What Is Zendesk Sell?
Zendesk Sell is a powerful cloud-based, sales CRM platform built to improve customer relationships. It’s an easy-to-use tool to help sales teams manage and track leads, deals and customer interactions more efficiently—whether they take place via email or calls. Zendesk Sell is designed to scale and meet the needs of any business. It helps your reps put more face time with prospects, eliminate mistakes and effectively close more deals. Zendesk Sell also made it to our list of best CRM software for small businesses.
How Zendesk Sell Works
With Zendesk Sell, sales reps can access all the information they need in one place, including detailed customer profiles, sales pipelines and performance metrics. The platform provides real-time insights into key sales metrics, allowing sales reps to prioritize their efforts and focus on the best leads.
Zendesk Sell is unique for being an open, flexible CRM platform, and “flexibility” isn’t always something other traditional CRM platforms are known for. Zendesk Sell believes that a flexible platform allows for access to large amounts of customer data, making it possible to accommodate the kind of critical use cases that make for modern customer experiences. Those cases include asset and device management, customer interactions, user and account management, product and orders and product troubleshooting. Zendesk Sell aims to help your business use customer data to create better customer experiences.
With that said, most platforms almost always have minor nuances. Some users claim that the Zendesk Sell platform can crash and slow down on occasion, leading to delays in productivity. Others claim they had integration issues with its email system, causing errors and delayed response times when communicating with potential clients.
Despite the minor issues, the majority of user reviews suggest Zendesk Sell is still a solid tool for sales management.
Featured Partners
1
monday sales CRM
Free; $9 per user per month for basic features
14 days
Yes
2
HubSpot
Free; $15 per user per month (billed annually)
14 days
Yes
3
Pipedrive
$14 per user per month (billed annually)
14 days
Yes
4
Salesforce
$25 per month per user for basic features
30 days
Yes
Is Zendesk Sell Right for Me?
Zendesk Sell is easy to learn and the interface is simple, so it’s ideal for new businesses that haven’t used a CRM before. The plans are flexible and the various integrations make it a great choice for small businesses that need to connect other software to create a symbiotic system for all departments.
In addition, if you’re already using Zendesk Service for your support needs, then it makes sense to use Zendesk Sell for a seamless integration of support and sales. You’ll get a full view of your customers’ interactions with both products.
Zendesk Sell Is Best For:
- Businesses that want to move from a paper-based model to an automated solution
- Businesses that need a centrally located hub to funnel all customers through
- Businesses that need a platform that integrates with other systems
- Businesses that want to track leads through a sales funnel
- Businesses of all sizes looking for a comprehensive sales management tool
Zendesk Sell Is Not Recommended For:
- Businesses with complex needs that require advanced customization and integration options
- Businesses looking for a free plan
- Businesses that do not sell products or services directly to customers as its features are primarily focused towards sales-focused teams
What Sets Zendesk Sell Apart
Zendesk Sell stands out for having a unified platform that allows you to access everything you need to manage your leads, contacts, account information and more—all in one place. The setup is simple and easy to use and the intuitive interface makes it easy for sales teams to navigate as well as have a complete view of customer context and interactions. Streamlining your communications in one centralized location can have big benefits. It allows you to save time toggling between other apps and programs, handle more customers, improve team communication and provide excellent customer service.
Zendesk Sell offers a 14-day free trial before buying, which includes all Sell features. This gives it a bit of an edge over competition as free trials can be appealing. It allows you to test-drive the platform before fully committing. You’ll have firsthand experience of the benefits, basic features and how it improves the sales cycle. The trial provides you with onboarding tips to get you set up and you have the option to buy the plan that was included in your trial or pick another plan. You can also work with Zendesk Sell to upgrade your existing Sell Legacy plans.
Zendesk Sell Features
Ease of Use
Zendesk Sell has a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy for everyone on the sales team to navigate, learn and use. Users claim that the account setup with Zendesk Sell was easy and they were able to get started right away. Once the account is set up, you can invite other users to join, create roles and add custom fields. It also allows you to organize and track lead lists, helping to effectively close more deals.
