Hiver vs Zendesk
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Hiver | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $35/seat/mo | From $89/seat/mo |
| Best For | Organizations heavily invested in Gmail who primarily handle email support | Large enterprises needing comprehensive ticketing with compliance requirements |
| Standout Feature | Native Gmail integration and shared mailbox management | Industry-leading ticketing system with 1000+ integrations |
| Free Plan | ✓ | ✗ |
| G2 Rating | 4.6 | 4.3/5 |
Hiver and Zendesk represent two different philosophies in customer support. Hiver (G2 4.6/5) specializes in Gmail-based support for teams already using Google Workspace, while Zendesk (G2 4.3/5) offers a comprehensive enterprise platform with extensive integrations.
The choice between them often depends on whether you prefer Gmail integration simplicity or enterprise-grade flexibility.
Feature Comparison
Hiver's standout feature is its native Gmail integration, allowing teams to manage support directly from their inbox without switching platforms. This makes adoption effortless for Gmail users but limits you to Gmail-only workflows.
Zendesk offers 1000+ integrations and supports multiple channels beyond email, with enterprise features like HIPAA and SOC2 compliance. However, this comes with significantly more complexity in setup and management.
The fundamental trade-off is simplicity and Gmail focus versus comprehensive multi-channel capabilities.
Pricing Comparison
Hiver ranges from $15-$59 per user per month, making it affordable for small to medium teams. Zendesk costs $55-$169 per agent per month, which can become expensive as teams grow.
For a 10-person team, Hiver costs $150-$590/month while Zendesk costs $550-$1,690/month. The per-agent pricing model makes Zendesk particularly costly for larger support teams.
Hiver
Pros
- ✓ Seamless Gmail integration
- ✓ Easy setup for Gmail users
- ✓ Good email management features
Cons
- ✗ Limited to Gmail ecosystem
- ✗ No modern messaging channels
- ✗ Expensive per-user pricing
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 Hiver if your team lives in Gmail and wants seamless adoption without changing workflows. Choose Zendesk if you need enterprise features, multiple channels, and extensive integrations despite higher complexity.
Choose Hiver if: Your team uses Gmail, wants easy adoption, and prefers affordable per-user pricing.
Choose Zendesk if: You need enterprise compliance, multiple support channels, and extensive third-party integrations.
Alternative: Consider Converge at $49/month flat rate with up to 15 agents - no per-user fees and simpler pricing than both options.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Hiver comparisons and all Zendesk comparisons.