20+ Zendesk Alternatives (Free & Paid Tools) | Thena

1. Thena - Best B2B customer management and engagement platform for Slack (Starts at $64/month)

B2B support is nuanced. Get it wrong, and you’re at risk of losing a high-ticket client. Thena is a solution created to address this challenge.

As a B2B customer support tool designed primarily for Slack, Thena integrates email and web channels, enabling businesses to provide a truly omnichannel support experience. What makes this tool different from the rest is its ability to automatically detect customer requests in external Slack Connect channels—all thanks to AI!

Additionally, Thena automates ticket management and workflows, so your teams spend minimal time switching between tools (or jumping through hoops). This way, they can purely focus on solving customer issues—fast!

Plus, Thena is a highly affordable Zendesk alternative that doesn’t break your bank but packs all the features you need for intelligent customer management on Slack.

Key features:

• Deep customer service insights to identify bottlenecks in your customer service provision and make data-based decisions.
• Customer request dashboard to consolidate customer request tracking and management in one unified place within Slack.
• An AI-powered knowledge base that can be leveraged to automatically craft responses to customer queries based on historical conversations.
• Seamless integration with popular email ticketing tools allows you to easily connect Thena with email ticketing systems like Intercom, HubSpot, and Zendesk and offer customer support through preferred channels for both customers and agents.
• Instant integration with business tools means you can connect Thena with tools like Jira, Linear, Shortcut, and Salesforce to make teamwork more efficient and keep everyone updated in real time.

Pricing:

The Core Plan starts at $64 per month, when billed annually, with a minimum of 3 users. 

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Ideal for: 

B2B companies of all sizes that utilize Slack Connect for customer service. The AI-powered automation features can effectively help manage customer complaints, queries, and requests.

What users say: 

People like the intuitive interface that makes Thena.ai easy to master. Customers are also impressed by the responsiveness of Thena.ai’s support team in resolving issues. 

2. Zoho Desk - Best option for sales-focused teams (Starts at $14/month)

Zoho Desk is a cloud-based customer support and help desk software solution designed to help businesses manage and streamline their customer service operations. It provides tools for tracking and resolving customer inquiries, managing tickets, automating responses, and analyzing customer support performance.

Key features:

• Omnichannel ticket management.
• Multi-brand help center self-service portals.
• AI-driven chatbots.
• Integration with Zoho CRM for comprehensive sales and support operations.

Advantages:

• Comprehensive suite of tools: Zoho One consolidates all of Zoho's products into a unified suite, offering convenience for businesses requiring multiple Zoho applications.
• Diverse array of offerings: Zoho provides an extensive selection of products and services, encompassing CRM, marketing, finance, and IT management applications. This enables businesses to access all the necessary software in a single location.
• International presence: Zoho is a globally recognized company with a substantial user base. This indicates their established reputation and long-term viability.

Disadvantages:

• Complexity may arise due to the multitude of products and services offered by Zoho, making it challenging to learn and use.
• Less recognized than some competitors, Zoho lacks the widespread recognition of industry giants like Salesforce and Microsoft. Consequently, users may find fewer resources available to assist them in getting started and addressing technical issues. 
• Furthermore, Zoho's integration with other software is not as seamless as that of its competitors, posing a potential challenge for businesses already using alternative software products.

Pricing:

Zoho offers a free 15-day trial. After that, the cheapest plan starts at $14 per month per user when billed annually.

Ideal for: Its flexible pricing structure makes it a great option for SMBs and large enterprises alike. The custom SLAs and AI-powered features can help businesses in any sector to effectively manage large volumes of customer interactions.

What users say: Users complement the comprehensive offerings of the tool and its seamless integration with other software, particularly those within the Zoho ecosystem. However, people have expressed frustration with the steep learning curve and certain limitations in the mobile app.

3. Intercom - Best for proactive and self-serve customer support (Starts at $29/month)

Intercom is a ticketing system like Zendesk—very robust and comprehensive. As a customer service platform, it combines the power of AI chatbots, a help desk, and proactive support interactions.

Among its notable features is the chatbot automation known as Engagement OS. It supports customers at scale by combining automated and human support, using custom bots to handle simple questions and routing complex queries to the right people. 

It also offers proactive support tools to address common pain points throughout the customer journey, helping build trust and loyalty while capturing insights to improve engagement.

Key features:

• Multichannel support across live chat, WhatsApp, phone, email, and in-app messaging.
• Help center integration to facilitate self-service.
• Ability to track multiple customers with one ticket to easily share updates and resolve issues impacting multiple customers.
• Real-time dashboards that provide insights to continuously improve your service provision and team performance.

Advantages:

• Enhanced efficiency: Intercom's functionalities, including its help desk, AI chatbot, and messenger, can aid companies in streamlining their customer support operations and boosting agent productivity.
• Decreased support workload: Intercom assists in reducing support ticket volumes by offering customers self-service options and deflecting tickets to AI.
• Enhanced customer satisfaction: The features of Intercom can enable businesses to deliver more efficient and personalized customer support, potentially leading to higher customer satisfaction ratings.

Disadvantages:

• Cost: Intercom may be costly for some businesses, particularly those dealing with a significant quantity of support tickets.
• Complexity: Setting up and using Intercom can be intricate, especially for businesses with limited technical resources.
• Restricted customization: Some businesses may find that Intercom does not provide the level of customization they require.

Pricing:

The Essential plan (lowest tier) costs $29 per seat per month when billed annually. The vendor also offers a free 14-day trial.

Ideal for: Intercom is a great solution for SaaS companies and e-commerce businesses. Moreover, large corporations like financial institutions have also leveraged the tool successfully. These organizations have customized requirements that necessitate a tool as flexible as Intercom. 

What users say: This Zendesk alternative is lauded for its ease of use which boosts productivity. But users also feel that the interface could be a little better, especially the chat boxes.

4. Drag - Best free Zendesk alternative for Gmail-based customer support (Starts at $8/month)

If you’re looking for a low-cost Zendesk alternative to primarily serve your customers via email, Drag is a great alternative to consider.

Many processes often originate and conclude within emails but then expand across various tools. Drag puts an end to the constant tool-switching and efficiently oversees your entire workflow right from your inbox.

Drag serves as the Shared Inbox designed specifically for G-Suite users. With just one click, you can transform Gmail into a collaborative workspace for your team, enabling you to handle customer support, task management, and deal closure seamlessly.

Key features:

• Visual shared inbox to reply to emails across your company and manage support operations.
• Customizable boards to create shared, Gmail-based boards for all types of workflows to boost team productivity.
• Powerful automation like auto-tagging, auto-assigning, email templates, and automated follow-ups.
• Reporting capabilities to provide you with data on team performance, workload, and areas for improvement.
• Integration with 5,000+ apps using Zapier.

Advantages:

• Integration with Gmail, turning it into a collaborative task management system
• Visual boards in a Kanban style for organizing tasks and tracking progress
• Easy collaboration through sharing boards, assigning tasks, and communicating with team members directly within Gmail.

Disadvantages:

• Dependency on Gmail, limiting the use to Gmail users
• Potential clutter in high-email volume situations with the integration of task management
• Limited functionality compared to dedicated tools like Asana or Trello, lacking the same depth of features.

Pricing:

Drag offers a free 7-day trial to get a feel of the tool. The paid tiers for this alternative to Zendesk start from $8/user/month, billed yearly. 

Ideal for: This Zendesk competitor fits well into the workflows of support teams using Google Workspace. The multiple pricing tiers make it suitable for medium-sized businesses and large enterprises.

‍What users say: Teams using Drag are satisfied with how the software helps segment emails into different categories like “To-Do” and “Done”. However, the tool can malfunction while dealing with lots of emails.

5. HubSpot Service Hub - Best Zendesk alternative for large organizations that already use other HubSpot products (Starts at $15/month)

Some businesses don’t want to mix and match tools and would rather stick to one ecosystem. So, if you’re already using HubSpot as your CRM tool or marketing automation software, you might also want to explore HubSpot Service Hub. 

