Helpshift vs Zendesk
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Helpshift | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $150/mo | From $89/seat/mo |
| Best For | Mobile apps needing in-app customer support | Large enterprises needing comprehensive ticketing with compliance requirements |
| Standout Feature | Native in-app messaging SDK for mobile apps | Industry-leading ticketing system with 1000+ integrations |
| Free Plan | ✗ | ✗ |
| G2 Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.3/5 |
Helpshift and Zendesk are both customer support platforms with 4.3/5 G2 ratings, but they serve different needs. Helpshift specializes in mobile app support with custom pricing, while Zendesk offers comprehensive omnichannel support starting at $55/agent/month.
This comparison examines their features, pricing models, and ideal use cases to help you choose the right platform for your business.
Feature Comparison
Helpshift excels in mobile-first support with its native mobile SDK, in-app messaging capabilities, and gaming industry focus. These features make it ideal for mobile app developers and gaming companies.
Zendesk offers over 1000+ integrations and enterprise-grade compliance including HIPAA and SOC2 certifications. Its strength lies in comprehensive omnichannel support across web, email, chat, and phone.
The key difference is specialization: Helpshift dominates mobile app support while Zendesk provides broader, enterprise-ready functionality.
Pricing Comparison
Helpshift uses custom pricing only, requiring sales conversations for quotes. This can be challenging for budget planning but may offer flexibility for larger deployments.
Zendesk's transparent per-agent pricing ranges from $55-$169/agent/month, making costs predictable but potentially expensive for larger teams. Additional features and integrations may increase costs further.
Consider total cost of ownership including implementation, training, and ongoing support when evaluating both platforms.
Helpshift
Pros
- ✓ Mobile-first
- ✓ Strong SDK
- ✓ In-app experience
Cons
- ✗ Issue-based pricing caps
- ✗ Mobile-focused
- ✗ Complex integration
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 Helpshift if you need specialized mobile app support with in-app messaging and gaming-focused features. Choose Zendesk if you want extensive integrations and enterprise compliance features across all channels.
Choose Helpshift if: You're building mobile apps or games and need specialized in-app support features with mobile SDK integration.
Choose Zendesk if: You need enterprise compliance, extensive integrations, and comprehensive omnichannel support across all touchpoints.
Alternative consideration: Converge offers up to 15 agents for $49/month flat rate, providing cost-effective customer support without per-agent pricing constraints.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Helpshift comparisons and all Zendesk comparisons.