HivervsKayako
Unbiased side-by-side comparison of verified reviews, user ratings, features, and pros/cons to help you decide which software fits your business needs.
Quick answer: Hiver vs Kayako
In our 2026 comparison of Hiver and Kayako, the products are too closely matched to name a clear overall winner. Hiver is rated 4.3/5 from 205 user reviews; Kayako is rated 4.5/5 from 5 user reviews. Hiver has a free plan; Kayako starts at $15/month.
Last updated
| At a glance | Hiver | Kayako |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Help Desk & Ticketing | Help Desk & Ticketing |
| User rating | 4.3/5 (205 reviews) | 4.5/5 (5 reviews) |
| Starting price | Free plan | $15/mo |
| Free trial | Yes | Not listed |
| Integrations | 20 | 24 |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Chrome Extension | Web |
| Ease of use | 4.2/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Customer support | 4.2/5 | 4.8/5 |
Hiver
Starting Price
Free version, paid starts at $35.00/month
Community Pulse
Advanced Ratings
Pros
- Shared inboxes make team collaboration clearer and prevent missed customer emails.
- Email assignment and tracking help teams avoid duplicate replies and confusion.
- Intuitive Gmail-based interface makes managing customer support emails straightforward.
Cons
- Per-user pricing can become expensive as the team grows.
- Connecting third-party apps can require extra setup and support assistance.
- Occasional technical errors and incorrect AI assignments can disrupt workflows.
Kayako
Starting Price
Starting at $15.00/month
Community Pulse
Advanced Ratings
Pros
- Easy ticket assignment and smooth handoffs between departments.
- Internal notes make team collaboration and follow-ups much easier.
- Keeps customer conversations organized in one central support inbox.
Cons
- Reporting tools lack flexibility when creating customized reports and analytics.
- Some users experience slow ticket loading and occasional interface issues.
- Initial setup and advanced administration can take time to learn.
Product Overview
What each platform does and who it's for
Primary Category
The main classification for each product
Editorial Quality Rating
Independent expert panel ratings and quality validations
Hiver
Expert Score
Kayako
Expert Score
Integration Ecosystem
Compare supported third-party apps and services
Hiver Integrations
Kayako Integrations
Platform Support
Supported platforms across each product
Hiver
Kayako
Sentiment & Feedback
Real-world pros and cons from verified users
Hiver Feedback
User sentiment analysis
- Shared inboxes make team collaboration clearer and prevent missed customer emails.
- Email assignment and tracking help teams avoid duplicate replies and confusion.
- Intuitive Gmail-based interface makes managing customer support emails straightforward.
- Automation and AI help route emails to the right departments.
- Team visibility and reporting make tracking unresolved customer queries easier.
- Per-user pricing can become expensive as the team grows.
- Connecting third-party apps can require extra setup and support assistance.
- Occasional technical errors and incorrect AI assignments can disrupt workflows.
Kayako Feedback
User sentiment analysis
- Easy ticket assignment and smooth handoffs between departments.
- Internal notes make team collaboration and follow-ups much easier.
- Keeps customer conversations organized in one central support inbox.
- Self-service portal helps customers find answers without contacting agents.
- Automated responses reduce repetitive work and speed up ticket handling.
- Reporting tools lack flexibility when creating customized reports and analytics.
- Some users experience slow ticket loading and occasional interface issues.
- Initial setup and advanced administration can take time to learn.
Pricing & Plans
Compare plans, features, and starting points side-by-side
Hiver Pricing
FREEMIUMKayako Pricing
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Community Intelligence
Real-time crowdsourced comparison feedback and buyer signals.
Community Matchup Voting
Real-time crowdsourced buyer signals
Community vs. Editorial Alignment
Agreement between algorithmic rating & user voting
Draw
Calculated by features, pricing, support & ratings.
Awaiting Votes
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Head-to-Head Winner Analysis
Data-backed performance comparisons across pricing, features, usability, and support
Matchup Scoreboard
At-a-glance scorecard results
Weighted Overall Scorecard
Normalized composite performance scores
Smart Recommendation Matrix
Head-to-head decision matrix based on your business workflow
- Teams seeking a zero-cost or freemium entry tier for Hiver
- Teams looking for native integration with core workflow tools
- Teams needing broad multi-platform accessibility across desktop, mobile, and web
- Budget-conscious teams seeking competitive entry pricing ($15/mo)
- Teams prioritizing intuitive, zero-learning-curve UX and fast onboarding
- Teams looking for native integration with core workflow tools
Hiver
Dimension scorecard
Multi-Dimension Performance
Winner Breakdown & Analysis
Tied for overall winner with a composite score of 84%.
Hiver has the most accessible pricing ($35/mo (Free Trial)).
No data available for this product on this dimension yet.
Strong usability with a user rating of 4.2/5 stars.
Decent support with a user rating of 4.2/5 stars.
Widest platform availability (4 Platforms: Web, iOS, Android, Chrome Extension).
Kayako
Dimension scorecard
Multi-Dimension Performance
Winner Breakdown & Analysis
Tied for overall winner with a composite score of 80%.
Pricing: $15/mo (No Free Trial), a less accessible entry point than the leader.
No data available for this product on this dimension yet.
Strong usability with a user rating of 4.4/5 stars.
Ranked #1 for support with a user rating of 4.8/5 stars.
Available on 1 Platform: Web, fewer than the leader.
⚖️ Virtually Tied
Hiver and Kayako are extremely well-matched overall. If Value for Money is your priority, Kayako has the edge — otherwise, your specific workflow requirements should be the deciding factor.
Composite Score Breakdown
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Frequently asked questions: Hiver vs Kayako
Which is better: Hiver or Kayako?
Hiver and Kayako are extremely well-matched overall. If Value for Money is your priority, Kayako has the edge — otherwise, your specific workflow requirements should be the deciding factor. Neither product has a decisive overall lead, so the best choice depends on your workflow, budget and required integrations.
How do users rate Hiver and Kayako?
Hiver is rated 4.3/5 from 205 user reviews. Kayako is rated 4.5/5 from 5 user reviews. Ratings come from approved user reviews on SoftwareHope.
How much do Hiver and Kayako cost?
Hiver has a free plan. Kayako starts at $15/month. Kayako has the lower entry price. Always confirm current pricing on the vendor's site, as plans change.
Do Hiver and Kayako offer a free plan or free trial?
Hiver offers a free plan and a free trial; Kayako does not list a free plan or trial.
Which platforms do Hiver and Kayako support?
Hiver supports Web, iOS, Android and Chrome Extension; Kayako supports Web.
Which is easier to use, Hiver or Kayako?
Hiver has an ease-of-use rating of 4.2/5, Kayako has an ease-of-use rating of 4.4/5. The difference is small, so both are similarly easy to adopt.
Most Helpful Reviews
Community-voted helpful feedback from verified users
Hiver has become an essential part of our daily technology stack. Responsive customer support and comprehensive documentation make troubleshooting easy. Furthermore, delivers exactly what was promised with minimal friction and great overall stability.
We have been using Hiver to streamline our daily operations. Seamless integration options allow easy connection with our existing software tools. A solid investment that continues to improve our team productivity every month.
We have been using Hiver to streamline our daily operations. Seamless integration options allow easy connection with our existing software tools. Furthermore, a solid investment that continues to improve our team productivity every month.
After testing several alternatives, Hiver proved to be the most dependable option. Flexible customization capabilities let us tailor features to match our exact workflows. Furthermore, overall, it is a highly capable platform that delivers great value for our organization.
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