Front vs Kayako — Which One Wins?
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of Front and Kayako to help you pick the right tool for your workflow.
Quick Verdict
Front takes the lead with a 4.3 rating and is best for teams managing shared email inboxes who need collaboration without abandoning email.. Kayako (3.8) is the better pick if you need support teams wanting full customer journey visibility.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Front | Kayako |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★★★★ 4.3(178) | ★★★★ 3.8(55) |
| Pricing Model | paid | paid |
| Starter Price | $29/seat/mo (Growth) | $30/agent/mo |
| Free Tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | web, ios, android, mac, windows | web, ios, android |
| Learning Curve | easy | medium |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Teams managing shared email inboxes who need collaboration without abandoning email. | Support teams wanting full customer journey visibility |
| Verdict | recommended | situational |
Feature Checklist
| Feature | Front | Kayako |
|---|---|---|
| Shared team inboxes | — | |
| Internal comments on emails | — | |
| Multi-channel (email, chat, SMS, social) | — | |
| Workflow automation | — | |
| Analytics and SLAs | — | |
| CRM integration | — | |
| Help desk | — | |
| Live chat | — | |
| Customer journey tracking | — | |
| Multi-channel support | — | |
| Automation | — |
Front
Pros
- ✓Best collaborative email experience available
- ✓Internal comments eliminate forwarding and CC chaos
- ✓Multi-channel inbox handles email, chat, SMS, and social
Cons
- ✕Premium per-seat pricing at $29+/seat/mo
- ✕Not a traditional help desk with ticketing
- ✕Requires team adoption to see full benefits
Kayako
Pros
- ✓Customer journey tracking is excellent
- ✓Unified multi-channel view
- ✓Mature and reliable
Cons
- ✕Expensive for small teams
- ✕UI feels dated
- ✕Setup takes time
The Bottom Line
Both Front and Kayako are solid tools in the Customer Support space. Front edges ahead with a stronger overall rating (4.3 vs 3.8) and is the better choice for teams managing shared email inboxes who need collaboration without abandoning email.. However, if you prioritize support teams wanting full customer journey visibility, Kayako is worth serious consideration. We recommend trying the free tier or trial of each before committing.