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Last updated: October 29, 2026
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Help Scout vs Zendesk (2027): Prices, Free Plan and Which One Fits Your Team
Choose Help Scout if you're a small team supporting customers by email and want to start free: it's free for up to 5 users, Standard costs $25 per user and AI costs $0.75 per resolution. Choose Zendesk if you need a full ticketing system that scales to large teams and many channels: Support Team costs $19 per agent per month on annual billing, Suite Team $55 and Suite Professional $115. Help Scout is cheaper for teams of 5 or fewer; Zendesk's entry seats cost less once everyone pays.
- Help Scout: Free for 5 users (1 inbox, 1 docs site); Standard $25, Plus $45, Pro $75 per user; AI $0.75 per resolution; 15-day trial.
- Zendesk: Support Team $19/agent (annual), $25 monthly; Suite Team $55 ($69 monthly); Suite Professional $115 ($149 monthly); 14-day trial.
- Free plan: Help Scout yes; Zendesk no.
- 10 agents at entry level: Help Scout Standard $250/month vs Zendesk Support Team $190/month.
- Style: Help Scout feels like shared email; Zendesk is classic ticketing.
Help Scout vs Zendesk at a glance
| Help Scout | Zendesk | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, 5 users | No |
| Entry paid plan | Standard $25/user | Support Team $19/agent (annual) |
| Mid plan | Plus $45/user | Suite Team $55/agent (annual) |
| Upper plan | Pro $75/user | Suite Professional $115/agent (annual) |
| AI pricing | $0.75 per resolution | By plan and add-ons |
| Trial | 15 days, no card (Standard, Plus) | 14 days |
| Best for | Small teams, email-first support | Growing and large support teams |
Pricing compared
Entry level
Help Scout is free for up to 5 users with 1 inbox and 1 docs site; Zendesk has no free plan. Once you pay, Zendesk Support Team ($19 per agent on annual billing) is $6 cheaper per seat than Help Scout Standard ($25).
Mid level
Help Scout Plus costs $45 per user; Zendesk Suite Team costs $55 per agent on annual billing ($69 monthly) and bundles messaging, chat and help center features. Help Scout is $10 cheaper per seat here.
Upper level
Help Scout Pro costs $75 per user; Zendesk Suite Professional costs $115 per agent on annual billing ($149 monthly). Help Scout is $40 cheaper per seat at the top tier.
What a real support team pays per month
| Agents | Help Scout | Zendesk Support Team | Help Scout Plus | Zendesk Suite Team | Help Scout Pro | Zendesk Suite Professional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | $0 (Free) | $57 | $135 | $165 | $225 | $345 |
| 5 | $0 (Free) | $95 | $225 | $275 | $375 | $575 |
| 10 | $250 (Standard) | $190 | $450 | $550 | $750 | $1,150 |
| 25 | $625 (Standard) | $475 | $1,125 | $1,375 | $1,875 | $2,875 |
3-year cost for a growing team
A team growing from 3 to 6 to 10 agents:
| Year (agents) | Help Scout (Free, then Standard) | Zendesk Support Team (annual) | Help Scout Plus | Zendesk Suite Team (annual) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 (3) | $0 | $684 | $1,620 | $1,980 |
| Year 2 (6) | $1,800 | $1,368 | $3,240 | $3,960 |
| Year 3 (10) | $3,000 | $2,280 | $5,400 | $6,600 |
| Total | $4,800 | $4,332 | $10,260 | $12,540 |
At entry level the totals are close. At mid level, Help Scout Plus saves $2,280 over three years against Zendesk Suite Team.
How each tool feels to use
Help Scout looks and feels like a shared email inbox. Customers get personal-looking replies without ticket numbers, and agents see each conversation with notes, customer details and past history. Teams switching from Gmail or Outlook adopt it in a day.
Zendesk is a full ticketing system. Every request becomes a ticket with a status, priority, assignee and SLA, and Suite plans add chat, messaging and voice in one workspace. It takes longer to configure, but it handles large volumes, many teams and complex routing.
