AI by plan
Which AI features are included depends on the plan. For OpenAI features you connect your own keys on the Express plan.
askVela vs Zoho Desk
The Zoho Desk alternative for online stores.askVela comes with the AI built in.
Zoho Desk bills per user, the AI features depend on the plan, and on the entry plan you bring your own OpenAI key. askVela is a fair flat rate: unlimited agents and a fixed AI quota, no fine print.
14-day free trial · no credit card · cancel monthly
Your shop address goes here — your customers ask the questions later.
See askVela with your own store dataLive
Temporary demo, for testing only. No data is stored permanently.
Head to head
askVela vs Zoho Desk
Both handle tickets. The difference is what the AI does and what it costs.
FeatureaskVelaZoho Desk
Pricing modelaskVelaFair flat rateZoho DeskPer user per month
Team membersaskVelaUnlimited, includedZoho DeskEvery user costs
AI answersaskVela1,000, 4,000, or 12,000 AI answers per month includedZoho DeskDepends on the plan; own OpenAI key on Express
Built for online storesaskVelaZoho DeskGeneral help desk
List prices according to the vendor, as of 09/2026. · Run your own numbers · All askVela prices
Where Zoho Desk gets pricier
The list price is just the start
What counts in modern support depends on the plan.
Every user counts
Billing is per user per month. As your team grows, the bill grows with it.
Built for every industry
Zoho Desk is a general help desk in the Zoho ecosystem, not designed around a store's catalog and orders.
Why askVela
What costs extra at Zoho is included with us
No AI keys of your own, no per-user bill.
A catalog instead of a ticket list
The AI knows products, variants and availability and answers before a ticket is ever created.
Store integrations
Shopify app, WooCommerce plugin, JTL plugin and Shopware app, and a script tag for any other store.
One price for everyone
Unlimited agents and a fixed AI quota. If it runs short, 1,000 answers cost €25.
Playground
No video. No mockup. The real dashboard.
One click creates your personal sandbox workspace – with real conversations, real AI and every setting. You click through exactly the product your customers get.
- No sign-up
- 60 minutes, all yours
- Deletes itself
Pays-for-itself guarantee
If it doesn't pay for itself, you get the fee back.
If your dashboard shows less attributed revenue in the first 60 days after the trial than you paid askVela in that time, we refund the plan fee. Requirements: widget live and store connected via plugin or app. Once per customer; answer packs excluded.
Frequently asked questions
01What's the catch with Zoho Desk's AI?
The AI features depend on the plan, and on the Express entry plan you connect your own keys for OpenAI features. On top of that, every user costs. With askVela, AI answers are included in the flat rate as a fixed quota, for unlimited agents.
02How much does askVela cost?
A fair flat rate: €39, €99, or €249 per month, with 1,000, 4,000, or 12,000 AI answers per month and unlimited agents. No per-user billing, no AI keys of your own.
03How quickly can I switch from Zoho Desk?
In a few minutes: add the widget, and askVela reads your public knowledge articles through a website scan. You upload exports as PDF, DOCX, HTML, Markdown or CSV.
04Is askVela GDPR-compliant and hosted in the EU?
Yes. askVela runs in Frankfurt am Main by default, and the DPA under Art. 28 GDPR is included.
Ready to modernise your support?
Start for free, embed the widget, and let the AI work from the very first minute.
GDPR-compliant · your data stays protected