Crisp vs osTicket vs Zoho Desk Comparison
Crisp
Starting at $25 /User/Month
- Free Trial
- Individuals
- Freelancers / Consultants
Introducing Crisp, the ultimate live chat software that adds a personal touch to your conversations with visitors. With a wide range of tools and features, Crisp helps you turn visitors into loyal customers. From the abi…
osTicket
Starting at $9 /User/Month
- Free Trial
- Individuals
- Large Enterprises
osTicket is open source, web based help desk software that can be used to help track and resolve customer service issues. The software saves time, reduces email clutter, and helps departments deliver excellent service—al…
Zoho Desk
Starting at $7 /user/month
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Zoho Desk is a robust help desk software that offers a free plan with essential features, making it a cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes. It allows organizations to manage unlimited agents efficiently wh…
Crisp vs osTicket vs Zoho Desk — at a glance
| Feature | Crisp | osTicket | Zoho Desk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Reviews | 144 | 56 | 3,462 |
| Starting price | $25 /User/Month | $9 /User/Month | $7 /user/month |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free version | No | No | No |
| Best for | Individuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business | Individuals, Large Enterprises, Medium Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Live Chat Software | Help Desk Software | Help Desk Software |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS |
| API | Available | Available | Available |
| Support modes | Online | Business Hours, Online | 24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | GDPR | GDPR | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001 |
| Data residency | US | US | Global |
Key differences between Crisp and osTicket
- Pricing: Crisp starts at $25 /User/Month, while osTicket starts at $9 /User/Month.
- Deployment: Crisp supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac; osTicket supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.
Compare Crisp vs osTicket vs Zoho Desk — and walk away knowing which one fits.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
Where each product wins, per real buyers
Most Live Chat Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
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Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best live chat for SMBs needing easy, feature-rich customer support.
- You run a small to medium business with 1-500 employees.
- You want a simple, intuitive interface with multi-channel communication.
- You value unique features like Magic Browse for visual customer insights.
- Your enterprise requires extensive chatbox visual customization options.
- You need advanced email marketing tools such as A/B testing and scheduling.
Best for small businesses needing customizable, cost-effective help desk software.
- You have in-house technical resources to customize and maintain the system.
- You want an open source help desk with robust core ticketing features.
- You need enterprise-level SLA management and auto-response capabilities without high licensing costs.
- Your organization lacks technical expertise for setup and ongoing customization.
- You require advanced enterprise features out-of-the-box without any customization.
Best for businesses needing AI-driven, multi-channel help desk with Zoho integration.
- You want a cost-effective help desk with a robust free plan for startups and SMBs.
- Your team requires AI-powered automation and intelligent ticket routing to boost productivity.
- You use Zoho CRM, Mail, or other Zoho apps and want seamless ecosystem integration.
- Your organization needs a fully mobile-optimized help desk experience with full app functionality.
- You prefer a very simple, out-of-the-box setup without technical configuration or learning curve.
Crisp: Best live chat for SMBs needing easy, feature-rich customer support. osTicket: Best for small businesses needing customizable, cost-effective help desk software.
Description | Introducing Crisp, the ultimate live chat software that adds a personal touch to your conversations with visitors. With a wide range of tools and features, Crisp helps you turn visitors ... Read More about Crisp | osTicket is open source, web based help desk software that can be used to help track and resolve customer service issues. The software saves time, reduces email clutter, and helps ... Read More about osTicket | Zoho Desk is a robust help desk software that offers a free plan with essential features, making it a cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes. It allows organizations to manage ... Read More about Zoho Desk |
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SpotScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 9.7/10 | 9.6/10 | 9.7/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | |||
Best Company Size | 1-50 employees51-500 employees | 5-200 employeesSmall Business | 10-2000 employeesSmall to Large Businesses |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Where each option fits best
See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.
Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.
Key strengths
No key benefits available yet.
- Free and Open Source: Ideal for budget-conscious organizations, osTicket offers a feature-rich solution without the high licensing fees associated with commercial alternatives.
- Customizable and Developer-Friendly: Users can tailor the system to their needs through source code access, making it ideal for organizations with in-house development resources.