Features that decide the choice
| If you need… | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A free plan for up to 5 people | Help Scout | Zendesk has no free plan |
| The cheapest paid entry seat | Zendesk | $19 vs $25 |
| Email support that feels personal | Help Scout | Inbox-style design |
| Chat, messaging and voice bundled | Zendesk Suite | Omnichannel plans |
| A large app marketplace | Zendesk | Broad ecosystem |
| Lower-cost AI resolutions | Help Scout | $0.75 per resolution |
| Lower price at mid and upper tiers | Help Scout | $45 vs $55, $75 vs $115 |
Three real-world scenarios
A 4-person startup with one support address
Help Scout's free plan covers all four people. Zendesk would cost $76 a month on Support Team. Help Scout is the clear choice until the team outgrows one inbox.
A 12-person support team handling email and chat
Zendesk Suite Team ($660 a month) bundles chat and messaging. Help Scout Plus ($540 a month) with its chat widget is cheaper. Trial both with real conversations and compare first-reply times.
A 40-agent support center with SLAs and many teams
Zendesk Suite Professional's routing, reporting and SLA tools fit large operations, at $4,600 a month on annual billing. Help Scout Pro ($3,000 a month) is cheaper; check whether it covers your reporting and routing requirements.
Start Help Scout free → Free for 5 users, no credit card · Affiliate link
Hidden costs to watch
- Help Scout's free plan limits: 1 inbox and 1 docs site.
- AI usage: Help Scout bills $0.75 per resolution; Zendesk's advanced AI may be an add-on.
- Zendesk monthly billing: $25, $69 and $149 instead of $19, $55 and $115.
- Marketplace apps in Zendesk may have their own fees.
- Light agents: check how each tool counts people who only view or comment.
Alternatives worth comparing
| Tool | Entry price | Why consider it |
|---|---|---|
| Freshdesk | Growth $19/agent (annual) | Cheaper upper tiers than Zendesk |
| Gorgias | $10/month for 50 tickets | Shopify stores |
| Crisp | Free for 2 seats; Mini $45/month for 4 | Flat-priced live chat |
See Help Scout pricing, Zendesk pricing, Freshdesk vs Help Scout and best help desk software.
How to choose in 5 steps
- Count agents now and in 12 months.
- List your channels: email only, or chat, messaging and phone.
- Price both at the tier you'll need in a year.
- Trial both with a week of real support conversations.
- Compare first-reply time and agent feedback, then decide.
Terms explained
- Inbox: a shared email address your team answers from.
- Ticket: a tracked customer request in Zendesk.
- Suite: Zendesk's bundled omnichannel plans.
- AI resolution: a conversation resolved by AI; Help Scout bills $0.75 each.
- SLA: a target time for replies or resolutions.
Our verdict
Help Scout is the better choice for small teams that support customers mainly by email: it's free for up to 5 users and cheaper than Zendesk at mid and upper tiers. Zendesk is the better choice for growing support operations that need omnichannel suites, a big app ecosystem and the lowest entry seat price ($19). If you're under 6 people, start with Help Scout's free plan; if you're building a large multichannel support team, start with Zendesk's trial.
How we compiled this page
We compared Help Scout's and Zendesk's official pricing pages on October 29, 2026. Zendesk prices use annual billing unless noted; Help Scout prices are per user per month as listed.
FAQ
Is Help Scout cheaper than Zendesk?
For teams of up to 5, yes, because Help Scout is free. Paid entry seats cost $25 on Help Scout versus $19 on Zendesk (annual), but Help Scout is cheaper at mid and upper tiers.
Does Zendesk have a free plan?
No. Zendesk offers a 14-day free trial.
Which is easier to use?
Help Scout, for most small teams, because it works like a shared email inbox.
Can I migrate from Zendesk to Help Scout?
Yes. Both support importing conversations and contacts, and migration services exist for larger accounts.
Which is better for large teams?
Zendesk, thanks to its omnichannel suites, routing and app marketplace.
Which has better reporting?
Both include standard reports. Zendesk's Suite Professional offers deeper, customizable reporting for large teams; Help Scout's reports cover volume, response times and happiness ratings that most small teams need.
Do both tools offer AI?
Yes. Help Scout bills AI at $0.75 per resolution. Zendesk includes AI features by plan, with advanced AI sold as add-ons; check its current AI pricing before comparing totals.
Sources
helpscout.com/pricing and zendesk.com/pricing, checked October 29, 2026.
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