Although it’s not the cheapest alternative to Zendesk (especially if you want access to advanced tools), it does offer robust features that you can make use of.

Key features:

• Customer portal to keep customer tickets organized.
• Knowledge base to enable self-service.
• Omnichannel messaging to meet customers wherever they are.
• Live chat to help customers in real time.
• VoIP calling to facilitate high-quality customer calls.

Advantages:

• Extensive Array of Tools: HubSpot provides a wide variety of marketing, sales, and service software all in one place, which facilitates the consolidation of data and customer interactions. 
• Intuitive User Interface: HubSpot is recognized for its user-friendly design, making it accessible to teams with diverse technical expertise. 
• "Freemium" Model and Resources: HubSpot offers a free CRM and an abundance of educational material such as blogs and courses, aiding in getting started and improving marketing knowledge.

Disadvantages:

• Pricing: The cost of HubSpot plans can quickly increase as additional features are added or as the need arises to manage a growing number of contacts. 
• Complexity of Features: Although user-friendly, HubSpot's capabilities are extensive, requiring time and resources to fully master the complete platform.
• Limited Customization: Some users perceive HubSpot as less adaptable compared to certain competitors, potentially constraining specific workflows.

Pricing:

HubSpot offers a free plan. The Starter package of this competitor of Zendesk software starts from $15/user/month when billed annually.

Ideal for: Although HubSpot Service Hub is a powerful option, its true value can be realized with higher tiers. This makes the help desk alternative to Zendesk great for large businesses and enterprises.

What users say: The Zendesk competitor is known for its ease of use and comprehensive features. However, teams agree on the relatively higher cost of the tool and the limited customizability of some advanced features.

6. Freshdesk - Best for handling high-volume customer inquiries across multiple channels (Starts at $15/month)

Freshdesk is another Zendesk alternative that excels as a customer support platform, offering a streamlined and efficient way to manage a high volume of inquiries across various channels, including email, chat, and social media. 

Its intuitive interface and powerful automation tools make it ideal for businesses looking to improve response times and customer satisfaction without increasing their workload.

Key features:

• Omnichannel support integrates conversations from email, social media, phone, and chat into a single, manageable queue.
• AI-driven chatbots provide immediate responses to common queries, easing the burden on human agents.
• A comprehensive knowledge base allows customers to self-serve, reducing the number of incoming tickets.

Advantages:

• User-Friendly Interface: Freshworks products are recognized for their user-friendly interfaces and straightforward setup, making them ideal for businesses seeking to quickly establish their customer support operations.
• Integrated Product Suite: Freshworks offers a variety of products, including CRM (Freshsales) and helpdesk software (Freshdesk), which can be closely interconnected to streamline workflow processes.
• Competitive Pricing: Freshworks often presents a more economical choice compared to established competitors, particularly appealing to smaller businesses and startups.

Disadvantages:

• Limited Depth of Features: While easy to use, Freshworks products may lack the advanced features and customization options found in pricier, enterprise-focused alternatives.

Pricing: 

The Zendesk competitor for helpdesks offers a free plan for two agents. The lowest paid tier is priced at $15 /agent/month, billed annually.

Ideal for: Freshdesk’s forever free plan and varied tiers make it suitable for organizations of all sizes, positioning it as one of the best Zendesk alternatives.

What users say: This customer service solution is known for its customizability and capability to integrate various communication channels to deliver omnichannel support. But it does have a steeper learning curve and can show performance issues while handling a high volume of tickets in a complex workflow.

7. Help Scout - Best for providing personalized customer support at scale (Starts at $50/month)

Next Up, we have Help Scout—a customer support platform designed for companies aiming to deliver highly personalized customer support without losing the personal touch as they scale. Help Scout features a simple platform that makes it easy for support teams to manage emails, live chats, and phone calls.

‍Key features:

• Shared inboxes enable seamless collaboration among team members, ensuring no customer query is overlooked.
• A customizable knowledge base for self-service and reduced ticket volume.
• Detailed reporting for insights into customer satisfaction and team metrics.

Advantages:

• User Experience Focus: Help Scout is recognized for its easy-to-use interface and user-friendly design, benefiting both customers and support teams in their interactions and setup.
• Shared Inbox Approach: Advocates for a collaborative team-based strategy for customer service, fostering teamwork by removing individual ticket ownership.
• Human-Centered Support Focus: Geared towards facilitating authentic conversations with customers, encouraging relationship building rather than just fulfilling ticket requests.

Disadvantages:

• Pricing: Help Scout may be relatively pricier compared to some alternatives, particularly for larger teams.
• Limited Advanced Features: If highly intricate ticket workflows, automation, or detailed reporting are needed, there may be more suitable platforms.
• Focus on Email Support: Despite providing live chat and knowledge base functionality, Help Scout emphasizes email-based customer interactions.

Pricing:

The Zendesk alternative has a free forever plan which allows teams to serve 50 customers per month. The rest of the subscription tiers are priced based on the number of users. The lowest option costs $50/month, billed annually for unlimited users to serve 100 customers in 28 days.

Ideal for: The pricing plan of this help desk alternative to Zendesk is appropriate for SMBs. As large companies provide support to multiple customers in a given month, they can consider other affordable Zendesk alternatives to maintain cost-effectiveness.

What users say: HelpScout’s support team’s proactiveness earned it many great reviews from its customers. However, the tool only offers limited features centered around email support, which can be limiting for companies looking to offer omnichannel services.

8. Salesforce Service Cloud - Best for comprehensive customer relationship management (Starts at $25/month)

Salesforce Service Cloud is ideal for businesses seeking an all-encompassing solution to manage and enhance customer relationships. It provides a 360-degree view of each customer, enabling personalized interactions and efficient service. 

This platform is particularly suited for organizations that require a robust system to integrate customer service with sales and marketing efforts.

Key features:

• Advanced CRM capabilities offer a complete view of customer interactions across all departments.
• Knowledge management articles and resources for agents to reduce cognitive load.
• Omnichannel routing to automatically route requests to the most qualified queues and agents.

Advantages:

• Salesforce is the leading provider in the CRM industry and offers extensive customization options to cater to a variety of business needs. 
• It provides scalable solutions suitable for businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises. 
• The AppExchange marketplace enhances its capabilities with numerous third-party integrations.

Disadvantages:

• Salesforce's services can be costly, especially for smaller companies, as its premium plans and add-ons are expensive. 
• The platform's power is accompanied by complexity, requiring specific technical expertise for setup and management, particularly for growing teams. 
• Moreover, the abundance of options and customization may result in a steep learning curve, potentially necessitating specialized training or a dedicated Salesforce administrator to master the platform.

Pricing:

Starter Suite the simple CRM suite with marketing, sales, and service is $25 per user/month, regardless of the billing cycle.

Ideal for: Salesforce Service Cloud can be apt for large businesses and enterprises due to the plethora of features offered. Additionally, the alternative to Zendesk integrates seamlessly with other tools within the Salesforce ecosystem.

What users say: Teams appreciate the robust capabilities of the solution that enables them to track customer queries and resolve them effectively. However, users want the Zendesk competitor to be a little less complex and a bit more affordable. 

9. HappyFox - Best for businesses needing efficient, centralized ticket resolution (Starts at $9/month)

HappyFox stands out for organizations that demand high efficiency in handling customer inquiries through a centralized ticket management system. It excels in environments where quick resolution times and streamlined communication channels are critical. 

With an emphasis on automation and user-friendly design, HappyFox facilitates a more organized and responsive customer support experience.

Key features:

• Unified ticketing: Centralizes emails, chats, phone calls, and social media inquiries, ensuring no customer query slips through the cracks.
• Automation rules: Streamlines ticket assignment and prioritization with customizable rules, freeing your team to focus on high-value interactions.
• Satisfaction surveys: Allow to gather customer feedback after an issue has been resolved.

