Sendbird vs Zendesk Chat
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Sendbird | Zendesk Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $399/mo | From $89/seat/mo |
| Best For | Developers building custom in-app messaging experiences | Large support teams needing comprehensive ticketing integration |
| Standout Feature | Comprehensive SDK with voice, video, and messaging | Deep integration with Zendesk Support platform |
| Free Plan | ✓ | ✗ |
| G2 Rating | 4.3 | 4.2 |
Sendbird and Zendesk Chat target different aspects of customer communication. Sendbird specializes in in-app messaging and real-time chat infrastructure for mobile and web applications, while Zendesk Chat focuses on website visitor engagement and support ticket integration.
The decision between these platforms depends on whether you're building custom chat experiences or need ready-to-deploy support solutions.
Feature Comparison
Sendbird provides chat infrastructure with SDKs for iOS, Android, and web platforms. It excels in real-time messaging, group chats, file sharing, and custom UI development. Features include message threading, reactions, and advanced moderation tools.
Zendesk Chat offers pre-built chat widgets, automated triggers, and comprehensive visitor analytics. It integrates seamlessly with Zendesk's ticketing system and provides robust reporting on chat performance and customer satisfaction.
Sendbird requires development resources but offers unlimited customization, while Zendesk Chat provides immediate deployment with configuration-based setup.
Pricing Comparison
Sendbird uses a freemium model with paid plans starting at $399/month for up to 1,000 monthly active users, scaling based on usage. Enterprise plans include custom pricing for high-volume applications.
Zendesk Chat starts at $14/month per agent with higher tiers at $29 and $59 per agent monthly. Pricing is based on agent count rather than user volume.
Sendbird can be cost-effective for high-user applications, while Zendesk Chat offers predictable costs for support teams regardless of customer volume.
Sendbird
Pros
- ✓ Comprehensive SDK suite
- ✓ Excellent developer documentation
- ✓ Scalable infrastructure
Cons
- ✗ Expensive for small businesses
- ✗ Complex pricing structure
- ✗ Limited social media integrations
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 Sendbird if you're building custom chat experiences within your application and need developer-friendly APIs. Choose Zendesk Chat if you want proven support chat functionality with minimal technical implementation.
Choose Sendbird if: You're building a mobile app or web application that needs custom chat functionality, have development resources, or require advanced messaging features like group chats and file sharing.
Choose Zendesk Chat if: You need website chat for customer support, want quick implementation without development work, or require integration with existing support workflows.
For teams wanting both custom chat capabilities and support features without complex pricing models, Converge at $49/month flat provides a balanced solution with developer-friendly APIs and ready-to-use support tools.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Sendbird comparisons and all Zendesk Chat comparisons.