Kayako vs LiveAgent: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
Kayako
Customer service platform for unified conversations across email, live chat, and social media channels.
LiveAgent
4.5(1,456 reviews)
All-in-one help desk with ticketing, live chat, call center, and social media support.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Kayako | LiveAgent |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Companies wanting a unified view of customer interactions across channels | Teams needing omnichannel including phone |
| Pricing Model | Free Trial | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $39/mo | Free |
| Deployment | cloud, on premise | cloud, self hosted |
| Platforms | WEB, IOS, ANDROID | WEB, IOS, ANDROID, WINDOWS, MAC |
| Rating | 7.0/10 | 4.5/10 |
Pros & Cons
Kayako
Pros
- SingleView timeline gives agents complete customer context across channels
- On-premise option rare among modern help desk tools
- Messenger-style live chat with persistent conversations
- Mature product with 25 years of development behind it
- Clean, modern interface after the 2016 redesign
Cons
- Integration ecosystem significantly smaller than Zendesk or Freshdesk
- Reporting feels basic relative to the price point
- Big price jump from Essential ($39) to Scale ($99) with no middle tier
- Company leadership changes have created uncertainty about the roadmap
- No built-in phone/voice channel support
LiveAgent
Pros
- All channels included in one platform
- Built-in call center without separate tool
- Competitive pricing with free tier
- Hybrid ticket stream shows all channels
- Gamification for agent motivation
Cons
- Interface feels dated compared to newer tools
- Some workflows are clunky to use
- Mobile apps need improvement
- Learning curve for full feature utilization
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Kayako | free trial | $39/mo |
| LiveAgent | freemium | Free0 |
Our Verdict
Choose Kayako if...
You need Companies wanting a unified view of customer interactions across channels and prefer free trial pricing.
Choose LiveAgent if...
You need Teams needing omnichannel including phone and prefer freemium pricing.
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.