Customization
Zendesk Sell allows you to customize the workspace for your sales reps by creating personalized fields in which you can view concise information related to the deal, the sales rep and your organization. You can also facilitate custom fields into Zendesk Sell when you import your records. Additionally, custom fields or data points that are important to your organization can be created as well as made mandatory if necessary. You can tailor your custom objects in Zendesk Sell in three simple steps: define your custom object, link it to a lead, contact or a deal, then create records around it. Zendesk help provides you with step-by-step instructions to walk you through creating and managing custom fields in Sell.
Take note, some custom capabilities such as customized notifications and private custom applications are only available with the Growth, Professional and Enterprise plans.
Features and Capabilities
Zendesk Sell is packed with features and productivity tools to help your business exceed revenue targets. You can sync your existing email, build targeted prospect lists, create customized email sequences and use the task player to help you keep track of a given task, lead, contract or deal. Additional features include call and text, smart lists and templates, email and task sequences, power dialer and the ability to send bulk emails and sales triggers.
For a better customer experience, Zendesk Sell gives you a complete customer view from one centralized platform and you’ll have full pipeline visibility with accurate forecasting, pipeline analysis and advanced analytics. Additional features include activity reporting, performance metrics and custom dashboards.
Workflows and Automations
Zendesk Sell claims to be one of the most effective, intuitive sales automation software platforms out there. Sell provides a range of digital tools that automate different parts of the sales process and help to streamline your workflow. You can automatically create a single or multiple workflow task for reps whenever a new lead, deal or contact is added. You can create a task, update custom fields and activate an automated action. These capabilities provide an effective way to simplify repetitive processes.
Apps and Third-Party Integrations
You can effortlessly connect to your favorite apps through Zendesk Marketplace as well as plug into your existing tech stack with its rich open API access or build your own custom solutions. You’ll have the ability to stay connected with your customers from anywhere, using the Zendesk Sell mobile app and you can track an account’s recurring revenue and everything you need to know in smart lists.
You can find a list of apps at the Zendesk Marketplace or take a look at Zapier integrations where you can access thousands of additional apps. Some popular apps and integrations include Zendesk Support, Zendesk Chat, Mailchimp, PandaDoc, HubSpot, Dropbox, Google, Google Drive, Microsoft 365, Xero and Harvest.
Zendesk Sell Pricing and Plans
| Team | Growth | Professional | Enterprise | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Annual Subscription
|
$19 per user per month
|
$49 per user per month
|
$99 per user per month
|
$150 per user per month
|
|
Monthly Subscription
|
$25 per user per month
|
$59 per user per month
|
$125 per user per month
|
$199 per user per month
|
|
Number of Users
|
Unlimited paid users
|
Unlimited paid users
|
Unlimited paid users
|
Unlimited paid users
|
|
Free Trial Length
|
14 days
|
14 days
|
14 days
|
14 days
|
|
Number of Sales Pipelines
|
Two
|
10 | 20 |
Unlimited
|
|
Document Storage
|
2GB per user
|
5GB per user
|
10GB per user
|
25GB per user
|
|
Custom Data Fields, Filters and Tags
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Task and Appointment Setting
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Sales Triggers
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Email Tracking
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Computer Telephony Integration
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Call Tracking and Recording
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Click to Dial
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Text Messaging
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Customizable Deal Pipelines
|
X
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Product and Price Book
|
X
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Round Robin
|
X
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Bulk Emailing
|
X
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Lead and Deal Scoring
|
X
|
X
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Company Hierarchy
|
X
|
X
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Task Automation
|
X
|
X
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Customization Notifications
|
X
|
X
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Automated Power Dialer
|
X
|
X
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Call Scripts
|
X
|
X
|
✔
|
✔
|
Sell Team
If you have a small team and simply need to track emails and a customizable sales pipeline—the low-priced tier costs only $19 per month, if paid annually, per user. This plan is lean on features, but it does include team collaboration tools, so it works well for small remote teams. You can track emails, text messages and calls at this level.
Sell Growth
The Zendesk Growth plan is a great option for businesses that are looking to scale their sales operations while still maintaining control and flexibility over their CRM platform. This plan starts at $49 per month, per user if paid annually and it includes pre-built sales dashboards, up to 10 customizable sales pipelines, 2GB per user of document storage, mobile, collaboration and data tools.
