4-Way Comparison
Four contenders, one table.
No hiding.
Zendesk, Crisp, HelpScout, LiveChat and SupportWire compared across every feature that matters. Pricing, AI, channels, integrations, and more.
Feature Comparison
22 features. 7 categories.
No hiding.
Every feature that matters for customer support, compared honestly across 5 platforms.
| Feature | Zendesk | Crisp | HelpScout | LiveChat | SupportWire |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | |||||
| Starting Price | $55/agent/mo + add-ons | Free / $45 / $95 / $295 | Free / $25 / $75 / Custom | $19/agent/mo (1 agent max) | Simple per-seat pricing |
| Pricing Model | 7+ SKUs, add-on maze | Per workspace (most pay $295) | Contact-based, unpredictable | 4 separate products | Transparent per-seat |
| Per-Resolution AI Fees | $50/agent + $1.50/resolution | $25 AI credits/mo on Essentials | $0.75 per AI resolution | Separate ChatBot product ($52+) | Included in every plan |
| Channels | |||||
| Live Chat | Zendesk Messaging | Real-time chat | Beacon widget, reactive | Core product | Real-time with proactive triggers |
| Phone Support | Zendesk Talk built-in | Not available | Not available (14+ years) | Not available | All plans |
| Ticketing | Industry-leading ticketing | Basic, no SLA management | Shared inbox | Separate HelpDesk ($29+/mo) | Full ticketing with SLAs |
| Knowledge Base | Guide knowledge base | Help center included | Public only, broken editor | Separate product ($49+/mo) | Public and internal |
| AI | |||||
| AI Chatbot | AI add-on ($50/agent/mo) | $25/mo AI credit budget | $0.75/resolution add-on | Separate ChatBot ($52+/mo) | AI-native, included |
| AI Learning | Requires manual setup | Manual training only | Public articles only | Template-based | Learns from conversations |
| 24/7 Automation | Triggers + automations | Bot + triggers | Keyword-matching only | Requires ChatBot subscription | Works 24/7 autonomously |
| Platform | |||||
| Setup Time | 4-8 weeks typical | Quick setup | Hours to days | Quick for chat only | Hours, not weeks |
| Design Quality | Functional but dated | Clean, modern | Clean, simple | Clean but aging | Modern, minimal |
| Widget Performance | Reliable | Lightweight | Light Beacon widget | Lightweight | Performance-optimized |
| White-Label Branding | Enterprise tiers | Plus plan only ($295/mo) | Limited customization | Enterprise only | Your brand only |
| Cancellation | Annual default, 20-30% premium | Account suspension risk | Straightforward | Requires support to cancel | One-click, any time |
| Data & Security | |||||
| Data Export | Full export tools | Cannot export full transcripts | CSV export available | Limited export | Full data portability |
| SOC 2 Compliance | SOC 2; HIPAA on Enterprise | Not certified | SOC 2 certified | Security measures in place | |
| Analytics | |||||
| Reporting | Explore (deep, complex) | Shallow analytics | Basic dashboards | Strong analytics | Full analytics |
| SLA Management | Enterprise-grade SLAs | Not available | No SLA tracking | Basic SLA features | Built-in SLA tracking |
| CSAT Surveys | Built-in | Basic surveys | Satisfaction ratings | Post-chat surveys | Built-in |
| Integrations | |||||
| Native Integrations | 1,900+ apps | Limited ecosystem | 100+ apps | 200+ apps | Growing ecosystem |
| Open API | Full REST API | REST API | REST API | REST API | Full REST API |
Pricing
Starting Price
Zendesk
$55/agent/mo + add-ons
Crisp
Free / $45 / $95 / $295
HelpScout
Free / $25 / $75 / Custom
