Zendesk vs Ada: Which in #1 in 2025?

Zendesk - a quick overview

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Founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2007 by Mikkel Svane, Morten Primdahl, and Alexander Aghassipour, Zendesk is a global leader in customer service software. The company empowers businesses to deliver seamless support and communication through its cloud-based help desk, AI-powered automation, live chat, and omnichannel ticketing tools. Zendesk serves over 100,000 customers worldwide, ranging from startups to large enterprises, and is trusted by industries like retail, IT, and software.

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Zendesk’s core audience includes customer support teams, sales professionals, and organizations seeking to enhance customer experience with advanced analytics, workflow automation, and CRM integrations. Recognized for its innovation and user-friendly design, Zendesk continues to shape the future of customer experience management. In the following section, we’ll compare Zendesk’s features, pros and cons, pricing, and user reviews with Ada and Ringly.io.

Zendesk Key Features

• Omnichannel support consolidates email, chat, phone, social media, and web form conversations for unified customer service management.
• Ticketing system tracks all customer inquiries as tickets, allowing workflow automation and status management for efficient support handling.
• Knowledge base & help center enables 24/7 customer self-service through searchable articles and FAQs, reducing repetitive queries.
• Reporting & analytics provides detailed dashboards on metrics like response times, ticket volume, and satisfaction scores to inform team performance.
• Integrations & APIs connect Zendesk with third-party CRMs, e-commerce platforms, and custom business tools for streamlined operations.

Zendesk’s features best serve medium to large businesses or support teams needing centralized, multi-channel management with advanced tracking, analytics, and integration capabilities.

Zendesk Pros and Cons

Pros

• Easy-to-use interface enables fast onboarding for new agents compared to more complex tools.
• Dependable ticketing system helps teams manage support requests with greater reliability than some competitors.
• Comprehensive multi-channel support lets teams handle email, chat, phone, and social media in one platform, offering broader coverage than basic solutions.
• Flexible customizable workflows allow non-technical users to tailor operations, while some alternatives may require developer input.
• Extensive integrations and analytics provide data tracking with more options for connecting tools than simpler platforms.

Cons

• High cost for advanced features makes scaling expensive, while some competitors provide more transparent pricing structures.
• Steep learning curve and complexity can make advanced setup difficult, as opposed to more streamlined alternatives.
• Inconsistent customer support quality means slower response times on lower plans, while some platforms offer prompt support to all users.
• Limited customization at entry tiers may restrict small teams, with other tools offering more flexibility up front.
• Occasional admin tool bugs and reporting issues disrupt workflow, whereas some alternatives maintain stronger reliability.

Zendesk best fits larger teams seeking robust multi-channel management and deep integration options. Smaller teams or those prioritizing transparent pricing or responsive support may want to assess simpler or more customer-centric alternatives.

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Ada - a quick overview

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Ada Chatbot Key Features

• AI-powered chatbot automation: Automated First-Line Support resolves repetitive customer queries instantly, reducing agent workload and scaling support operations efficiently.
• No-code bot builder: Visual Workflow Editor enables non-technical teams to build and update chatbots quickly without developer assistance for rapid process adaptation.
• Multilingual support: Out-of-the-Box Language Capabilities allow brands to provide localized automated service to global customers in multiple languages.
• Omnichannel integration: Consistent Automated Messaging delivers unified bot responses across web chat, messaging apps, and SMS for seamless customer experiences.
• Personalized customer journeys: Contextual Data Integration uses CRM or back-end systems to tailor conversations, increasing relevance and customer satisfaction during chat interactions.

Ada’s features benefit customer support teams at mid-size to enterprise businesses seeking scalable, multilingual, chat-based self-service automation integrated with existing helpdesk infrastructure.

Ada Pros and Cons: Real User Insights

Pros

• Easy setup with no-code builder lets non-technical teams quickly design and update bots, unlike some competitors that require coding.
• Fast deployment allows companies to launch and iterate bots with minimal downtime, streamlining onboarding compared to more complex alternatives.
• Reliable 24/7 automated support enables instant replies at all hours, reducing wait times more than live agent-based tools.
• Flexible workflow customization supports advanced automations and integrations, offering greater tailoring than many similar platforms.
• Excellent multilingual and scaling support enables smooth growth and global reach, an area where some tools are less robust.

