Zendesk is the most popular customer service platform, but it’s not the only one out there.
Maybe you’re looking for something more affordable or features that better fit your business.
Whatever your reason, you’ve come to the right place!
This post will explore 9 of the best Zendesk alternatives available in 2025.
We’ll examine their key features, pricing, and what makes them stand out.
By the end, you will have all the information you need to make the best choice for your needs. Let’s get started!
What is the Best Zendesk Alternative?
It’s a tricky question! There isn’t one “best” for everyone.
The ideal choice fully depends on your needs and what you seek in a customer service platform.
To help you decide, we’ve compiled a list of the top 9 Zendesk alternatives, with the best options ranked higher.
1. Pipedrive
Pipedrive is a sales management tool.
It focuses on helping you track your deals.
It gives you a clear visual of your sales pipeline.
Unlock its potential with our Pipedrive tutorial.
Also, explore our Zendesk vs Pipedrive comparison!
Our Take
Pipedrive is a solid choice for sales-focused businesses. It’s user friendly, visually appealing, & packed with helpful features. The only reason it doesn’t get a perfect 10 is that the lower-priced plans have some limitations.
Key Benefits
- Laser focus on sales: Pipedrive is built to help you close more deals.
- Visual pipeline management: See exactly where each deal stands.
- Powerful automation: Automate tasks like sending emails and scheduling appointments.
- 24/7 support: Get help whenever you need it.
Pricing
- Essential: $14/user/month.
- Advanced: $24/user/month.
- Professional: $49/user/month.
- Power: $59/user/month.
- Enterprise: $79/user/month.
Pros
Cons
2. Gohighlevel
GoHighLevel is an all-in-one platform built for agencies.
It helps manage leads, sales, and marketing efforts.
It bundles many essential business tools into one.
Unlock its potential with our GoHighLevel tutorial.
Also, explore our Zendesk vs GoHighLevel comparison!
Our Take
This is great for agencies and businesses wanting to consolidate tools. The automation capabilities are very strong. However, its vast feature set means it can be overwhelming for new users, and there’s a definite learning curve.
Key Benefits
- All-in-one marketing platform.
- White-labeling available.
- Automated campaigns.
- Lead-nurturing tools.
- Comprehensive reporting.
Pricing
- Starter: $97/month.
- Unlimited: $297/month.
Pros
Cons
3. Keap
Keap is tailored for small businesses.
It brings together sales and marketing functionalities.
This platform helps you organize contacts and follow up with leads effectively.
Unlock its potential with our Keap tutorial.
Also, explore our Zendesk vs Keap comparison!
Our Take
Keap is a fantastic option for small businesses to streamline their sales and marketing efforts. It’s user-friendly and packed with valuable features. However, it may not be best for larger companies with more complex needs.
Key Benefits
- Built-in email marketing: Send targeted emails to your audience.
- Easy-to-use automation: Automate tasks like sending follow-up messages and assigning leads.
- Sales pipeline management: Track your deals and identify opportunities.
- Ecommerce integrations: Connect Keap with your online store to manage orders and customers.
Pricing
Keap offers a free trial and a simple pricing structure to get you started.
- Simple plan: Starts at $249/month (Annually Billed) and offers two users and 1500 contacts.
Pros
Cons
4. ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign excels at email marketing.
It also provides strong automation features.
This helps you send targeted messages at just the right time.
Unlock its potential with our ActiveCampaign tutorial.
Also, explore our Zendesk vs ActiveCampaign comparison!
Our Take
ActiveCampaign is an excellent choice for businesses that want to leverage the true power of email marketing and automation. However, it may not be the best fit for beginners due to its complexity.
Key Benefits
- Advanced automation: Create complex workflows to nurture leads and automate tasks.
- Email marketing powerhouse: Send beautiful and effective email campaigns.
- Built-in CRM: Manage contacts and track interactions.
