Monthly Cost by Team Size (Recommended Plans)
| Tool (Plan) | 3 agents | 5 agents | 10 agents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zendesk Suite Team $69/agent/mo | $207 | $345 | $690 |
| Intercom Essential $39/seat/mo + AI costs | $117+ | $195+ | $390+ |
| Freshdesk Growth $15/agent/mo | $45 | $75 | $150 |
| Help Scout Standard $55/mo flat (unlimited users) | $55 | $55 | $55 |
| Crisp Essentials $95/mo flat (up to 10 seats) | $95 | $95 | $95 |
Free Tier Comparison
| Tool | Free Plan |
|---|---|
| Zendesk | No free tier (Support Team starts at $25/agent/mo) |
| Intercom | No free tier (14-day trial) |
| Freshdesk | Free: 2 agents, email ticketing, knowledge base |
| Help Scout | Free: 50 contacts/mo, unlimited users, shared inbox |
| Crisp | Free: 2 seats, chat widget, shared inbox |
Key Pricing Insights
- 1.Help Scout wins at every team size with flat-rate pricing at $55/mo for unlimited users. The caveat: it limits contacts/month (100 on Standard), so high-volume teams pay more.
- 2.Freshdesk Growth is the cheapest per-agent at $15/agent/mo. At 10 agents, it costs $150/mo vs Zendesk's $690/mo.
- 3.Intercom's AI costs are unpredictable. Fin AI resolutions cost $0.99 each. A team resolving 500 tickets/mo via AI adds $495/mo on top of seat costs.
- 4.Crisp's flat-rate model ($95/mo for 10 seats) beats per-seat pricing above 3 agents for most competitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which help desk has the best free plan?
Freshdesk Free gives 2 agents with email ticketing and a knowledge base. Help Scout Free gives unlimited users but limits you to 50 contacts/month. For very small teams, Freshdesk Free is more practical.
When does Zendesk make sense?
Zendesk makes sense at 20+ agents when you need its 1,500+ app marketplace, advanced routing, and enterprise compliance (HIPAA on Suite Professional). For teams under 10, Freshdesk or Crisp deliver similar value at a fraction of the cost.
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