Zendesk vs Help Scout (2026 comparison)
Zendesk and Help Scout 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). 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 | Zendesk | Help Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| 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 | 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 | large support teams that need a wide app marketplace and enterprise-grade reporting | small teams that want a shared-inbox feel and a real free tier to start on |
| Founded | 2007 | 2011 |
| 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 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 Zendesk or Help Scout 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 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 Zendesk have a free plan?
- No, Zendesk does not offer a free plan as of 2026-09-17.