Gladly vs Zendesk: Complete Comparison (2026)

By Elena Kowalski, Security & Enterprise Editorยท12 years of experienceยทUpdated 2026-04-24ยท8 min read

In comparing Gladly and Zendesk in 2026, Zendesk is the stronger choice for mid-market and enterprise teams running high-volume customer support due to comprehensive support suite. Gladly excels for premium brands wanting people-centered service that knows customers across channels with people-centered instead of ticket-centered. Gladly offers Customer-centric view, All-channel support, Customer timeline starting at $180/agent/mo. Zendesk provides Ticketing system, Live chat, Help center from $19/agent/mo. For teams prioritizing value, Zendesk delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 69/100. Gladly and Zendesk compete in the customer support segment of the SaaS market, where cloud-native solutions, API integrations, and workflow automation drive enterprise and SMB adoption. Other leading customer support tools include Intercom, Freshdesk, Help Scout. Gladly serves 500+ orgs users globally (founded 2014) while Zendesk reports 100K+ orgs active users (founded 2007).

Gladly vs Zendesk at a Glance

Gladly
Zendesk
Starting Price
$180/agent/mo
$19/agent/mo
Free Plan
No
No
User Rating
4.7/5
4.3/5
Best For
Premium brands wanting people-centered service tha...
Mid-market and enterprise teams running high-volum...
Users
500+ orgs
100K+ orgs
Founded
2014
2007
hiltonsoftware Score
63/100
69/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
๐Ÿ˜Š
Gladly
Customer Support
63
hiltonsoftware.co Score
VS
๐ŸŽง
Zendesk
Customer Support
69
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED

What are the main differences between Gladly and Zendesk?

Gladly and Zendesk differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. Zendesk leads in 3 of 7 categories.

GladlyZendesk
84Ease of Use74
83Features76
64Value for Money61
69Customer Support70
59Integrations61
60Scalability61
72Learning Curve64

What are the pros and cons of Gladly vs Zendesk?

Gladly
+People-centered instead of ticket-centered
+Excellent customer context
-Very expensive
-Enterprise-focused only
Zendesk
+Comprehensive support suite
+Huge integration marketplace
-Expensive and complex setup
-Steep learning curve

Which is better, Gladly or Zendesk?

After evaluating Gladly and Zendesk across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, Zendesk earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 69/100 versus Gladly at 63/100. Zendesk stands out for "comprehensive support suite" and "huge integration marketplace". Gladly delivers competitive advantages in "people-centered instead of ticket-centered", making Gladly a viable alternative.

Neither Gladly nor Zendesk offers a free plan. Gladly starts at $180/agent/mo and Zendesk at $19/agent/mo.

Bottom line: Choose Gladly for premium brands wanting people-centered service that knows customers across channels. Choose Zendesk for mid-market and enterprise teams running high-volume customer support. Both Gladly and Zendesk are established customer support platforms.

CHOOSE GLADLY IF:

Premium brands wanting people-centered service that knows customers across channels.

CHOOSE ZENDESK IF:

Mid-market and enterprise teams running high-volume customer support.

Gladly vs Zendesk: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gladly better than Zendesk in 2026?
Zendesk outperforms Gladly in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 69/100 compared to 63/100. Gladly excels in Customer-centric view, All-channel support, Customer timeline, making Gladly the better choice for Premium brands wanting people-centered service that knows customers across channels. Zendesk is the stronger option for Mid-market and enterprise teams running high-volume customer support due to comprehensive support suite. For teams needing ticketing system, hiltonsoftware.co recommends Zendesk.
How does Gladly pricing compare to Zendesk in 2026?
Gladly starts at $180/agent/mo with no free tier. Zendesk starts at $19/agent/mo without a free plan. Gladly includes features like Customer-centric view, All-channel support, Customer timeline. Zendesk provides Ticketing system, Live chat, Help center. Gladly serves 500+ orgs users while Zendesk serves 100K+ orgs users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between Gladly and Zendesk?
Gladly specializes in Customer-centric view, All-channel support, Customer timeline, earning a 63/100 hiltonsoftware Score. Zendesk focuses on Ticketing system, Live chat, Help center, scoring 69/100. Gladly is best for Premium brands wanting people-centered service that knows customers across channels. Zendesk is best for Mid-market and enterprise teams running high-volume customer support. Both Gladly and Zendesk serve the Customer Support market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from Gladly to Zendesk?
Migrating from Gladly to Zendesk is possible since both operate in the Customer Support space. Export data from Gladly and verify Zendesk import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: Customer-centric view, All-channel support, Customer timeline (Gladly) versus Ticketing system, Live chat, Help center (Zendesk). Running both Gladly and Zendesk in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is Gladly or Zendesk better for small business?
Both Gladly and Zendesk require paid plans (Gladly: $180/agent/mo, Zendesk: $19/agent/mo). Gladly (63/100) is ideal for Premium brands wanting people-centered service that knows customers across channels. Zendesk (69/100) fits Mid-market and enterprise teams running high-volume customer support. Evaluate both during trial periods.

Reviewed by Elena Kowalski, Security & Enterprise Editor. Last updated: 2026-04-24. Pricing verified: March 2026.

Read our scoring methodology to understand how the hiltonsoftware Score is calculated.

Explore More Comparisons & Tools