Zendesk vs Intercom (2026 comparison)
Zendesk and Intercom are both help desk software. Zendesk is best for large support teams that need a wide app marketplace and enterprise-grade reporting (no free plan, only a 14-day free trial; paid Support Team from about $19 per agent per month billed annually, Suite plans from about $55 per agent per month). Intercom is best for product-led companies wanting live chat, in-app messaging and an AI agent in one platform (no free plan; paid Essential from about $29 per seat per month billed annually ($39 monthly), Advanced from about $85 per seat per month).
Pricing and features verified against each vendor's published information on 2026-09-17. Sources linked below.
At a glance
| Feature | Zendesk | Intercom |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| Pricing from | No free plan, only a 14-day free trial; paid Support Team from about $19 per agent per month billed annually, Suite plans from about $55 per agent per month | No free plan; paid Essential from about $29 per seat per month billed annually ($39 monthly), Advanced from about $85 per seat per month |
| Best for | large support teams that need a wide app marketplace and enterprise-grade reporting | product-led companies wanting live chat, in-app messaging and an AI agent in one platform |
| Founded | 2007 | 2011 |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
Quick verdict
Choose Zendesk for large support teams that need a wide app marketplace and enterprise-grade reporting. Choose Intercom for product-led companies wanting live chat, in-app messaging and an AI agent in one platform. Both are compared on published information only, so confirm current pricing at each source below.
More options
Sources
FAQ
- Is Zendesk or Intercom cheaper?
- As published, Zendesk starts at No free plan, only a 14-day free trial; paid Support Team from about $19 per agent per month billed annually, Suite plans from about $55 per agent per month and Intercom starts at No free plan; paid Essential from about $29 per seat per month billed annually ($39 monthly), Advanced from about $85 per seat per month. Verify current pricing at each vendor.
- Does Zendesk have a free plan?
- No, Zendesk does not offer a free plan as of 2026-09-17.