Helpshift vs Zendesk Chat

Helpshift and Zendesk Chat serve different segments of the customer support market. Helpshift specializes in mobile-first customer service with in-app messaging and comprehensive mobile SDKs, while Zendesk Chat provides web-focused live chat solutions with extensive customization capabilities.

The fundamental difference lies in their target use cases: Helpshift excels for mobile app developers and gaming companies, while Zendesk Chat is optimized for websites and web applications.

Helpshift's standout feature is its mobile SDK that enables seamless in-app messaging without redirecting users to external chat windows. Its mobile-first design includes features like screenshot annotation, device diagnostics, and offline message queuing.

Zendesk Chat excels in web environments with advanced visitor tracking, behavioral triggers, and extensive widget customization. Its proactive chat capabilities can initiate conversations based on user behavior, time on page, or specific actions.

Helpshift includes built-in knowledge base functionality optimized for mobile consumption, while Zendesk Chat integrates with Zendesk Guide for more comprehensive self-service options.

Helpshift uses a tiered pricing model starting at $150 per month for up to 1,000 monthly active users, scaling to $500+ for larger volumes. Pricing is based on monthly active users rather than agent seats, making it cost-effective for high-volume, low-touch support scenarios.

Zendesk Chat starts at $14 per agent per month for basic functionality, with Professional at $29 and Enterprise at $59. This per-agent model works better for teams with consistent staffing needs but can become expensive for larger support teams.

For mobile-heavy businesses with many users but fewer agents, Helpshift's user-based pricing often provides better value. For traditional web businesses with predictable agent counts, Zendesk Chat's per-agent model is more straightforward.

Choose Helpshift if you're building mobile applications and need native in-app support with mobile-optimized workflows. Choose Zendesk Chat if you need flexible web chat solutions with extensive integration capabilities and customization options.

Choose Helpshift if: You're developing mobile applications, need in-app messaging capabilities, or serve customers primarily through mobile channels with high user volumes.

Choose Zendesk Chat if: You need web-based chat solutions with extensive customization, behavioral targeting, and integration with existing Zendesk products or third-party tools.

For businesses seeking a balanced approach without the complexity of mobile SDKs or per-agent pricing, Converge offers unified messaging at $49/month flat rate, providing essential chat features without platform-specific limitations.