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Head-to-Head Comparison

Chatsy vs Kayako

Modern AI Support to Replace Your Legacy Helpdesk

Kayako was a pioneering helpdesk, but development has stalled and the UI feels dated. Chatsy is the modern, AI-powered alternative your team deserves.

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Quick Verdict

Choose Kayako if you need on-premise deployment for strict data residency requirements or are too deeply invested to migrate. Choose Chatsy if you want a modern, actively developed platform: Kayako's development has stalled, the UI feels dated, and it lacks meaningful AI capabilities. For most teams, the switch is overdue.

Which is right for you?

Choose Kayako if you need:
  • You need on-premise deployment for strict data residency requirements
  • You are already deeply invested in Kayako and migration cost is prohibitive
  • You prefer a traditional ticketing-first approach over AI-first support
Choose Chatsy if you need:
  • You want a modern platform with active development and weekly feature releases
  • You need AI-powered resolution to reduce ticket volume automatically
  • You want transparent pricing instead of custom quotes from sales

Feature comparison

FeatureKayakoChatsy
AI ChatbotMinimalAdvanced
Live Chat
Ticketing
Knowledge BaseBasicFull CMS
Modern UIDatedModern
Active DevelopmentStalledWeekly updates
Free Tier
Multiple AI Models15+ models

Kayako pricing

Custom pricing, contact sales

Chatsy pricing

Free tier available, Hobby from $35/mo

Calculate your real cost difference

Run your team size and conversation volume through our free calculator to see what switching from Kayako to Chatsy would save.

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Why teams switch to Chatsy

Based on feedback from teams who migrated from Kayako.

Modern, actively developed platform with weekly updates

AI-powered resolution built into every plan

Clean, intuitive interface designed for modern teams

Transparent pricing with a free tier

Growing integration ecosystem

Full knowledge base CMS and self-service tools

When not to switch

  • You need Kayako's customer journey mapping that shows every touchpoint (page visits, previous tickets, purchase history) alongside the current conversation.
  • Your team requires on-premise deployment for strict data residency requirements in regulated industries.
  • You use Kayako's multi-channel help desk for email, social, and chat unified ticketing and cannot replace all three channels at once.

Sources

Kayako product overviewKayako pricingIBM customer service automation guideIBM customer service automation guide

Frequently asked questions

Is Kayako still a viable helpdesk option?

Kayako still functions, but development has slowed significantly. If you need a modern, AI-powered support platform with active development and regular updates, Chatsy is a stronger choice for the long term.

How easy is it to migrate from Kayako to Chatsy?

The migration is straightforward. Export your knowledge base articles and customer data from Kayako, import them into Chatsy, and the AI begins learning from your content immediately. Most teams complete the transition in a day.

Does Chatsy offer ticketing like Kayako?

Yes. Chatsy includes a full ticketing system with assignment, priority levels, tags, and SLA tracking. Combined with AI-powered resolution, your team handles fewer tickets while customers get faster answers.

What happens to my Kayako data if I switch?

You can export all your data from Kayako before switching. Knowledge base articles import directly into Chatsy. Historical ticket data can be archived for reference.

Is Chatsy more expensive than Kayako?

Kayako uses custom pricing that often requires contacting sales. Chatsy offers transparent pricing with a free tier and Pro plans starting at $35/month. Most teams find Chatsy offers better value with more features included.

What kind of companies use Kayako?

Kayako has historically been used by mid-sized SaaS, e-commerce, and B2B services teams that wanted multi-channel ticketing without the complexity of Zendesk or Salesforce. Its on-premise deployment option attracted regulated industries and government users with data-residency requirements. Many of those teams are now reevaluating because Kayako's development pace has slowed compared to AI-native alternatives.

How much does Kayako cost?

Kayako uses custom pricing that's typically only quoted by their sales team, which makes apples-to-apples comparisons difficult. Public sources have referenced plans starting around $30/agent/month historically, but current pricing varies by deployment and contract terms. Chatsy publishes a transparent free tier and a $35/month Hobby plan with no per-agent fees. {{VERIFY: Kayako current pricing | needs source}}

Is Kayako secure?

Kayako offers standard security practices including TLS in transit and encryption at rest, with on-premise deployment available for stricter data residency. Specific certifications and audit reports vary by deployment type and contract; verify current SOC 2 / ISO 27001 status directly with Kayako before procurement.

Free migration support included

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Related Resources

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AI-powered customer support platform with live chat, human takeover, knowledge base & ticketing.

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