Kayako vs Sendbird

Kayako and Sendbird serve distinctly different purposes in customer communication. Kayako operates as a traditional helpdesk platform with comprehensive support management features, while Sendbird provides chat and messaging APIs for developers to build custom in-app communication experiences.

This comparison contrasts Kayako's ready-to-use support solution with Sendbird's developer-centric approach to embedding chat functionality directly into applications and websites.

Kayako provides full helpdesk functionality including ticket management, automated workflows, customer profiles, knowledge base integration, and support team collaboration. It's designed as a standalone support platform that teams can use immediately.

Sendbird offers chat SDKs and APIs for building messaging features into mobile apps and websites. It provides real-time messaging, moderation tools, and scalable chat infrastructure, but requires development work to implement and customize.

The fundamental difference is purpose: Kayako manages support operations while Sendbird enables custom chat experiences within your own products.

Kayako charges per support agent, typically $15-60/month per user based on features and plan level. Pricing is straightforward and scales with support team size.

Sendbird uses usage-based pricing starting with free tiers for low volumes, then charging based on monthly active users and message volume. Costs can scale significantly with user growth, plus development resources needed for implementation.

Choose Kayako if you need a complete helpdesk solution for managing customer support tickets and workflows. Choose Sendbird if you want to build custom chat experiences within your applications using messaging APIs.

Choose Kayako if: You need a complete customer support platform, want to manage support tickets and workflows, or prefer a ready-to-deploy solution without development requirements.

Choose Sendbird if: You're building custom applications that need embedded chat functionality, have development resources for API integration, or want to create unique messaging experiences within your products.

For teams seeking modern customer communication without the complexity of custom development, Converge delivers essential features at $49/month flat rate with no per-user scaling costs.