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Help Scout vs Freshdesk
Both sit in customer support. Here is how they differ on the things you can actually check.
On price: Freshdesk starts $6 a month cheaper than Help Scout ($19 against $25, 24% less) on its Growth tier. Both figures were read from the vendors' own pricing pages on the dates shown below.
Help Scout
helpscout.com
Shared inbox with no ticket numbers exposed to customers, plus docs and in-app messaging. Long favoured by teams who want support to feel personal.
Customer Support
Visit Help ScoutFreshdesk
freshworks.com
Freshworks' help desk — shared inbox, automations, knowledge base and SLA management, with a free tier that covers small teams properly.
Free planCustomer Support
Visit Freshdesk| Help Scout | Freshdesk | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $25/mo | $19/mo |
| Entry plan | Standard | Growth |
| Paid annually | — | $19/mo |
| Price checked | 21 Sept 2026 | 21 Sept 2026 |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Free plan |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Category | Customer Support | Customer Support |
| Around since | 2011 | 2010 |
Every price here was read from the vendor's own pricing page, most recently on 21 Sept 2026. Entry tier only — vendors change pricing without notice.
Help Scout vs Freshdesk, answered
- Is Help Scout cheaper than Freshdesk?
- No — Freshdesk is the cheaper entry point, at $19 a month against Help Scout's $25, 24% less. Freshdesk's figure is its annual rate — the vendor publishes no month-to-month price we could read.
- Do Help Scout or Freshdesk have a free plan?
- Freshdesk publishes an ongoing free plan; Help Scout does not.
- What is the difference between Help Scout and Freshdesk?
- Help Scout: Shared inbox with no ticket numbers exposed to customers, plus docs and in-app messaging. Long favoured by teams who want support to feel personal. Freshdesk: Freshworks' help desk — shared inbox, automations, knowledge base and SLA management, with a free tier that covers small teams properly.