Olark vs Zendesk Chat
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Olark | Zendesk Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $29/seat/mo | From $89/seat/mo |
| Best For | Small to medium businesses needing basic live chat | Large support teams needing comprehensive ticketing integration |
| Standout Feature | Visitor insights and chat targeting | Deep integration with Zendesk Support platform |
| Free Plan | ✗ | ✗ |
| G2 Rating | 4.2 | 4.2 |
Olark and Zendesk Chat (now part of Zendesk Suite) serve different market segments. Olark focuses on straightforward live chat functionality, while Zendesk Chat integrates deeply with Zendesk's comprehensive customer service ecosystem.
The choice often depends on whether you need standalone chat functionality or integrated customer service suite capabilities.
Feature Comparison
Olark provides dedicated live chat features including real-time visitor monitoring, automated greetings, chat routing, and comprehensive reporting. It offers excellent widget customization and integrates with popular third-party tools.
Zendesk Chat integrates seamlessly with Zendesk's ticketing system, knowledge base, and analytics platform. It includes advanced features like proactive messaging, department routing, and sophisticated trigger systems.
Olark excels as a standalone chat solution, while Zendesk Chat provides superior value when used within the broader Zendesk ecosystem.
Pricing Comparison
Olark offers transparent pricing starting at $29/agent/month for their standard plan, with a free tier supporting up to 20 chats monthly. No hidden fees or complex add-ons.
Zendesk Chat pricing varies significantly based on the Zendesk plan you choose, starting around $19/agent/month but often requiring higher-tier Zendesk subscriptions for full functionality.
Olark may be more cost-effective for teams only needing chat, while Zendesk Chat offers better value for organizations using multiple Zendesk products.
Olark
Pros
- ✓ Easy setup and customization
- ✓ Good visitor tracking
- ✓ Reliable uptime
Cons
- ✗ Per-agent pricing gets expensive
- ✗ Limited mobile app functionality
- ✗ No social media integration
Zendesk Chat
Pros
- ✓ Strong brand recognition
- ✓ Comprehensive support suite
- ✓ Good integrations
Cons
- ✗ Per-agent pricing gets expensive
- ✗ Limited to web chat only
- ✗ No social media messaging
Verdict
Choose Olark if you need focused live chat functionality with simple setup and competitive pricing. Choose Zendesk Chat if you're already using Zendesk products or need enterprise-grade integration capabilities.
Choose Olark if: You need standalone live chat functionality with straightforward pricing and don't require deep integration with a larger customer service platform.
Choose Zendesk Chat if: You're already invested in the Zendesk ecosystem or need enterprise-level integration capabilities with ticketing and knowledge management systems.
For teams wanting powerful chat features without the complexity of enterprise suites, consider Converge at $49/month flat rate - offering comprehensive functionality with simple, predictable pricing.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Olark comparisons and all Zendesk Chat comparisons.