Zoho SalesIQ vs Smooch (Sunshine Conversations)
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Zoho SalesIQ | Smooch (Sunshine Conversations) |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $39/seat/mo | From $115/seat/mo |
| Best For | Zoho ecosystem users wanting integrated live chat and visitor tracking | Existing Zendesk customers needing omnichannel messaging |
| Standout Feature | Deep Zoho CRM integration with lead scoring and visitor intelligence | Deep integration with Zendesk ecosystem |
| Free Plan | ✓ | ✗ |
| G2 Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.2 |
Zoho SalesIQ and Smooch (now Sunshine Conversations) address different communication approaches. SalesIQ provides $0-$20 per operator live chat solutions, while Smooch offers $19-$99 per agent for omnichannel conversation management across multiple platforms.
Feature Comparison
SalesIQ: Dedicated live chat platform with visitor intelligence, lead scoring, and tight integration with Zoho's business ecosystem for sales optimization.
Smooch: Omnichannel conversation platform unifying messaging across WhatsApp, Facebook, SMS, and other channels with centralized agent management.
Pricing Comparison
SalesIQ: $0-$20 per operator monthly - cost-effective for teams focused primarily on website chat interactions.
Smooch: $19-$99 per agent monthly - premium pricing reflecting the complexity of managing multiple communication channels simultaneously.
Zoho SalesIQ
Pros
- ✓ Very competitive pricing
- ✓ Excellent Zoho ecosystem integration
- ✓ Good visitor tracking and lead scoring
Cons
- ✗ Interface feels dated
- ✗ Best value within Zoho ecosystem
- ✗ Limited integrations outside Zoho
Smooch (Sunshine Conversations)
Pros
- ✓ Strong Zendesk integration
- ✓ Good channel coverage
- ✓ Mature platform
Cons
- ✗ Per-agent pricing gets expensive
- ✗ Complex setup process
- ✗ Limited customization options
Verdict
Choose SalesIQ for focused live chat with CRM integration. Choose Smooch for unified omnichannel conversations across multiple messaging platforms and social channels.
SalesIQ excels at website chat while Smooch handles multi-channel complexity. Converge offers comprehensive communication at $49/month flat rate, providing both focused chat tools and multi-channel capabilities without per-agent scaling costs or channel limitations.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Zoho SalesIQ comparisons and all Smooch (Sunshine Conversations) comparisons.