Best help desk software (October 2026)
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Shared inboxes, ticketing and AI agents that answer customer questions.
Only want free? See the best free help desk software, with what each free plan includes.
The ranking
- 1
Help Scout
by Help ScoutBest free starting pointShared inbox and help centre for small teams, with a free plan and AI answers.
Free planAI agent or AI answersFree trialPros
- Free plan
- AI agent or AI answers
- AI Answers at USD 0.75 per resolution
Cons
- No drawbacks found in our data
- 2
Zoho Desk
by ZohoLowest entry priceHelp desk with a free plan for 3 agents; part of the Zoho suite.
Pros
- Free plan
- Free trial
Cons
- AI agent or AI answers: check on Zoho Desk's site
- USD prices did not load; India prices shown
77/100Free plan, then INR 420 per agent per month, annual (India price) (≈ USD 4.35)Checked 2026-10-12 · source - 3
Intercom
by IntercomGood all-round optionCustomer messaging with the Fin AI agent, priced per outcome.
Free planAI agent or AI answersFree trialPros
- AI agent or AI answers
- Free trial
Cons
- No free plan
- 4
Zendesk
by ZendeskGood all-round optionTicketing, messaging and AI agents used by large support teams.
Pros
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial
Cons
- No free plan
- AI agent or AI answers: check on Zendesk's site
- 5
Freshdesk
by FreshworksGood all-round optionHelp desk with ticketing, knowledge base and automations from Freshworks.
Pros
- Free trial
- 14-day trial of Enterprise
Cons
- Free plan, AI agent or AI answers: check on Freshdesk's site
Compare all in a table
| Rank | Product | Score | Entry price (USD) | Free plan | AI agent or AI answers | Free trial | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Help Scout | 79 | 25.00 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Visit site |
| 2 | Zoho Desk | 77 | 4.35 | Yes | Not confirmed | Yes | Visit site |
| 3 | Intercom | 69 | 29.00 | No | Yes | Yes | Visit site |
| 4 | Zendesk | 61 | 19.00 | No | Not confirmed | Yes | Visit site |
| 5 | Freshdesk | 61 | 19.00 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Yes | Visit site |
Entry price is the cheapest paid plan, converted to USD where the vendor prices in another currency. Usage-based prices are not compared.
What to check
Free plan. 2 of 5 confirm it.
AI agent or AI answers. 2 of 5 confirm it.
Free trial. 5 of 5 confirm it.
Score: features 30, free plan or trial 20, pricing transparency 25, entry price value 25. Commissions are never part of it. Full method.
Questions
What is the cheapest option?
Zoho Desk, from INR 420 per agent per month, annual (India price) (≈ USD 4.35).
Is there a free option?
2 of the 5 ranked products have a free plan.
Price it for your team. The cost calculator shows what each of these costs per month and per year for your number of agents.