- Segmentation and personalization: Target specific groups of contacts with personalized messages.
Pricing
- Starter: $15/month.
- Plus: $49/month.
- Pro: $79/month.
- Enterprise: $145/month.
Pros
Cons
5. Freshsales CRM
Freshsales CRM is designed to help with sales.
It lets you easily manage customer information.
You can also track communications like calls and emails.
Unlock its potential with our Freshsales CRM tutorial.
Also, explore our Zendesk vs Freshsales CRM comparison!
Our Take
Freshsales CRM is a solid choice for businesses prioritizing ease of use and affordability. It’s a great way to use CRM without a steep learning curve.
Key Benefits
- User-friendly interface: Easy to navigate and learn.
- Built-in phone and email: Connect with customers directly from the platform.
- AI-powered insights: Get helpful suggestions and predictions.
- Affordable pricing: Offers a free plan and competitive paid plans.
Pricing
- Growth + 500 Marketing Contacts: $9/user/month.
- Pro + 500 Marketing Contacts: $39/user/month.
- Enterprise + 500 Marketing Contacts: $59/user/month.
Pros
Cons
6. HubSpot
HubSpot is a very popular platform.
It combines marketing, sales, and customer service tools.
This makes it a complete solution for many businesses.
Unlock its potential with our HubSpot tutorial.
Also, explore our Zendesk vs HubSpot comparison!
Our Take
HubSpot is a powerful platform with many features, but you must consider your budget and needs before committing. It’s a good choice for businesses that want a comprehensive solution & are willing to invest in it.
Key Benefits
- Free CRM: Start with a free plan with basic CRM features.
- All-in-one platform: Access a marketing, sales, and service tools suite.
- Extensive community and resources: Benefit from a wealth of knowledge and support.
- Inbound marketing focus: Attract and engage leads with valuable content.
Pricing
- Free Tools: Free for up to two users.
- Marketing Hub Starter: $15/seat/month.
- Starter Customer Platform: $15/seat/month.
- Marketing Hub Professional + three seats: $800/month, additional seats at $45/month.
Pros
Cons
7. Monday CRM
Monday CRM is a part of the Monday.com work OS.
It helps teams collaborate and manage tasks.
You can keep track of customer interactions and sales progress visually.
Unlock its potential with our Monday CRM tutorial.
Also, explore our Zendesk vs Monday comparison!
Our Take
Monday CRM is a good choice for businesses that want a visually appealing and easy-to-use CRM. However, it may not be best for those with complex sales needs or large teams.
Key Benefits
- Visually appealing interface: Easy to navigate and understand.
- Flexible and customizable: Adapt the platform to your specific needs.
- Collaboration features: Work seamlessly with your team.
- Integrations with popular apps: Connect with your favorite business tools.
Pricing
- Basic: $12/seat/month.
- Standard: $17/seat/month.
- Pro: $28/seat/month.
- Enterprise: Custom Pricing based on your needs.
Pros
Cons
8. Insightly
Insightly is a customer relationship management (CRM) tool for smaller companies.
It assists in managing projects and client information.
You can also link emails directly to customer records.
Unlock its potential with our Insightly tutorial.
Also, explore our Zendesk vs Insightly comparison!
Our Take
Insightly is a solid choice for businesses that need a scalable CRM with project management capabilities.
Key Benefits
- Scalable for growth: Adapt the platform as your business expands.
- Project management features: Keep your projects organized and on track.
- Customizable dashboards and reports: Get the insights you need to make informed decisions.
- Integrations with popular apps: Connect with your favorite business tools.
Pricing
- Plus: $29/user/month.
- Professional: $49/user/month.
- Enterprise: $99/user/month.
Pros
Cons
9. Capsule CRM
Capsule CRM offers a simple and user-friendly experience.
It focuses on managing your contacts and tracking sales opportunities.
It’s a great basic CRM for small businesses.
Unlock its potential with our Capsule tutorial.
