Hiver vs Smooch (Sunshine Conversations)
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Hiver | Smooch (Sunshine Conversations) |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $35/seat/mo | From $115/seat/mo |
| Best For | Organizations heavily invested in Gmail who primarily handle email support | Existing Zendesk customers needing omnichannel messaging |
| Standout Feature | Native Gmail integration and shared mailbox management | Deep integration with Zendesk ecosystem |
| Free Plan | ✓ | ✗ |
| G2 Rating | 4.6 | 4.2 |
Hiver enhances Gmail for team-based email management, while Smooch (now Sunshine Conversations) provides omnichannel messaging APIs for building conversational experiences. These platforms address different aspects of customer communication.
Hiver focuses on improving email collaboration within Gmail's ecosystem, whereas Smooch enables businesses to integrate multiple messaging channels into custom applications and workflows.
Feature Comparison
Hiver works exclusively within Gmail, providing shared inboxes, email assignment, collision detection, templates, and basic automation. It maintains Gmail's familiar interface while adding team collaboration capabilities.
Smooch offers messaging APIs that connect WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, SMS, web chat, and other channels into unified conversations. It provides conversation routing, bot integration, rich messaging features, and extensive customization options.
The key distinction is implementation approach: Hiver requires no technical setup while Smooch demands development resources for API integration and channel configuration.
Pricing Comparison
Hiver pricing is straightforward at $15-39/user/month, with all plans including core email collaboration features and higher tiers adding automation and advanced reporting capabilities.
Smooch uses conversation-based pricing starting around $240/month for basic features, with additional costs for premium channels, advanced routing, and higher conversation volumes. Enterprise features require custom pricing.
Hiver offers predictable per-user costs, while Smooch pricing depends on conversation volume and channel mix, making cost estimation more complex.
Hiver
Pros
- ✓ Seamless Gmail integration
- ✓ Easy setup for Gmail users
- ✓ Good email management features
Cons
- ✗ Limited to Gmail ecosystem
- ✗ No modern messaging channels
- ✗ Expensive per-user pricing
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 Hiver if you need better Gmail-based email management with minimal technical requirements. Choose Smooch if you're building omnichannel messaging experiences that require API integration and custom development.
Choose Hiver if: You're primarily handling customer emails through Gmail and need improved team collaboration without changing your existing workflow.
Choose Smooch if: You're building custom omnichannel messaging experiences and have development resources for API integration and ongoing maintenance.
For businesses wanting comprehensive customer communication without development complexity, Converge delivers multi-channel support at a flat $49/month rate, eliminating per-conversation fees and technical implementation barriers.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Hiver comparisons and all Smooch (Sunshine Conversations) comparisons.