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Zendesk vs Chatwoot
Zendesk vs Chatwoot
A side-by-side look at Zendesk (the paid SaaS) and Chatwoot (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.
| Zendesk | Chatwoot | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Customer support ticketing and chat. | Open source customer engagement — chat, email, social inboxes. |
| License | Proprietary SaaS | MIT |
| Pricing | From $19/agent/month. | Free to self-host · optional paid hosted plan |
| Self-host option | No | Yes — difficulty 3/5 |
| Hosted cloud available | Yes (only option) | Yes |
| Desktop apps | Varies by product | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Mobile apps | Official apps typically available | iOS, Android |
Ad slot — between tables
Best for
Modern multichannel inbox that feels closest to Zendesk.
Chatwoot strengths
- Multi-channel inbox — web chat, email, Facebook, WhatsApp.
- Modern UI and mobile apps.
- Active development with frequent releases.
Chatwoot weaknesses
- Self-hosting requires several services (DB, Redis, Sidekiq).
- Integrations with third-party tools still growing.
- Some features are gated in hosted "Enterprise" tier.
What's the catch with Zendesk?
- Pricing climbs fast with add-ons.
- Complexity for small support teams.
- No self-hosted option.
Still unsure?
Check the full list of alternatives to Zendesk: see Zendesk alternatives, or learn more about Chatwoot on its project page.