Also, explore our Zendesk vs Capsule comparison!
Our Take
It’s great for its simplicity and ease of use, especially for small businesses just starting with a CRM. It helps you manage contacts and sales effectively without being overwhelming. However, it might lack some of the more advanced features that larger or growing businesses might need, and its reporting options are not as robust as some competitors.
Key Benefits
- Simple contact management.
- Easy sales pipeline tracking.
- Integrates with many apps.
- Customizable fields available.
- Mobile app for on-the-go access.
Pricing
- Starter: $18/user/month.
- Growth: $36/user/month.
- Advanced: $54/user/month.
- Ultimate: $72/user/month.
Pros
Cons
Buyers Guide
When doing our research to find the perfect product, we determined using these factors:
- Pricing: How much did each product cost?
- Features: What were the best features of a product?
- Negatives: What was missing from each product?
- Support or Refund: Do they offer a community, support, or refund policy?
Here’s how we approached our research, examining the customer support software market to provide you with the most informed recommendations:
- Identified Key Features: We started by pinpointing the essential features of top-tier customer support software. This included a robust ticketing system for efficiently handling customer requests, multi-channel support to address customer inquiries across various platforms (email, chat, social media), and integrations with popular tools like HubSpot Service Hub and Jira Service Management.
- Prioritized Customer Experience: We considered how each platform facilitated personalized support and streamlined customer communication. We looked for features that empower support teams to manage customer queries and enhance customer conversations efficiently.
- Evaluated Integrations: Seamless integration with existing systems, such as Salesforce Service Cloud or other customer relationship management (CRM) tools, was crucial to our assessment.
- Analyzed Pricing: We compared pricing models across different providers to understand the value offered at each price point.
- Assessed Support and Refund Policies: We investigated the availability of support resources, including knowledge bases, community forums, and direct customer support channels. Additionally, we examined refund policies to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Considered Scalability: We evaluated whether each platform could adapt to growing businesses and evolving customer service operations.
- Factored in User Reviews: We analyzed user reviews and feedback to gain insights into real-world experiences and identify recurring negatives.
- Prioritized Innovation: We looked for platforms actively investing in new technologies and features to optimize support operations and enhance the overall customer experience.
This rigorous research allowed us to identify the 15 best Zendesk alternatives catering to diverse business needs and budgets.
Wrapping Up
That’s a wrap on our exploration of the 9 best Zendesk alternatives for 2025!
We’ve covered a lot of ground, from powerful all-in-one platforms like GoHighLevel to specialized tools like Close CRM for sales-focused teams.
Remember, your best choice depends on your specific needs and priorities.
Think about what matters most to your support team and customer support teams.
Is it seamless customer communication, efficient ticketing systems, or robust multi-channel support?
By carefully considering your requirements and exploring the options on this list, you’ll be well-equipped to find the perfect Zendesk alternative to elevate your customer support game in 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would I want an alternative to Zendesk?
While Zendesk is popular, it can be expensive, especially as you add more features. Some businesses find its interface complex or lack the specific features they need. Alternatives often provide better value, specialized features, or a more user-friendly experience.
What’s the most important thing to consider when choosing a Zendesk alternative?
Your specific needs! Think about your budget, the size of your team, and the channels you use to communicate with customers (email, chat, social media). Prioritize features that align with your customer support strategy.
Do these alternatives integrate with other tools I use?
Most do! Many integrate with popular CRMs, marketing automation platforms, and other business tools. Check each platform’s integrations page to ensure it works with your existing systems.
Are there any free Zendesk alternatives?
Some options, like HubSpot CRM, offer free plans with basic features. However, you might need to upgrade to a paid plan for more advanced functionality.
What if I need help with my new customer support platform?
All the alternatives listed offer some level of support, whether it’s through documentation, community forums, or direct customer support. Look for a platform with a strong support system to help you get started and troubleshoot any issues.
