Is there a free alternative to Zendesk?

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

Why switch away from Zendesk?

Zendesk 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 Zendesk alternatives

Q: What is the best alternative to Zendesk?

Help Scout is our top Zendesk alternative. Unlike Zendesk, Help Scout ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it. It scores 4.5 in our testing.

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

Read our Zendesk review

Why people look elsewhere

Where Zendesk 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

Help Scout

4.5

Email-first support that feels personal.

Free planFrom $22/moFree tier

Unlike Zendesk, Help Scout ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.

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

4.5

Our score

Try Help Scout Read review

Intercom

4.4

AI-first customer service and messaging.

Higher ratedFrom $39/moPaid only

Intercom edges out Zendesk in our testing, scoring 4.4 to 4.2 overall.

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.

Free planFrom $25/moFree tier

Unlike Zendesk, Crisp ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.

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 Zendesk's $19/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.

Higher ratedFrom $19/moPaid only

Front edges out Zendesk in our testing, scoring 4.3 to 4.2 overall.

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

4.3

Our score

Try Front Read review

Freshdesk

4.2

Help desk software with a generous free tier.

Free planFrom $15/moFree tier

Unlike Zendesk, Freshdesk ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.

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

4.2

Our score

Try Freshdesk Read review

Side by side

Zendesk vs the alternatives

Tool	Our score	From	Free tier	Best for
ZendeskYou have	4.2	$19/mo	No	The enterprise help desk standard.
Help Scout	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.
Freshdesk	4.2	$15/mo	Yes	Help desk software with a generous free tier.

Our pick

Switch to Help Scout

Unlike Zendesk, Help Scout ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it. It is the Zendesk alternative we recommend first for most people.

Try Help Scout 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.