Zendesk, Crisp, LiveChat, Tawk.to and SupportWire, compared on every feature that matters. Pricing, AI, channels, integrations, all in one table.
Feature comparison
22 features.
7 categories.
No hiding.
Every feature that matters for customer support, compared honestly across 5 platforms.
| Feature | Zendesk | Crisp | LiveChat | Tawk.to | SupportWire |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | |||||
| Starting Price | $55/agent/mo + add-ons | Free / $45 / $95 / $295 | $19/agent/mo (1 agent max) | Free core | Simple per-seat pricing |
| Pricing Model | 7+ SKUs, add-on maze | Per workspace (most pay $295) | 4 separate products | Free + paid add-ons | Transparent per-seat |
| Per-Resolution AI Fees | $50/agent + $1.50/resolution | $25 AI credits/mo on Essentials | Separate ChatBot product ($52+) | $29-$399/mo add-on | Included in every plan |
| Channels | |||||
| Live Chat | Zendesk Messaging | Real-time chat | Core product | Free live chat | Real-time with proactive triggers |
| Phone Support | Zendesk Talk built-in | Not available | Not available | Not available | All plans |
| Ticketing | Industry-leading ticketing | Basic, no SLA management | Separate HelpDesk ($29+/mo) | Basic ticketing | Full ticketing with SLAs |
| Knowledge Base | Guide knowledge base | Help center included | Separate product ($49+/mo) | Hosted on their subdomain | Public and internal |
| AI | |||||
| AI Chatbot | AI add-on ($50/agent/mo) | $25/mo AI credit budget | Separate ChatBot ($52+/mo) | Basic add-on | AI-native, included |
| AI Learning | Requires manual setup | Manual training only | Template-based | Not autonomous | Learns from conversations |
| 24/7 Automation | Triggers + automations | Bot + triggers | Requires ChatBot subscription | Stops when agents offline | Works 24/7 autonomously |
| Platform | |||||
| Setup Time | 4-8 weeks typical | Quick setup | Quick for chat only | Minutes (basic chat) | Hours, not weeks |
| Design Quality | Functional but dated | Clean, modern | Clean but aging | Recently refreshed, still dated | Modern, minimal |
| Widget Performance | Reliable | Lightweight | Lightweight | ~700KB payload | Performance-optimized |
| White-Label Branding | Enterprise tiers | Plus plan only ($295/mo) | Enterprise only | $19/mo to remove branding | Your brand only |
| Cancellation | Annual default, 20-30% premium | Account suspension risk | Requires support to cancel | Post-cancellation charges reported | One-click, any time |
| Data & Security | |||||
| Data Export | Full export tools | Cannot export full transcripts | Limited export | Limited export | Full data portability |
| SOC 2 Compliance | SOC 2; HIPAA on Enterprise | Not certified | Security measures in place | No SOC 2, no HIPAA | |
| Analytics | |||||
| Reporting | Explore (deep, complex) | Shallow analytics | Strong analytics | Basic reports | Full analytics |
| SLA Management | Enterprise-grade SLAs | Not available | Basic SLA features | Not available | Built-in SLA tracking |
| CSAT Surveys | Built-in | Basic surveys | Post-chat surveys | Not available | Built-in |
| Integrations | |||||
| Native Integrations | 1,900+ apps | Limited ecosystem | 200+ apps | Limited native + Zapier | Growing ecosystem |
| Open API | Full REST API | REST API | REST API | Limited 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)
Tawk.to
Free core
SupportWire
Simple per-seat pricing
Pricing Model
Zendesk
7+ SKUs, add-on maze
Crisp
Per workspace (most pay $295)
LiveChat
4 separate products
Tawk.to
Free + paid add-ons
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+)
Tawk.to
$29-$399/mo add-on
SupportWire
Included in every plan
Channels
Live Chat
Zendesk
Zendesk Messaging
Crisp
Real-time chat
LiveChat
Core product
Tawk.to
Free live chat
SupportWire
Real-time with proactive triggers
Phone Support
Zendesk
Zendesk Talk built-in
Crisp
Not available
LiveChat
Not available
Tawk.to
Not available
SupportWire
All plans
Ticketing
Zendesk
Industry-leading ticketing
Crisp
Basic, no SLA management
LiveChat
Separate HelpDesk ($29+/mo)
Tawk.to
Basic ticketing
SupportWire
Full ticketing with SLAs
Knowledge Base
Zendesk
Guide knowledge base
Crisp
Help center included
LiveChat
Separate product ($49+/mo)
Tawk.to
Hosted on their subdomain
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)
Tawk.to
Basic add-on
SupportWire
AI-native, included
AI Learning
Zendesk
Requires manual setup
Crisp
Manual training only
LiveChat
Template-based
Tawk.to
Not autonomous
SupportWire
Learns from conversations
24/7 Automation
Zendesk
Triggers + automations
Crisp
Bot + triggers
LiveChat
Requires ChatBot subscription
Tawk.to
Stops when agents offline
SupportWire
Works 24/7 autonomously
Platform
Setup Time
Zendesk
4-8 weeks typical
Crisp
Quick setup
LiveChat
Quick for chat only
Tawk.to
Minutes (basic chat)
SupportWire
Hours, not weeks
Design Quality
Zendesk
Functional but dated
Crisp
Clean, modern
LiveChat
Clean but aging
Tawk.to
Recently refreshed, still dated
SupportWire
Modern, minimal
Widget Performance
Zendesk
Reliable
Crisp
Lightweight
LiveChat
Lightweight
Tawk.to
~700KB payload
SupportWire
Performance-optimized
White-Label Branding
Zendesk
Enterprise tiers
Crisp
Plus plan only ($295/mo)
LiveChat
Enterprise only
Tawk.to
$19/mo to remove branding
SupportWire
Your brand only
Cancellation
Zendesk
Annual default, 20-30% premium
Crisp
Account suspension risk
LiveChat
Requires support to cancel
Tawk.to
Post-cancellation charges reported
SupportWire
One-click, any time
Data & Security
Data Export
Zendesk
Full export tools
Crisp
Cannot export full transcripts
LiveChat
Limited export
Tawk.to
Limited export
SupportWire
Full data portability
SOC 2 Compliance
Zendesk
SOC 2; HIPAA on Enterprise
Crisp
Not certified
LiveChat
Security measures in place
Tawk.to
No SOC 2, no HIPAA
SupportWire
Analytics
Reporting
Zendesk
Explore (deep, complex)
Crisp
Shallow analytics
LiveChat
Strong analytics
Tawk.to
Basic reports
SupportWire
Full analytics
SLA Management
Zendesk
Enterprise-grade SLAs
Crisp
Not available
LiveChat
Basic SLA features
Tawk.to
Not available
SupportWire
Built-in SLA tracking
CSAT Surveys
Zendesk
Built-in
Crisp
Basic surveys
LiveChat
Post-chat surveys
Tawk.to
Not available
SupportWire
Built-in
Integrations
Native Integrations
Zendesk
1,900+ apps
Crisp
Limited ecosystem
LiveChat
200+ apps
Tawk.to
Limited native + Zapier
SupportWire
Growing ecosystem
Open API
Zendesk
Full REST API
Crisp
REST API
LiveChat
REST API
Tawk.to
Limited 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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