Freshdesk vs Help Scout (2026 comparison)
Freshdesk and Help Scout are both help desk software. Freshdesk is best for small support teams wanting the Freshworks ecosystem at a lower entry price than Zendesk (no lasting free plan: the Free program now covers only 2 agents for 6 months, down from a previous 10-agent forever-free tier; paid Growth from about $19 per agent per month billed annually ($22 monthly)). Help Scout is best for small teams that want a shared-inbox feel and a real free tier to start on (free plan for up to 5 users, 1 inbox and 1 Docs site, capped at 100 contacts per month; paid Standard from about $25 per user per month billed annually).
Pricing and features verified against each vendor's published information on 2026-09-17. Sources linked below.
At a glance
| Feature | Freshdesk | Help Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Pricing from | No lasting free plan: the Free program now covers only 2 agents for 6 months, down from a previous 10-agent forever-free tier; paid Growth from about $19 per agent per month billed annually ($22 monthly) | Free plan for up to 5 users, 1 inbox and 1 Docs site, capped at 100 contacts per month; paid Standard from about $25 per user per month billed annually |
| Best for | small support teams wanting the Freshworks ecosystem at a lower entry price than Zendesk | small teams that want a shared-inbox feel and a real free tier to start on |
| Founded | 2010 | 2011 |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
Quick verdict
Choose Freshdesk for small support teams wanting the Freshworks ecosystem at a lower entry price than Zendesk. Choose Help Scout for small teams that want a shared-inbox feel and a real free tier to start on. Both are compared on published information only, so confirm current pricing at each source below.
More options
Sources
FAQ
- Is Freshdesk or Help Scout cheaper?
- As published, Freshdesk starts at No lasting free plan: the Free program now covers only 2 agents for 6 months, down from a previous 10-agent forever-free tier; paid Growth from about $19 per agent per month billed annually ($22 monthly) and Help Scout starts at Free plan for up to 5 users, 1 inbox and 1 Docs site, capped at 100 contacts per month; paid Standard from about $25 per user per month billed annually. Verify current pricing at each vendor.
- Does Freshdesk have a free plan?
- No, Freshdesk does not offer a free plan as of 2026-09-17.