Cons

• Pricing lacks transparency, making budgeting harder for small teams when compared to tools with clear plans and trials.
• No dedicated mobile app limits on-the-go management, unlike rival products offering mobile admin features.
• Complex queries may require escalation, as Ada sometimes struggles with nuanced requests—compared to products with better handoff experiences.
• Reporting tools are limited versus competitors with richer analytics and deeper customer insights.
• Setup for advanced workflows requires learning, so fine-tuning bots can take longer than with simpler options.

Ada suits mid- to large-sized teams needing customizable, multilingual automation. Consider alternatives if you require transparent pricing, complex analytics, advanced mobile management, or stronger out-of-the-box handling of nuanced customer queries.

Pricing - Zendesk vs Ada

Note: The pricing information below is accurate at the time of writing and may be subject to change. For the most up-to-date pricing, please visit each company's pricing page.

Zendesk pricing

Zendesk plans serve startups to enterprises: Support for ticketing, Suite for omnichannel service, and Sell for CRM. Annual billing offers discounts; AI add-ons and some advanced features may cost extra. Contact Zendesk for Enterprise/Plus pricing and latest features.

Ada pricing

Core: Best for small teams needing essential automation. Advanced: Ideal for mid-size businesses seeking advanced workflows. Pro: Designed for enterprises requiring analytics, deep integrations, and large-scale automation. No free trial or free plan currently offered. Pricing is custom, contact Ada for quotes.

Ringly.io pricing

Ringly.io has simple, usage-based pricing with no hidden fees or long-term commitments. Test drive it risk-free for 14 days, then scale up or down on month-to-month terms—or book a demo for fully tailored enterprise support.

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Online customer reviews: Zendesk vs Ada

Zendesk User Reviews

"Exceptional customer service" – Anonymous, IT Manager
The product evaluation, decision making and implementing process with Zendesk was true to the company's brand: Zen... I evaluated 5 other competing products and chose Zendesk for its reliability and scalability...

"Service is non-existent" – Anonymous, Operations Lead
The service is non-existent... anytime you needed help there was no live chat, no phone number and support would take hours if not days to get back to you for even...

Ada User Reviews

"Here for your business solutions" – Anonymous, Customer Success Lead
From the first sales consultations through integration & go live... one thing is abundantly clear - Ada are here for your business solutions. The passion that runs through each team member is palpable...

"Does not support all features advertised" – Anonymous, Implementation Specialist
After building out our instance we found out that Ada does not support all of the feature sets that it advertised just because we do not use Salesforce or Zendesk... Even our implementation team was surprised by this...

Zendesk is best for businesses needing reliable, scalable customer support with extensive features. Ada excels for brands seeking advanced AI-powered automation and smooth onboarding, though its integrations are more limited. Choose Zendesk for robust support; Ada for automated self-service.

What users are saying about Ringly.io:

Ringly.io is known for its simplicity, and a focus on e-commerce, with features like abandoned cart recovery and order status lookups. It has a 4.8 star rating from 12 reviews on Product Hunt and other platforms.

"it stands out significantly ahead" - Bertrand, Director. We are at the initial stage of testing and have made only a few calls so far. Consequently, I have rated the product with four stars for now. However, I must express that the product has shown significant promise. When compared to competitors, it stands out significantly ahead.

"This is such a great product" - Jim Miranda, Founder. This is such a great product. I have been with you for less than a week and already closed 3 deals with it."

"It really sounds like a human" - Laix, Founder. Tried Ringly.io today and the quality of the phone calls surprises me! It really sounds like a human, and it reacts really fast. Will need to deploy it in action to see the full capabilities.

"How to automate customer service? -> Ringly.io" - Sidra Husnain, Founder.

Zendesk vs Ada: Which is best for you?

Who Zendesk is best for…

• Medium to large businesses that need to manage lots of support requests and want all channels (email, chat, phone, social) in one place.
• Support teams focused on advanced workflows, analytics, and CRM integrations to improve customer experience.
• Companies with dedicated IT resources who can set up, customize, and manage more complex software.
• Organizations that value brand recognition and want proven, trusted solutions—plus deep integrations across a wide tool stack.

