Freshdesk vs Help Scout2026
Freshdesk
Customer Support
Cloud-based helpdesk with ticketing, live chat, and AI automations for growing teams.
Help Scout
Customer Support
Simple, human customer support software for growing businesses — shared inbox, live chat, and knowledge base.
Our Verdict
Freshdesk has the pricing advantage with a free tier.
Choose Freshdesk if…
budget-conscious buyers who want to start for free or at lower cost
Choose Help Scout if…
teams at the small to mid-sized businesses stage and teams that need more power and don't mind paying for it
Side-by-Side Comparison
Green highlight = advantage on that metric.
| Feature | Freshdesk | Help Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing model | Freemium | Subscription |
| Starting price | $15/mo | $22/mo |
| Free tier | ||
| Free trial | 21 days | 15 days |
| Ratings & Reviews | ||
| User rating | No reviews yet | No reviews yet |
| Features & Capabilities | ||
| Best for | teams of all sizes | small to mid-sized businesses |
| Tracked features | 11 | 6 |
| Company | ||
| Founded | 2010 | 2011 |
| Verified listing | ||
Pricing
Freshdesk
FreemiumHelp Scout
SubscriptionFreshdesk
$15/moHelp Scout
$22/moFreshdesk
Help Scout
Freshdesk
21 daysHelp Scout
15 daysRatings & Reviews
Freshdesk
No reviews yetHelp Scout
No reviews yetFeatures & Capabilities
Freshdesk
teams of all sizesHelp Scout
small to mid-sized businessesFreshdesk
11Help Scout
6Company
Freshdesk
2010Help Scout
2011Freshdesk
Help Scout
Key Differences
Freshdesk
Freemium✓
Help Scout
Subscription
Freshdesk
$15/mo✓
Help Scout
$22/mo
Freshdesk
11 tracked features✓
Help Scout
6 tracked features
Freshdesk is best for…
Strengths
- Excellent free plan for small teams
- Omnichannel support
- Strong automation and AI
- Much more affordable than Zendesk
Help Scout is best for…
Strengths
- Feels human — not like a ticket system
- Shared inbox easy to adopt
- Live chat and knowledge base included
- Good for relationship-driven support
Pricing Comparison
Freshdesk
From $15/mo
Free for up to 10 agents. Growth from $15/agent/month.
Help Scout
From $22/mo
Standard plan from $22/user/month billed annually.
Pricing information is verified periodically. Visit each vendor's pricing page for current rates and plan details.
Feature Comparison
Only in Freshdesk
- Ticketing System
- Omnichannel Support
- Chatbot / AI Agent
- SLA Management
- Zapier Integration
Both tools
- Shared Inbox
- Knowledge Base
- Live Chat
- CSAT Surveys
- API Access
- Workflow Automation
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the main difference between Freshdesk and Help Scout?
- Freshdesk has the pricing advantage with a free tier. Choose Freshdesk if you need it for budget-conscious buyers who want to start for free or at lower cost. Choose Help Scout if you need it for teams at the small to mid-sized businesses stage and teams that need more power and don't mind paying for it.
- Is Freshdesk cheaper than Help Scout?
- Freshdesk is cheaper at From $15/mo vs From $22/mo. Note that pricing tiers vary — check each vendor's current pricing page for up-to-date details.
- Can I switch from Freshdesk to Help Scout?
- Yes — most teams can migrate from Freshdesk to Help Scout with a data export/import process. Check whether both tools support CSV or API data export before starting. Help Scout offers a free trial, so you can test it before cancelling Freshdesk.
- Does Freshdesk or Help Scout offer a free trial?
- Both Freshdesk (21 days) and Help Scout (15 days) offer free trials. Try both before committing.