Is there a free alternative to Help Scout?

Yes. Crisp offers a genuine free tier, which makes it the easiest Help Scout alternative to try before you pay.

Why switch away from Help Scout?

Help Scout is a strong tool, but our full hands-on testing is still in progress. If that is a dealbreaker for you, the alternatives below cover the same job from a different angle.

How do you choose these alternatives?

Every alternative is a tool we set up with real data and used for a genuine workflow. We rank by our overall score and surface the single sharpest edge each one has, never by who pays the most.

Customer Support

Best Help Scout alternatives

Q: What is the best alternative to Help Scout?

Intercom is our top Help Scout alternative. Intercom is the pick when you want ai-first customer service and messaging., and it leads on ease of use. It scores 4.4 in our testing.

We put Help Scout head to head with the 6 closest rivals we have tested, so you can switch on evidence, not a hunch.

Read our Help Scout review

Why people look elsewhere

Where Help Scout can fall short

Our full hands-on testing is still in progress

Pricing can climb on higher tiers

Ranked by our testing

6 alternatives worth your time

Intercom

4.4

AI-first customer service and messaging.

Ease of useFrom $39/moPaid only

Intercom is the pick when you want ai-first customer service and messaging., and it leads on ease of use.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.4

Our score

Try Intercom Read review

Crisp

4.3

Affordable live chat and shared inbox.

Ease of useFrom $25/moFree tier

Crisp is the pick when you want affordable live chat and shared inbox., and it leads on ease of use.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.3

Our score

Try Crisp Read review

Gorgias

4.3

Helpdesk built specifically for ecommerce.

Lower priceFrom $10/moPaid only

Gorgias starts at $10/mo, undercutting Help Scout's $22/mo while covering the same core ground.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.3

Our score

Try Gorgias Read review

Front

4.3

A shared inbox that blends email and support.

Lower priceFrom $19/moPaid only

Front starts at $19/mo, undercutting Help Scout's $22/mo while covering the same core ground.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.3

Our score

Try Front Read review

Zendesk

4.2

The enterprise help desk standard.

Lower priceFrom $19/moPaid only

Zendesk starts at $19/mo, undercutting Help Scout's $22/mo while covering the same core ground.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.2

Our score

Try Zendesk Read review

Freshdesk

4.2

Help desk software with a generous free tier.

Lower priceFrom $15/moFree tier

Freshdesk starts at $15/mo, undercutting Help Scout's $22/mo while covering the same core ground.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.2

Our score

Try Freshdesk Read review

Side by side

Help Scout vs the alternatives

Tool	Our score	From	Free tier	Best for
Help ScoutYou have	4.5	$22/mo	Yes	Email-first support that feels personal.
Intercom	4.4	$39/mo	No	AI-first customer service and messaging.
Crisp	4.3	$25/mo	Yes	Affordable live chat and shared inbox.
Gorgias	4.3	$10/mo	No	Helpdesk built specifically for ecommerce.
Front	4.3	$19/mo	No	A shared inbox that blends email and support.
Zendesk	4.2	$19/mo	No	The enterprise help desk standard.
Freshdesk	4.2	$15/mo	Yes	Help desk software with a generous free tier.

Our pick

Switch to Intercom

Intercom is the pick when you want ai-first customer service and messaging., and it leads on ease of use. It is the Help Scout alternative we recommend first for most people.

Try Intercom Compare them side by side

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Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we have tested, and commissions never change our scores or rankings. We currently track 218+ tools, including 8 across Customer Support.