Comparison
Zendesk vs Tidio
Zendesk is a ticketing system first; Tidio is a chat widget first. A small business usually needs the chat and a light ticket list, which is what SupportLime bundles. Zendesk makes sense when email and phone queues dominate.
Side by side
| Zendesk | Tidio | SupportLime | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Support Team ~$19/agent, Suite Team ~$55/agent, Suite Professional ~$115/agent per month (annual, USD) | Starter $29, Growth from $59, Plus from $300 per month (monthly rates) | Flat monthly: Free, $29, $79, $199 |
| What you pay for | Automated resolutions ~$1.50 committed / $2.00 pay-as-you-go; 5–10 included per agent | Three meters: human conversations, Lyro AI conversations ($0.50–$0.65 each), Flows visitors | AI replies only (1 reply = 1 reply) |
| Teammates | Per agent | Up to 10 on Free, more on paid | Unlimited teammates on every paid plan |
| Remove branding | n/a | $16.67/month add-on on Growth; not available on Free or Starter | No branding on paid plans, no extra fee |
| When you hit the limit | Billed per resolution | Lyro stops when its allowance is used | Assistant pauses, inbox keeps working |
| Setup | Days to weeks, often with a partner | Quick install; the pricing calculator takes longer | One script tag, 5-minute setup |
| Human inbox and tickets | Yes, per agent | Yes | Inbox, takeover, tickets included |
Figures from each vendor's public pricing page and reviews, checked October 2026. Full write-ups: Zendesk alternative, Tidio alternative.
What people say
- Zendesk
“Automated resolutions are an additional usage charge on top of agent seats”
Zendesk pricing, October 2026 - Zendesk
“Gartner predicts GenAI cost per resolution will exceed offshore human agent costs by 2030”
Gartner, January 2026 - Tidio
“They doubled my rate without notifying me and charged me for an entire year… I then tried cancel and they would not refund.”
Trustpilot, October 2025 - Tidio
“The entry price rarely reflects what you'll actually pay”
Drag, Tidio pricing breakdown, October 2026
Frequently asked questions
- Does Tidio do tickets?
- Lightly. Zendesk is the full ticketing product. SupportLime includes tickets with status, priority, notes and assignee.
Other comparisons
Or skip both
SupportLime: AI answers with sources, inbox and tickets, unlimited teammates, one flat price. Free plan, no card.