Crisp vs Kayako
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Crisp | Kayako |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $95/mo | From $79/seat/mo |
| Best For | SMBs wanting comprehensive messaging with chatbot automation | Traditional businesses focused on email and phone support |
| Standout Feature | Built-in video calls and screen sharing for support | Comprehensive knowledge base with customer portal |
| Free Plan | ✓ | ✗ |
| G2 Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.2 |
Crisp and Kayako serve different segments of the customer support market. Crisp offers modern, affordable workspace-based pricing ($0-$295/month), while Kayako provides traditional helpdesk functionality with per-agent pricing ($15-$35/agent/month).
The choice often comes down to whether you prefer a modern, integrated approach or a more traditional helpdesk with established enterprise features.
Feature Comparison
Crisp offers a modern approach with live chat, email support, knowledge base, CRM, and marketing automation in a unified interface. Their platform emphasizes real-time communication and customer relationship building.
Kayako focuses on traditional helpdesk functionality with robust ticket management, SLA tracking, and customer portal features. They excel at structured support processes and have strong reporting capabilities for support teams.
While both handle multi-channel support, Crisp leans toward conversational support and relationship building, whereas Kayako emphasizes ticket-based workflows and support process management.
Pricing Comparison
Pricing models create different cost structures: Crisp's workspace pricing ($0-$295/month) benefits smaller teams, while Kayako's per-agent model ($15-$35/month) can be more predictable for larger teams.
For a 5-person support team, Crisp Pro costs $95/month total, while Kayako ranges from $75-$175/month depending on the plan, making them competitively priced with different value propositions.
Crisp
Pros
- ✓ Comprehensive omnichannel support
- ✓ Good WhatsApp and Telegram integration
- ✓ Generous free tier for testing
Cons
- ✗ Interface can feel cluttered
- ✗ Plugin system adds costs
- ✗ Limited CRM compared to dedicated tools
Kayako
Pros
- ✓ Comprehensive multi-channel support
- ✓ Strong knowledge base functionality
- ✓ Good reporting capabilities
Cons
- ✗ Per-agent pricing gets expensive
- ✗ Limited social media integrations
- ✗ Complex setup for advanced features
Verdict
Choose Crisp if you want modern customer communication tools with integrated CRM and marketing at competitive workspace pricing. Choose Kayako if you need traditional helpdesk features with strong ticket management and prefer per-agent pricing.
Choose Crisp if: You want modern customer communication tools, integrated CRM/marketing features, and prefer workspace-based pricing for smaller teams.
Choose Kayako if: You need traditional helpdesk features, structured ticket management, and prefer per-agent pricing with established enterprise functionality.
Alternative: Consider Converge at $49/month flat rate for teams seeking modern customer support without the complexity of traditional helpdesk systems or workspace limitations.
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