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Last updated: October 29, 2026

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5 Best Freshdesk Alternatives in 2027

Freshdesk gives full ticketing from $19 per agent (annual), but its pricing page no longer lists a free plan, and Pro jumps to $55 per agent. If you want a free start, flat pricing or ecommerce-specific support, these alternatives are worth comparing.

Quick answer: the best Freshdesk alternatives

• Help Scout — best for small teams that want email-style support.
• Zendesk — best for large support teams.
• Gorgias — best for Shopify and ecommerce support.
• Crisp — best for small teams that want flat workspace pricing.
• Intercom — best for AI-first customer messaging.

Freshdesk alternatives compared

Prices checked on October 29, 2026 on each vendor's pricing page.

Why people switch from Freshdesk

• No free plan listed on the pricing page.
• Pro costs $55 per agent.
• The trial ends with account suspension if you don't pick a plan.
• Small teams may only need a shared inbox.

The 5 best Freshdesk alternatives in detail

1. Help Scout — best for small teams that want email-style support

Pricing: Standard $25/user/month. Free option: Free for 5 users, 1 inbox. Official pricing.

• Pros:
  • Free plan for 5 users
  • Feels like a shared email inbox
  • Simple pricing
• Cons:
  • AI add-on billed per resolution
  • Fewer enterprise features

Choose it if: you want a free start and email-style support.

Try Help Scout free → 15-day trial, no card

2. Zendesk — best for large support teams

Pricing: Support Team $19/agent/month (annual), $25 monthly. Free option: No free plan. Official pricing.

• Pros:
  • Mature ticketing and reporting
  • Huge app marketplace
• Cons:
  • Suite Professional costs $115/agent
  • Complex to configure

Choose it if: you need mature ticketing at scale.

Try Zendesk free → 14-day trial

3. Gorgias — best for Shopify and ecommerce support

Pricing: Starter $10/month for 50 tickets. Free option: No free plan. Official pricing.

• Pros:
  • Built for ecommerce support
  • Priced by tickets, not agents
• Cons:
  • Basic is $50/month for 300 tickets
  • Less suited outside ecommerce

Choose it if: you run an ecommerce store.

Try Gorgias free → 7-day trial, no card

4. Crisp — best for small teams that want flat workspace pricing

Pricing: Mini $45/month per workspace (4 seats). Free option: 2 seats, 100 customer profiles. Official pricing.

• Pros:
  • Priced per workspace, not per seat
  • Free plan for 2 seats
• Cons:
  • Free plan is very limited
  • Fewer integrations than Intercom

Choose it if: you want flat workspace pricing.

Try Crisp free → Free plan

5. Intercom — best for AI-first customer messaging

Pricing: Essential $19/seat/month (annual), $29 monthly. Free option: No free plan. Official pricing.

• Pros:
  • Fin AI agent resolves questions at $0.99 per outcome
  • Polished messenger
• Cons:
  • Advanced jumps to $85/seat
  • AI outcomes add variable cost

Choose it if: you want AI to resolve common questions.

Try Intercom free → 14-day trial, no card

Pick in 10 seconds

• Small team, free start → Help Scout
• Large team → Zendesk
• Ecommerce → Gorgias
• AI-first support → Intercom

FAQ

Does Freshdesk have a free plan?

Its pricing page no longer lists one; plans start at $19 per agent on annual billing.

Is Zendesk better than Freshdesk?

Zendesk is more mature for large teams but more expensive at higher tiers ($115 per agent for Suite Professional).

What is the best free help desk?

Help Scout (5 users) and Crisp (2 seats) have free plans.

Related

• Freshdesk vs Help Scout (2027): Prices & Which Help Desk Wins
• Freshdesk vs Zendesk (2027): Prices, Plans & Which to Choose
• Freshdesk Pricing 2027: Growth, Pro & Enterprise Explained