Top 5 Zendesk Sell Alternatives (Why Salesmate Wins)

When Zendesk revealed that its sales platform, Zendesk Sell, would retire on August 31, 2027, the announcement marked the end of a chapter for many sales teams.

For those affected, the search for a Zendesk Sell alternative or an alternative to Zendesk becomes a top priority to ensure a smooth transition for their sales operations.

Zendesk Sell has been a dependable companion for managing deals, conversations, and forecasts, and its departure leaves professionals facing a familiar question: what comes next?

History shows that technological sunsets create more than momentary inconvenience.

Research from Gartner notes that organizations can lose up to 30% of their operational efficiency during poorly planned software transitions.

The longer teams delay their search for a successor, the steeper the learning curve becomes when adopting a new customer service platform.

Yet a product’s retirement can also be an invitation to refine your craft. By choosing a tool designed to carry forward the best of Zendesk Sell while introducing new clarity and speed, you can turn this shift into an upgrade.

Salesmate stands out as that tool, giving modern sales teams an environment where data, communication, and automation come together to help them close deals with confidence.

In this blog, we will discuss in detail the aftermath of Zendesk Sell and what can be done to ensure the smooth running of your sales department.

Top 5 Zendesk Sell alternatives

When Zendesk Sell retires, sales teams need reliable alternatives to keep their pipelines flowing and deals closing.

This list compares the top 5 Zendesk Sell alternatives and customer service software options, helping you evaluate which platform best fits your needs.

Here’s a brief overview of five popular CRM options, highlighting their core strengths and considerations.

Some of these platforms also double as a help desk solution, offering integrated support features for teams that require both sales and customer service capabilities.

1. Salesmate

Salesmate is an AI-powered unified platform designed to cater to the needs of sales, marketing, and support departments.

It helps teams manage leads, contacts, and deals efficiently by centralizing customer data for better insights, while providing tools to communicate and track performance seamlessly.

Key features:

• Pipeline management and deal tracking for clear visibility.
• Automation and sequences to streamline repetitive tasks.
• AI features like Skara AI and AI Co-Pilot for actionable insights.
• Built-in calling, texting, email campaigns, and meeting scheduling.
• Integrates CRM tools for both sales and support functions.
• Integrations with 700+ popular business apps.

In summary, Salesmate acts as a unified platform for managing sales and customer relationships. 

2. HubSpot CRM

HubSpot CRM is widely used for its free tier and marketing-focused features, making it ideal for smaller teams or businesses already using HubSpot’s ecosystem.

It supports contact management, email tracking, and reporting, and integrates seamlessly with HubSpot Service Hub for expanded customer support capabilities.

Key features:

• Visual sales pipelines with activity tracking.
• Email integration and tracking.
• Contact management with detailed notes and history.
• Integrates with marketing tools for lead nurturing campaigns.
• Access to customer service tools within the HubSpot ecosystem.
• Built-in marketing automation features for streamlined lead nurturing.

Considerations:

• Advanced automation and analytics are limited in the free plan.
• Full customization often requires paid tiers. 

Don't miss: Salesmate vs. HubSpot: A value-based comparison

3. Pipedrive

Pipedrive is a pipeline-first CRM designed for simplicity and deal-focused workflows. It helps teams track activities, manage deals, and monitor progress with minimal setup.

Pipedrive can also serve as lightweight desk software for teams needing basic support features, and it integrates with a ticketing system to help manage customer queries efficiently.

Key features:

• Clean, visual sales pipelines for deal tracking.
• Activity reminders and basic automation.
• Reporting dashboards for performance monitoring.
• Integration with ticketing systems for streamlined customer support.

Considerations: 

• AI guidance and advanced automation are limited. 
• Collaboration features are functional but not as extensive as some CRMs. 

Exclusive for you: Salesmate vs. Pipedrive: A value-based comparison?

4. Salesforce

Salesforce Service Cloud is the enterprise powerhouse with unmatched customization, integrations, and analytics.

As a leading solution for customer service, it works well for organizations with complex sales processes and large teams.