LiveChat
$19/agent/mo (1 agent max)
SupportWire
Simple per-seat pricing
Pricing Model
Zendesk
7+ SKUs, add-on maze
Crisp
Per workspace (most pay $295)
HelpScout
Contact-based, unpredictable
LiveChat
4 separate products
SupportWire
Transparent per-seat
Per-Resolution AI Fees
Zendesk
$50/agent + $1.50/resolution
Crisp
$25 AI credits/mo on Essentials
HelpScout
$0.75 per AI resolution
LiveChat
Separate ChatBot product ($52+)
SupportWire
Included in every plan
Channels
Live Chat
Zendesk
Zendesk Messaging
Crisp
Real-time chat
HelpScout
Beacon widget, reactive
LiveChat
Core product
SupportWire
Real-time with proactive triggers
Phone Support
Zendesk
Zendesk Talk built-in
Crisp
Not available
HelpScout
Not available (14+ years)
LiveChat
Not available
SupportWire
All plans
Ticketing
Zendesk
Industry-leading ticketing
Crisp
Basic, no SLA management
HelpScout
Shared inbox
LiveChat
Separate HelpDesk ($29+/mo)
SupportWire
Full ticketing with SLAs
Knowledge Base
Zendesk
Guide knowledge base
Crisp
Help center included
HelpScout
Public only, broken editor
LiveChat
Separate product ($49+/mo)
SupportWire
Public and internal
AI
AI Chatbot
Zendesk
AI add-on ($50/agent/mo)
Crisp
$25/mo AI credit budget
HelpScout
$0.75/resolution add-on
LiveChat
Separate ChatBot ($52+/mo)
SupportWire
AI-native, included
AI Learning
Zendesk
Requires manual setup
Crisp
Manual training only
HelpScout
Public articles only
LiveChat
Template-based
SupportWire
Learns from conversations
24/7 Automation
Zendesk
Triggers + automations
Crisp
Bot + triggers
HelpScout
Keyword-matching only
LiveChat
Requires ChatBot subscription
SupportWire
Works 24/7 autonomously
Platform
Setup Time
Zendesk
4-8 weeks typical
Crisp
Quick setup
HelpScout
Hours to days
LiveChat
Quick for chat only
SupportWire
Hours, not weeks
Design Quality
Zendesk
Functional but dated
Crisp
Clean, modern
HelpScout
Clean, simple
LiveChat
Clean but aging
SupportWire
Modern, minimal
Widget Performance
Zendesk
Reliable
Crisp
Lightweight
HelpScout
Light Beacon widget
LiveChat
Lightweight
SupportWire
Performance-optimized
White-Label Branding
Zendesk
Enterprise tiers
Crisp
Plus plan only ($295/mo)
HelpScout
Limited customization
LiveChat
Enterprise only
SupportWire
Your brand only
Cancellation
Zendesk
Annual default, 20-30% premium
Crisp
Account suspension risk
HelpScout
Straightforward
LiveChat
Requires support to cancel
SupportWire
One-click, any time
Data & Security
Data Export
Zendesk
Full export tools
Crisp
Cannot export full transcripts
HelpScout
CSV export available
LiveChat
Limited export
SupportWire
Full data portability
SOC 2 Compliance
Zendesk
SOC 2; HIPAA on Enterprise
Crisp
Not certified
HelpScout
SOC 2 certified
LiveChat
Security measures in place
SupportWire
Analytics
Reporting
Zendesk
Explore (deep, complex)
Crisp
Shallow analytics
HelpScout
Basic dashboards
LiveChat
Strong analytics
SupportWire
Full analytics
SLA Management
Zendesk
Enterprise-grade SLAs
Crisp
Not available
HelpScout
No SLA tracking
LiveChat
Basic SLA features
SupportWire
Built-in SLA tracking
CSAT Surveys
Zendesk
Built-in
Crisp
Basic surveys
HelpScout
Satisfaction ratings
LiveChat
Post-chat surveys
SupportWire
Built-in
Integrations
Native Integrations
Zendesk
1,900+ apps
Crisp
Limited ecosystem
HelpScout
100+ apps
LiveChat
200+ apps
SupportWire
Growing ecosystem
Open API
Zendesk
Full REST API
Crisp
REST API
HelpScout
REST API
LiveChat
REST API
SupportWire
Full REST API
Go Deeper
Read the full story
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