Zendesk Alternative: 8 Top Choices
What is the best Zendesk alternative? Here are our top eight picks with key features to help you find the perfect fit for your AI customer support.
Oksana, Head of Content
LinkedIn ProfileZendesk is a good tool for customer support. Features like ticket management and multi-channel support help businesses manage customer inquiries efficiently.
But let’s be honest — it’s not the ideal solution for everyone. Depending on your needs, you might find it too complicated, expensive or limiting in terms of customization and AI-powered features.
If you aim to provide excellent customer support, you need an excellent customer service automation tool that works for you, not against you. Something flexible, easy to use and with all the right capabilities.
The good news?
You’ve got options.
In this article, we explore the eight best Zendesk alternatives. Below is a detailed overview of each solution, covering their key features, integrations and prices. After reading, you’ll have enough information to pick the Zendesk alternative your business deserves.
Best Zendesk alternative: Our top 8 picks
Intelswift
Image source: Intelswift
Intelswift is your go-to platform for smart customer support. With AI at its core, it adapts to your needs, helping you deliver personalized service to your audience.
Expect AI-driven insights into customer behavior and quick access to each conversation’s overview. Our AI chatbots are available 24/7, and you can easily train them over time to ensure your customer service performance keeps improving with every interaction.
Intelswift Workflows are another powerful tool at your disposal. Automate repetitive tasks easily with the visual workflow builder—no coding required.
All these features are within one interface, just a click away.
As such, Intelswift tackles the common struggles Zendesk users face with its AI features:
- Train your chatbot easily: Upload documents, share URLs or integrate custom data to train your AI Agent. This way, your chatbot learns how to respond accurately and specifically to all customer queries. It also automatically spots knowledge gaps – whenever it encounters a question it doesn’t know the answer to, it notifies a human agent to take over (with a conversation summary included and an instant notification). If no human agent is present, a ticket will automatically be created to address the issue within your working hours.
- Save on costs: Unlike Zendesk, where generative AI and smart insights are only available with extra charges on top of their highest-tier plans, Intelswift includes these capabilities in its Pro and Business plans. No hidden costs, and all the essential tools you need to boost your customer support.
- Easily set up transfer to live agents: Intelswift’s intuitive interface lets you set up rules to transfer specific queries to human agents with just a few clicks. Advanced algorithms ensure that customers are smoothly passed to live agents whenever these queries come up—no more frustrating chatbot loops.
Whether you’re using Intelswift as a Zendesk alternative or to boost Zendesk, our platform gives your team the power to break through the usual roadblocks.
You get flexibility, efficiency and the ability to focus on what matters most—building customer relationships.
Key Features
- AI Agents: Intelswift’s AI chatbots deliver fast, accurate responses every time. Trained on your internal documents, our AI Agents can generate accurate answers to customer queries, summarize conversations, create personalized product recommendations and automate the creation of FAQs.
- Live Chat: Nothing’s worse than a chatbot that can’t help you. With Intelswift’s Live Chat, that’s never a problem. If the AI can’t handle a query, it smoothly hands it to a human agent or creates a ticket if the conversation happens outside working hours.
- AI Copilot: Intelswift’s AI Copilot is your trusty AI support. It analyzes lead conversations, identifies trends and gives you a detailed understanding of your audience. Treat it as your internal knowledge base that provides instant answers and sources for all your agents’ or managers’ queries. Plus, it offers data visualization and reporting capabilities for data-driven customer service improvements.
- Workflows: Automate key customer support tasks like ticket management and email responses. Organize and prioritize them based on urgency or notes, all through a simple visual workflow builder. No need to hire a developer or learn tech skills.
- Omnichannel + multilingual customer support: Intelswift’s Omnichannel feature brings together all customer interactions—emails, chats and social media—in one easy-to-manage platform. Plus, it supports multiple languages, letting you engage with customers across the globe.
Integrations
Setting up integrations in Intelswift is super simple. Our customer service platform offers pre-built templates for connecting to popular tools, allowing you to authenticate and activate integrations quickly.
Here are some of the 120 apps you can connect to and sync with your Intelswift account:
- Marketing and CRM tools: Mailchimp, HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho
- Analytics and data management: Google Analytics, Google Sheets
- Collaboration and productivity: Microsoft Teams, Slack, GitHub
- E-commerce platforms: Shopify
- Project management: Trello, Asana
User rating
Intelswift has 5 out of 5 stars on Producthunt.
