Zendesk starts at $55 (per agent / month, annual), but the plan most teams end up on, Suite Professional, is $115 per person - about $1,150 per month for a team of 10, before add-ons.
| Tool | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshdesk | $19 | Limited free program | Growing teams that want omnichannel fast |
| Help Scout | $25 | Yes, 5 users, 1 inbox | Small teams, email-first support |
| Zoho Desk | $14 | Yes, 3 agents | Budget teams, especially existing Zoho users |
| Intercom | $29 | No, 14-day trial | Product-led SaaS, chat-first support |
Best for: Growing teams that want omnichannel fast
Similar ticketing depth at about a third of the entry price
Best for: Small teams, email-first support
Feels like email, live in days, predictable pricing
Best for: Budget teams, especially existing Zoho users
10 agents on Professional cost about $230/mo vs $1,150 on Zendesk
Best for: Product-led SaaS, chat-first support
Pick this if chat and AI deflection matter more than ticket queues - note Fin AI is $0.99 per resolution
On entry price, Intercom and the other options above start well below Zendesk's realistic plan at $115. The cheapest option that fits depends on the feature you actually use - check the best-for column.
On the Suite Professional plan at $115 per person, a team of 10 pays about $1,150 per month before add-ons. Hidden costs are listed on this page.
Yes - alternatives with a free plan are marked in the comparison table above, with their free-plan limits.