Advantages:

• User-Friendly Interface: HappyFox is known for its easy-to-use interface and simple setup, making it quick for customer service teams to adopt and start using.
• Comprehensive Features: HappyFox includes essential helpdesk software components such as ticketing, automation, and knowledge base, as well as additional features like live chat and task management, all in one place, making it convenient.
• Scalability: HappyFox offers multiple pricing options suitable for businesses of various sizes, ensuring that as your needs grow, you can easily find a plan that works for you.

Disadvantages:

• Limited Customization: In comparison to some competitors, HappyFox may have less flexibility in terms of highly customized workflows or extensive changes to the interface.
• Reporting Depth: While HappyFox provides reports, some users may find its analytics to be less detailed than those of other helpdesk solutions.
• Integrations: Although HappyFox integrates with other tools, its range of integrations may not be as extensive as that of some larger competitors.

Pricing:

HappyFox offers two kinds of pricing plans — agent-based and unlimited agents. The lowest tiers for both categories for this Zendesk alternative are $9/agent/month and $1,999/month, billed annually.

Ideal for: The flexible pricing models make HappyFox a great choice for businesses of all sizes. Everyone from early-stage startups to established enterprises can adopt this competitor to Zendesk software in a cost-effective way.

What users say: The help desk software has received praise for its efficient ticket management and automation capabilities. However, some teams wish the interface was more intuitive and fresh.

10. GrooveHQ - Best for small businesses that need an affordable customer support solution (Starts at $6/month)

Tailored for small businesses, GrooveHQ is a no-fuss solution to manage customer support. It distinguishes itself with its simplicity, ensuring that teams can focus on providing personalized customer interactions without the complexity often associated with more elaborate systems.

‍Key features:

• Collaborative inboxes: Keep your team in sync with shared inboxes that allow for seamless collaboration and visibility across all customer communications.
• Automation and workflows: Tailor your support process with powerful automation that handles repetitive tasks and custom workflows, enabling your team to focus more on customer engagement.
• White label: Remove Groove branding and make the tool your own.

Advantages:

• Simplicity and Focus: GrooveHQ emphasizes its streamlined approach to customer support, offering a straightforward interface that allows teams to work effectively without extensive onboarding or an overwhelming number of features. 
• Affordability: GrooveHQ frequently offers more competitive pricing plans compared to similar helpdesk solutions, making it an attractive option for smaller or budget-conscious teams. 
• Shared Inbox Functionality: GrooveHQ's shared inbox is ideal for fostering collaboration and provides transparent customer communication management for entire teams.

Disadvantages:

• Limited Automation: In comparison to larger competitors, GrooveHQ's automation capabilities may seem more basic. Teams looking for complex workflow rules might find it lacking in this area. 
• Reporting Depth: While analytics are available, some businesses may desire more in-depth reporting on metrics or customizable data. 
• Feature Breadth: GrooveHQ excels in its core helpdesk functions, but does not offer the extensive range of sales, marketing, or other tools often found in competitors' platforms.

Pricing:

GrooveHQ gives a 7-day free trial to help teams get the hang of it. The Standard plan (lowest tier) for this Zendesk competitor starts at $6 per user a month.

Ideal for: Customer support teams in SMBs can find the best value in GrooveHQ. The Zendesk competitor is affordably priced and is easy to use, even for non-technical stakeholders.

What users say: Buyers appreciate the email management features and the promptness of GrooveHQ’s support team in resolving issues. The help desk alternative of Zendesk lacks in delivering comprehensive features which can be limiting for some companies.

11. Hiver - Best for teams using Gmail to manage customer support (Starts at $15/month)

Hiver transforms Gmail into a powerful ticketing tool, making it the perfect choice for businesses that rely on Google's ecosystem for their operations. It seamlessly integrates with Gmail, allowing teams to manage support tickets directly from their inboxes without the need for a separate platform.

Key features:

• Email collaboration: Simplifies teamwork on email responses directly within Gmail.
• Automated ticket routing: Ensures emails quickly reach the right team member based on set rules.
• Analytics and reporting: Offers insights into performance and customer satisfaction for continuous improvement.

Advantages:

• User-friendly interface: Hiver operates as a Gmail-based helpdesk, making it easy for individuals familiar with Gmail to navigate and use effortlessly.
• Seamless integration with other tools: Hiver seamlessly integrates with a range of tools like Slack, Zendesk, and Salesforce, allowing for enhanced workflow efficiency.
• Diverse functionality: Hiver boasts a diverse array of features, encompassing email management, collaboration, analytics, automation, and multi-channel support, which can effectively address customer needs.

Disadvantages:

• Limited scope for customization: Hiver may not provide the level of customization required by certain businesses.
• Cost considerations: The pricing of Hiver may pose a challenge for some businesses, particularly those dealing with a high volume of support tickets.
• Dependence on Gmail: While this can be advantageous for some, it may not align with the needs of businesses that do not utilize Gmail.

Pricing:

Hiver has a free forever plan which can be great for small businesses like startups. The lowest subscription package for this Zendesk competitor is $15 per user per month.

Ideal for: This affordable alternative to Zendesk can be ideal for companies of all sizes. 

What users say: Teams love the integrations that allow for quicker adoption of the tool while maintaining efficiency among departments. However, some users argue that there are better alternatives to Zendesk, especially for the lower tiers.

12. Kustomer - Best for getting to know your customers inside and out (Custom pricing. Depends on API usage.)

Kustomer is all about making customer service personal and efficient. It pulls together conversations from different channels into one place, so you can see the whole story behind each customer. 

This is perfect for teams that want to understand and connect with their customers on a deeper level, offering support that feels both thoughtful and seamless.

Key features:

• All-in-one conversations: Keeps chats, emails, and social media messages in one easy-to-follow thread.
• Smart insights: Uses AI to give you a quick read on what your customers need, helping you get personal without the guesswork.
• Streamlined support: Cuts down on repetitive tasks, making it easier for your team to focus on what really matters—helping customers.

Advantages:

• Omnichannel Capabilities and Timeline Display: Kustomer stands out for its ability to consolidate communications from various channels (email, chat, social media, etc.) into a unified, chronological display for each customer. This enhances efficiency and customization.
• Automation and Artificial Intelligence: Functions such as intelligent ticket distribution, AI-driven chatbots, and workflow initiators for routine tasks significantly decrease manual agent workload and expedite issue resolution.
• Comprehensive Analytics: Obtain detailed insights into agent effectiveness, customer patterns, and the identification of deficiencies in your support structure—information that can be leveraged for informed enhancements.

Disadvantages:

• Pricing: Kustomer's pricing is higher than that of some competitors, which might pose a challenge for smaller businesses or those with budget constraints. 
• Complexity: The extensive features of Kustomer require a complex setup and optimal utilization, potentially necessitating dedicated training or setup support for some teams.
• Restricted Marketplace: While Kustomer offers integrations, its third-party app marketplace is not as extensive as other platforms, potentially limiting the ability to connect with highly specialized tools.

Pricing:

This Zendesk competitor charges based on the API usage rate and allows unlimited agents in any plan. 

Ideal for: As teams have to adhere to usage-based pricing, the Zendesk alternative is a suitable pick for mid-to-large enterprises with extensive needs.

What users say: The ease of use and flexibility offered by Kustomer makes it popular among its customers. However, certain teams have reported some challenges while integrating with other applications such as Zoom.

13. ServiceNow - Best Zendesk alternative for streamlining enterprise operations and customer service (Custom pricing based on your needs)

Think of ServiceNow as the ultimate organizer for your company. It helps you keep track of customer needs and links them up with your IT, HR, and pretty much any other department. 

It’s perfect for larger businesses that need a smooth way to make sure everyone's on the same page, from fixing a tech glitch to answering customer questions.

Key features:

• Cross-departmental service management: Links customer service with IT, HR, and other internal services for unified operations.
• Automated workflows: Simplifies complex processes, ensuring tasks are completed quickly and accurately.
• Advanced analytics: Provides deep insights into performance and customer trends, enabling data-driven decisions.