Key features:

• Highly customizable sales pipelines and dashboards.
• Advanced reporting and analytics capabilities, with advanced features available for enterprise users.
• Extensive integration options across apps and platforms, including seamless integration with third-party apps.
• Functions as a comprehensive CRM, offering built-in marketing tools, robust support systems, and unified customer relationship management.

Considerations:

• Can be complex and expensive to implement.
• Steeper learning curve for users compared to simpler CRMs.

Interesting read: Did you know smaller teams are switching from Salesforce CRM?

5. Freshsales

Freshsales is built for sales-focused teams seeking an intuitive platform without bulky enterprise clutter. It unifies contact management, deal tracking, and built-in communication so reps can focus on relationships instead of switching between tools.

Its AI insights and automation help prioritize leads, speed up sales cycles, and personalize outreach, while seamless integration with Freshworks apps connects support, marketing, and sales data in one place.

Key features:

• AI-driven lead scoring and deal insights
• Integrated email, phone, and chat for seamless communication
• Workflow automation to reduce manual tasks

Considerations:

• Reporting customization can take time for complex needs
• Lacks deeper project or service management tools found in all-in-one platforms

Hot take: Read this before making your final decision

Pricing comparison of top CRMs in 2025

Why Salesmate stands out as the only alternative you need with advanced features

Zendesk Sell’s retirement doesn’t have to leave a gap in your sales process. It’s an opportunity to transition to a platform designed for modern revenue teams, focusing on customer relationship management and fostering strong customer relationships.

Salesmate blends thoughtful design with intelligent technology so you can organize contacts, guide deals, and communicate with prospects without juggling separate tools.

It excels at effective customer relationship management, supporting customer support teams with intuitive, scalable tools that enhance customer engagement and streamline customer support.

What makes Salesmate different is its ability to streamline work while adding depth to every customer interaction. It provides a comprehensive view of customer interactions, enabling teams to manage them across multiple channels and deliver personalized support for each client.

Salesmate helps you see opportunities clearly, respond faster, and make data-backed decisions that improve your win rate. It also fosters team collaboration through integrated tools that support seamless communication and shared workflows.

By giving salespeople an environment that feels simple yet powerful, Salesmate keeps your team focused on conversations that matter. Here is how its core capabilities serve teams moving away from Zendesk Sell:

• Contact management – Keep every lead and customer profile in one place with notes, history, and activities, ensuring you always have context before reaching out.
• Sales pipeline management – Track deals visually through customizable stages, making it easy to measure progress and forecast revenue.
• Skara AI – Acts like an extra member of your sales team. It studies patterns in your pipeline, uncovers high-value opportunities, and recommends next best actions for every prospect, learning from your data over time.
• AI co-pilot – Offers real-time suggestions, drafts emails, and provides insights so you can work smarter at every stage of the pipeline.
• Sales automation – Automate lead assignments, reminders, and follow-ups so no opportunity slips through the cracks.
• Workflow automation – Design rules that trigger actions across your sales process, giving your team a consistent rhythm.
• Call transcription – Turn every call into searchable text, making details easy to find and share.
• Meeting scheduler – Allow prospects to book time directly from your calendar link, reducing the back-and-forth of scheduling.
• Sequences – Build personalized outreach cadences that nurture prospects over time.
• Smart email – Launch targeted campaigns to stay visible and relevant with key segments.
• Sales reporting – Understand team performance with clear dashboards and revenue tracking.
• Integration (700+ Tools) – Connect Salesmate to more than 700 popular apps and platforms, ensuring a seamless workflow across your tech stack.
• Advanced analytics – Dive deeper into trends, forecasts, and pipeline health to guide strategic decisions.

Each of these features ensures that Salesmate doesn’t just replace Zendesk Sell; it gives your sales operation a sharper, faster, and more intelligent edge.

Migration checklist for Zendesk Sell users  

Transitioning from Zendesk Sell to Salesmate doesn’t have to be complicated. By following a structured plan, you can migrate your customer data and customer tickets accurately, set up your workflows, and get your team selling efficiently. 

