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Kayako vs UVdesk vs Zoho Desk Comparison

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Kayako

4.0(174 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Kayako is the premier customer support software, marketplace, and community for support teams. Kayako provides all the tools to create an engaging support experience for website visitors while delivering exceptional cust…

UVdesk

4.9(82 reviews)

Starting at $16 /Month

  • Free Trial
  • Individuals
  • Large Enterprises

UVdesk is simple to use, feature rich help desk software that helps to increase customer service. UVdesk can handle both internal and external customer requests with ease. With the drag-and-drop functionality, email noti…

Zoho Desk

4.4(3,852 reviews)

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…

UVdesk leads on user satisfaction with a 4.9-star rating across 82 reviews.

Kayako vs UVdesk vs Zoho Desk — at a glance

FeatureKayakoUVdeskZoho Desk
Rating4.0 / 54.9 / 54.4 / 5
Reviews174823,852
Starting priceContact for pricing$16 /Month$7 /user/month
Free trial Yes Yes Yes
Free version No No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessIndividuals, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryHelp Desk SoftwareHelp Desk SoftwareHelp Desk Software
Integrations1+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS
APIAvailableAvailableAvailable
Support modes24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online
CertificationsSOC 2, GDPRGDPRSOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001
Data residencyGlobalGlobalGlobal

Key differences between Kayako and UVdesk

  • Pricing: UVdesk starts at $16 /Month. Kayako pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Target audience: Kayako is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while UVdesk targets Individuals and Large Enterprises.
  • User satisfaction: UVdesk scores higher with a 4.9-star average.
  • Deployment: Kayako supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; UVdesk supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

Compare Kayako vs UVdesk vs Zoho Desk — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Help Desk 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.

Kayako - Help Desk Software
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UVdesk - Help Desk Software
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Kayako, UVdesk vs Zoho Desk: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Kayako

Best for mid-sized support teams needing multi-channel help desk with automation.

Choose if
  • You manage a 50-500+ employee company needing unified inbox across channels.
  • You want to reduce manual support tasks with built-in automation tools.
  • You value integrated chat support that also helps close more sales.
Consider alternatives if
  • You are a very small business with fewer than 50 employees.
  • You require highly specialized or advanced enterprise-level support features.

UVdesk

Best for small to mid-sized teams needing easy, feature-rich help desk software.

Choose if
  • You want a simple drag-and-drop interface for managing tickets and workflows.
  • Your team handles both internal and external customer support requests.
  • You need built-in reporting and analytics dashboards to monitor performance.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your organization requires highly customized, enterprise-grade workflow configurations.
  • You lack a dedicated customer support team to manage the help desk.

Zoho Desk

Best for businesses needing AI-driven, multi-channel help desk with Zoho integration.

Choose if
  • 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.
Consider alternatives if
  • 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.

Kayako: Best for mid-sized support teams needing multi-channel help desk with automation. UVdesk: Best for small to mid-sized teams needing easy, feature-rich help desk software.

Description

Kayako is the premier customer support software, marketplace, and community for support teams. Kayako provides all the tools to create an engaging support experience for website visitors ... Read More about Kayako

UVdesk is simple to use, feature rich help desk software that helps to increase customer service. UVdesk can handle both internal and external customer requests with ease. With the ... Read More about UVdesk

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

Entry Level Pricing

  • Not Available
  • Starts from $16 , Billed Yearly
  • Starts from $7 , yearly

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

9.2/10

9.3/10

9.7/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.87

(82)

4.39

(3852)

Best Company Size

50-500 employees500+ employees
10-50 employees51-500 employees
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.

Strengths

Key strengths

Kayako

  • Unified Inbox: Consolidates customer inquiries from different channels into one location, simplifying support processes.
  • Multi-Channel Support: Allows businesses to manage customer interactions across various channels, including email, live chat, and social media.
  • Automation Capabilities: Offers automation tools to simplify support processes, reduce manual tasks, and improve overall efficiency.