Sell Professional
The Professional plan is designed for medium-sized businesses and includes advanced reporting and forecasting tools as well as features such as productivity and collaboration tools. When you need to shift focus to lead capture, bulk emails and integration of other apps, such as Mailchimp for marketing and Zapier for automation, then you should consider upgrading to the Professional plan. This plan costs $99 per month, per user, if paid annually, and there’s no limit to the number of users you can have on this plan. This plan offers up to 20 customizable sales pipelines, 10GB or document storage per user and access to sales forecasting and goal tracking tools, and you’ll be able to automatically distribute deals and leads to your team round-robin style.
Sell Enterprise
The Enterprise plan is meant for larger organizations and includes every feature and capability with added customization, unlimited pipelines, sequences and more. Zendesk Sell’s Enterprise plan starts at $150 per month, per user, if paid annually. With the Enterprise plan, you’ll get 25GB of document storage per user, robust APIs, advanced activity reports, advanced roles and permissions, lead and deal scoring, task automation, custom notifications and so much more. Your team will also have access to an automated power dialer, which can save time on outreach efforts.
Additionally, with all plans you have the option of signing up for Zendesk Sell on a month-to-month basis, or you can pay annually to save about 20%. Take advantage of the 14-day free trial before you choose Zendesk Sell because there are no refunds. Also, it’s worth noting that if you cancel your Zendesk account or subscription, you cannot recover it. That means losing a lot of data, should you decide Zendesk Sell isn’t right for your company.
Featured Partners
1
monday sales CRM
Free; $9 per user per month for basic features
14 days
Yes
2
HubSpot
Free; $15 per user per month (billed annually)
14 days
Yes
3
Pipedrive
$14 per user per month (billed annually)
14 days
Yes
4
Salesforce
$25 per month per user for basic features
30 days
Yes
Customer Service and Support
When it comes to customer service and support, Zendesk Sell offers three support options and an entire online resource page dedicated to walk you through each process.
- Online help center: Zendesk Sell offers a community of online support. You can ask questions to experts and peers in the Zendesk community, comment on specific articles or search to see if someone has already answered your question.
- Support from within your product: When signed into your account, click on your profile avatar and from there, click help. A chatbot will appear and can answer many of your questions. If you still need help, you can choose to be connected by an agent.
- Web form: In the event your account is unavailable or the chatbot is experiencing technical issues, Zendesk will direct you to the online web form. From here, the form will create a ticket and you will be contacted by an agent through email.
When we connected with the Zendesk Sell chatbot assistant through our mobile phone, we wanted to know if there was a phone number we could call to contact Zendesk Sell directly for customer support. Unfortunately, the response we received did not give us a clear answer, as it responded with a link to contact customer support with the three options stated above.
Some customer reviews have shared their frustration with no in-person help. Others have claimed Zendesk support can take up to three days to respond to a message.
Additional Features Worth Noting
One of the key benefits of using Zendesk Sell is its native integration with its customer support product, Zendesk Service. You get a full view of your customers’ experiences and needs when you connect the two solutions, so your support, sales and marketing team members can make informed decisions.
Zendesk Sell Alternatives and How They Compare
| Zendesk Sell | Zoho CRM | Freshsales | Pipedrive | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rating
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
Free Plan
|
No
|
Yes, up to three users
|
Yes, up to three users
|
No
|
|
Starting Price For Paid Plans (billed annually)
|
$19 per user per month
|
$14 per user per month
|
$15 per user per month
|
$14.90 per user per month
|
|
Highest-Price Plan (per month, billed annually)
|
$150 per user
|
$52 per user
|
$69 per user
|
$99 per user
|
|
Free Trial Length
|
14 days
|
15 days
|
21 days
|
14 days
|
|
Custom Functions
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Workflow Automation
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Mobile App
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Analytics and Reporting
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Multiple Languages
|
Supports 28 languages
|
Supports 28 languages
|
Supports 14 languages
|
Supports 19 languages
|
|
Third-Party Integrations
|
Supports many integrations (not specific)
|
800-plus app integrations
|
Supports many integrations (not specific)
|
350-plus app integrations
|
|
Customer Support
|
Help center, email, web form and 24/7 chatbot support
|
Eight hours a day/five days a week (free plan) or 24 hours a day/five days a week (paid plan)
|
24/5 support over the phone, chat and email
|
24/7 live chat support
|
|
Learn more
|
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|
Read Reviews
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Zendesk Sell vs. Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM is a great starter CRM offering great value for newcomers who may not be familiar with the software and are looking to grow. Zoho CRM offers just enough basic features in the free plan for an individual or small team to get started. It also has an intuitive interface and it’s easy to use but it’s good to note, the free plan is limited to up to three users as well as its capabilities and features so you may eventually want to upgrade. Zendesk Sell does not offer a free plan but it does offer a 14-day free trial. Zendesk Sell is also a great choice for growing and medium-size businesses.
