Quick Comparison
| Feature | HelpShelf | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free plan — no credit card (Pro from $49/mo) | Per-agent pricing |
| AI Agent Pricing | Monthly AI-search + AI-chat limits | AI add-ons priced separately |
| Citations on Answers | Every confident answer cites sources | Via AI add-ons |
| Human Escalation | Visitor-confirmed via verified Telegram | Agent seats (per-agent pricing) |
| Legible to AI Agents | llms.txt, llms-full.txt + public MCP endpoint | |
| Born from Your Codebase | npx helpshelf scans your repo | |
| Install Path | One command or one script tag | Workspace and channel configuration |
| Best For | Product teams, SaaS, indie builders | Enterprise, call centers |
Why teams switch from Zendesk
Citations, not ticket queues
Zendesk is built to manage tickets. HelpShelf is built to resolve questions before they become tickets — and to prove every confident answer with citations to your real sources. No uncited confidence, ever.
Escalation without agent seats
In Zendesk, a human touching a conversation means a paid agent seat. In HelpShelf, an unsupported answer can offer an editable handoff; after the visitor submits it, verified Telegram receives the question, bounded context, and acknowledgement options.
AI included, not an add-on
Zendesk's AI capabilities are priced as separate add-ons. HelpShelf is AI-native: every plan includes published monthly allowances for AI searches and AI chats, starting with 500 searches and 100 chats on Free.
Legible to the AI agents your buyers use
HelpShelf publishes llms.txt, llms-full.txt, and a public MCP endpoint for your site, so ChatGPT, Claude, and other AI assistants can read — and recommend — your product with verifiable claims.
Pricing comparison
Fixed plan limits, not agent seats
Migration is easy
Switch from Zendesk to HelpShelf in three simple steps
Connect Zendesk
HelpShelf imports your published Zendesk help center articles directly — categories and sections included.
Add your sources
Run npx helpshelf to scan your codebase, or paste URLs. Everything lands in one knowledge base.
Go live
Add one line of code to your site. Your agent answers with citations from day one.
Frequently asked questions
Plans publish separate monthly AI-search and AI-chat limits. Supported widget answers include citations, and unanswered questions can roll up into knowledge gaps. HelpShelf does not currently replace Zendesk email ticketing, assignment, or SLA workflows.
When HelpShelf cannot verify an answer, it can offer an editable handoff if your tested Telegram destination is reachable. After the visitor submits it, Telegram receives the question, bounded context, and acknowledgement options.
HelpShelf focuses on AI-resolved support with citations, a verified visitor-confirmed handoff, and external AI legibility. If you need enterprise call-center routing or complex multi-department workflows, Zendesk may still fit better. For most product teams, HelpShelf covers what actually matters.
Yes. HelpShelf connects to Zendesk and imports your published help center articles directly, preserving categories and sections. Imported published content is treated as curated and ranks highest in answers.
Yes — a real free plan with monthly usage included, citations on every confident answer, and visitor-confirmed handoff when verified Telegram is reachable. No credit card required, and it never expires.
Keep reading
AI customer support agent
What an AI support agent is, how it differs from a chatbot, and what to look for.
Read moreAI knowledge base
A knowledge base your agent can actually answer from, with citations.
Read moreAI help desk
Every conversation gets an AI first pass; you keep final say.
Read moreAnswers that sell
Answer presale questions with citations and hand over the lead.
Read more