Zendesk vs Intercom (October 2026)
We earn a commission if you buy through some links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It never affects the order. How we make money.
Verdict. Zendesk has the lower entry price (USD 19.00 against USD 29.00). Zendesk confirms 1 of our 3 key features; Intercom confirms 2.
Side by side
| Feature | Zendesk | Intercom |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest paid plan | Support Team: USD 19 per agent per month, annual | Essential: USD 29 per seat per month |
| Other plan or fee | Suite Team: USD 55 per agent per month, annual | Advanced: USD 85 per seat per month |
| Another plan or fee | Suite Professional: USD 115 per agent per month, annual | Expert: USD 132 per seat per month |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | No | No |
| AI agent or AI answers | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Number of plans listed | 3 | 4 |
| Our score | 61/100 (#4 of 5) | 69/100 (#3 of 5) |
| Best for | Good all-round option | Good all-round option |
| A year on the cheapest paid plan | USD 228 (billed yearly) per user | USD 348 per user |
| Notes | 14-day free trial | — |
Shaded cells mark the lower price. Sources: Zendesk, Intercom.
Which to choose
Choose Zendesk if you want the lower starting price.
Choose Intercom if its features above matter more to you than price.
See all options: best help desk software.
More: Zendesk pricing, Zendesk alternatives, Zendesk vs Freshdesk, Zendesk vs Help Scout, Zendesk vs Zoho Desk, Intercom pricing, Intercom alternatives, Intercom vs Help Scout, Intercom vs Freshdesk.