Switching from Zendesk?
Zendesk is a thirty-year-old enterprise tool. The configuration takes weeks, the AI sits behind an upsell, and the per-seat pricing punishes you the moment you grow. Keloa is what a modern Benelux SMB actually needs: AI in every plan, ten-minute setup, monthly billing.
Keloa vs Zendesk, line by line.
| Feature | Keloa | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| AI agent included | Zendesk AI, paid add-on | |
| Per-seat pricing | None, per-credit | From €55/agent/month |
| Setup time | 10 minutes | 6+ weeks with implementation partner |
| Implementation fee | €0 | Often €5,000+ |
| EU data residency by default | Available, premium tier | |
| Annual contract required | No, monthly | Yes on most plans |
| Free tier | Starter, no card | Trial only |
| Native multilingual AI | 100+ languages | Translation layer |
| AI replies cite sources | - | |
| Modern UI built this decade | Dense, 2014-era | |
| Open data export | One-click | Documented, not one-click |
| iDEAL and SEPA payment | Card or invoice only | |
| Pricing transparent on website | Plans listed, AI tier on request | |
| Built for SMBs, not enterprise IT | Built for enterprise, sold to SMBs |
What teams tell us after the switch.
Configuration in minutes, not weeks
A typical Zendesk roll-out is six weeks of triggers, automations, ticket fields, and SLA policies. Keloa ships sensible defaults out of the box. Drop in your URL, connect your inbox, the AI is answering by lunch.
AI is the product, not an upsell
Zendesk AI is a separate paid layer on top of an already pricey per-agent plan. With Keloa, the AI agent is the core of every plan including Starter. The bill stops scaling with headcount.
A UI built this decade
Zendesk's interface predates modern keyboard shortcuts, dark mode, and AI suggestions baked into the reply field. Keloa's inbox is fast, focused, and stays out of your team's way.
What the switch looks like.
Zendesk's data export is the one thing they got right. Use it to be off Zendesk in a week.
- 1
Export from Zendesk
Run the JSON or CSV export from your Zendesk admin. Pull your tickets, users, organizations, macros, and Help Center articles. The export is well-documented, that part is easy.
- 2
Import into Keloa
Upload the export to Keloa's importer. Tickets become conversations, users become contacts, articles become AI knowledge. Macros are converted to saved replies you can keep or prune.
- 3
Forward and switch off
Forward your support address to Keloa, paste the chat widget snippet on your site, watch a week of traffic flow through. When the queue is calm, cancel Zendesk.
"We were quoted six weeks of implementation for Zendesk Suite plus an AI add-on. We had Keloa answering customers within an afternoon, and the bill is half. Our agents stopped clicking through twelve fields per ticket."
Questions teams ask before switching.
Can Keloa handle the volume our Zendesk does?
Yes for most SMBs. Scale handles 25,000 AI replies a month with auto-recharge for spikes. If you do more than 100,000 tickets a month, we will be honest, you may want a different stack.
What about complex SLA policies and routing rules?
Keloa's flow builder handles standard SLA, working hours, language, and topic-based routing without code. If you need bespoke rules across ten brands, we will tell you upfront.
Will my Zendesk Help Center articles transfer?
Yes. Articles import as the AI's knowledge base. The crawler then keeps them in sync if you publish updates on a separate help site.
Is there a Zendesk export tool?
Zendesk's own admin export is the best path. Our team will sit in a 30-minute call to walk through it with you, no migration fee.
Leave 2014 behind.
Modern AI helpdesk, EU-hosted, no implementation partner needed. Free Starter forever. Cancel any paid plan in one click.