LiveAgent vs Kayako: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
LiveAgent
4.5(1,456 reviews)
All-in-one help desk with ticketing, live chat, call center, and social media support.
Kayako
Customer service platform for unified conversations across email, live chat, and social media channels.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | LiveAgent | Kayako |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Teams needing omnichannel including phone | Companies wanting a unified view of customer interactions across channels |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Free Trial |
| Starting Price | Free | $39/mo |
| Deployment | cloud, self hosted | cloud, on premise |
| Platforms | WEB, IOS, ANDROID, WINDOWS, MAC | WEB, IOS, ANDROID |
| Rating | 4.5/10 | 7.0/10 |
Pros & Cons
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
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
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| LiveAgent | freemium | Free0 |
| Kayako | free trial | $39/mo |
Our Verdict
Choose LiveAgent if...
Teams needing omnichannel including phone
Choose Kayako if...
Companies wanting a unified view of customer interactions across channels
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.