Zoho CRM is a strong competitor on price compared to Zendesk Sell, but Zendesk Sell looks to be a better option for Enterprises and any current Zendesk Suite users.
Zendesk Sell vs. Freshsales
Both Zendesk and Freshsales are strong CRM platforms, each offering a range of powerful sales features. Both Zendesk Sell and Freshsales hit the mark when it comes to managing leads, contacts, accounts and deals. Choosing between the two will depend on factors such as budget, team size and desired level of automation.
Freshsales has a 21-day free trial as well as a free plan for up to three users. It also offers more affordable pricing for all size teams. Zendesk Sell does not offer a free plan, but it does offer a 14-day free trial. In addition, Freshsales allows the sales team to collate all sales emails so that you can collaborate with other sales reps. Zendesk Sell, on the other hand, does not provide two-way email sync, email scheduling and team inbox.
Zendesk Sell vs. Pipedrive
Zendesk Sell and Pipedrive are both CRM software, but Pipedrive is designed specifically for sales teams with a focus on pipeline management, lead tracking and sales reporting. Zendesk Sell, on the other hand, is focused on a more comprehensive all-in-one sales automation platform.
Pipedrive is also one of the more affordable CRM platforms and it’s considered a good entry-level CRM tool for small businesses but it does not offer a free plan. There is a slight price increase with Zendesk Sell but you’ll at least have the option to test it out with the 14-day free trial period before making a commitment.
Our Expert Opinion
It’s important to choose a solid CRM platform that benefits both the business and the customers and in our opinion, Zendesk Sell seems to be an effective tool for improving your sales experience for both the representative and the customer. The platform gives sales teams complete visibility into every customer interaction, allowing the reps to be more productive, stay organized and make more sales.
One thing to know with Zendesk Sell is that it does not offer refunds for unused licenses or early cancellation. If you decide you want to cancel your subscription or account prior to the end of your current term, no refunds will be provided to you. Be aware, if you do have a subscription, it will automatically renew for a subscription term equivalent in length to your current subscription.
So, if you wish to cancel your subscription, you must do so no less than 30 days prior to the end of your subscription term.
With that said, when you cancel your subscription, all your data will be deleted. If you provide a written request to retrieve your data, Zendesk will make the service data available to you for export or download for 30 days after the termination, expiration or migration of your account. Thereafter, Zendesk has no obligation to provide any service data and will delete your service data in accordance with its Service Data Deletion Policy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What does Zendesk Sell do?
Zendesk Sell is a customer relationship management (CRM) tool that provides better visibility of the sales process. You can connect it to Zendesk Service for even more insight into your customers’ experiences, which is just one reason why it’s important to use CRM.
Who uses Zendesk?
There are plenty of companies—big and small—that use Zendesk for customer support and CRM. Etsy, Dropbox and Kickstarter are just a few of the well-known companies that rely on Zendesk. It’s important to understand which type of CRM is right for you before you choose one to help you analyze your customers and their needs.
Who are Zendesk’s competitors?
Zendesk’s competitors include other CRM tools that are similar to Zendesk Sell, such as Salesforce, Zoho and SugarCRM, for example. Businesses that use CRM do so to better understand customers, so the software isn’t only used by sales teams. Customer support, business development teams and marketers can all use CRM to help them reach their goals. Learn more about the best marketing CRMs in our comparison.