Who Ada is best for…

• Mid-size to enterprise teams wanting AI-powered chat automation to reduce agent workload and provide quick answers 24/7.
• Brands that need strong multilingual support to serve customers in multiple countries or languages.
• Companies with frequent, repetitive queries that are well-suited for a chatbot-first approach and basic automation.
• Businesses already using tools like Zendesk or Salesforce for easy integration (though some features might not work without them).

Who Ringly.io is best for…

• Businesses of any size—from startups to large brands—thanks to easy setup, free trial, and flexible, transparent pricing.
• E-commerce and online stores looking for automation like cart recovery, order status lookups, and real-time voice support out of the box.
• Teams that want simplicity with an AI voice agent that just works, without the need for big IT teams or complex setups.
• Organizations wanting fast, human-like phone support to improve sales and customer satisfaction—all on autopilot.

Why choose Ringly.io? With usage-based pricing, a true 14-day free trial, and powerful AI voice automation, Ringly.io is the easiest way to level up your customer support—no matter your size or tech skills. It’s built to help you grow, save time, and give your customers the fastest help possible—all with honest, straightforward pricing and rave reviews from real users.

Why Ringly.io is a Better Choice

Highly Rated: 4.8/5

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Founded in 2024 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, by Maurizio Isendoorn and Ruben Boonzaaijer, Ringly.io is revolutionizing e-commerce customer service with AI phone agents. Designed for online businesses, Ringly handles customer calls on autopilot—solving support issues, recovering abandoned carts, and even boosting sales—at just 20% of the cost of human agents.‍

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With 2,300+ customers, Ringly.io is the go-to solution for e-commerce stores looking to scale without scaling their support team. With award-winning technology (BubbleCon 2024's "Most Innovative App"), Ringly.io transforms your phone system into a revenue-driving powerhouse—without the headaches of traditional call centers.‍

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Features that make Ringly.io the #1 alternative to Zendesk and Ada:

No-code setup, instant results – Ringly.io is ready to go in minutes. Just add your website, docs, or text—no engineering required—and your AI phone agent instantly understands your business. It even updates automatically as your website changes.‍‍‍

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AI-powered sales & support – Ringly.io does both inbound and outbound calls. Recover 35%+ of abandoned carts with automated follow-up calls, provide real-time order tracking from Shopify, and convert more customers with personalized AI-driven conversations—not just reactive support.‍‍

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Advanced analytics for smarter decisions – Ringly.io gives you real-time call data, customer intent tracking, and performance reports—helping you optimize support and sales strategies.‍‍‍

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Scalable pricing without enterprise contracts – Ringly.io offers transparent, scalable pricing—pay for what you use, no locked-in contracts.‍

Final Thoughts: Zendesk vs Ada vs Ringly.io

Choosing the right customer support solution comes down to your business needs, growth goals, and desired level of automation. Each tool offers unique strengths—but only one stands out for modern e-commerce brands.

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• Zendesk: Ideal for larger teams who need comprehensive, multi-channel ticket management and deep integrations, but expect higher costs and more complex setup.
• Ada: Excels at AI-powered chat automation and multilingual support for enterprises, but can lack pricing transparency and easier integration for smaller stores.
• Ringly.io: Built for e-commerce and online businesses seeking instant, human-like AI phone agents, seamless setup, transparent pricing, and direct impact on sales and support metrics.

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If your business is handling complex support flows across many channels, Zendesk remains a reliable traditional choice—especially for teams with IT resources. For enterprises prioritizing chatbot automation in dozens of languages, Ada is a solid option if you’re already invested in platforms like Zendesk or Salesforce.

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However, if you want fast, conversational AI voice support that automates order status, recovers abandoned carts, and drives direct revenue—without the hassle of old-school call centers or hidden pricing—Ringly.io is clearly the best choice for e-commerce teams. Its instant setup, usage-based plans, and rave real-user reviews put you ahead, from startup scale to full enterprise.

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In summary:

• Choose Zendesk for legacy, multi-channel support in larger organizations.
• Pick Ada if you’re an enterprise needing advanced AI chat automation and strong multilingual features.
• Go with Ringly.io for e-commerce—it’s the easiest, fastest, and most impactful way to automate and grow your customer service, all while boosting sales.

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No complex onboarding. No hidden fees. Just smarter customer support—for modern online businesses.

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Try Ringly.io free for 14 days, see the difference for yourself.