Updated October 18, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team
EngageBay vs Zendesk
EngageBay
Higher score in this comparison
Zendesk
EngageBay vs Zendesk: the differences
| Compare | EngageBayReviewVisitVisit | ZendeskReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $14.99Lower | $19 |
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Free plan limits | 250 contacts, up to 15 users | no free plan, trial only |
| Plan tiers | Free, Basic, Growth, Pro | Support Team to Suite plans from $19/month |
| Integrations | 250 | 1,800Higher |
| Product | CRM, Help deskCovers more | Help desk |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 14 days |
| Compliance certifications | GDPR, DPF | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Price per user from is lower at EngageBay: $14.99 vs $19.
- Free plan: only EngageBay.
- Integrations is higher at Zendesk: 1,800 vs 250.
- Audience: only EngageBay offers Beginners.
- Audience: only Zendesk offers Enterprise.
- Pricing model: only EngageBay offers Free plan.
- Pricing model: only Zendesk offers Free trial.
- Product: only EngageBay offers CRM.
Our verdict on each
EngageBay
EngageBay suits small businesses and beginners seeking CRM and help-desk tools with a free entry point. Its free plan allows 250 contacts, up to 15 users, giving a clear starting check on contact and user allowances before reviewing paid tiers for your growing team.
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 | EngageBay | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7HigherEngageBay lists a per-user starting price of $14.99. | 9.0Entry price is $19 per user, above the help desk median, and there is no free plan. |
| Offer | 9.5EngageBay lists CRM and help-desk coverage as CRM and help desk. | 9.8HigherTrial of 14 days plus 1,800 integrations carries the offer score. |
| Trust | 8.3EngageBay lists compliance coverage as GDPR and DPF. | Not confirmed |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | EngageBay | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| Help desk software | 2 of 51 | 14 of 51 |
Sources behind this comparison
EngageBay
- engagebay.com: 13 facts, checked September 28, 2026
Zendesk
- zendesk.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- github.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- getmacha.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | EngageBay | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Small business, Beginners | Small business, Enterprise |
| Pricing model | Free plan | Free trial |
| Legal entity | EngageBay Inc. | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2017 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Email marketing
| Fact | EngageBay | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| Price at 1,000 contacts | $64.99 | Not confirmed |
| Price at 10,000 contacts | $119.99 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | EngageBay | Zendesk | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $14.99lowest quarter | $19below the median | $25 |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 14 daysat the median | 14 days |
| Integrations | 250above the median | 1,800highest quarter | 77 |
Median across 81 listed software products.
Pros and cons
EngageBay
Pros
- The listed allowances of 250 contacts, up to 15 users give you a clear free entry point to review contacts and users before paying.
- The listed total of 250 integrations helps you judge how EngageBay might sit alongside tools you already use.
- Contact based pricing at $64.99 and $119.99 gives you separate listed points for larger contact needs.
Cons
- The included allowances are capped at 250 contacts, up to 15 users, so a growing list or a larger team may need to look beyond the entry allowances.
- EngageBay at $14.99 is higher than Nutshell at $13, which matters when you compare per-user starting prices.
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
EngageBay
Who it suits
- Small businesses comparing CRM and help-desk options, with EngageBay listing coverage as CRM and help desk.
- Beginners wanting a free entry point with stated allowances of 250 contacts, up to 15 users and audience focus of small business and beginners.
- Teams that value many connections alongside clear tiers, with 250 integrations and Free, Basic, Growth, Pro.
Who should look elsewhere
- If a lower listed per-user starting price is your main concern, check Nutshell at $13 against EngageBay at $14.99.
- If your contact base already exceeds the free allowances of 250 contacts, up to 15 users, compare Bumpa and Dolisoft before settling on EngageBay.
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
Zendesk
Current offer
Free trial
Start your free trial: free trial
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
EngageBay
What is EngageBay's per-user starting price?+
EngageBay lists a per-user starting price of $14.99. That figure describes the entry per-user price and sits alongside separate contact based prices. Check which pricing basis matches the option you are reviewing so you compare matching measures.
What does EngageBay charge at the lower listed contact volume?+
For the lower listed contact volume, EngageBay gives a price of $64.99. This is a contact based price, separate from the per-user starting price of $14.99. Confirm whether you are comparing contact pricing or per-user pricing before deciding.
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
EngageBay
Zendesk