Image source: Producthunt
Pricing
We offer clear, upfront pricing so you can choose the plan that fits your needs perfectly, whether you’re just getting started or expanding your business:
- Personal: $19/month
- Pro: $49/month
- Business: $125/month
Each additional seat costs $10. We also offer a 20% discount on annual payments.
A free trial is also available. It gives you 21 days of full access to all Intelswift features included in the Business Plan.
Start boosting your customer service right away and get a feel for how AI empowers your work.
Image source: Intelswift
Salesforce Service Cloud
Image source: G2
Salesforce Service Cloud is a customer service platform that integrates seamlessly with Salesforce CRM, making it a solid Zendesk alternative—especially for businesses already using Salesforce. It provides a unified view of customer service processes and data across the customer support team, sales and marketing.
However, similar to Zendesk, it can be challenging to set up and requires some learning.
Pricing is another consideration. While Salesforce Service Cloud offers advanced features like AI-driven chatbots and predictive analytics, these features aren’t available on all plans. Most plans require additional payments to unlock these capabilities, which could make the platform less cost-effective for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution.
Key Features
- Omnichannel routing: Salesforce Service Cloud organizes customer requests from email, social media, and site, directing them to the right team or person for quicker responses.
- Integration with Salesforce CRM: It centralizes customer data from sales, marketing, and support, making it easy to access and manage everything in one place.
- AI-driven predictive insights (Einstein): Salesforce AI analyzes data patterns and offers suggestions to help teams resolve issues faster and provide more personalized support.
Integrations
Salesforce Service Cloud connects with:
- CRM tools: Salesforce Sales Cloud, HubSpot
- Communication: Twilio, Userlike, Klaviyo
- Project management: Trello, Smartsheet, Quickbase
User Ratings
Users rate Salesforce Service Cloud with 4.4 / 5 stars.
Image source: G2
Pricing
- Starter Suite: $25/user/month
- Pro Suite: $100/user/month
- Enterprise: $165/user/month
- Unlimited: $330/user/month
- Einstein 1 Service: $500/user/month
Image source: Salesforce
Freshworks (Freshdesk)
Image source: Freshworks
Freshworks turns customer queries from email, chat, social media, and phone into tickets. It keeps things simple with tools like Freddy AI Agent, which categorizes and assigns tickets. Its easy-to-use design and built-in automation templates make it a good option for small to mid-sized businesses looking for quick setup and streamlined workflows.
But Freshdesk isn’t perfect. The experience isn’t fully unified—agents have to switch between chat and phone interfaces, which can slow things down. Reporting tools may also feel limited.
Key Features
- Agent collision detection: This feature ensures only one agent works on a ticket at a time, preventing accidental overlaps or confusion.
- Freddy AI Agent: Freddy AI automates routine tasks like answering common customer inquiries. It also has a voice feature for handling calls and answering basic customer questions.
- Team huddle: Freshdesk lets agents communicate with teammates or other departments within a specific ticket, making it easier for everyone to collaborate and resolve issues.
Integrations
Freshdesk integrations include:
- Collaboration: Slack, Microsoft Teams
- CRM tools: Shopify, Salesforce, Freshsales Suite
- Task management and productivity: Jira, Google Calendar
User Ratings
Freshdesk scores 4.4 / 5 stars on G2.
Image source: G2
Pricing
- Free: Up to 2 agents
- Growth: $18/agent/month
- Pro: $59/agent/month
- Enterprise: $95/agent/month
Image source: Freshworks
See also: Freshworks alternative
Tidio
Image source: G2
Tidio is a Zendesk alternative with live chat and email marketing tools. It works well with e-commerce sites like Shopify and WordPress and connects to social media channels, such as Facebook Messenger and Instagram.
The platform also features Lyro, an AI-powered chatbot that automates responses for quick, real-time customer service operations. Tidio’s focus is mainly on streamlining customer interactions with AI-driven chatbots.
However, this tool requires a separate subscription for Lyro, and setting it up can be complex. It also lacks advanced features like detailed reporting and ticket management.
Key Features
- Automated messaging: Tidio lets businesses send messages triggered by specific actions, such as visitor behavior or time spent on a page, allowing for timely and relevant engagement.
- Visitor tracking: Tidio offers real-time visitor tracking that gives agents insights into user behavior, so they can engage at the right moment.
- Customizable chat widgets: Tidio allows businesses to customize chat widgets to match their branding. Note: removing the “Powered by Tidio” costs extra.
