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Zendesk vs Kayako

A detailed comparison to help you choose the right tool for your needs.

Zendesk logo

Zendesk

Customer Support

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VS
Kayako logo

Kayako

Customer Support

Try Kayako

A
About Zendesk

Zendesk is a cloud-based customer support platform that unifies customer conversations across email, live chat, phone, social media, and messaging apps into a single ticketing system. It's designed for businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises, that need to manage and track customer interactions efficiently. The platform stands out for its extensive marketplace of apps and integrations, robust reporting and analytics, and a well-documented API that makes customization straightforward. While it's become something of an industry standard in help desk software, its pricing can escalate quickly as you add features and agents.

B
About Kayako

Kayako is a customer support platform that unifies conversations from email, live chat, social media, and other channels into a single shared inbox. It's built for small to mid-sized businesses and growing support teams that need to track and manage customer interactions without losing context. Kayako stands out with its customer journey visualization, which gives agents a timeline of every interaction and activity a customer has had. The platform aims to deliver more personal support by giving teams full visibility into customer history across all touchpoints.

Pricing Comparison

Tool
Zendesk
Kayako
Price
From $19/agent/mo
From $15/user/mo
Category
Customer Support
Customer Support
Rating
4.8 (266)
3.9 (15)
Free Plan
No
No
Integrations
8+ apps
8+ apps
Founded
2007
2001

Feature Comparison

Feature
Zendesk
Kayako
Multi-channel support ticketing system
Automated responses with macros
Customizable customer satisfaction surveys
Real-time chat support functionality
Knowledge base for self-service
Analytics dashboard for performance tracking
Real-time chat with customers
Customer satisfaction surveys
Automated response suggestions
Collaboration tools for support teams

Choose Zendesk

Customer service and engagement platform.

Try Zendesk Free

Read full review

Choose Kayako

Kayako is a customer support tool that streamlines communication and improves customer satisfaction.

Try Kayako Free

Read full review

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Score Comparison

Ease of Use
7.0
7.0
Features
9.0
8.0
Pricing
6.0
7.0
Support
8.0
8.0
Integrations
9.0
8.0
Overall
7.8
7.6
ZendeskKayako

Our Verdict

ZendeskWinner

You have a medium-sized support team that requires robust customer engagement features.

More features
More integrations
Kayako

Your support team needs to improve customer satisfaction through streamlined communication at a lower cost.

More affordable

Zendesk vs Kayako: The Bottom Line

Both Zendesk and Kayako are strong customer support tools, but they serve different needs. Zendesk has a higher user rating (4.8 vs 3.9). On pricing, Kayako is more affordable starting at $15/mo.

Still unsure? Check the full reviews for Zendesk and Kayako, explore Zendesk alternatives, or use our AI search to describe exactly what you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Zendesk or Kayako better?

It depends on your needs. Zendesk (4.8★) is from $19/mo, while Kayako (3.9★) is from $15/mo. Zendesk has a higher user rating.

Can I switch from Zendesk to Kayako?

Yes. Most SaaS tools offer data export features. Check if Kayako has a migration guide or import tool specifically for Zendesk users. Many offer onboarding assistance for switchers.

Which is cheaper, Zendesk or Kayako?

Kayako starts at $15/mo, which is cheaper than Zendesk at $19/mo.

What are the main differences between Zendesk and Kayako?

Zendesk focuses on multi-channel support ticketing system and automated responses with macros, while Kayako emphasizes multi-channel support ticketing system and real-time chat with customers. Both are in the Customer Support category but serve slightly different use cases.