UVdesk

  • Easy-to-Use with Drag-and-Drop Interface: The intuitive drag-and-drop functionality makes managing tickets and workflows straightforward, reducing onboarding time for teams.
  • Customer Support Features: UVdesk handles both internal and external requests efficiently, with email notifications, a knowledge base, and reporting tools to improve service quality.
  • Reporting and Dashboards: Built-in analytics and dashboards provide useful data to monitor performance and improve customer support strategies.

Zoho Desk

  • 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

Best fit

Kayako

  • 50–500+ Employees
  • E-commerce, SaaS, FinTech, Telecommunications, Retail
  • Customer Support Manager, IT Support Specialist, Help Desk Administrator, Operations Manager, Customer Success Manager

UVdesk

  • 10 – 500 Employee
  • E-commerce, Retail, IT Services, SaaS, Healthcare, Education
  • Customer Support Manager, Help Desk Analyst, IT Manager, Customer Success Specialist, Operations Manager

Zoho Desk

  • 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
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

Kayako

  • Customization options are limited — teams needing branded portals or custom fields typically switch to Zendesk or Freshdesk
  • Interface requires significant training time; onboarding new support staff takes 2–3 weeks longer than competitors
  • Pricing increases 15–25% annually without corresponding feature additions — teams over 20 agents often migrate to Intercom or Freshchat

UVdesk

  • While UVdesk offers essential features, some users might find its automation capabilities less advanced compared to competitors that provide more sophisticated AI or workflow automation.
  • Despite being feature-rich, some customers report a learning curve with UVdesk’s interface, especially for teams new to help desk software.
  • UVdesk supports key integrations, but users with more complex or specialized tech stacks may find fewer out-of-the-box integrations compared to larger platforms.

Zoho Desk

  • 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

Demo

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How do Kayako, UVdesk and Zoho Desk Compare on Features?

Total Features

16 Features

16 Features

27 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare Kayako, UVdesk 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.

Pricing Option

        Starting From

        • Not Available
        • $16 , Billed Yearly
        • $7 , yearly

        Pricing Plans

        • ESSENTIAL

          Custom

          • Advanced Ticketing System

          • Unlimited AI Suggested Responses

          • Knowledge Base Audit

          Show more +

        • ENTERPRISE

          Custom

          • Everything in Essential +

          • Fully Autonomous Resolutions

          • Ticket Summaries

          Show more +

        • Open Source

          • Number of Agents : Unlimited

          • Security

          • Company Setting

          Show more +

        • Pro

          • Number of Agents : 2

          • Includes features of Basic plan, plus

          • eCommerce Multi-Channel Integration

          Show more +

        • Enterprise

          • Number of Agents : 2

          • Includes everything in Pro plan, plus

          • Full Portal Customization, uvdesk

          Show more +

        • Express

          $9

          /user/month

          • Small business essentials:

          • Email

          • Social media

          Show more +

        • Standard

          $20

          /user/month

          • Everything in Express +

          • Live chat (Business Messaging)

          • Instant messaging

          Show more +

        • Professional

          $35

          /user/month

          • Everything in Standard +

          • Telephony

          • Blueprints

          Show more +

        • Browse all pricing plans

        Pricing Page

        Kayako pricing
        UVdesk pricing
        Zoho Desk pricing

        Kayako, UVdesk vs Zoho Desk: Other Details

        Organization Types supported

        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals
        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals
        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals

        Platforms Supported

        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Mac
        • Installed - Windows
        • Mobile - Windows
        • Mobile - BlackBerry
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Mac
        • Installed - Windows
        • Mobile - Windows
        • Mobile - BlackBerry
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Mac
        • Installed - Windows
        • Mobile - Windows
        • Mobile - BlackBerry
        • Browser Based (Cloud)

        Modes of support

        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online

        API Support

        • Available
        • Available
        • Available
        Get help choosing
        Get help choosing

