Compare All Help Desk/Support Software 2026
Side-by-side comparison of 11 help desk/support tools. Find the right fit for your team and budget.
Help Desk/Support software pricing ranges from $0 to $300 per user per month in 2026. The category average is $51/user/month. 5 of 11 tools offer free tiers.
Quick Picks
Full Comparison Matrix
| Product | Starting Price | Popular Tier | Enterprise | Free Tier | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gorgias | $0 /month | $0 /month | $0 /month | No | Very small ecommerce stores just starting out |
| HubSpot Service Hub | $9 /seat/month | $15 /seat/month | $20 /seat/month | Yes | Getting started |
| Zoho Desk | $0 /user/month | $20 /user/month | $40 /user/month | Yes | Tiny teams testing help desk software |
| Jira Service Management | $0 /agent/month | $25.71 /agent/month | $51.42 /agent/month | Yes | Small teams of up to 3 agents getting started with ITSM |
| Help Scout | $0 /user/month | $35 /user/month | $75 /user/month | Yes | Individuals or small teams starting out |
| Freshdesk | $0 /agent/month | $37 /agent/month | $89 /agent/month | Yes | Small teams |
| Freshservice | $3 /agent/month | $49 /agent/month | $99 /agent/month | No | Small IT teams getting started with ITSM |
| LiveChat | $19 /agent/month | $59 /agent/month | $89 /agent/month | No | Small businesses |
| Intercom | $29 /month | $85 /month | $132 /month | No | Individuals, startups, and small businesses |
| Zendesk | $19 /agent/month | $85 /agent/month | $169 /agent/month | No | Getting up and running with streamlined email support |
| ServiceNow | $100 /user/month | $150 /user/month | $300 /user/month | No | Mid-size enterprises starting with ITSM |
Category Summary
11
Products
$16
Avg Starting
$51
Avg Popular
5
Free Tiers
Help Desk/Support Pricing FAQ
01 What is help desk software?
Help desk software manages customer support inquiries through ticketing systems that track, prioritize, and resolve issues. Modern platforms include multi-channel support (email, chat, phone, social), knowledge bases, automation workflows, and customer satisfaction tracking to streamline support operations.
02 How much does help desk software cost?
Help desk software ranges from $15-$150 per agent per month. Entry-level plans start at $15-25/agent/month with email ticketing and basic automation. Mid-tier plans cost $50-80/agent/month adding live chat, knowledge bases, and SLA management. Enterprise plans exceed $100/agent/month with advanced analytics, custom workflows, and premium support.
03 What's the best help desk software for small businesses?
Freshdesk and Zoho Desk are ideal for small teams. Freshdesk starts at $15/agent/month with email, social, and phone support channels. Zoho Desk offers similar features at $14/agent/month with excellent integration across the Zoho ecosystem. Both provide free tiers for teams under 3 agents.
04 What's the best help desk software for enterprises?
Zendesk and Salesforce Service Cloud lead enterprise help desk solutions. Zendesk Suite starts at $89-$149/agent/month with omnichannel support, advanced analytics, and extensive integrations. Salesforce Service Cloud offers deep CRM integration at $80-$300+/agent/month, ideal for companies already using Salesforce.
05 Is there free help desk software?
Yes, several help desk platforms offer free tiers. Freshdesk Free supports unlimited agents with basic ticketing (limited to 10 tickets/day). HubSpot Service Hub Free includes ticketing and live chat for up to 2 users. Zoho Desk Free supports 3 agents with email ticketing, though feature limitations make paid plans necessary for most businesses.
06 What features should I look for in help desk software?
Core help desk features include multi-channel ticketing, automation rules, canned responses, SLA management, and reporting dashboards. Growing teams benefit from knowledge bases, live chat, customer satisfaction surveys (CSAT), and integration with CRM systems. Advanced needs include AI-powered routing and predictive analytics.
07 How do I choose between help desk tools?
Evaluate your support channels (email-only vs. omnichannel), team size, and integration requirements with existing CRM or sales tools. Small teams prioritize ease of use and value (Freshdesk, Zoho Desk). Enterprises need advanced customization, robust reporting, and scalability (Zendesk, Salesforce Service Cloud).
08 What hidden costs should I expect with help desk software?
Common hidden costs include: additional charges for phone support ($15-30/agent/month), SMS capabilities, advanced automation or AI features, premium integrations, extra knowledge base views, and implementation/onboarding fees ($2,000-$50,000+ for enterprise). Many platforms also charge separately for live chat or chatbot functionality.