Zoho Desk Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
Zoho Desk pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $40 per user/month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
- Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
- Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
Zoho Desk's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- 3 agents
- Email ticketing
- Knowledge base
- Mobile apps
- Basic reporting
What's NOT Included (Paid Only)
- All Free features
- Multi-channel support
- Email templates
- Custom fields
- Ticket automation
Free Plan Limits
| Limit | Free Plan | Paid Plans |
|---|---|---|
| agents | 3 | Unlimited/Higher |
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like All Free features or Multi-channel support
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- Zoho Desk branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Free vs Express Plan Comparison
| Free $0 | Express $7/user/month | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 5 included | 5+ included |
| Support | Community/Email | Priority Support |
| Branding | Zoho Desk branding | Your branding |
| Best For | Tiny teams testing help desk software | Small teams needing multi-channel support |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is Zoho Desk free?
Yes, Zoho Desk offers a forever free plan with 5 core features included. However, there are limits on agents that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in Zoho Desk's free plan?
Zoho Desk's free plan includes: 3 agents, Email ticketing, Knowledge base, Mobile apps, Basic reporting. Key limits include agents: 3.
03 What's NOT included in Zoho Desk's free plan?
The free plan excludes: All Free features, Multi-channel support, Email templates, Custom fields, Ticket automation. You'll also have Zoho Desk branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from Zoho Desk's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like All Free features or Multi-channel support, require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $7/user/month.
05 Is Zoho Desk's free plan really free forever?
Yes, Zoho Desk's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.
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