Integrations
Apps that Tidio integrates with:
- CRM tools: Salesforce, HubSpot
- Customer communication: Klaviyo, Omnisend, Mailchimp
- E-commerce platforms: Shopify, WooCommerce
User Ratings
Tidio has 4.7 out of 5 stars.
Source: G2
Pricing
- Free: Up to 50 monthly conversations
- Starter: $29/month
- Growth: $59/month
- Plus: $749/month
- Premium: $2999/month
Note: Free plan, Starter, and Growth plans support up to 10 seats. Plus and Premium plans allow a custom number of seats.
See also: Tidio alternative
Zoho Desk
Image source: G2
Zoho Desk is a customer support software that works with Zoho CRM. It has a single inbox for all customer messages and lets teams handle tickets and set up automatic responses. The AI chatbot Zia can automate messages, and businesses can also automate emails based on how their customers interact. Compared to Zendesk, Zoho Desk offers more transparent pricing and seamless integration with Zoho’s CRM.
Zoho Desk has some limitations, though. It uses separate screens for chat, phone, and tickets, potentially confusing agents and slowing down work. Another limitation is that connecting Zoho Desk with other apps often requires tech skills.
Key Features
- AI-powered chatbot Zia: This chatbot offers customers knowledge base solutions and automatically categorizes tickets.
- Customizable workflows: Zoho Desk lets you automate ticket routing and escalation based on your business needs. You can also set up rules for task assignments and receive notifications for updates like ticket status changes.
- Integration with Zoho ecosystem: Since Zoho Desk is part of the Zoho suite, it integrates effortlessly with other Zoho products, including Zoho CRM and Zoho Analytics.
Integrations
Some of Zoho Desk integrations include:
- Communication and collaboration tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams
- Project management: Trello, Asana, Jira
- CRM platforms: Salesforce, Pipedrive, HubSpot
User Ratings
Users rate Zoho Desk with 4.5 out of 5 stars on Capterra.
Image source: Capterra
Pricing
- Standard: $20/user/month
- Professional: $35/user/month
- Enterprise: $50/user/month
Intercom
Image source: G2
Intercom is a Zendesk alternative for businesses that prioritize automation capabilities and customer segmentation. Its unified customer service platform features live chat, AI-driven tools and segmentation. And while Zendesk offers comparable features, Intercom has a more cohesive system and advanced AI support. It has personalized and engagement-focused bots.
On the other hand, Intercom, just like Zendesk, can quickly become expensive for smaller businesses. Each conversation adds to costs, which makes budgeting complicated. Some users also find the platform’s features overwhelming, especially at the beginning.
Key Features
- Shared inbox: Teams get a single, centralized inbox for managing customer conversations and improving collaboration and response times.
- Customer segmentation: You can target users based on their behavior, location or custom attributes (e.g., price plan or subscription end date). This helps with personalized messages that lead to improved engagement and conversions.
- AI chatbots and automation: Intercom’s AI can handle routine customer inquiries, deliver instant responses and route complex customer queries to the right team members.
Integrations
Here are apps you can connect with Intercom:
- Project management: Jira, GitHub
- Sales: Salesforce, Marketo
- Marketing: Mailchimp, Stripe
User Ratings
Intercom’s score on G2 is 4.5 / 5.
Image source: G2
Pricing
- Essential: $39/seat/month
- Advanced: $99/seat/month
- Expert: $139/seat/month
A free trial is available for 14 days.
Image source: Intercom
See also: Intercom alternatives
HelpCrunch
Image source: G2
HelpCrunch is a user-friendly alternative to Zendesk with an intuitive interface and quick setup. For example, you can apply pre-configured templates for chatbots to collect contact details or qualify leads.
Unlike Zendesk, where you need to open different tools in separate browser tabs to manage customer interactions and your tasks, HelpCrunch offers a more unified experience. You get to manage all customer support tasks directly from the same tab.
On the downside, HelpCrunch lacks advanced AI chatbot features and built-in website analytics, meaning you’ll need another tool for those.
Key Features
- In-app messaging: Connect with users while they’re on your app. Set up chats or popups to share updates, offer support or collect feedback without disrupting their browsing experience.
- Live chat: HelpCrunch lets businesses chat with website visitors in real time.
- Email campaigns: The HelpCrunch email tool helps you create automated email sequences and send personalized messages directly from the platform without complex setup or technical expertise.
Integrations
HelpCrunch integrations:
- CRM platforms: HubSpot, Pipedrive
- E-commerce: Shopify, Magento
- Communication: Twilio, Viber, Twitter
User Ratings
HelpCrunch scores 4.8 out of 5 on Capterra.
