LiveAgent
Zendesk
| Feature | LiveAgent | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $9/mo | From $55/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | small-businesses, ecommerce, support-teams, call-centers | enterprise, customer-support-teams, saas-companies, e-commerce |
| Founded | 2006 | 2007 |
| Ticketing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Live Chat | ✓ | ✓ |
| Call Center | ✓ | ✗ |
| Knowledge Base | ✓ | ✓ |
| Social Media Support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Video Chat | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Bots | ✗ | ✓ |
| Automations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Analytics | ✗ | ✓ |
| Omnichannel | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ LiveAgent Pros
- Feature-rich
- Affordable
- Built-in call center
- Fast live chat
✗ LiveAgent Cons
- Interface feels busy
- Setup takes time
- Mobile app limited
✓ Zendesk Pros
- Industry standard for support teams
- Omnichannel — email, chat, phone, social
- Powerful automation and triggers
- Extensive marketplace of integrations
✗ Zendesk Cons
- Expensive for small teams
- Complex setup and configuration
- UI can feel outdated
The Verdict
LiveAgent is built for small businesses and ecommerce, with a focus on ticketing and live-chat. Zendesk targets enterprise and customer support teams and leads with ticketing and live-chat.
On pricing, LiveAgent is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $9/mo compared to $55/mo for Zendesk. That $46/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
LiveAgent has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Zendesk requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, Zendesk offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while LiveAgent takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.