Published for 2027 by the PromoteLabs team. Prices are per agent per month, billed yearly, as listed in late 2026.
For most small businesses, Help Scout is the easiest help desk to start with: it has a free plan for up to 5 users and paid plans from $25 per user. Freshdesk (from $19 per agent) and Zendesk (from $19 for email, $55 for the full Suite) suit growing teams that need more channels and automation. Intercom (from $29 per seat plus $0.99 per AI resolution) is best if you want AI to answer most questions. Kayako now sells an AI agent at $1 per resolved ticket.
Help desk software compared
| Tool | Starting price | Free plan | AI | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Help Scout | $25/user | Yes, up to 5 users | AI writing tools included; AI Answers $0.75 per resolution | Small, email-first teams |
| Freshdesk | $19/agent (Growth) | Limited free program | Freddy AI add-ons | Budget-friendly ticketing |
| Zendesk | $19/agent email; Suite from $55 | No, free trial | AI agents on every Suite plan | Growing multichannel teams |
| Intercom | $29/seat + $0.99 per Fin resolution | No | Fin AI agent at the core | AI-first support |
| Kayako | Kay AI $1 per resolved ticket; help desk on request | No | Kay AI agent | Done-for-you AI help desk |
How to choose a help desk
- Count your channels. Email only? A simple shared inbox is enough. Chat, phone and social? Look at Zendesk or Freshdesk.
- Estimate AI costs. Many tools now charge per AI-resolved conversation. Multiply by your monthly volume.
- Check seat limits. Per-agent pricing grows with your team.
- Start with a help center. Good help articles cut tickets and make AI answers more accurate.
Small business tip
Before you pay for any tool, write answers to your 10 most common questions and publish them as help articles. That alone often cuts support emails sharply, and every AI agent above works better with a solid help center behind it. See the full help desk comparison.
Keep reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free help desk software?
Help Scout has a free plan for up to 5 users, one inbox and 100 contacts a month, which suits very small teams.
How much does help desk software cost?
Usually $19 to $132 per agent a month, plus AI fees that are often charged per resolved conversation.
Do small businesses need AI in their help desk?
Not always. AI pays off when you get many repeat questions. Start with a good help center and saved replies.
Help Scout or Zendesk for a small business?
Help Scout is simpler and cheaper for email-first teams. Zendesk suits teams that need many channels and advanced routing.
