Zoho Desk is cheaper, but covers only 1 of 9 compared capabilities
$0/mo (Free) vs LiveChat Essential at $25/mo — covering 11% of the 9 compared capabilities.
Cheaper. Not the same job.
Comparison scenario
Every cheaper-than claim is tied to a defined scenario — never a bare list price.
single user, monthly billing · USD · prices as observed on official pricing pages.
Essential plan at $25/mo, the cheapest paid plan.
Free: 0 USD/monthly.
LiveChat costs $25/mo on the Essential plan at single user, monthly billing. We found 1 assessed alternative that is cheaper in this scenario; 0 of them cover at least 75% of the 9 compared capabilities.
Capability comparison
Zoho Desk covers 11% of the 9 capabilities compared against LiveChat. ✓ native · ◐ via integration · ✗ not found.
| Capability | Zoho Desk | LiveChat |
|---|---|---|
| Live chat & messaging | ↑ Standard | ✓ |
| AI copilot | ↑ Express | ✓ |
| AI agents | ↑ Express | ◐ |
| Knowledge base / help center | ↑ Standard | ◐ |
| Ticketing | ✓ | ◐ |
| Canned responses / macros | ✗ | ✓ |
| Routing & assignment | ↑ Express | ✓ |
| Support automations | ↑ Express | ✓ |
| CSAT surveys | ↑ Standard | ✓ |
What you give up
Capabilities LiveChat has that Zoho Desk lacks.
- Live chat & messaging — Chat with customers in real time on your site or app.Missing from Zoho Desk.
- AI copilot — Get AI-drafted reply suggestions for support agents.Missing from Zoho Desk.
- AI agents — Let an AI agent resolve support requests automatically.Missing from Zoho Desk.
- Knowledge base / help center — Publish a self-serve help center for customers.Missing from Zoho Desk.
- Canned responses / macros — Reuse saved reply templates for common questions.Missing from Zoho Desk.
- Routing & assignment — Automatically route tickets to the right agent or team.Missing from Zoho Desk.
- Support automations — Automate routine support tasks like tagging or follow-ups.Missing from Zoho Desk.
- CSAT surveys — Survey customers on satisfaction after a support interaction.Missing from Zoho Desk.
Plans & pricing, side by side
Advertised prices in USD as observed on the official pricing pages — per-seat and transaction-fee plans are marked.
| Free | Free |
| Express | Contact sales |
| Standard | Contact sales |
| Professional | Contact sales |
| Enterprise | Contact sales |
| Essential | $25/seat/mo |
| Growth | $99/seat/mo |
| Enterprise | Contact sales |
Share this comparison
For Zoho Desk: use the verified claim in your own marketing — card, badge, or link. The numbers stay tied to this evidence page.
Frequently asked
How much cheaper is Zoho Desk than LiveChat?
100% cheaper in our scenario (single user, monthly billing): $0/mo on Free vs $25/mo on Essential. That is $300 a year. But it covers only 1 of 9 compared capabilities, so it isn't a like-for-like replacement.
What does Zoho Desk lack compared with LiveChat?
Live chat & messaging, AI copilot, AI agents, Knowledge base / help center, Canned responses / macros, Routing & assignment, Support automations, CSAT surveys — 8 of the 9 compared capabilities.
When were these prices checked?
LiveChat: 2026-10-28; Zoho Desk: 2026-10-26 — on the official pricing pages.
Who switched
Anonymous: no account, no email, no IP stored. Reports are shown once a switch has 3 or more and never change ranking or order — alternatives are computed from prices and capabilities only.
Sources & freshness
- https://www.livechat.com/pricing/ (official_pricing, checked 2026-10-28)
- Zoho Desk data last verified 2026-10-26