Kayako Alternatives (2026)
Kayako's pricing jumped and development stalled. If you're looking for a fresh start, these alternatives offer better value.
Kayako has been around forever. That’s both the appeal and the problem.
If you’ve been using Kayako for years, you know the drill: it works, mostly. The interface feels dated. New features trickle out slowly. And then there’s the pricing—what used to be a reasonable mid-market option now costs more than many alternatives that do more.
I’ve talked to plenty of teams making the switch from Kayako. Here’s what they’re finding.
Why People Leave Kayako
The pricing doesn’t match the product anymore. Kayako’s prices crept up while the product stayed mostly the same. You’re paying 2024 prices for what feels like 2018 software. Meanwhile, newer tools offer more for less.
Development feels stalled. Kayako had a rough few years—ownership changes, layoffs, unclear direction. The product hasn’t evolved much. If you’re waiting for modern features like AI assistance or better mobile support, you might be waiting a while.
The interface shows its age. It’s functional, sure. But compared to tools built in the last few years, Kayako feels cluttered and slow. Your support team spends all day in this interface—that friction adds up.
Self-hosted is dying. Kayako used to be popular for on-premise deployment. That option is essentially deprecated now. If you chose Kayako for self-hosting, that reason no longer exists.
What to Look For Instead
Before jumping to alternatives, think about what actually matters to you:
- Do you need live chat? Kayako’s chat was a differentiator. Not all alternatives include it.
- How important is the knowledge base? Kayako’s Docs feature was solid. Make sure your replacement handles this well.
- What’s your real budget? Be honest. Kayako’s pricing pushed many teams to alternatives, but the cheapest option isn’t always the best fit.
The Alternatives Worth Considering
Freshdesk — The Obvious Choice
Most Kayako refugees end up at Freshdesk. It’s the safe pick—similar feature set, better interface, competitive pricing.
Freshdesk does everything Kayako does, plus a lot more. The interface is cleaner. The mobile app actually works. And Freshworks keeps shipping new features.
Pricing: Free tier for up to 10 agents. Paid plans start at $15/agent/month.
The catch: You’re trading one per-seat pricing model for another. If you’re leaving Kayako because of cost, Freshdesk might give you sticker shock at scale too.
Compare Freshdesk Alternatives →
Help Scout — For Teams Who Value Simplicity
If Kayako felt bloated, Help Scout is the opposite. It’s deliberately simple—focused on email support with a clean, fast interface.
Help Scout won’t overwhelm you with features. It does email support really well, has a solid knowledge base (Docs), and gets out of your way. For teams that don’t need bells and whistles, it’s refreshing.
Pricing: $20/user/month for Standard, $40/user for Plus.
The catch: Less feature-rich than Kayako. No native live chat (they have Beacon, which is different). If you used Kayako’s advanced features heavily, Help Scout might feel limiting.
Compare Help Scout Alternatives →
Dispatch Tickets — For Technical Teams
If your frustration with Kayako is partly “why can’t I just use the API for this?”—Dispatch Tickets might resonate.
It’s built API-first, which means everything you can do in the UI, you can do programmatically. Per-ticket pricing means you’re not counting seats. Multi-brand is included on every plan.
Pricing: $29/month for 1,000 tickets, unlimited users.
The catch: Newer product, smaller ecosystem. No live chat. If you need a mature, feature-complete platform, this might be too early-stage.
See Dispatch Tickets pricing →
Zendesk — When You’re Ready to Invest
If you’re leaving Kayako and want to upgrade to enterprise-grade, Zendesk is the obvious destination. It’s expensive, it’s complex, but it’s also incredibly capable.
Zendesk handles anything you throw at it. Every integration exists. Every workflow is possible. If you’re scaling fast and need a platform that won’t limit you, Zendesk delivers.
Pricing: Starts at $55/agent/month. Gets expensive fast.
The catch: Overkill for many teams. The complexity that enables power also creates overhead. And per-seat pricing means costs scale with team size, not support volume.
Compare Zendesk Alternatives →
Zoho Desk — The Budget Option
If price is the main driver, Zoho Desk is hard to beat. Starting at $7/agent/month, it’s one of the cheapest options that’s actually usable.
Zoho Desk has most of the features you’d expect—ticketing, chat, knowledge base, automation. It’s especially good if you’re already using other Zoho products.
Pricing: Free for 3 agents. Paid starts at $7/agent/month.
The catch: The interface is dated (not much better than Kayako, honestly). Best value comes from Zoho ecosystem integration. Standalone, it’s functional but not inspiring.
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Starting Price | Live Chat | Knowledge Base | API Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kayako | $30/agent | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Freshdesk | Free | Add-on | Yes | Good |
| Help Scout | $20/user | Beacon | Yes | Basic |
| Dispatch Tickets | $29/mo flat | No | Roadmap | Excellent |
| Zendesk | $55/agent | Add-on | Yes | Good |
| Zoho Desk | $7/agent | Yes | Yes | Limited |
Making the Switch
Migrating from Kayako isn’t hard, but it takes some planning:
- Export your data. Kayako lets you export tickets and customer data. Do this before you cancel.
- Map your workflows. What automations and rules do you rely on? Document them before rebuilding elsewhere.
- Consider knowledge base migration. Your help articles are valuable. Most alternatives can import them, but formatting might need cleanup.
- Plan for training. Even if the new tool is “easier,” your team has muscle memory for Kayako. Budget time for adjustment.
The Honest Take
Kayako isn’t terrible. It’s just stuck. If it’s working for you and the price isn’t painful, there’s no urgent reason to switch.
But if you’re frustrated—by the interface, the pricing, the lack of innovation—know that better options exist. The market has moved forward. Tools that didn’t exist when you chose Kayako are now mature and capable.
The switching cost is real, but it’s a one-time cost. The daily friction of using software that doesn’t quite fit? That cost never stops.
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Get Early AccessFrequently Asked Questions
Kayako works, but development has slowed significantly. The interface feels dated, pricing increased without matching improvements, and self-hosted options are deprecated. Many teams find better value in actively-developed alternatives like Freshdesk or Help Scout.
Common reasons: pricing no longer matches product value, development feels stalled after ownership changes, dated interface creates daily friction, and the self-hosted option (once a differentiator) is no longer supported.
Freshdesk is the most common destination—similar features, better interface, active development. Help Scout for teams wanting simplicity. Dispatch Tickets for API-first needs. Zendesk for enterprise requirements.
Yes. Kayako allows exporting tickets and customer data. Most alternatives accept standard import formats. Plan to recreate automations manually and expect some knowledge base formatting cleanup.