Advantages:

• ServiceNow is a prominent player in IT Service Management (ITSM) due to its robust capabilities in streamlining incident management, problem-solving, and asset tracking. 
• It offers effective workflow automation, facilitating the development of intricate workflows across departments to save time, minimize manual processes, and ensure compliance.
• Additionally, ServiceNow is highly adaptable, enabling businesses to customize it to suit their specific requirements and expand its functionality beyond standard IT procedures.

Disadvantages:

• The cost of ServiceNow can be higher in comparison to some competitors, particularly with the addition of extra modules and customizations. 
• The platform's power is accompanied by complexity, often necessitating specialized training or dedicated resources for its configuration and ongoing management. 
• Both administrators and typical end-users may encounter challenges in navigating the diverse features and understanding its underlying infrastructure, leading to a longer learning curve to become proficient.

Pricing:

Custom quotes are available upon request.

Ideal for: ServiceNow is a comprehensive solution that charges custom rates to teams based on their needs. This can make it apt for small teams or large organizations. Medium-sized businesses may find more affordable Zendesk competitors that are suitable for their needs.

What users say: Everything from the integration, automation, and AI features is appreciated by its customers. However, the Zendesk alternative has a steeper learning curve and may require specialized assistance for the initial setup.

14. LiveAgent - Perfect for businesses wanting a speedy response to customer queries (Starts at $15/month)

LiveAgent is all about making sure your customers aren't left waiting. With its lightning-fast response times and a wide array of support channels, it's ideal for businesses that prioritize quick and effective communication. 

Whether it's through email, live chat, social media, or phone calls, LiveAgent ensures that your support team is equipped to handle queries efficiently.

Key features:

• Multichannel support: Manage emails, chats, calls, and social media messages all in one place.
• Real-time chat: Offer instant help with a live chat feature that keeps customers engaged.
• Ticket management: Organize and prioritize support tickets so nothing gets missed and everything gets resolved quickly.

Advantages:

• Comprehensive Features: LiveAgent offers a wide range of tools, such as live chat, advanced ticketing, social media integration, and a knowledge base, making it a comprehensive solution for various customer support needs.
• Hybrid Ticket System: It combines email-style ticketing with real-time live chat capabilities, offering flexibility in managing customer interactions.
• Cloud-Based: No local software installations or complex technical setups are required, making it quick to deploy and accessible from anywhere.

Disadvantages:

• Cost: LiveAgent's pricing plans may be on the higher end, particularly as more features and agents are needed.
• Interface Complexity: The abundance of features can sometimes make the interface overwhelming for new users, leading to a steeper learning curve.
• Customization Limits: Compared to some competitors, the level of customization in areas like the interface and reporting may feel restricted at times.

Pricing:

LiveAgent offers a free 30-day trial for business users and a 14-day trial for individuals. Starts at $15/agent/month for small businesses.

Ideal for: The cost-effectiveness of this tool makes it one of the best Zendesk alternatives for businesses across the board. Both SMBs and large enterprises can elevate their customer support workflows with LiveAgent.

What users say: Teams like the comprehensive features and intuitive interface of LiveAgent. At the same time, some users believe certain features lack scope, affecting their workflow in a few scenarios.

15. Helpjuice - Best Zendesk alternative for creating a comprehensive knowledge base (Starts at $120/month)

Helpjuice shines in its ability to empower businesses to build and manage an extensive knowledge base. This tool is perfect for companies looking to reduce incoming support tickets by providing self-service options for their customers.

Key features:

• Easy-to-use editor: Craft and publish your support content with a simple, intuitive editor.
• Powerful search: Helps customers quickly find the answers they need with advanced search capabilities.
• Customization options: Tailor the look of your knowledge base to match your brand, enhancing user experience.

Advantages:

• Customization: Helpjuice offers extensive customization options, allowing users to adjust themes, layout, and styles to align closely with their brand identity.
• Analytics: The platform provides detailed analytics that enables users to track knowledge base performance, including insights into search terms, popular articles, and areas for improvement.
• User-friendly: Helpjuice is known for its user-friendly interface, making navigation easy for both content creators and customers seeking answers.

Disadvantages:

• Pricing: Helpjuice may be considered expensive compared to some competitors, especially as user numbers increase.
• Limited Features: Helpjuice primarily focuses on knowledge base creation and lacks the comprehensive ticketing and live chat functionality found in other help desk tools.

Pricing: 

Teams can get started with Helpjuice with a free 14-day trial. The lowest tier begins at $120 per month with up to four users.

Ideal for: Helpjuice is a good option for large businesses and enterprises. This Zendesk alternative is on a bit pricier side, so teams with extensive needs can get the most value from this.

What users say: Customers appreciate the ease of use and proactive support from Helpjuice’s team. Moreover, the customization options allow businesses to leverage this helpdesk software for tailored use cases as well. One way this tool can improve, as per seasoned users, is by delivering a better content editing experience.

16. Gladly - Best for human-like customer support (Starts at $150/month)

Gladly is a customer service platform that puts personalization at the forefront of every interaction. It's designed for businesses that want to treat customers like people, not tickets. By centralizing customer conversations across all channels into a single, continuous conversation.

Gladly enables support agents to deliver highly personalized service.

Key features:

• Customer-centric conversations: Offers a unified view of the customer across all communication channels, enabling more personalized interactions.
• Seamless channel integration: Effortlessly manages customer communications across email, chat, SMS, and social media from a single platform.
• Integrations: Links with Shopify, Klaviyo, and Medallia Agent Connect.

Advantages:

• Conversation-Focused Strategy: Gladly prioritizes treating customer interactions as continuous conversations rather than distinct, isolated tickets. This fosters a more authentic and tailored experience for the customer.
• Consolidated Customer Profile: Gladly creates a detailed profile for every customer by gathering data from multiple channels (email, phone, chat, etc.) and consolidating it in one location. This process enables agents to access important information for each interaction.
• Agent Empowerment: Equips agents with the tools and information they need to deliver highly personalized service, which typically results in increased agent satisfaction and improved customer engagement.

Disadvantages:

• Expense: Gladly may be a pricier choice in comparison to certain other customer service platforms. This higher pricing can be attributed to its more sophisticated features and personalized approach.
• The platform's wide range of features may initially require certain teams to overcome a steeper learning curve.
• Prioritize Human-Centered Service: Although Gladly offers automation capabilities, the primary focus is on facilitating real-time, high-quality interactions between customers and agents.

Pricing:

The Hero Plan for this Zendesk alternative costs $150/user/month billed annually. 

Ideal for: The tool’s main objective is to facilitate high-quality brand-customer interactions which makes it apt for large businesses and enterprises.

What users say: Teams prefer this Zendesk competitor as it enables them to deliver multi-channel support seamlessly and offers a unified customer view, boosting efficiency. However, some users would prefer if certain functionalities could be expanded.

17. BoldDesk - Best for budget-conscious SMBs (Starts at $12/month)

BoldDesk is a modern ticketing system designed to simplify customer support processes. It's an excellent choice for businesses looking to efficiently manage and resolve customer inquiries. 

With its intuitive interface and powerful features, BoldDesk helps teams keep track of customer interactions, ensuring no query goes unanswered.

Key features:

• Intuitive ticketing system: Easily categorize, prioritize, and respond to customer inquiries with a user-friendly dashboard.
• Automation and workflows: Streamline operations with custom rules that automate ticket routing and follow-ups, reducing manual effort.
• Personalized tickets: Change ticket layout and other features to suit your company’s unique requirements.

Advantages:

• Single Unified Inbox & Ticketing: Gathers customer queries from various channels like email, live chat, and social media into a central dashboard for your team to manage.
• Automation & Canned Responses: Helps in streamlining repetitive support tasks by utilizing automation and pre-written responses for common inquiries, thus saving agent's time.
• Helpdesk & Knowledge Base: Facilitates the creation of a searchable help center or knowledge base, enabling customers to find self-service solutions easily.

