ChannelDesk or Zendesk?
It depends on the size of your team. Zendesk is a full support suite, with phone and tools for large teams, priced per agent. ChannelDesk puts WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, email and website chat in one inbox, with an AI agent, for one price per workspace.
ChannelDesk is free to start. No card needed.
A team of three for a year, in US dollars
ChannelDesk Pro
$390a year
For the whole workspace, with 3 team members
- 500 AI replies a month, never charged per resolution
- WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, email and chat
- Up to 3,000 people writing to you a month
Zendesk Suite Team
$1,980a year
3 agents at $55 a month each
- AI agents priced by automated resolution
- Messaging, live chat and phone included
- WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger included
The short version. Where ChannelDesk is different.
01
One price for your team
Zendesk charges each agent: $660 a year on Suite Team. ChannelDesk charges each workspace: Pro is $390 a year with 3 team members.
02
AI replies included
Zendesk prices its AI agents by automated resolution. Dot’s answers come from the AI replies every plan includes, and nothing is charged per resolution.
03
Every channel, even on Free
WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, email, website chat and comments on every plan. On Zendesk, messaging and live chat start at Suite Team.
Side by side
ChannelDesk
Pro, unless it says
Zendesk
Suite Team, unless it says
Price
Priced by
A team of three
A year
Cheapest paid plan
A year
Try it
AI agent
The AI agent
What its answers cost
Channels
Website chat
WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger
Phone calls
Team and help centre
Sharing out conversations
Help centre
Tickets
Their prices and features as listed on their websites in September 2026. Check their sites for the latest. All prices are in US dollars, billed yearly. Zendesk’s are per agent.
Sources
Common questions
What people ask when choosing between ChannelDesk and Zendesk. If yours isn’t here, the free plan is the quickest way to find out.
01Is ChannelDesk cheaper than Zendesk?
For a small team, usually. Three agents on Zendesk Suite Team cost $1,980 a year, with AI agents priced by the resolutions they deliver. ChannelDesk Pro is $390 a year for the whole workspace, with 3 team members and 500 AI replies, for up to 3,000 people writing in a month. Growth and Scale cover more.
02Does ChannelDesk charge for each resolution?
No. Dot’s answers count as AI replies, which every plan includes. If the month’s AI replies run out, Dot hands conversations to your team, and nothing extra is charged.
03What does WhatsApp cost on ChannelDesk?
You pay Meta directly, at its own prices, and we add nothing. Meta gives every number 1,000 free replies a month.
04Does ChannelDesk do phone calls?
No. ChannelDesk covers WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, email, website chat and comments on your posts and ads. If you need phone support, Zendesk includes it from Suite Team.
05Is ChannelDesk for large teams?
It suits teams from one person to a few dozen: Scale includes 25 team members, and you can add more. There’s no phone support or single sign-on, so a large contact centre may be better served by Zendesk.
06Can I try both?
Yes. ChannelDesk has a free plan with no time limit, and no card needed. Zendesk has a 14-day trial of Suite Professional.
Try ChannelDesk free
Set up your inbox on the free plan. No card needed, and no time limit.