Drift vs Smooch (Sunshine Conversations)
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Drift | Smooch (Sunshine Conversations) |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $2500/mo | From $115/seat/mo |
| Best For | Large enterprises with complex B2B sales processes | Existing Zendesk customers needing omnichannel messaging |
| Standout Feature | Advanced conversational AI and revenue acceleration | Deep integration with Zendesk ecosystem |
| Free Plan | ✗ | ✗ |
| G2 Rating | 4.4 | 4.2 |
Drift and Smooch (Sunshine Conversations) represent two distinct philosophies in customer engagement. Drift positions itself as a conversational marketing platform with strong sales automation, while Smooch focuses on unified messaging across multiple channels.
Understanding their core differences is crucial for teams deciding between sales-focused automation and comprehensive messaging infrastructure.
Feature Comparison
Drift excels in conversational marketing with advanced chatbot builders, lead scoring, and sales pipeline integration. Its playbooks automate lead qualification and route high-value prospects to sales teams effectively.
Smooch (Sunshine Conversations) shines in messaging infrastructure, offering robust APIs for custom integrations, extensive channel support including WhatsApp Business, and flexible conversation routing.
Drift's strength lies in marketing automation, while Smooch provides superior technical flexibility and channel coverage.
Pricing Comparison
Drift uses tiered pricing starting around $2,500/month for their Pro plan, with enterprise features requiring custom quotes. Costs scale significantly with advanced automation features.
Smooch offers more transparent pricing with pay-per-conversation models and monthly active user tiers, typically more cost-effective for high-volume messaging scenarios.
Drift
Pros
- ✓ Powerful conversational AI
- ✓ Strong B2B focus
- ✓ Advanced lead qualification
Cons
- ✗ Extremely expensive pricing
- ✗ Complex setup and learning curve
- ✗ Overkill for small businesses
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 Drift if you need powerful lead qualification, sales automation, and conversational marketing tools. Choose Smooch if you prioritize omnichannel messaging, developer-friendly APIs, and flexible integration capabilities.
Choose Drift if: You need advanced sales automation, lead qualification workflows, and marketing-focused conversation tools.
Choose Smooch if: You require extensive API flexibility, omnichannel messaging, or developer-centric integration capabilities.
For teams seeking a balanced alternative, Converge offers comprehensive customer engagement features at $49/month flat rate, combining essential automation with flexible messaging capabilities.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Drift comparisons and all Smooch (Sunshine Conversations) comparisons.