kitio.aiHubSpot Service Hub vs Kayako
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. HubSpot Service Hub starts at $20/mo and Kayako starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Ticketing help desk
- Breeze customer agent
- Knowledge base
- Customer portal
- Feedback surveys
- AI agent for ticket resolution
- Shared inbox and ticketing
- Knowledge base
- Live chat widget
- Automation rules
- Reporting and analytics
| Feature | HubSpot Service Hub | Kayako |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Help desk on HubSpot's CRM with an AI customer agent | Help desk with an AI agent that resolves tickets for you |
| Category | Customer support | Customer support |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting price | $20/mo | See pricing page |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Made by | HubSpot | Kayako |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Both offer: Knowledge base.
Pricing compared
HubSpot Service Hub starts at $20/mo and Kayako starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Free
Free
- Free help desk and ticketing tools
- Live chat and shared inbox
Starter
$20/mo
- Per seat
- Help desk and ticket automation
- Remove HubSpot branding
Professional
$100/mo
- Per seat
- Customer portal and knowledge base
- Feedback surveys and SLAs
Enterprise
$150/mo
- Per seat, billed annually
- Advanced permissions and custom objects
- Skill-based routing
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
HubSpot Service Hub
- Shares data with HubSpot marketing and sales
- Free tools to start
- Easy for non-technical teams
- Advanced features need costly tiers
- Less depth than dedicated desks
- AI credits are limited per plan
Kayako
- Pay per resolution instead of per seat for the AI
- Onboarding handled by the vendor
- Kay can run on top of an existing help desk
- No self-serve plans or prices listed
- Resolution counts decide the AI bill
- Few integrations named on the homepage
Which one should you choose?
Choose HubSpot Service Hub if you want:
- Shares data with HubSpot marketing and sales
- Free tools to start
- Easy for non-technical teams
Watch out: advanced features need costly tiers.
Choose Kayako if you want:
- Pay per resolution instead of per seat for the AI
- Onboarding handled by the vendor
- Kay can run on top of an existing help desk
Watch out: no self-serve plans or prices listed.
HubSpot Service Hub vs Kayako FAQ
What is the difference between HubSpot Service Hub and Kayako?
HubSpot Service Hub: Help desk on HubSpot's CRM with an AI customer agent. Kayako: Help desk with an AI agent that resolves tickets for you. Both are customer support tools.
Is HubSpot Service Hub or Kayako cheaper?
HubSpot Service Hub starts at $20/mo and Kayako starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do HubSpot Service Hub and Kayako have free plans?
HubSpot Service Hub: Yes. Kayako: No.
Who makes HubSpot Service Hub?
HubSpot Service Hub is made by HubSpot, based in United States.
Who makes Kayako?
Kayako is made by Kayako.
Which should I choose, HubSpot Service Hub or Kayako?
Choose HubSpot Service Hub if you value shares data with hubspot marketing and sales and free tools to start. Choose Kayako if you value pay per resolution instead of per seat for the ai and onboarding handled by the vendor.