TemperStack
HS

Best Help Scout Alternatives

7 helpdesk software alternatives to Help Scout, sorted by rating. Find a better fit for your workflow and budget.

Why Switch from Help Scout?

  • Knowledge base export limited to API (requires programming)
  • No native phone support built-in (relies on integrations)
  • Lacks detailed pricing transparency
  • Primarily email-focused, less ideal for high-volume chat-only workflows
  • Smaller team size may limit enterprise-scale support resources

Top Alternatives

I

Intercom

4.5(2,100)
$29/mo

Conversational customer platform with messaging, bots, and customer engagement tools.

SaaSProduct-led growthStartups
F

Freshdesk

4.5(2,800)
Free plan

Cloud-based customer support software with ticketing and omnichannel capabilities.

Small businessesStartupsBudget-conscious teams
Z

Zendesk

4.4(3,600)
$19/mo

Customer service platform with ticketing, live chat, and knowledge base features.

SaaS companiesEnterpriseMulti-channel support
Cr

Crisp

4.3(850)
Free plan

AI-powered, multichannel customer support platform that automates approximately 50% of support tickets through no-code AI agents while centralizing communications from email, chat, social media, and messaging apps into a single inbox.

SaaS companies needing automated technical supportE-commerce businesses with high-volume customer inquiriesGrowing support teams scaling from manual to AI-assisted operations
Ti

Tidio

4.3(850)
Free plan

Tidio is an AI-powered omnichannel customer service platform offering live chat, help desk, ticketing, no-code chatbots (Flows), and Lyro AI agents to automate up to 70% of queries for e-commerce and SMBs. Founded in 2013 in Poland with offices in San Francisco, it targets micro/small businesses to drive sales via real-time support and analytics.

E-commerce stores needing live chat and order managementMicro/small businesses offering 24/7 AI-driven supportWebsites requiring visitor tracking and proactive sales chats
ZD

Zoho Desk

4.3(850)
Free plan

Zoho Desk is a cloud-based helpdesk software that provides context-aware ticket management across channels with AI-powered automation and analytics to boost agent productivity and customer satisfaction.

SMBs needing affordable omnichannel ticketing and self-serviceTeams requiring AI automation for high-volume supportBusinesses building customer communities with forums
Ka

Kayako

4.2(250)
Free/mo

Kayako is an AI-first help desk and customer support platform that automates ticket resolution, knowledge base creation, and omnichannel communication to scale support without adding headcount. Founded in 2001, it serves 50,000+ customers globally, including NASA and Peugeot, with AI reducing ticket volumes by 60% and costs significantly.

Scaling support teams avoiding headcount increases via AI automationMid-to-large enterprises with ticket backlogsKnowledge base-heavy operations needing auto-generated content

Quick Comparison

ToolRatingStarting PriceFree TierPricing Model
Help Scout4.3/5$25/moNosubscription
Intercom4.5/5$29/moNosubscription
Freshdesk4.5/5Free planYesfreemium
Zendesk4.4/5$19/moNosubscription
Crisp4.3/5Free planYesfreemium
Tidio4.3/5Free planYesfreemium
Zoho Desk4.3/5Free planYesfreemium
Kayako4.2/5Free/moNosubscription