Disadvantages:

• Limited AI/Advanced Features: BoldDesk's primary focus is on ticketing and helpdesk tools, potentially lacking some of the more advanced AI-driven features found in its competitors.
• Steeper Learning Curve: Some users may struggle with the interface of BoldDesk, finding it less intuitive than other options for helpdesk software.
• Pricing: Although initial plans are competitive, costs can escalate rapidly with specific integrations or as your agent and ticket volume needs increase.

Pricing: 

BoldDesk offers a 15-day free trial allowing teams to experiment with the tool’s features. The Zendesk alternative’s premium plans are broken into three categories: agent-based, team-based, and unlimited to cater to the needs of different audiences.

Pricing begins from $12/agent/month when billed annually.

Ideal for: The different kinds of pricing tiers of this Zendesk competitor makes it quite suitable for businesses of all sizes. 

What users say: BoldDesk wows its users with a comprehensive feature set and effective support ticket management features. At the same time, some customers feel this help desk alternative to Zendesk can get more costly, particularly for medium-sized businesses.

18. Gorgias - Best Zendesk alternative for e-commerce businesses (Starts at $50/month)

Gorgias is a customer service platform specifically designed for e-commerce businesses, integrating seamlessly with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Magento, and BigCommerce. 

It stands out by turning support interactions into opportunities for sales and customer loyalty.

Key features:

• E-commerce integration: Connects directly with your e-commerce platform, pulling in cstomer order history and preferences to personalize support.
• Automation and machine learning: Automates responses to common inquiries and uses machine learning to suggest ticket responses, speeding up resolution times.
• Revenue tracking: Tracks the revenue generated from support interactions, highlighting the direct impact of customer service on sales.

Advantages:

• Streamlined Communication: Gorgias integrates seamlessly with various communication channels such as email, live chat, social media (Facebook, Instagram, etc.), and phone support, consolidating customer inquiries into a single dashboard. 
• E-commerce Emphasis: Gorgias provides robust integration with popular platforms like Shopify, Magento, and BigCommerce, allowing for automatic access to critical customer data and order history. 
• Automation Capabilities: Gorgias is adept at automating tasks using rules and macros, minimizing manual effort for agents, such as tagging support tickets and sending predefined responses based on keywords.

Disadvantages:

• Cost: Gorgias' pricing model increases in tandem with support volume, potentially making it costly for businesses managing a high number of tickets.
• Complexity: The abundance of features and integrations in Gorgias can make it initially challenging for users to learn and optimize.
• Limited Reporting: Although Gorgias offers reporting, some users find it to be rudimentary in comparison to more specialized helpdesk tools.

Pricing: 

Gorgias charges users based on the number of tickets they resolve. For 500 tickets, businesses need to pay $50/month, billed annually. This pricing positions the tool as an affordable Zendesk alternative for growing brands.

Ideal for: Although the low-usage pricing is attractive, the Zendesk competitor can be hard on the budget for companies handling a high volume of support tickets. This makes Gorgias apt for SMBs.

What users say: Customers appreciate this help desk solution for its integration capabilities and automation features. However, the pricing is a downside, especially if teams go for add-ons.

19. eDesk - Best for online sellers aiming to centralize their customer service (Starts at $89/month)

eDesk is built with the online seller in mind, offering a comprehensive customer service platform that centralizes support tickets from all your sales channels. It's particularly effective for e-commerce businesses that operate across multiple marketplaces and want to streamline their customer support processes. 

With eDesk, you can bring together customer interactions from eBay, Amazon, Shopify, and more, into one unified inbox, making it easier to provide timely, consistent support.

Key features:

• Multi-channel support: Aggregates customer queries from various online marketplaces and your website into one place.
• AI-powered automation: Utilizes artificial intelligence to suggest responses and automate repetitive tasks, allowing your team to focus on higher-value interactions.
• Order integration: Displays customer order details alongside their queries, enabling personalized and informed support responses.

Advantages:

• Ticket Aggregation: Centralizing customer inquiries from different communication channels (such as email and social media) into a single inbox for easier management is a key principle of helpdesks.
• Automation Possibilities: Many helpdesks incorporate automation to streamline routine tasks, allocate tickets, or suggest responses.
• Analytics: Helpdesk systems typically offer analytics to monitor resolution time, team performance, and customer satisfaction trends.

Disadvantages:

• Cost: While helpdesk solutions are available for any budget, those with more features or scaled for numerous users generally come with a higher price tag.Learning 
• Curve: Some helpdesk software, especially those with extensive customization options, may have a steeper learning curve than basic email management.Functional 
• Limitations: Not all helpdesks are suitable for every business. Specific features for advanced routing, comprehensive reporting, or unique integrations may be lacking, depending on the provider.

Pricing:

eDesk offers two types of pricing — user-based and ticket-based. The user-based pricing for this Zendesk competitor begins at $89/agent/month, billed annually. Additionally, teams can add on the AI-powered chatbot ‘Ava’ for an additional $34/month.

Ideal for: This powerful help desk software is a great option for e-commerce businesses handling multiple queries by the hour. 

What users say: Teams do like the integration of eDesk with different marketplaces like eBay and Amazon, and the unified inbox that consolidates communication. On the flip side, this Zendesk competitor increases its prices frequently and, ironically, fails to provide good customer service.

20. Nextiva - Best for businesses seeking an all-in-one communication solution (Starts at $20/month)

Nextiva is ideal for businesses of all sizes looking for a unified platform to manage phone services, messaging, video conferencing, and customer support. 

With its VoIP technology, Nextiva ensures high-quality calls and offers features like call routing, auto-attendants, and CRM integration, making it a powerful ally in delivering exceptional customer service.

Key features:

• VoIP phone system: Provides a robust, scalable phone system with advanced features like call forwarding, voicemail-to-email, and automated attendants.
• CRM friendly: Hooks right into your CRM to give you the full picture of every customer, making personal touches easier.
• All-in-one communication: Merges all your chatting, calling, and video conferencing in one spot, so your team can stay connected and productive.

Advantages:

• Extensive Range of Features: Nextiva provides a comprehensive array of features, encompassing not only voice-over IP (VoIP) calling but also video conferencing, team messaging, SMS, analytics, and more. 
• Reliability: Nextiva is renowned for its strong uptime and call quality, ensuring dependable communication for your business. 
• Scalability: Nextiva's plans and service offerings can grow in line with your business's evolving needs.

Disadvantages:

• Pricing: Although competitive, Nextiva may be slightly pricier than some basic VoIP providers. It's important to evaluate whether the added features justify the cost for your business. 
• Complexity: Nextiva's wide range of features may have a learning curve, particularly for those new to this type of business communication system. 
• Contract Structure: Some Nextiva plans have longer-term contracts, which may lack the flexibility that some businesses seek.

Pricing: 

Nextiva has two tiers of pricing — for small businesses and enterprises. The lowest tier for small businesses starts at $20/user/month. The enterprise pricing for this Zendesk competitor depends on whether teams go for agent-based, usage-based, or concurrent pricing.

Ideal for: The varied tiers for this solution make it a good option for businesses of all sizes and varied needs. Even the agent-based pricing for enterprises makes it great for large e-commerce stores.

What users say: Customers like the comprehensive features, reliable performance, and responsive support from Nextiva. However, some users believe the Zendesk alternative has a steeper learning curve and can be expensive for teams with dynamic needs.

How to choose the most suitable Zendesk alternative for your business

Zendesk is a prominent contender in the customer service software industry, and it has earned this reputation for several reasons. It offers a wide range of features, has demonstrated reliability, and can accommodate businesses of various sizes. However, it's crucial to conduct a thorough assessment of its advantages and disadvantages before making a decision to ensure that it aligns with the specific needs of your business.