        Kayako, UVdesk vs Zoho Desk Security & Compliance

        Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

        SOC 2

        ✓ Yes

        HIPAA

        ✗ No

        GDPR

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        ISO 27001

        ✗ No

        Single Sign-On (SSO)

        ✓ Yes

        Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

        ✓ Yes

        Data Encryption

        ✓ Yes

        Audit Logs

        ✓ Yes

        Data Residency

        🌐 Global
        🌐 Global

        Kayako vs UVdesk User Reviews & Rating Comparison

        User Ratings

        Rating Distribution

        89

        73

        11

        4

        18

        78

        2

        0

        0

        2

        2628

        1272

        213

        15

        19

        Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

        Buyer sentiment

        Buyers appreciate Kayako's multi-channel support and automation but express concerns about pricing transparency and feature depth.

        What buyers like

        • Multi-channel support
        • Automation capabilities
        • Unified inbox

        Common complaints

        • Pricing transparency
        • Feature limitations

        Buyer sentiment

        Users generally praise UVdesk for its ease of use, comprehensive features, and insightful reporting, though some desire more advanced customization and clearer pricing.

        What buyers like

        • Ease of use
        • Feature richness
        • Reporting and analytics

        Common complaints

        • Pricing transparency
        • Advanced customization limitations

        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

        • Ease of integration
        • Automation and AI features
        • Multi-channel support

        Common complaints

        • Mobile app limitations
        • Complexity of setup

        Pros and Cons

        • Unified inbox consolidates customer inquiries from multiple channels

        • Multi-channel support including email, live chat, and social media

        • Automation tools that reduce manual tasks and improve efficiency

        • Average user rating of 3.5 indicates mixed user satisfaction

        • Pricing details are not clearly stated, complicating purchase decisions

        • Intuitive drag-and-drop interface simplifying ticket and workflow management

        • Comprehensive support for both internal and external customer requests

        • Robust reporting and analytics dashboards for performance monitoring

        • Limited information on advanced customization capabilities

        • Potentially less suited for very large enterprises with complex processes

        • Multi-channel support from a single dashboard including email, social media, and chat

        • AI-powered automation and intelligent ticket routing improving agent productivity

        • Strong integration with Zoho ecosystem and third-party tools enhancing workflow automation

        • Mobile app has limited functionality compared to desktop version

        • Advanced feature configuration requires technical knowledge and time

        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

        Used Kayako, UVdesk, or Zoho Desk? Tell buyers what actually differs.

        Integrations

        Integration with other apps

        No Integration information available.

        No Integration information available.

        Kayako, UVdesk and Zoho Desk Customers

        Customers

        Kayako_customers_0

        Kayako_customers_0

        Kayako_customers_1

        Kayako_customers_1

        Kayako_customers_2

        Kayako_customers_2

        charitybay.org

        charitybay.org

        Colligso

        Colligso

        Mind Spark Technologies

        Mind Spark Technologies

        NHS

        NHS

        Rogers

        Rogers

        ESSILOR

        ESSILOR

        Media and Screenshots

        Screenshots

        Kayako

        3 Screenshots

        Setup

        2 Screenshots

        Videos

        video-0

        2 Videos

        video-0

        2 Videos

        Alternatives to Kayako, UVdesk, Zoho Desk

        Expand your comparison

        Add another option to compare side by side

        Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.

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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, Kayako or UVdesk?
        UVdesk edges out the other on user ratings (4.9 vs 4.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
        Do Kayako and UVdesk offer a free trial?
        Yes, both Kayako and UVdesk offer a free trial.
        What is the starting price of Kayako vs UVdesk?
        Kayako starts at Contact for pricing. UVdesk starts at $16 /Month.
        What are the top alternatives to Kayako?
        Top alternatives to Kayako include Zoho Desk, SysAid, Wowdesk, SupportBee, UserEcho.
        What are the top alternatives to UVdesk?
        Top alternatives to UVdesk include Zoho Desk, Supportbench, SysAid, Deskpro, Kayako.