Cr
Crisp4.3/5vsKa
Kayako4.2/5Crisp vs Kayako (March 2026)
| CrCrisp | KaKayako | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free/mo |
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Free Tier | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Best For | SaaS companies needing automated technical support, E-commerce businesses with high-volume customer inquiries | Scaling support teams avoiding headcount increases via AI automation, Mid-to-large enterprises with ticket backlogs |
Quick Verdict
Crisp edges ahead with a 4.3/5 rating versus Kayako's 4.2/5, offering stronger value for most teams.
Quick Overview
Cr
Crisp
AI-powered, multichannel customer support platform that automates approximately 50% of support tickets through no-code A...
- Best for: SaaS companies needing automated technical support, E-commerce businesses with high-volume customer inquiries
- Starting price: Free
- Category: Helpdesk Software
- Founded: N/A
- Pricing model: freemium
Ka
Kayako
Kayako is an AI-first help desk and customer support platform that automates ticket resolution, knowledge base creation,...
- Best for: Scaling support teams avoiding headcount increases via AI automation, Mid-to-large enterprises with ticket backlogs
- Starting price: Free/mo
- Category: Helpdesk Software
- Founded: 2001
- Pricing model: subscription
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Crisp | Kayako |
|---|---|---|
| AI Helpdesk | ✓ | ✗ |
| Multichannel Support | ✓ | ✗ |
| No-code AI Agent Training | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shared Inbox | ✓ | ✗ |
| Knowledge Base | ✓ | ✗ |
| Support CRM | ✓ | ✗ |
| Support Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Workflow Builder | ✓ | ✗ |
| Live Chat Widget | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile Apps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Desktop Apps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Automated Ticket Routing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Canned Responses | ✓ | ✗ |
| Customer Portal | ✓ | ✗ |
| Real-time Agent Collision Prevention | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI Auto-Classification | ✗ | ✓ |
| AI Reply Drafting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Smart Escalation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Auto Knowledge Base Generation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Semantic Search | ✗ | ✓ |
| Content Freshness Detection | ✗ | ✓ |
| Content Gap Discovery | ✗ | ✓ |
| In-Ticket Article Suggestions | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multi-Language Translation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Omnichannel Support | ✗ | ✓ |
| Workflow Automation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom Help Center | ✗ | ✓ |
| Analytics Dashboard | ✗ | ✓ |
Pricing Comparison
Prices last verified: March 16, 2026
Crisp
Free
Starting price
freemium · 3 plans
Basic
$23/moMiniPopular
$45/moEssentials
$95/moKayako
Free/mo
Starting price
subscription · 3 plans
Starter
$99/moProfessionalPopular
$199/moEnterprise
$399/moPros & Cons
Crisp
Pros
- AI-powered automation resolves 50% of support tickets automatically
- No-code setup requires zero technical expertise
- Multichannel consolidation in single inbox
- Flexible AI training with custom data in multiple languages
Cons
- Limited pricing transparency for paid plans
- Incomplete feature documentation for advanced capabilities
- Trial limitations and feature restrictions unclear
- Scalability details for enterprise use not specified
Kayako
Pros
- Automates 60% of support tickets, saving up to $500K yearly
- Reduces average ticket age from 18 hours to under 5 hours
- Improves CSAT scores via standardized AI-drafted responses
- Self-writing knowledge base deflects tickets effectively
Cons
- No transparent pricing, requires demo/sales contact for evaluation
- Legacy versions may need migration with potential disruption
- Past security incident raises some concerns
- Limited public details on enterprise scalability
Which Is Best for You?
Cr
Choose Crisp if:
- SaaS companies needing automated technical support
- E-commerce businesses with high-volume customer inquiries
- Growing support teams scaling from manual to AI-assisted operations
- WordPress site owners seeking easy live chat implementation
- You want to start with a free plan
- Higher user rating matters to you (4.3 vs 4.2)
Ka
Choose Kayako if:
- Scaling support teams avoiding headcount increases via AI automation
- Mid-to-large enterprises with ticket backlogs
- Knowledge base-heavy operations needing auto-generated content
- CSAT-focused teams prioritizing deflection and fast resolutions
- Budget is a priority (Free vs $45)
Our Verdict
🏆
CrCrisp — WinnerKaKayako — Runner-up
After thorough analysis, Crisp takes the lead in this comparison with a higher rating of 4.3/5 versus Kayako's 4.2/5.
Crisp is best for SaaS companies needing automated technical support and E-commerce businesses with high-volume customer inquiries. AI-powered automation resolves 50% of support tickets automatically.
Kayako remains a strong alternative, especially for Scaling support teams avoiding headcount increases via AI automation and Mid-to-large enterprises with ticket backlogs. Automates 60% of support tickets, saving up to $500K yearly.
Pricing-wise, Kayako is the more affordable starting option. Evaluate free trials of both before committing.
Explore More
Crisp Alternatives
Kayako Alternatives
Category Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Crisp edges ahead with a 4.3/5 rating versus Kayako's 4.2/5, offering stronger value for most teams.
Kayako starts at Free/mo, while Crisp starts at $45/mo (free tier available).
Yes. Most users can migrate data between the two. Check both platforms for import/export tools before switching.
Crisp integrates with WordPress, Email platforms, Social media platforms, Messaging apps. Kayako integrates with PagerDuty, LDAP, Active Directory, Email Systems. Both offer solid third-party connectivity, though the best choice depends on your existing tech stack.
Both tools are designed for ease of use. Crisp is best for SaaS companies needing automated technical support and E-commerce businesses with high-volume customer inquiries, while Kayako excels for Scaling support teams avoiding headcount increases via AI automation and Mid-to-large enterprises with ticket backlogs. Consider trying both free trials to judge which interface suits your workflow.
Crisp has a 4.3/5 rating from 850 reviews, while Kayako scores 4.2/5 from 250 reviews. Higher review counts generally indicate a more established support ecosystem.
For small businesses, Kayako may be more budget-friendly starting at Free/mo. However, Crisp (Free) could offer better value depending on the features you need most.
For enterprise use, consider which offers more advanced plans. Crisp has 3 plans while Kayako has 3 plans. Evaluate each tool's enterprise features, security compliance, and team management capabilities before committing.
Check each tool's website for the latest mobile app availability. Both Crisp and Kayako offer web-based access, and many modern SaaS tools provide companion mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Choose Crisp if you prioritize ai-powered automation resolves 50% of support tickets automatically and want to start free. Choose Kayako if you value automates 60% of support tickets, saving up to $500k yearly.