Freshdesk vs Intercom (2026 comparison)
Freshdesk and Intercom 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)). Intercom is best for product-led companies wanting live chat, in-app messaging and an AI agent in one platform (no free plan; paid Essential from about $29 per seat per month billed annually ($39 monthly), Advanced from about $85 per seat per month).
Pricing and features verified against each vendor's published information on 2026-09-17. Sources linked below.
At a glance
| Feature | Freshdesk | Intercom |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| 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) | No free plan; paid Essential from about $29 per seat per month billed annually ($39 monthly), Advanced from about $85 per seat per month |
| Best for | small support teams wanting the Freshworks ecosystem at a lower entry price than Zendesk | product-led companies wanting live chat, in-app messaging and an AI agent in one platform |
| 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 Intercom for product-led companies wanting live chat, in-app messaging and an AI agent in one platform. Both are compared on published information only, so confirm current pricing at each source below.
More options
Sources
FAQ
- Is Freshdesk or Intercom 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 Intercom starts at No free plan; paid Essential from about $29 per seat per month billed annually ($39 monthly), Advanced from about $85 per seat per month. 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.