Drift vs Zendesk
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Drift | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $2500/mo | From $89/seat/mo |
| Best For | Large enterprises with complex B2B sales processes | Large enterprises needing comprehensive ticketing with compliance requirements |
| Standout Feature | Advanced conversational AI and revenue acceleration | Industry-leading ticketing system with 1000+ integrations |
| Free Plan | ✗ | ✗ |
| G2 Rating | 4.4 | 4.3/5 |
Drift and Zendesk represent two different philosophies in customer communication. Drift (G2 4.4/5) focuses on conversational marketing and B2B sales acceleration, while Zendesk (G2 4.3/5) provides comprehensive customer support with extensive integrations.
This comparison examines their pricing models, core strengths, and ideal use cases to help you choose the right platform for your business needs.
Feature Comparison
Drift excels in conversational marketing with AI chatbots designed for revenue acceleration, making it ideal for B2B sales and marketing teams. Its strength lies in qualifying leads and driving sales conversations.
Zendesk offers over 1000+ integrations and maintains HIPAA and SOC2 compliance, making it suitable for businesses requiring extensive third-party connections and regulatory compliance. However, it can be complex to set up initially.
The key difference: Drift is sales-focused rather than support-oriented, while Zendesk provides comprehensive customer support capabilities.
Pricing Comparison
Drift uses contact sales pricing, which can be expensive and lacks transparency in cost planning. This model typically favors larger enterprises with substantial budgets.
Zendesk charges $55-$169 per agent per month, which can become costly as your team grows. The per-agent pricing model means costs scale directly with team size.
Both platforms can become expensive for growing teams, especially compared to flat-rate alternatives.
Drift
Pros
- ✓ Powerful conversational AI
- ✓ Strong B2B focus
- ✓ Advanced lead qualification
Cons
- ✗ Extremely expensive pricing
- ✗ Complex setup and learning curve
- ✗ Overkill for small businesses
Zendesk
Pros
- ✓ Industry-leading ticketing system with mature workflows
- ✓ Massive integration ecosystem with 1000+ apps
- ✓ Enterprise-grade security and compliance (HIPAA, SOC2)
Cons
- ✗ Per-agent pricing scales with team size
- ✗ Complex setup and configuration
- ✗ AI features require additional costs
Verdict
Choose Drift if you're a B2B sales or marketing team prioritizing conversational marketing and revenue acceleration. Choose Zendesk if you need comprehensive customer support with extensive integrations and compliance features.
Choose Drift if: You're a B2B sales/marketing team needing conversational marketing, AI chatbots, and revenue acceleration tools, and budget isn't a primary concern.
Choose Zendesk if: You need comprehensive customer support with extensive integrations, compliance features (HIPAA/SOC2), and can manage the complex setup process.
Consider Converge as an alternative: At $49/month flat rate with up to 15 agents, it offers predictable pricing without per-agent fees, making it cost-effective for growing teams.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Drift comparisons and all Zendesk comparisons.