Image source: Capterra
Pricing
- Basic: $11/month
- Pro: $19/month
- Unlimited: $465/month
Image source: HelpCrunch
Help Scout
Image source: G2
Help Scout is a Zendesk alternative focusing on simplicity. The shared inbox includes practical tools like tags and saved replies, keeping things straightforward without overwhelming users with unnecessary options.
Help Scout also doesn’t charge extra for essential features. For example, its paid plans include advanced AI tools and workflows in their base prices. With Zendesk, these advanced features are locked behind higher-tier plans and require pricey add-ons.
While Help Scout’s simplicity makes it easy to use, it has some limitations. The platform doesn’t offer complex workflows, and its reporting tools are relatively basic. This can make it less suitable for businesses looking to track advanced metrics and scale.
Key Features
- Customer profiles: Help Scout records and stores every customer interaction in detailed profiles.
- Automated workflows: You can automate repetitive tasks like ticket sorting or assigning tasks.
- Mobile app: Help Scout’s app lets teams respond to customer inquiries from anywhere—even without computer access.
Integrations
Some of Help Scout integrations include:
- Communication: Aircall, Slack
- CRM: HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive
- E-commerce: Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce
User Ratings
Help Scout has 4.4 out of 5 stars on G2.
Image source: G2
Pricing
- Free: Up to 50 contacts
- Standard: $55/month
- Plus: $83/month
- Pro: Custom price
Image source: Help Scout
Best AI customer communication platform: Comparison table
Tool name | Features | Starting Price | Best For | Rating | |
Zendesk |
| $19/month | Large companies looking for a comprehensive way to manage customer support | 4.3/5 | |
Intelswift |
| $16/month | Transforming customer support with an all-in-one platform that customizes every interaction through powerful AI-driven tools and smart workflow automation | 5/5 | |
Salesforce Service Cloud |
| $25/month | Businesses using Salesforce CRM | 4.4/5 | |
Freshworks (Freshdesk) |
| $15/month | Easy-to-set-up customer support solution that automates ticketing system | 4.4/5 | |
Tidio |
| $29/month | Streamlining and managing customer inquiries with AI chatbots | 4.7/5 | |
Zoho Desk |
| $14/month | Businesses using Zoho CRM | 4.4/5 | |
Intercom |
| $29/month | Advanced customer segmentation | 4.5/5 | |
HelpCrunch |
| $9/month | Quick chatbot setup with pre-configured templates | 4.8/5 | |
Help Scout |
| $50/month | Simple customer support platform with intuitive shared inbox tools and basic workflow capabilities | 4.4/5 |
Conclusion
Now that you know the eight best Zendesk alternatives, how do you choose the right one for your business?
Consider what your company really needs—choose software that offers the right tools without unnecessary extras. Look for a solution that fits your budget and integrates with the tools you already use.
Pick the software that simplifies your customer communication, speeds up response times and adjusts to your business to help you deliver excellent customer service.
The best way to ensure that is by choosing a modern customer service solution built around AI. The best AI-powered customer support tools come with smart automation, predictive insights and personalized experiences for your customers.
With an AI-centered approach, easy-to-set-up automation capabilities and pre-configured integration templates, Intelswift has it all.
Sign up for a free trial with Intelswift today.
FAQs
What is the alternative to Zendesk?
Intelswift is a Zendesk alternative with an intuitive interface, transparent pricing plans and advanced AI-powered tools. Designed with AI and simplicity at its core, the platform lets you set up automation in a few clicks, train chatbots continuously and seamlessly switch from chatbots to live agents.
Some other alternatives in the customer support software market not mentioned in this article include Jira Service Management and HubSpot Service Hub, to name a few.
What is the disadvantage of Zendesk?
Zendesk’s disadvantages include a complex setup, unpredictable pricing and limited AI features. It also requires managing tasks across multiple browser tabs, which may disrupt workflow and slow teams down.
Is Zendesk cheaper than Salesforce?
Yes, Zendesk is cheaper than Salesforce. Zendesk’s plans start at $19 monthly, while Salesforce starts at $25 monthly.
Is Zendesk similar to Zoho?
Yes, Zendesk and Zoho are similar, but they have differences. Zendesk is mainly focused on providing tools for customer support. On the other hand, while Zoho offers Zoho Desk for customer support, it also provides a broader suite of tools for CRM and overall business and customer relationship management.
