Gorgias vs Zendesk: $10 vs $19/mo (2026)

Gorgias vs Zendesk

Help Desk pricing comparison · 2026

Gorgias pricing ranges from $10–$900/month, while Zendesk ranges from $19–$169/agent/month. Zendesk is typically 60% more affordable, though your actual cost depends on tier and team size.

Help Desk

Gorgias

$10–$900
/month
5 plans
Full pricing breakdown →
VS
Help Desk

Zendesk

$19–$169
/agent/month
4 plans
Full pricing breakdown →

Gorgias and Zendesk are both leading help desk platforms, but they target different user needs and price points. Gorgias starts at $10/month, while Zendesk begins at $19/agent/month.

Gorgias is best for teams seeking comprehensive features, while Zendesk excels for businesses prioritizing ease of use. Both platforms offer robust features, but their pricing structures and target markets differ significantly.

Plan-by-Plan Pricing

Plan Gorgias Zendesk
Starter $10 /month $19 /agent/month
Basic $60 /month $55 /agent/month
Pro $360 /month $115 /agent/month
Advanced $900 /month $169 /agent/month
Enterprise Custom

Cost at Scale

Total cost of ownership — licenses, implementation, and hidden costs included.

Gorgias

3 scenarios
$50/month
Small Shopify Store
+ ~$25 AI = $75/month ($900/year)
$300/month
Growing Ecommerce Brand
+ $180 AI + $80 SMS = $560/month ($6,720/year)
$750/month
Large Retailer
+ $450 AI + $200 voice/SMS = $1,400/month ($16,800/year)

Zendesk

4 scenarios
$6,300 Year 1 ($3,300 licenses + $2,000 onboarding + $1,000 integrations)
Small Team (5 agents, Suite Team)
$54,500 Year 1 ($34,500 licenses + $15,000 implementation + $5,000 training)
Mid-Market Team (25 agents, Suite Professional)
$229,560 Year 1 ($162,240 licenses + $33,600 AI add-on + $25,000 implementation + $8,720 premium support)
Enterprise Deployment (80 agents, Suite Enterprise)
See all 4 scenarios →

Market Intelligence

Gorgias

Median annual cost
$1,764
Based on
9 deals

Zendesk

Median annual cost
$47,772
Average negotiated discount
15%
Based on
1035 deals

What Users Say

Gorgias

Trustpilot
1.5/5 (24)
TrustRadius
8.7/10 (6)
Top complaints
  • Spam emails and aggressive sales tactics
  • Poor customer support responsiveness
  • Unexpected charges and billing issues

Zendesk

Trustpilot
2.4/5 (25)
TrustRadius
7.2/10 (6)
Top complaints
  • Poor customer support responsiveness
  • Expensive pricing and unexpected costs
  • Complex platform requiring many add-ons

Hidden Costs

Beyond the sticker price — what catches buyers off guard.

Gorgias 4 hidden costs

high
Ticket volume-based pricing escalation 20-40% of license costs
medium
AI resolution pricing $1/resolution
medium
Price increases over time 10-15%
medium
Setup complexity and learning curve 5-10% of license costs
See all Gorgias hidden costs →

Zendesk 8 hidden costs

medium
Per-Agent Licensing Costs Scale Quickly $55-$115/user/month
high
Add-Ons Required for Basic Functionality 20% of contract value for premium support alone
high
Annual Price Increases Not Disclosed Upfront 5-15% annual uplift
medium
Prohibitive Pricing Tiers for Small Organizations $2,000-$10,000
high
AI Features Require Per-Agent Add-On Purchase $35-$50 per agent per month additional
See all Zendesk hidden costs →

Contract Terms

Term Gorgias Zendesk
Auto-renewal Yes Yes
Cancellation Can cancel anytime on monthly plans 30 days before renewal
Minimum commitment Monthly or 12 months 1 year typical
Price escalation Periodic price increases implemented; customers report receiving increase notifications 5-9% annual uplift standard, with increases up to 15% reported. July 2023 pricing increase instituted, Zendesk stated current customers wouldn't see more than 7% increase for that year.
Can downgrade Yes No

Our Verdict

Choose Gorgias if you need comprehensive features and customization. It offers better value for smaller teams with its lower starting price of $10/month.

Choose Zendesk if ease of use and quick setup are priorities. While pricier, it provides stronger features for enterprise needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

01 Which is cheaper, Gorgias or Zendesk?

Gorgias is cheaper, starting at $10/month vs $19/agent/month for Zendesk. For mid-tier plans, Gorgias costs around $300/month compared to Zendesk's $55/agent/month.

02 Does Gorgias or Zendesk have a free tier?

Neither Gorgias nor Zendesk offers a free tier. Gorgias starts at $10/month and Zendesk at $19/agent/month. For free help desk options, consider alternatives like HubSpot's free tier.

03 How much do Gorgias and Zendesk cost for enterprise?

Gorgias's top tier (Enterprise) costs Custom pricing, while Zendesk's highest plan (Suite Enterprise) is Custom pricing. Enterprise pricing typically includes dedicated support, advanced security, and unlimited users or custom features. Contact sales for exact enterprise quotes.