Zendesk vs Freshdesk (2026 comparison)
Zendesk and Freshdesk are both help desk software. Zendesk is best for large support teams that need a wide app marketplace and enterprise-grade reporting (no free plan, only a 14-day free trial; paid Support Team from about $19 per agent per month billed annually, Suite plans from about $55 per agent per month). 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)).
Pricing and features verified against each vendor's published information on 2026-09-17. Sources linked below.
At a glance
| Feature | Zendesk | Freshdesk |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| Pricing from | No free plan, only a 14-day free trial; paid Support Team from about $19 per agent per month billed annually, Suite plans from about $55 per agent per month | 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) |
| Best for | large support teams that need a wide app marketplace and enterprise-grade reporting | small support teams wanting the Freshworks ecosystem at a lower entry price than Zendesk |
| Founded | 2007 | 2010 |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
Quick verdict
Choose Zendesk for large support teams that need a wide app marketplace and enterprise-grade reporting. Choose Freshdesk for small support teams wanting the Freshworks ecosystem at a lower entry price than Zendesk. Both are compared on published information only, so confirm current pricing at each source below.
More options
Sources
FAQ
- Is Zendesk or Freshdesk cheaper?
- As published, Zendesk starts at No free plan, only a 14-day free trial; paid Support Team from about $19 per agent per month billed annually, Suite plans from about $55 per agent per month and 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). Verify current pricing at each vendor.
- Does Zendesk have a free plan?
- No, Zendesk does not offer a free plan as of 2026-09-17.