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Head-to-head · Help Desk Software

LiveAgent vs Zammad

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 7 checks side by side
Higher score LiveAgent #12 in Help Desk Software 8.2/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 6 of 6 features Visit LiveAgent
Zammad #16 in Help Desk Software 7.8/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 6 of 6 features Visit Zammad

LiveAgent leads on 0 checks, Zammad on 0, and 7 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 7 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreLiveAgent · 8.2/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialboth

LiveAgent scores higher on our rubric for help desk software: 8.2 against 7.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #12 and #16.

LiveAgent is the better fit for omnichannel teams seeking a free starting plan. Zammad is the better fit for technical teams wanting open-source help desk control.

  • LiveAgent fits best

    Omnichannel teams seeking a free starting plan

  • Zammad fits best

    Technical teams wanting open-source help desk control

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature LiveAgent 8.2/10 Visit ↗ Zammad 7.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.2 7.8
Ranking #12 in Help Desk Software #16 in Help Desk Software
Best for Omnichannel teams seeking a free starting plan Technical teams wanting open-source help desk control
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price $15/user/mo Free
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial 30 days 30 days
Free trial length 30 days · no card needed 30 days
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web, Linux
Support Email, Live chat, Phone, Docs · 24/7 Email, Phone, Docs
Compliance GDPR, 2FA, SSO/SAML ISO 27001, 2FA
Integrations 200+ integrations 12 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features LiveAgent 6/6 · Zammad 6/6
Shared inbox ✓ ✓
SLA management ✓ ✓
Help center ✓ ✓
Ticket automation ✓ ✓
Customer portal ✓ ✓
API access ✓ ✓
Specs
Included agent seats Not checked yet 5
Our review
Pros
  • Covers email, chat, phone, and social media in one help desk
  • Includes SLAs, automation, portals, knowledge bases, and AI features
  • Offers web, iOS, Android, API access, and many integrations
  • Open-source and self-hosted options support control over deployment.
  • Tickets, SLAs, triggers, schedulers, and a shared inbox cover core support workflows.
  • REST API, Elasticsearch search, AI tools, and broad channel integrations extend its scope.
Cons
  • Advanced capabilities require higher-priced paid tiers
  • The free account has limitations
  • The broad feature set may exceed the needs of narrow support teams
  • Advanced plans vary by agent limits and feature availability.
  • Self-hosted support contracts are separate from the software itself.
  • Its broad feature set may exceed the needs of teams seeking basic email support.
Our verdict

LiveAgent is a cloud-based help desk for businesses and customer support teams that need to manage email, live chat, phone, and social-media inquiries in one shared or universal inbox. Requests can become tickets assigned to departments…

Read the review →

Zammad is a web-based help desk and ticketing platform for organizations handling customer and internal support requests. It brings conversations from multiple channels into tickets, provides a customer-facing web interface, and supports…

Read the review →
  1. LiveAgentHelp Desk Software 8.2Free plan · 30-day trial
  2. ZammadHelp Desk Software 7.8Free plan · 30-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • LiveAgent — where it wins

    • Covers email, chat, phone, and social media in one help desk
    • Includes SLAs, automation, portals, knowledge bases, and AI features
    • Offers web, iOS, Android, API access, and many integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Advanced capabilities require higher-priced paid tiers
    • The free account has limitations
    • The broad feature set may exceed the needs of narrow support teams

  • Zammad — where it wins

    • Open-source and self-hosted options support control over deployment.
    • Tickets, SLAs, triggers, schedulers, and a shared inbox cover core support workflows.
    • REST API, Elasticsearch search, AI tools, and broad channel integrations extend its scope.

    Where it doesn't

    • Advanced plans vary by agent limits and feature availability.
    • Self-hosted support contracts are separate from the software itself.
    • Its broad feature set may exceed the needs of teams seeking basic email support.
  • LiveAgent8.2/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

    A broad omnichannel help desk with a free account and paid plans from $15 per user monthly.

    Visit LiveAgentFull verdict →
  • Zammad7.8/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

    A flexible help desk for technical teams that want open-source control.

    Visit ZammadFull verdict →

All help desk software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update