle Knowledge base, Slack, GDPR, Web support.
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