Reasons Why Zendesk Might Be Your Perfect Match

• Omnichannel Support: Zendesk centralizes customer inquiries across channels like email, live chat, social media, and phone. This unified experience streamlines customer interactions and empowers your team to provide swift resolutions.
• Robust Ticketing System: Zendesk offers advanced ticket management features, including prioritization, assignment rules, internal collaboration, and powerful automation. This ensures that no customer query falls through the cracks.
• Customizable Knowledge Base: Zendesk's self-service portal reduces support volume by empowering customers to find answers independently. You can create comprehensive guides, tutorials, and FAQs.
• Ecosystem of Integrations: Zendesk seamlessly integrates with numerous third-party tools like CRMs, e-commerce platforms, and analytics software, enriching your data and functionality.
• Enterprise-Grade Reliability: Zendesk is a trusted solution used by major organizations. You can count on its stability and ability to handle large volumes of customer interactions.
  

Why Zendesk Might Not Be the Right Fit

• Complexity: Zendesk's vast capabilities can lead to a steep learning curve, especially for smaller teams. For some businesses, this translates into longer setup times and potential underutilization of features.
• Cost: Zendesk's pricing structure, particularly at higher tiers, can be an investment. If you're a budget-conscious startup or have simple support requirements, it might be overkill.
• Less Intuitive Interface: Compared to some of its competitors, Zendesk's interface can feel a bit dated and less user-friendly. This can impact your team's adoption and efficiency.
• Limited Customization in Lower Plans: Some advanced customization options and branding features are reserved for Zendesk's more expensive plans.
• Overkill for Simple Needs: If your customer support needs are straightforward, Zendesk might be more feature-rich than you truly need, making it an unnecessary expense.
  

Who Benefits Most from Zendesk

Zendesk shines for businesses with:

• Complex support workflows requiring advanced automation and customization.
• Multi-channel support needs and a significant focus on self-service options.
• Existing systems that integrate well with Zendesk's vast marketplace of apps.
• The budget to invest in a comprehensive, enterprise-ready platform.

We've examined the features, benefits, and pricing models of the twenty best alternatives to Zendesk. That, of course, is not enough when it comes to determining the best tool. After all, while most tools may appear solid on paper, they can often be rather underwhelming in practice.

That's why it's always advisable to explore the opinions of actual users of these solutions. What were their experiences? Were they satisfied, or did they feel that something could be improved?

To save you time, we've analyzed over 25,500+ reviews across all tools on the G2 software comparison site, and here's how each solution stacks up against each other as of February 2024.

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Other alternatives

Front.com as a Zendesk Alternative: A Quick Look

Front.com offers a unique spin on helpdesk solutions, focusing on shared inboxes and team collaboration. While it lacks features like built-in knowledge bases or call center support, consider these key points before making a switch:

Advantages:

• Utilize shared inboxes to streamline communication and prevent email silos by using a central hub for customer inquiries.
• Foster teamwork and knowledge sharing through internal collaboration, enabling seamless discussion and assignment of emails within the platform.
• Customize Front to your specific needs by implementing custom workflows, rules, and email templates.
• Minimize training needs by leveraging email as the primary communication channel, with a familiar interface.
• Manage support on the go with a user-friendly mobile app.

Disadvantages:

• Does not have features like a knowledge base, live chat, and call center functionalities.
• More expensive per user compared to basic Zendesk plans.
• May not be suitable for businesses needing diverse communication channels because of its focus on email.
• Teams unfamiliar with shared inboxes may require some time to adjust to the platform.

Estimated cost: Starts at $19/user/month for the "Starter" plan, with higher tiers offering additional features and user capacity.

ProProfsDesk as a Zendesk Alternative: Pros and Cons

‍ProProfs Help Desk:A help desk solution that is good for businesses on a budget. It offers ticketing, knowledge base, live chat, and social media support.

Advantages:

• Cost-effective: ProProfsDesk provides competitive pricing plans, particularly for small businesses, with starting prices at $10 per user per month.
• User-friendly interface: The platform features an intuitive and clean interface, which facilitates easy adoption and learning for teams.
• Integrated features: ProProfsDesk comes with a built-in knowledge base, live chat, and survey tools, removing the necessity for separate subscriptions.
• Customization options: Users can tailor workflows, automations, and branding to suit their specific requirements.
• Effective customer support: ProProfsDesk offers 24/7 live chat and email support, recognized for its responsiveness.

Disadvantages:

• Limited reporting: While reporting is available, it may not be as extensive or customizable as the options offered by Zendesk.
• Fewer integrations: ProProfsDesk has fewer integrations with third-party applications compared to Zendesk's extensive ecosystem. 
• Less mature platform: Being a newer platform, ProProfsDesk may not provide the same level of stability and established track record as Zendesk.
• Limited enterprise features: Although suitable for small businesses, ProProfsDesk may not offer the advanced functionalities required by larger organizations.

Estimated Cost:

The cost of ProProfsDesk varies depending on the number of users and chosen plan. The Essentials plan starts at $10 per user per month, while the Premium plan offers more features for $25 per user per month. Enterprise pricing is available upon request.

Using Jira Service Management (JSM) as a Zendesk Alternative: Pros and Cons

Jira Service Management:A help desk solution from Atlassian that is designed for IT teams. It offers ticketing, knowledge base, and asset management.

Advantages:

• JSM provides a wide range of customization possibilities, enabling you to personalize workflows, fields, and dashboards to suit your specific requirements. This can be particularly beneficial for intricate service requests or distinctive team setups.
• Effective Project Management Integration: JSM seamlessly integrates with other Atlassian products such as Jira Software, facilitating seamless collaboration between development and service desk teams. This can offer advantages to organizations with agile development processes.
• Scalability for Large Organizations: JSM's capacity to accommodate high ticket volumes and large organizations is impressive. With its strong security features and compliance certifications, it is well-suited for enterprise-level use.

Drawback:

• JSM's interface and features are more complex in comparison to Zendesk, potentially resulting in a more challenging learning curve for agents and administrators.
• Limited Self-Service Options: JSM's self-service portal has fewer features than Zendesk's Guide offering. Although it allows for creating a knowledge base, fully developing an extensive customer self-service experience might necessitate the use of additional tools.
• Increased Expense: The pricing for JSM is determined by the number of agents and storage utilized, making it potentially more costly than Zendesk for smaller teams. Furthermore, there may be additional charges for add-ons such as live chat or reporting features.

‍Estimated Cost:

JSM pricing starts at $10 per agent per month for the basic plan, with higher tiers offering additional features and storage. Remember, this is just the starting price, and your final cost might vary depending on your specific requirements and chosen add-ons.

Overall:

JSM can be a powerful Zendesk alternative for organizations seeking extensive customization, strong project management integration, and enterprise scalability. However, its steeper learning curve, limited self-service options, and higher cost might not be ideal for smaller teams or those prioritizing a user-friendly experience. Carefully consider your needs and budget before making a decision.

SolarWinds Service Desk as a Zendesk Alternative: A Quick Overview

SolarWinds Service Desk stands as a potential alternative to Zendesk, catering specifically to IT service management (ITSM).

Advantages: - Focus on IT: Offers features specifically designed for IT needs, including asset management, change management, and service level agreements (SLAs). - Flexible deployment: Allows for on-premise or cloud deployment, depending on the user's infrastructure and security preferences. - Integration: Integrates with various IT tools and platforms, streamlining workflows. - Trial: Offers a free trial for users to test the platform before making a commitment.

Disadvantages: - Limited customer support features: Primarily focused on internal IT support, may lack features for broader customer service requirements. - Pricing complexity: Pricing is based on tiers and the number of users, which can be confusing for smaller teams. Estimated cost starts at $19 per user per month, but varies depending on selected features and user count. - Learning curve: The interface and features may require more initial setup and user training compared to simpler help desk solutions.

Overall:

SolarWinds Service Desk is a strong option for IT teams seeking a feature-rich ITSM solution. However, its IT focus and pricing structure might not be ideal for broader customer service needs or smaller teams. Carefully evaluate your specific requirements and budget before making a decision.

Kayako: A Zendesk Alternative?