Salesmate offers onboarding support to help you with personalized assistance, migration help, and training throughout the process. If you need help at any stage, you can contact support for prompt assistance. 

1. Audit your current customer data

Before moving to Salesmate, review what’s in Zendesk Sell. Focus on auditing customer data and determining what’s essential for your team.

Reviewing existing data ensures you migrate only what’s necessary, avoids clutter, and preserves historical insights for reporting and analysis.

Key actions:

• Review leads, contacts, deals, notes, and activities.
• Identify outdated or duplicate entries to clean up.
• Decide which data is critical for historical reporting and ongoing workflows.

2. Export everything

Create a complete backup to ensure no information is lost during migration. Include all relevant data types, such as customer tickets, for a comprehensive record of customer interactions.

Exporting data also provides a safety net for validation or troubleshooting.

Key actions:

• Use Zendesk Sell’s export functionality to download contacts, deals, and activities.
• Save email histories and notes for reference.
• Keep a secure copy for data validation later.

3. Sign up and set up Salesmate

Registering early allows guided onboarding and proper setup. Salesmate supports setup and migration for a smooth transition.

Early setup ensures pipelines, workflows, and integrations are aligned before importing large datasets.

Key actions:

• Register your organization on Salesmate.
• Connect with the onboarding team for migration support.
• Discuss pipeline, field mapping, and custom workflows.

4. Field mapping and pipeline configuration

Correctly map fields and configure pipelines to preserve the context of past deals and maintain continuity for the sales team.

Key actions:

• Match Zendesk Sell fields to Salesmate’s pipelines and modules.
• Customize deal stages to reflect your sales process.
• Verify historical data like past deals, notes, and activities.

5. Test migration with sample data

Trial imports ensure information appears correctly and workflows function as expected. Testing reduces risks before importing full datasets.

Key actions:

• Import a small dataset first.
• Confirm contacts, deals, notes, and activities appear correctly.
• Test automations, sequences, and workflows.

6. Team training and adoption

Your team is key to a smooth transition. Training ensures reps are comfortable with Salesmate’s interface, sequences, AI tools, and workflows before live data use.

Key actions:

• Walk your team through the interface, pipelines, and AI features.
• Explain sequences, email campaigns, and workflow automations.
• Assign small practice tasks to familiarize reps with the platform.

7. Full data import and go live

After testing and training, import all remaining data. Monitor activity in the first days to ensure pipelines, automations, and integrations function correctly.

Key actions:

• Import complete datasets into Salesmate.
• Monitor pipeline updates, communication history, and automation triggers.
• Resolve any issues with support from the Salesmate team.
• If problems arise during go-live, contact support immediately.

8. Optimize and leverage AI tools

Once live, use Salesmate’s AI features to improve efficiency and decision-making. Skara AI and AI Co-Pilot help identify opportunities, suggest next steps, and ensure workflows evolve intelligently.

Key actions:

• Use Skara AI to analyze pipeline trends and recommend next steps.
• Enable AI Co-Pilot for email drafts, follow-ups, and insights.
• Leverage AI tools to gain actionable insights from sales and customer data.
• Adjust automations and reporting dashboards to maximize efficiency.

Conclusion

Change in tools often feels like stepping onto a moving bridge: uncertain, a little unsettling, but full of promise.   

Zendesk Sell’s retirement gives your team the chance to step onto a bridge that actually moves faster, carries more weight, and lights the path ahead.   

Salesmate is that bridge built for modern sales, intelligent decisions, and effortless execution.  

• Seamless transition – Guided migration moves contacts, deals, notes, and workflows safely.
• Intelligent selling – Skara AI and AI Co-Pilot guide reps to focus on meaningful conversations.
• All-in-one platform – Calls, texts, emails, sequences, automations, and analytics live under one roof.

Embracing Salesmate is not just migration; it’s upgrading to a sales ecosystem where intelligence meets simplicity.

Your team can work smarter, close faster, and nurture relationships more meaningfully, all while leaving the stress of tool transitions behind.  

Curious to see it in action? Book your personalized Salesmate demo today and step into smarter selling.