Updated October 18, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team
ClearCRM vs Zendesk
ClearCRM
Higher score in this comparison
Zendesk
What sets them apart
| Compare | ClearCRMReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | ZendeskReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $3.80Lower | $19 |
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Plan tiers | Starter Team, Growth Team, Scale Team | Support Team to Suite plans from $19/month |
| Product | CRM, Help deskCovers more | Help desk |
| Free plan limits | Not confirmed | no free plan, trial only |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 14 days |
| Integrations | Not confirmed | 1,800 |
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Key differences
- ClearCRM scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.4.
- Price per user from is lower at ClearCRM: $3.80 vs $19.
- Free plan: only ClearCRM.
- Audience: only ClearCRM offers Beginners.
- Pricing model: only ClearCRM offers Free plan.
- Product: only ClearCRM offers CRM.
Our verdict on each
ClearCRM
ClearCRM suits small businesses that want a CRM and a help desk in one place and would rather start cheap than shop a long feature list. Entry price per user is $3.80 and a free plan exists, though renewal pricing is not published.
Zendesk
Zendesk suits small businesses and enterprise support teams that want a broad help desk with a large integration catalog. Entry price is $19 per user, and the trial runs 14 days.
Score breakdown
| Area | ClearCRM | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.8HigherEntry price per user is $3.80, under the CRM median of €24.07, and a free plan is available. | 9.0Entry price is $19 per user, above the help desk median, and there is no free plan. |
| Offer | 9.4One account covers both CRM and help desk for beginners, small business and enterprise teams, supported through email, chat and help centre. | 9.8HigherTrial of 14 days plus 1,800 integrations carries the offer score. |
The bill, worked out
5 users for a year
ClearCRM
$228
60 × $3.80
Zendesk
$1,140
60 × $19
ClearCRM costs $912 less.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 30, 2026.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | ClearCRM | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | ClearCRM | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| Help desk software | 11 of 51 | 14 of 51 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ClearCRM | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Beginners, Small business, EnterpriseCovers more | Small business, Enterprise |
| Pricing model | Free plan, Free trialCovers more | Free trial |
| Legal entity | ClearCRM LLC | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ClearCRM | Zendesk | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $3.80lowest quarter | $19below the median | $25 |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 14 daysat the median | 14 days |
| Integrations | Not confirmed | 1,800highest quarter | 77 |
Median across 81 listed software products.
Pros and cons
ClearCRM
Pros
- Entry price per user of $3.80 sits below the CRM median of €24.07.
- A free plan is available, alongside the tiers Starter Team, Growth Team, Scale Team.
- One product covers both CRM and help desk, so teams can run sales and support in the same place.
Cons
- Renewal pricing is not published, so the Starter Team, Growth Team, Scale Team cost after the first term is unknown.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line for urgent issues.
- A free trial is offered in place of deeper tier detail, so the difference between Starter Team, Growth Team, Scale Team features is set by sales contact rather than the page.
Zendesk
Pros
- A free trial of 14 days matches the help desk median of 14 days, so evaluation time is not shorter than typical.
- 1,800 integrations give a broad connector range, more than most help desks at this entry price.
- Plans run across Support Team to Suite plans from $19/month, covering both small teams and larger support organisations in one product.
Cons
- There is a free plan: no, and no free plan, trial only confirms trial only, so nothing carries over after the trial ends.
- Entry price of $19 per user sits above the €17.10 median for help desks and above €9 from Monday.com.
- With no free plan, a small team that only needs a shared inbox pays from the first seat rather than starting at no cost.
Who each suits
ClearCRM
Who it suits
- Small businesses that want CRM and help-desk tools under one vendor
- Beginners who want a free plan to test before paying
- Enterprise teams consolidating several tools into one account
Who should look elsewhere
- Teams that want published renewal prices before signing, where Nutshell is a fairer comparison
- Support-heavy operations needing phone help, since ClearCRM covers email, chat and help centre only
- Buyers who need a locally registered company, given the US entity ClearCRM LLC
Zendesk
Who it suits
- Small businesses that already budget for a paid support desk and can start on a trial
- Enterprise support teams wanting a wide integration catalog inside one product
- Support leads who plan seats carefully because entry price starts above the help desk median
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who need a free plan, where HubSpot has one: yes
- Teams on the tightest per user budget, where Monday.com starts at €9
- Small teams wanting a permanently free tier rather than a trial, since no free plan, trial only is trial only
Current offers
ClearCRM
Current offer
First period offer
50% off first yearly plan period: 50% off yearly plans (Extra 50% off yearly plans)
Applies to the yearly billing option of the Starter, Growth and Scale Team plans; no credit card required; 30-day money-back guarantee; no end date stated
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Zendesk
Current offer
Free trial
Start your free trial: free trial
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
ClearCRM
How much does ClearCRM cost per user?+
Entry pricing is $3.80 per user, sold as Starter Team, Growth Team, Scale Team. The entry figure sits below the CRM median of €24.07 and the help-desk median of €17.54. A free plan is also listed for teams testing the product first.
What does ClearCRM cost when a plan renews?+
Renewal pricing is not published, so the ongoing cost of Starter Team, Growth Team, Scale Team is not stated. The per-user figure of $3.80 is given as a starting price only. Buyers budgeting past the first term need that renewal rate confirmed before signing.
Zendesk
How much does Zendesk cost per user?+
Entry pricing is $19 per user. That figure belongs to the entry plan rather than to the whole range. Support Team to Suite plans from $19/month shows tiers running from Support Team to Suite plans, so higher plans cost more per seat. Cost is driven by how many agents you add, not by the trial length.
Does Zendesk have a free plan?+
There is a free plan: no. no free plan, trial only describes the offering as trial only, so nothing stays free after the evaluation ends. 14 days is the access you get before you choose a paid plan. Buyers who need a lasting free tier should look at HubSpot, which has one.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
ClearCRM
Zendesk