Help Scout vs Freshdesk.
Different strengths. Different costs. Here’s what to weigh before you choose.
Compare the plans as well as the brands. These prices may have different billing commitments and capacity limits; they are not equivalent quotes.
| What matters | Help Scout | Freshdesk |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Shared customer support inbox and knowledge-base software for teams handling service conversations and customer self-service. | Email help desk for businesses moving customer support into a shared ticketing workspace, with a customer portal and knowledge base. |
| Listed plan | Free | Growth |
| Base price | $0 / mo | $19 / seat / mo · annual billing |
| Pricing conditions | Free includes up to five users, one inbox, one Docs site, ten articles and 100 assisted contacts per month. Standard and higher tiers add workflows, more channels and higher allowances. AI Answers is separately metered after its trial. | USD 19 per agent/month with annual billing. AI Agent includes 500 trial sessions once per account, then USD 49 per 100 sessions. AI Copilot and connector tasks are separately priced; multilingual support and multiple SLA policies require Pro or above. |
| Documented capabilities | support | support, automation |
| Free plan | Yes, with limits | Not verified |
| Trial | 15-day trial of Standard or Plus | 14-day Enterprise trial |
| Integrations | Not yet verified | Not yet verified |
| Benefits (editorial) | Small teams can start with an inbox and help site at no subscription cost. One workspace connects customer conversations with support information. | Combines customer self-service with agent ticket handling. Defined agent pricing supports a base support-seat budget. |
| Limitations | Free is restricted to 100 assisted contacts monthly and ten help articles. Larger support workloads and automated workflows need a paid tier. | AI usage charges extend beyond the one-time trial allowance. Advanced routing and multilingual help desk require a higher tier. |
| Typical fit (editorial) | Professional services, E-commerce, Real estate | Professional services, E-commerce, Local business |
| AI, support & ease of use | Confirm plan-specific AI limits and support. Ease of use has not been independently tested. | Confirm plan-specific AI limits and support. Ease of use has not been independently tested. |
| Evidence | Sources checked 2026-10-10 → | Sources checked 2026-10-10 → |
| Your next step | Visit Help ScoutStandard provider link; no commission currently earned. | Visit FreshdeskStandard provider link; no commission currently earned. |
Use-case recommendations
Consider Help Scout when…
Small teams can start with an inbox and help site at no subscription cost.
Check first: Free is restricted to 100 assisted contacts monthly and ten help articles.
Consider Freshdesk when…
Combines customer self-service with agent ticket handling.
Check first: AI usage charges extend beyond the one-time trial allowance.
Make the decision on your terms
Test your real workflow, calculate the full team and usage cost, and confirm export options before migrating. A higher advertised feature count does not necessarily create a better fit.
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