Zendesk Pricing: $49/month vs $9/month
Looking at Zendesk pricing? The Chat Widget is 35x lighter, 3-8x faster, and costs 90% less. Start free, then $9/month for Pro. Privacy-first with zero tracking.
Zendesk Pricing vs The Chat Widget
| Feature | The Chat Widget | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $0 (Free) | $49/mo |
| Pro plan | $9/mo | $79/mo |
| Annual savings | — | $480-840/year |
| Script size (gzipped) | 7 KB | ~180 KB |
| Global latency | 10-30 ms | 100-200 ms |
| Privacy-first (no tracking) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Cookie-free | ✓ | ✗ |
| GDPR compliant by default | ✓ | ~ |
| Page speed impact | None | Very High |
| Setup time | 30 seconds | ~15 mins |
| Real-time messaging | ✓ | ✓ |
| Away mode email capture | ✓ (Free) | ✓ (paid) |
| Business Hours automation | ✓ ($9/mo) | ✓ ($79+/mo) |
| Contact export (CSV) | ✓ ($9/mo) | ✓ (Enterprise) |
Cost Savings Calculator
Saved per year (vs Zendesk Starter)
Saved per year (vs Zendesk Suite)
Less expensive than Zendesk
Why Choose The Chat Widget Over Zendesk?
If you're evaluating Zendesk pricing but only need live chat, here's why The Chat Widget is a better fit.
90% Cost Savings
Zendesk pricing starts at $49/month ($588/year). The Chat Widget starts free, then $9/month ($108/year). That's $480/year in savings. If you only need live chat, why pay for a full help desk?
35x Lighter
7KB vs Zendesk's ~180KB. Your site loads faster, your Lighthouse scores stay high, and your visitors get instant chat without waiting for heavy scripts.
Privacy-First
Zero tracking, zero cookies, zero analytics scripts. GDPR-compliant by default. No cookie banners needed. Zendesk tracks visitors and requires cookie consent.
3-8x Faster
Edge-powered architecture delivers messages in 10-30ms globally. Zendesk uses centralized servers with 100-200ms latency. Your customers get faster responses.
Everything You Need for Live Chat
We focus on what matters: fast, private, reliable live chat. No bloat, no tracking, no complexity.
Real-time Messaging
Instant message delivery with WebSocket connections. Works on 3G, works offline.
Mobile PWA
Reply from your phone like WhatsApp. Install as an app, get push notifications.
Basic Analytics
See conversation counts, response times, and visitor info. No tracking required.
Email Notifications
Get notified when customers message you. Never miss a conversation.
Message History
Keep 2 years of history on Pro, unlimited on Business. Export anytime.
One-Line Install
Add to any site in 30 seconds. Works with WordPress, Shopify, React, and more.
What Zendesk Has That We Don't
Zendesk is a full help desk platform. If you need these features, Zendesk might be a better fit:
- •Full ticketing system & ticket management
- •Knowledge base & help center
- •Multi-channel support (email, phone, chat, social)
- •Advanced reporting & analytics
- •Team collaboration & agent management
- •AI chatbots & automated workflows
If you only need live chat, The Chat Widget gives you everything at a fraction of the cost and size.
Ready to Save on Zendesk Pricing?
Start free. No credit card required. Get set up in 30 seconds and save $480-840/year.