LiveChat vs Zendesk Chat

Converge
Converge Team ·
LiveChat
livechat.com

LiveChat is customer service software for online businesses. Best suited for e-commerce teams needing visitor tracking with WhatsApp support. Known for its detailed visitor tracking with real-time website analytics.

Zendesk Chat
zendesk.com

Zendesk Chat is live chat software for customer support teams. Best suited for large support teams needing comprehensive ticketing integration. Known for its deep integration with Zendesk Support platform.

Side-by-Side Comparison
LiveChat Price
From $49/seat/mo
Zendesk Chat Price
From $115/seat/mo
Converge
$49/mo flat
Feature
LiveChat LiveChat
Zendesk Chat Zendesk Chat
Starting Price
From $49/seat/mo
From $115/seat/mo
Pricing Model
Per seat
Per seat
Best For
E-commerce teams needing visitor tracking with WhatsApp support
Large support teams needing comprehensive ticketing integration
Standout Feature
Detailed visitor tracking with real-time website analytics
Deep integration with Zendesk Support platform
Free Plan
No
No

LiveChat and Zendesk Chat serve different segments of the customer support market. LiveChat operates as a specialized chat platform with deep customization options, while Zendesk Chat (now part of Zendesk Suite) focuses on seamless integration within the broader Zendesk ecosystem for unified customer service.

Your choice depends on whether you need a standalone chat solution with maximum flexibility or prefer integrated support tools within a comprehensive help desk platform.

LiveChat Key Features

Live chat widget
Ticketing system
WhatsApp Business API
Facebook Messenger
Apple Messages for Business
SMS integration

Zendesk Chat Key Features

Live chat widget
Visitor tracking
Chat routing
Mobile apps
Integrations
Analytics

Feature Comparison

LiveChat excels as a dedicated chat platform with advanced widget customization, detailed visitor tracking, proactive chat triggers, and over 200 integrations. It offers sophisticated routing rules, comprehensive analytics, and mobile apps optimized for chat-focused workflows.

Zendesk Chat's strength lies in its integration with Zendesk's ticketing system, allowing seamless escalation from chat to tickets. It provides solid basic chat features, unified customer profiles across channels, and benefits from Zendesk's robust reporting and analytics infrastructure.

LiveChat wins on chat-specific features and customization, while Zendesk Chat wins on unified customer service workflows and cross-channel consistency.

Pricing Comparison

LiveChat pricing ranges from $20 to $149 per agent monthly, with the $41 Team plan covering most business needs. This dedicated pricing reflects its position as a specialized chat platform with premium features.

Zendesk Chat starts free for basic use, scaling from $0 to $59 per agent monthly. However, to unlock its full potential, you typically need other Zendesk products, which can significantly increase total costs when bundled.

For chat-only needs, Zendesk Chat appears more affordable. For comprehensive chat features without additional products, LiveChat often provides better value despite higher base pricing.

LiveChat LiveChat Pricing

Starter
$19/agent/mo
Team
$49/agent/mo
Business
$79/agent/mo

Zendesk Chat Zendesk Chat Pricing

Suite Team
$55/agent/mo
Suite Professional
$115/agent/mo
Suite Enterprise
$169/agent/mo

LiveChat Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • Excellent visitor tracking and analytics
  • Strong integration ecosystem (200+ apps)
  • Reliable WhatsApp Business API support
  • Good reporting and performance metrics

Limitations

  • Per-agent pricing model
  • ChatBot automation is separate product
  • No native Telegram or Zalo support
  • Interface feels dated

Zendesk Chat Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • Strong brand recognition
  • Comprehensive support suite
  • Good integrations
  • Mobile apps available

Limitations

  • Per-agent pricing gets expensive
  • Limited to web chat only
  • No social media messaging
  • Complex setup for small teams

Verdict

Choose LiveChat if you want a specialized chat platform with extensive customization and third-party integrations. Choose Zendesk Chat if you're already using Zendesk products or need tight integration between chat and ticketing systems.

Choose LiveChat if: You need advanced chat-specific features, extensive customization options, want a standalone solution, or require deep third-party integrations.

Choose Zendesk Chat if: You're already using Zendesk products, need unified customer profiles across channels, or want seamless chat-to-ticket escalation workflows.

Consider Converge at $49/month flat rate if you want comprehensive chat features without per-agent fees or the complexity of choosing between standalone versus integrated solutions.

Looking for more options? Browse all platform comparisons, or see all LiveChat comparisons and all Zendesk Chat comparisons.

Frequently Asked Questions

LiveChat is best for E-commerce teams needing visitor tracking with WhatsApp support. Zendesk Chat is best for Large support teams needing comprehensive ticketing integration. LiveChat's standout feature is Detailed visitor tracking with real-time website analytics, while Zendesk Chat offers Deep integration with Zendesk Support platform.

LiveChat starts at From $49/seat/mo. Zendesk Chat starts at From $115/seat/mo. For flat-rate pricing, consider Converge at $49/month for up to 15 agents.

LiveChat does not offer a free plan. Zendesk Chat does not offer a free plan. Both are established platforms in the customer support space.

LiveChat pros: Excellent visitor tracking and analytics; Strong integration ecosystem (200+ apps). Zendesk Chat pros: Strong brand recognition; Comprehensive support suite. Each platform has distinct strengths depending on your use case.

Choose LiveChat for E-commerce teams needing visitor tracking with WhatsApp support. Choose Zendesk Chat for Large support teams needing comprehensive ticketing integration. If you need messaging-first support with flat pricing, consider Converge as an alternative at $49/month for up to 15 agents.

Ready to try Converge?

$49/month flat. Up to 15 agents. 14-day free trial, no credit card required.

Start Free Trial