Kayako offers a compelling alternative to Zendesk, particularly for budget-conscious businesses. Here's a quick overview:

Advantages:

• Cost-effective: With a starting price of $24 per agent per month, Kayako presents a more budget-friendly option compared to Zendesk's Essential plan, which costs $5 per agent.
• Simple and user-friendly interface: Kayako features an intuitive design that facilitates quick adoption and learning for teams.
• Emphasis on agent productivity: The platform offers features such as canned responses, macros, and robust search functionality, all of which contribute to speeding up issue resolution for agents.
• Comprehensive omnichannel support: Kayako provides support across multiple channels, including email, live chat, phone, and social media, accommodating diverse customer communication preferences.
• Robust community and support: Kayako is well-regarded for its attentive customer support and an engaged user community.

Disadvantages:

• Limited reporting and analytics: Kayako's reporting capabilities are less comprehensive compared to Zendesk, resulting in fewer insights into customer interactions.
• Fewer integrations: While Kayako does offer essential integrations, the library is not as extensive as Zendesk's, potentially restricting customization options.
• Scalability limitations: The platform may not be well-suited for large enterprises with complex support needs and substantial growth expectations.

Estimated cost: Kayako's basic plan starts at $24 per agent per month and goes up to $99 for their Enterprise plan with advanced features.

GetAmbassador as a Zendesk Alternative: A Quick Look

Ambassador:A customer service platform that offers live chat, email support, and self-service options. It is good for businesses that want to provide a more personalized customer support experience.

Advantages:

• Tailored Customer Assistance: Emphasizes cultivating customer connections through services such as live chat, email support, and self-service choices, which could result in increased customer contentment.
• Omnichannel Communication enables you to connect with customers through a variety of channels, including live chat, email, phone, and social media, in order to meet them on their preferred platform.
• Adjustable Pricing: Provides various plans tailored to the specific requirements of the number of agents and desired features, potentially accommodating smaller budgets in contrast to solutions targeted towards larger enterprises.
• Personalization: Offers choices to customize the platform to align with your brand and workflow, enhancing the user experience for both agents and customers.
• Integrations: Can be integrated with a range of CRM and marketing tools, which could potentially streamline your customer support operations.

Disadvantages:

• The newer platform may not have all the advanced features and integrations provided by established solutions such as Zendesk.
• Restricted Reporting: May offer fewer options for reporting in comparison to more extensive help desk solutions.
• Scalability for enterprise: may not be suitable for very large businesses with complex requirements.
• Reviews from customers tend to be mostly favorable; however, there are not as many user reviews as those found on well-established platforms, making it more difficult to assess its overall effectiveness.

Estimated Cost:

GetAmbassador pricing varies depending on the number of agents and features required. However, it generally starts at around $49 per user per month, making it a potentially cost-effective option for smaller businesses. Remember, this is just an estimate, and it's crucial to get a personalized quote from GetAmbassador for your specific needs.

UserVoice: A Zendesk Alternative? Weighing the Pros and Cons

UserVoice is a popular platform for collecting user feedback and feature requests. While it differs significantly from Zendesk's help desk and customer support focus, it can be considered an alternative for specific use cases. Here's a breakdown of its pros and cons:

Advantages:

• Emphasis on user feedback: UserVoice is adept at gathering, categorizing, and prioritizing user feedback. Its forum-style interface promotes open discussion and supports community development.
• Transparent roadmap: UserVoice allows the public sharing of roadmaps and feature development procedures, establishing trust and involvement with the user community.
• Free basic plan: The free plan provides basic features for small teams and startups.
• Customization options: Paid plans offer the ability to customize branding and domain mapping for a refined user experience.

Disadvantages:

• Limited ticketing and support: UserVoice does not handle traditional ticketing and customer support functions like Zendesk. It may require integration with other help desk solutions.
• Community management: Cultivating a healthy and engaged community demands active moderation and engagement, which can be time-consuming.
• User-based pricing: The cost increases with the growth of the user base, which may not be suitable for large organizations.
• Limited reporting: While UserVoice provides basic reporting, it may lack the comprehensive analytics available in Zendesk.

Estimated Cost:

• Free plan for basic features, limited to 10 active users and 1 public forum.
• Paid plans start at $24/month for 25 active users and 1 public forum. Enterprise pricing available for larger teams.

Trengo: A Zendesk Alternative? Weighing the Pros and Cons

Trengo positions itself as a user-friendly and cost-effective alternative to Zendesk for small and medium businesses. Here's a quick overview of its pros and cons to help you decide:

Advantages:

• Omnichannel Support: Consolidate all customer interactions, including email, live chat, phone, and social media, within a single platform.
• User-Friendly: With an intuitive interface and straightforward setup, the platform has a minimal learning curve.
• Native Integrations: Seamlessly integrates with popular tools such as WhatsApp, Shopify, and WooCommerce.
• Automation: Streamline support processes by automating repetitive tasks and workflows.
• Team Collaboration: Foster smooth teamwork with shared inboxes and internal notes.
• Competitive Pricing: Plans start at $10/user/month, potentially cheaper than comparable Zendesk plans.

Disadvantages:

• Limited Features: May lack advanced features compared to larger platforms like Zendesk.
• Scalability Concerns: Might not be as suitable for larger enterprises with complex needs.
• Newer Player: Less established than Zendesk, with potentially fewer resources and community support.
• Limited Free Trial: Offers only a 14-day free trial, compared to Zendesk's 30 days.

Estimated Cost: Prices start at $10/user/month and increase based on features and team size. Compare this to your Zendesk pricing to see if it represents a significant cost saving.

Dixa: A Zendesk Alternative for Ecommerce Businesses?

Dixa:A help desk solution designed for ecommerce businesses. It offers omnichannel support, including live chat, email, phone, and social media. It also integrates with popular ecommerce platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce.

Advantages:

• Omnichannel Support: The platform enables the management of customer interactions across various channels such as email, live chat, phone, and social media.
• Ecommerce Integration: It allows seamless connectivity with popular platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce, ensuring synchronization of customer data and orders.
• Automation Features: The platform supports the automation of repetitive tasks through chatbots, canned responses, and ticket routing.
• Intuitive Interface: It offers an easy-to-use interface for both agents and customers, thereby streamlining support workflows.
• Reporting & Analytics: It provides detailed reports that offer insights into customer behavior and agent performance.

Disadvantages:

• Limited Free Plan: The free plan restricts usage to only 1 agent and basic features, and the paid plans may be costly for smaller businesses.
• Limited Customization: This platform is less customizable compared to Zendesk, which may limit the execution of advanced workflows.
• Focus on Ecommerce: The platform primarily targets ecommerce businesses, which may not be suitable for other industries.
• Newer Player: It is less established than Zendesk, potentially affecting support and resources.

Estimated Cost:

• Free plan for 1 agent, limited features.
• Paid plans start at $39 per user per month, with additional charges for features like phone support and integrations.

Reamaze for your customer service needs: Perks and Potential Drawbacks

Reamaze:A help desk solution that focuses on providing a personalized customer support experience. It offers features like live chat, email, phone, and video chat.

Advantages:

• Comprehensive: Consolidates ticketing, live chat, email, SMS, and self-service options to streamline communication.
• Versatility: Offers a range of plans and features to suit different needs, from basic to advanced.
• Personalization: Tailored workflows and automation enhance efficiency and personalize interactions.
• User-Friendly: An intuitive interface makes it easy for your team to adopt.
• Data & Analytics: Strong reporting capabilities help monitor performance and gauge customer satisfaction.

Disadvantages:

• Restricted Integrations: Although it has key integrations, there may be fewer options compared to established platforms.
• Scalability: May not be well-suited for large enterprises requiring highly customized solutions.
• Learning Curve: While user-friendly, some advanced features may require initial training.
• Limited Community: A smaller user base compared to larger players might affect resource availability.

Estimated cost: Plans range from $49/user/month (Essentials) to $149/user/month (Pro Plus), with additional tiers offering specific features.

Zendesk: Advantages and Disadvantages

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‍Common User Concerns Regarding Zendesk

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What are the key reasons B2B companies consider switching from Zendesk?

