Chatwoot vs Zendesk
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Chatwoot | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $19/seat/mo | From $89/seat/mo |
| Best For | Technical teams wanting open-source flexibility | Large enterprises needing comprehensive ticketing with compliance requirements |
| Standout Feature | Open-source with self-hosting option | Industry-leading ticketing system with 1000+ integrations |
| Free Plan | ✓ | ✗ |
| G2 Rating | 4.4 | 4.3/5 |
Chatwoot and Zendesk represent two different philosophies in customer support software. Chatwoot (G2 4.4/5) offers an open-source, self-hosted solution starting at $20/agent/month, while Zendesk (G2 4.3/5) provides an enterprise-grade platform with pricing from $55-$169/agent/month.
This comparison examines their features, pricing models, and ideal use cases to help you choose the right platform for your team.
Feature Comparison
Chatwoot excels as an open-source platform offering self-hosted deployment options and affordable pricing. Its strength lies in providing core customer support features without vendor lock-in.
Zendesk dominates with over 1000+ integrations and enterprise-grade compliance including HIPAA and SOC2 certifications. It's built for organizations requiring extensive third-party connections and regulatory compliance.
The key difference: Chatwoot requires technical setup but offers full control, while Zendesk provides comprehensive features out-of-the-box at a premium price.
Pricing Comparison
Chatwoot's $20/agent/month custom pricing makes it significantly more affordable, especially for larger teams. However, self-hosting requires technical expertise and infrastructure costs.
Zendesk's $55-$169/agent/month pricing can become expensive quickly but includes managed hosting, extensive support, and enterprise features. The per-agent model penalizes team growth.
For teams with 10+ agents, the cost difference becomes substantial, with Chatwoot potentially saving thousands monthly compared to Zendesk's higher tiers.
Chatwoot
Pros
- ✓ Open-source option available
- ✓ Good channel coverage
- ✓ Active development community
Cons
- ✗ Per-agent pricing model
- ✗ Self-hosting requires technical expertise
- ✗ Limited advanced features in lower tiers
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 Chatwoot if you want an affordable, open-source solution and have technical resources for self-hosting. Choose Zendesk if you need extensive integrations, enterprise compliance, and don't mind higher per-agent costs.
Choose Chatwoot if: You want open-source flexibility, have technical resources for self-hosting, and need affordable per-agent pricing.
Choose Zendesk if: You require 1000+ integrations, enterprise compliance (HIPAA/SOC2), and prefer managed hosting despite higher costs.
Alternative consideration: Converge offers up to 15 agents for $49/month flat rate, eliminating per-agent pricing concerns entirely while providing modern customer support features.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Chatwoot comparisons and all Zendesk comparisons.