Freshdesk vs Help Scout
Updated 2026 — Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and scores.
Freshdesk
8.5/10
Great
Ease of Use8.5
Value for Money9
Support8
Features8.5
Scalability8
Integrations9
Help Scout
7.8/10
Great
Ease of Use9
Value for Money8.5
Support9
Features7
Scalability7
Integrations6.5
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Freshdesk | Help Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket Management | ✓ Email-to-ticket, merge, split, and link tickets | ✓ Email-based conversation management |
| Live Chat | ~ Via Freshchat add-on or Freshdesk Omni | ✓ Beacon live chat widget |
| Knowledge Base | ✓ Built-in knowledge base on all plans | ✓ Docs knowledge base on all plans |
| Automation Rules | ✓ Ticket dispatch, time-triggered, and event-triggered | ✓ Workflows for auto-assignment and tagging |
| Multichannel Support | ✓ Email, phone, social, chat, web widget | ~ Email, chat, and Beacon; no native phone or social |
| Reporting & Analytics | ✓ Built-in reports and custom dashboards on Pro+ | ✓ Standard and custom reports |
| SLA Management | ✓ Growth plan and above | ~ Basic SLA via workflows, no dedicated SLA module |
| Customer Portal | ✓ Customer portal with ticket submission | ✓ Docs + Beacon self-service |
| AI Features | ✓ Freddy AI for ticket classification and suggestions | ✓ AI drafts and AI answers on Standard+ |
| Mobile App | ✓ iOS & Android | ✓ iOS & Android |
| API Access | ✓ REST API | ✓ REST API |
| Third-Party Integrations | ✓ 1,000+ marketplace apps | ✓ 100+ integrations |
| Free Plan Available | ✓ Free for up to 2 agents | ✓ Free plan with 50 contacts/month |
| CSAT Surveys | ✓ Pro plan and above | ✓ Happiness ratings on all plans |
| Shared Inbox | ✓ Team inbox with collision detection | ✓ Core feature — collaborative shared mailbox |
✓ Full support~ Limited✗ Not available
Pricing Comparison
Freshdesk Pricing
FreeFree
FreeFree
Growth$18/mo
$15/mo billed annually
Growth$18/mo
$15/mo billed annually
ProPopular$59/mo
$49/mo billed annually
ProPopular$59/mo
$49/mo billed annually
Enterprise$95/mo
$79/mo billed annually
Enterprise$95/mo
$79/mo billed annually
Help Scout Pricing
FreeFree
FreeFree
StandardPopular$25/mo
$20/mo billed annually
StandardPopular$25/mo
$20/mo billed annually
Plus$50/mo
$40/mo billed annually
Plus$50/mo
$40/mo billed annually
FAQ
Is Freshdesk or Help Scout better?
It depends on your needs. Freshdesk scores 8.5/10 overall while Help Scout scores 7.8/10. Compare the detailed feature matrix above to find the best fit.