Although Zendesk may work well for smaller teams, larger B2B companies often face difficulties as their requirements change. These challenges may include rising costs for advanced features, limited scalability that hampers expansion, a lack of B2B-specific customer service functionalities, issues with integrating essential tools, and a potentially complex user interface. Thena.ai directly tackles these issues.

• Enterprise-level scalability: Grows as your team and customer base expand.
• Seamless Slack integration: Meets your team where they already work, streamlining communication.
• B2B-specific features: Provides enhanced tools uniquely crafted for B2B customer support.
• Intuitive experience: Ensures easy onboarding and a user-friendly platform.

These factors establish Thena.ai as an ideal option for B2B companies in need of a platform that can expand efficiently, integrate effortlessly, and provide an outstanding customer service experience.

What are the benefits of switching to another platform?

Switching platforms can unlock significant advantages for B2B companies:

• Cost savings: Thena.ai's tiered pricing structure can be more affordable than Zendesk, especially as your team and customer volume grow.
• Improved scalability: Thena.ai scales seamlessly to accommodate your expanding B2B needs, unlike Zendesk's limitations.
• B2B-specific features: Thena.ai goes beyond ticketing, offering features like AI-powered sentiment analysis and pre-built workflows specifically designed to enhance B2B customer service.
• Seamless integrations: Thena.ai integrates effortlessly with existing B2B tools like Zendesk and Slack, streamlining workflows and centralizing communication.
• Simplified user interface: Thena.ai's intuitive interface fosters faster team adoption compared to potentially complex platforms like Zendesk.

Therefore, if you're a B2B company seeking efficient, scalable, and cost-effective customer service solutions, Thena.ai emerges as a compelling alternative offering a plethora of benefits tailored to your specific needs

How can B2B companies ensure a smooth transition from Zendesk to a new platform?

• Guaranteeing a smooth transition: No matter which platform you select, a successful transition necessitates several important steps. These steps include creating a clear migration plan with specific timelines and communication strategies, collaborating with the platform provider or specialists to ensure secure data migration, providing thorough training for your team, and conducting comprehensive testing and piloting before full deployment. Thena.ai stands out in this area by providing dedicated customer support and training resources to facilitate a seamless transition for your team. Furthermore, Thena.ai's user-friendly interface reduces the need for extensive training, thereby accelerating platform adoption within your organization.

What are some security considerations when migrating data from Zendesk to another platform?

•  Choose a reliable partner: Select a vendor like Thena.ai with a strong commitment to data security and a proven track record of protecting sensitive information.
•  Secure data encryption: Ensure the platform utilizes robust encryption standards, like those used by Thena.ai, to safeguard your customer data.
•  Implement access control: Limit access to sensitive data with granular permissions, as offered by Thena.ai, ensuring only authorized personnel can view or modify information.
•  Maintain regular backups: Regularly back up your data on both Zendesk and your chosen platform (like Thena.ai) for complete peace of mind and efficient recovery in case of any issues.
•  Adhere to regulations: Always comply with relevant data privacy regulations and industry standards, something Thena.ai prioritizes to ensure your compliance journey is smooth.

By prioritizing these data security best practices and choosing a reliable provider like Thena.ai, you can ensure a secure and worry-free transition to your new platform.

What are some additional factors B2B companies should consider when choosing a Zendesk alternative?

• Customer Support: Prioritize platforms with reliable and responsive customer support, like Thena.ai's dedicated team readily available to assist you throughout your journey.
• Free Trial or Demo: Experience platforms firsthand through free trials or demos. Thena.ai offers a comprehensive demo tailored to your specific needs, showcasing its capabilities and potential benefits for your B2B customer service.
• User Reviews and Case Studies: Gain valuable insights from other B2B companies. Research reviews and case studies to understand how they successfully switched from Zendesk and thrived with their chosen platform.

Comparing Communication Features: Slack vs. Zendesk (with Thena.ai Integration)

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Top Zendesk Alternative Q&A for B2B SaaS Companies

General Functionality:

1. Essentials for B2B Support?

Answer: Aim for tools with a sturdy ticketing framework, DIY help like FAQs, smart automation (ticket sorting, task flows), and team-up features for tricky issues. Link-ups with project trackers or CRM are a bonus for B2B paths.

Thena.ai Advantage: Thena.ai amps up by smart sorting of tickets via keyword or mood, hinting helpful DIY articles to both helpers and users, plus it cuts repetition in tasks such as updates or next-step emails.

2. Safety for Sensitive B2B Info?

Answer: Opt for a guard-heavy option with data locking, entry checks, and industry-fit stamps of approval (think HIPAA, SOC 2).

Thena.ai Advantage: Scan for Zendesk rivals that gel well with Thena.ai, grabbing onto the security coat-tails of your pick and sticking to data safe-keeping protocols.

3. Can It Nail B2B Reporting and Analysis?

Answer: Chase after analysis tools that capture must-know figures like customer joy scores, speed to solve, and helper scorecards. Deep dives into reports can spotlight customer trends and polish-up spots.

Thena.ai Advantage: Thena.ai digs deeper into chat data, spotting customer sore spots and offering tweaks to DIY resources or helper guides, using live chat facts.

Specific Concerns About Zendesk:

4. Zendesk and B2B SaaS Growth: Is It Scalable?

Answer: Zendesk scales, but its pricing might stiffen for companies that grow too big or have intricate needs. Look into options with more flexible pricing strategies for scaling up.

Thena.ai Advantage: No matter the alternative you pick instead of Zendesk, Thena.ai fits your growth pace. Its smart tech simplifies tasks and organizes work better, making your support team more capable of managing more customer demands.

5. Zendesk's Fit for B2B Customer Support: Does It Work?

Answer: Zendesk stands as a decent all-rounder, yet rivals boast features tailored for B2B support like improved SLAs, handling contracts, or community spaces for users to exchange tips.

Thena.ai Advantage: Find a substitute for Zendesk that not only comes with these essential B2B functionalities but also meshes well with Thena. Thena.ai enhances these features by automating SLA alerts, aiding in contract negotiations during support, and using conversation data to nurture engaged community forum discussions.

Top Alternatives:

6. Freshdesk vs. Zendesk for B2B SaaS with Thena.ai?

Answer: Freshdesk balances well between cost and features, excelling in reports and ease of use. However, Zendesk takes the lead in customization for intricate needs.

Thena.ai Advantage: Merging Freshdesk with Thena.ai amps up the game with AI automation, deeper insights, and tailoring B2B support.

7. Benefits of Help Scout for B2B with Thena.ai?

Answer: Help Scout shines with its unified inbox, boosting customer happiness. It might falter for big teams or complex support tasks.

8. Salesforce Service Cloud for B2B, good with Thena.ai?

Answer: Absolutely, Salesforce Service Cloud marries well with the existing Salesforce CRM, giving a holistic customer view. Yet, it's possibly pricey and intricate for the smaller setups.

Thena.ai Edge: Salesforce Service Cloud, already strong, becomes mightier with Thena.ai. It customizes support using CRM insights, automates for various customer types, and spots opportunities within service chats.

As customer data shows, each Zendesk alternative has its strengths and weaknesses. If you prioritize user-friendliness, ease of setup, and top-quality support, Thena, Drag, and GrooveHQ emerge as top Zendesk contenders.

However, if you’re looking for more complex solutions, Intercom, HubSpot Service Hub, and Salesforce Service Cloud might be better suited for you. Remember, it’s important to always do your research before deciding to invest in a new tool. Think about your business needs, priorities, and support channels you use with your customers. Going for a premium solution but underutilizing its features could be a bad investment, so choose wisely!

The final word

Engaging with customers, addressing their concerns with utmost care, and gathering valuable feedback—all made possible thanks to help desk solutions.

Ticketing systems like Zendesk can help you manage your customer support operations at scale. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t better alternatives more suited to your business. Get a free trial of one or two tools that caught your eye to see which one you like the most.