Three popular support tools, side by side with SupportWire, across 22 features in 7 categories. Pick the one that fits how your team actually works.
Feature comparison
22 features.
7 categories.
No hiding.
Every feature that matters for customer support, compared honestly across 4 platforms.
| Feature | Zendesk | Crisp | LiveChat | SupportWire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||||
| Starting Price | $55/agent/mo + add-ons | Free / $45 / $95 / $295 | $19/agent/mo (1 agent max) | Simple per-seat pricing |
| Pricing Model | 7+ SKUs, add-on maze | Per workspace (most pay $295) | 4 separate products | Transparent per-seat |
| Per-Resolution AI Fees | $50/agent + $1.50/resolution | $25 AI credits/mo on Essentials | Separate ChatBot product ($52+) | Included in every plan |
| Channels | ||||
| Live Chat | Zendesk Messaging | Real-time chat | Core product | Real-time with proactive triggers |
| Phone Support | Zendesk Talk built-in | Not available | Not available | All plans |
| Ticketing | Industry-leading ticketing | Basic, no SLA management | Separate HelpDesk ($29+/mo) | Full ticketing with SLAs |
| Knowledge Base | Guide knowledge base | Help center included | Separate product ($49+/mo) | Public and internal |
| AI | ||||
| AI Chatbot | AI add-on ($50/agent/mo) | $25/mo AI credit budget | Separate ChatBot ($52+/mo) | AI-native, included |
| AI Learning | Requires manual setup | Manual training only | Template-based | Learns from conversations |
| 24/7 Automation | Triggers + automations | Bot + triggers | Requires ChatBot subscription | Works 24/7 autonomously |
| Platform | ||||
| Setup Time | 4-8 weeks typical | Quick setup | Quick for chat only | Hours, not weeks |
| Design Quality | Functional but dated | Clean, modern | Clean but aging | Modern, minimal |
| Widget Performance | Reliable | Lightweight | Lightweight | Performance-optimized |
| White-Label Branding | Enterprise tiers | Plus plan only ($295/mo) | Enterprise only | Your brand only |
| Cancellation | Annual default, 20-30% premium | Account suspension risk | Requires support to cancel | One-click, any time |
| Data & Security | ||||
| Data Export | Full export tools | Cannot export full transcripts | Limited export | Full data portability |
| SOC 2 Compliance | SOC 2; HIPAA on Enterprise | Not certified | Security measures in place | |
| Analytics | ||||
| Reporting | Explore (deep, complex) | Shallow analytics | Strong analytics | Full analytics |
| SLA Management | Enterprise-grade SLAs | Not available | Basic SLA features | Built-in SLA tracking |
| CSAT Surveys | Built-in | Basic surveys | Post-chat surveys | Built-in |
| Integrations | ||||
| Native Integrations | 1,900+ apps | Limited ecosystem | 200+ apps | Growing ecosystem |
| Open API | Full REST API | REST API | REST API | Full REST API |
Pricing
Starting Price
Zendesk
$55/agent/mo + add-ons
Crisp
Free / $45 / $95 / $295
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)
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
LiveChat
Separate ChatBot product ($52+)
SupportWire
Included in every plan
Channels
Live Chat
Zendesk
Zendesk Messaging
Crisp
Real-time chat
LiveChat
Core product
SupportWire
Real-time with proactive triggers
Phone Support
Zendesk
Zendesk Talk built-in
Crisp
Not available
LiveChat
Not available
SupportWire
All plans
Ticketing
Zendesk
Industry-leading ticketing
Crisp
Basic, no SLA management
LiveChat
Separate HelpDesk ($29+/mo)
SupportWire
Full ticketing with SLAs
Knowledge Base
Zendesk
Guide knowledge base
Crisp
Help center included
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
LiveChat
Separate ChatBot ($52+/mo)
SupportWire
AI-native, included
AI Learning
Zendesk
Requires manual setup
Crisp
Manual training only
LiveChat
Template-based
SupportWire
Learns from conversations
24/7 Automation
Zendesk
Triggers + automations
Crisp
Bot + triggers
LiveChat
Requires ChatBot subscription
SupportWire
Works 24/7 autonomously
Platform
Setup Time
Zendesk
4-8 weeks typical
Crisp
Quick setup
LiveChat
Quick for chat only
SupportWire
Hours, not weeks
Design Quality
Zendesk
Functional but dated
Crisp
Clean, modern
LiveChat
Clean but aging
SupportWire
Modern, minimal
Widget Performance
Zendesk
Reliable
Crisp
Lightweight
LiveChat
Lightweight
SupportWire
Performance-optimized
White-Label Branding
Zendesk
Enterprise tiers
Crisp
Plus plan only ($295/mo)
LiveChat
Enterprise only
SupportWire
Your brand only
Cancellation
Zendesk
Annual default, 20-30% premium
Crisp
Account suspension risk
LiveChat
Requires support to cancel
SupportWire
One-click, any time
Data & Security
Data Export
Zendesk
Full export tools
Crisp
Cannot export full transcripts
LiveChat
Limited export
SupportWire
Full data portability
SOC 2 Compliance
Zendesk
SOC 2; HIPAA on Enterprise
Crisp
Not certified
LiveChat
Security measures in place
SupportWire
Analytics
Reporting
Zendesk
Explore (deep, complex)
Crisp
Shallow analytics
LiveChat
Strong analytics
SupportWire
Full analytics
SLA Management
Zendesk
Enterprise-grade SLAs
Crisp
Not available
LiveChat
Basic SLA features
SupportWire
Built-in SLA tracking
CSAT Surveys
Zendesk
Built-in
Crisp
Basic surveys
LiveChat
Post-chat surveys
SupportWire
Built-in
Integrations
Native Integrations
Zendesk
1,900+ apps
Crisp
Limited ecosystem
LiveChat
200+ apps
SupportWire
Growing ecosystem
Open API
Zendesk
Full REST API
Crisp
REST API
LiveChat
REST API
SupportWire
Full REST API
Go deeper
Read the full story.
Feature tables only tell half of it. Each deep-dive walks through pricing traps, real Trustpilot quotes, and where the product breaks down for growing teams.
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