- Core Features for Ticketing: Includes SLA management, custom forms, auto-responses, and internal notes—sufficient for managing most basic to intermediate support operations.
- Multi-Channel Support in One Dashboard: Centralizes email, social media, chat, and more, allowing teams to manage all customer interactions from a unified interface.
- AI-Powered Assistance and Automation: Includes intelligent suggestions, automated ticket routing, and prioritization through Zia AI, improving agent productivity and response accuracy.
- Reliable Free Plan & Zoho Ecosystem Integration: Offers a generous free plan and smooth connectivity with Zoho CRM, Zoho Mail, and other Zoho tools—ideal for businesses already in the Zoho ecosystem.
Best fit
No best-fit guidance available yet.
- 5 – 200 employees
- Education, Nonprofits, Local Government, Manufacturing, Small IT Firms
- IT Administrator, Technical Support Lead, Help Desk Manager, Systems Analyst, Customer Support Coordinator, Network Administrator
- 10 – 2,000 Employee
- SaaS, Retail, E-commerce, Education, Insurance, Fintech, Healthcare
- Customer Support Manager, IT Service Desk Lead, Operations Manager, Technical Support Specialist, CRM Administrator, Client Services Director
Reasons buyers look elsewhere
No alternatives guidance available yet.
- osTicket’s UI, while functional, may feel outdated or less intuitive compared to modern help desk tools, leading to a steeper learning curve for new users.
- Unlike many cloud-based help desk solutions, osTicket does not offer an official mobile app, limiting support flexibility for agents on the go.
- osTicket primarily supports email and web form-based ticketing. It lacks built-in social media, SMS, or chat integrations without third-party extensions or custom development.
- Steep learning curve for configuring automations and integrations — smaller teams often switch to Freshdesk or Help Scout for simpler setup
- Advanced automation, AI, and reporting features locked behind paid tiers — free plan users typically evaluate Freshdesk or Zendesk for better entry-level access
- Data sync issues with non-Zoho tools — teams relying on external integrations report inconsistent functionality compared to Intercom or Zendesk
Software Demo
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How do Crisp, osTicket and Zoho Desk Compare on Features?
Total Features | 10 Features | 16 Features | 27 Features |
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Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Crisp, osTicket and Zoho Desk on pricing
Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.
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Other Details
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | — | — |
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HIPAA | ✗ No | — |
GDPR | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
ISO 27001 | — | — |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | — | ✗ No |
Data Encryption | ✓ Yes | — |
Audit Logs | — | ✓ Yes |
Data Residency | 🇺🇸 US | 🇺🇸 US |
Crisp vs osTicket User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | |||
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Rating Distribution | |||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Overall positive sentiment highlights ease of use, strong customer support, and rich feature set, tempered by some navigation and customization limitations. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Users appreciate osTicket's cost-effectiveness and customization capabilities but note the need for technical expertise to fully leverage the platform. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Overall positive sentiment highlights Zoho Desk's powerful automation and multi-channel capabilities, though some users note a learning curve and mobile limitations. What buyers like
Common complaints
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Pros and Cons |
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Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
| Negative Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
List of Customers
Customers |  Rakuten  Mailjet  Airfrance | No Customers information available. |  NHS  Rogers  ESSILOR |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots | No screenshots available. |  11 Screenshots |
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Videos |  2 Videos |  1 Videos |
Alternatives
Alternatives |
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Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, Crisp or osTicket?
- Crisp and osTicket are closely matched with equal user ratings of 4.3. The right choice depends on your team size, budget, and specific Help Desk Software needs.
- Do Crisp and osTicket offer a free trial?
- Yes, both Crisp and osTicket offer a free trial.
- What is the starting price of Crisp vs osTicket?
- Crisp starts at $25 /User/Month. osTicket starts at $9 /User/Month.
- What are the top alternatives to Crisp?
- Top alternatives to Crisp include ZoomInfo Chat, LiveChat, LiveEngage, Pure Chat, DeskMoz.
- What are the top alternatives to osTicket?
- Top alternatives to osTicket include Zoho Desk, Freshservice, Jira Service Desk, Freshdesk, Zendesk Support.