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Customer support is the backbone of any successful business. If you want to provide your customers with the best possible experience, you must have the right software to help you do that.
But how do you know which is the best customer service software for your needs?
While Zendesk is widely recognized in the market, its reputation doesn’t always guarantee satisfaction. Many users report that it falls short in critical areas, especially where intuitive workflows, responsiveness, and tailored support matter most.
This calls for an understanding of your needs and the selection of tools that align with them.
In this blog, we will examine a range of great Zendesk alternatives, analyzing their features, strengths, and key differences. Ready to find your perfect customer support software? Let’s get started!
Why should you look for Zendesk alternatives and competitors?
There are many factors that can make you want to find a replacement for Zendesk or look at other top competitors to Zendesk with more ideal options that align with your customer service objectives.
Some of the reasons why consumers are looking for great alternatives to Zendesk vs Freshdesk, as sourced from customer reviews, community forums, and other similar sources, are:
- Pricing concerns: Zendesk’s advanced features are only available with higher-priced subscriptions and add-ons, which may not be affordable for everyone. This makes it less accessible for startups or small teams. If you’re looking for alternatives more affordable than Zendesk, free of such costs, there are several free help desk software options that offer solid features without the hefty price tag.
- Complex setup process: Some businesses find Zendesk’s setup and configuration to be complex and time-consuming.
- Limited customer support: Users sometimes report dissatisfaction with Zendesk’s customer support, including long response times or unhelpful assistance.
- Scalability issues: As businesses grow, their customer service standards can evolve. Some users find that Zendesk may not scale effectively with their operations or that it lacks the flexibility needed for their expanding requirements, prompting a search for more adaptable solutions.
- Feature limitations: While Zendesk offers numerous features, some users may feel that certain functionalities are lacking or that the platform doesn’t effectively meet their specific needs.
- User experience challenges: Some users report that they struggle to use Zendesk effectively, indicating potential difficulties in navigating its features or interface.
- Integration difficulties: The process of integrating Zendesk with other systems is perceived by some users as cumbersome and lengthy, which can hinder seamless operation.
What are the top alternatives to Zendesk you should know about?
There are numerous alternatives to Zendesk that cater to diverse business needs. Let’s dive in and explore each potential replacement for Zendesk, its key features, and target audiences.
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1. BoldDesk®
The best Zendesk alternatives for startups and small-to-medium businesses.
If you are looking for the best alternative to Zendesk, a user-friendly and comprehensive help desk ticketing system that offers a range of AI-powered cloud-based features, we highly recommend our very own BoldDesk.
BoldDesk is a modern AI-driven customer service software platform that uses cutting-edge customer support tools such as ticketing system, live chat software, knowledge base, omnichannel support, and more.
BoldDesk’s wide range of features assists users in organizing support requests, collaborating with customers and teammates, and automating repetitive tasks to enhance and streamline the overall customer experience.
This great alternative to Zendesk is highly scalable and offers an intuitive help desk solution for businesses that want to provide exceptional customer support.
BoldDesk’s key features
Below is the BoldDesk features overview:
| Robust ticketing system | Help desk automation and customization | Mobile app |
| Multilingual knowledge base software | AI Copilot and AI Agent | Task management |
| Live chat software | User-friendly customer portal | Reports and analytics |
| Omnichannel support | Seamless integrations | Security and compliance features |
Below are BoldDesk’s features in detail.
- AI assistance: BoldDesk offers a built-in AI Copilot and AI Agent that provide real-time support, accurate suggestions, ticket summaries, multilingual support, and more; features that often require premium add-ons in Zendesk.
- Integrations: BoldDesk includes integration features that allow users to connect with their preferred tools and applications, streamlining their workflow, organizing data, and increasing overall productivity.
- Real-time chat support: Customer service representatives can provide real-time and personalized responses to end users with BoldDesk’s live chat support.
- Seamless omnichannel inbox: Support agents can easily respond to and manage all customer inquiries from multiple channels within a single unified inbox, with BoldDesk’s omnichannel customer service feature.
- Email-to-ticket conversion: This Zendesk alternative utilizes a ticketing system that automatically converts customer emails into tickets, allowing agents to manage and address customer inquiries effectively.
- Robust automation features: BoldDesk offers a range of powerful automation options to manage ticket routing, eliminate repetitive tasks, reduce manual work, and improve agent productivity.
- Enhanced usability: BoldDesk is designed with a user-friendly interface, ensuring that both service agents and customers can easily navigate and utilize the software.
- Flexible plans: The affordable BoldDesk pricing tiers are a no-brainer compared to Zendesk’s pricing!
BoldDesk pricing
BoldDesk stands out as a Zendesk alternative with AI features, offering flexible pricing plans with no hidden costs, to help businesses build efficient, cost-effective support teams.
| Plan | Price per human agent | AI Agent resolution cost | AI Agent access | AI Copilot access |
| Scale | $12/agent/month | Not available | ❌ | ❌ |
| Momentum | $25/agent/month | $0.75/resolution | ✅ | ✅ |
| Enterprise | $39/agent/month | $0.75/resolution | ✅ | ✅ |
Note: AI agents are available only in Momentum and Enterprise plans, with a performance-based pricing of $0.75 per successful resolution.
Additionally, you can supercharge your human agents with the AI Copilot, available as an add-on for just $20 per month.
Empower your support team with BoldDesk’s perfect blend of AI efficiency and human touch.
Scaling up? We’ll design the perfect Zendesk replacement plan for your needs. Connect with our team today.
Pros
- Offers cost-effective and flexible pricing plans.
- Allows seamless integration with third-party software.
- Provides automation tools that streamline repetitive tasks.
- Provides swift support response, ensuring that users receive timely assistance.
How does BoldDesk compare to Zendesk?
- User interface: In the BoldDesk vs Zendesk customer support software comparison , BoldDesk provides a more modern and user-friendly interface.
- Free expert-led migration from Zendesk: BoldDesk offers a free help desk migration service, with a dedicated accounts manager to deal with importing your Zendesk data and setup. The migration team ensures the new customers smoothly switch from Zendesk to BoldDesk.
Additionally, BoldDesk offers a contract buyout program, allowing businesses to migrate from Zendesk without waiting for their current contract to end. The Zendesk migration typically takes a few hours to a few days, depending on data volume.
- Money-back guarantee: In special cases, BoldDesk offers a 30-day money-back guarantee with a 100% refund, no excuse needed.
To learn more about BoldDesk features that make it the right Zendesk alternative, take a look at the next video.
2. Gorgias
Gorgias is one of the best Zendesk alternatives for small businesses that utilize Shopify.
Gorgias is help desk software created specifically for e-commerce companies, with over 12,000 merchants using it.
The Gorgias customer support platform helps in connecting and managing all customer service communication channels: email, chat, phone, social media, and SMS in one dashboard. Major e-commerce systems like Shopify all smoothly integrate with it.
Gorgias pricing
Starts at $50 for 300 help desk tickets/month.
Free trial: 7 days
Pros
- Affordable pricing plans.
- Shopify integration for e-commerce.
- Has robust customization options.
Cons
- Pricing varies with the ticket limits.
How does Gorgias compare to Zendesk?
- Primary objective: Gorgias is tailored specifically for e-commerce businesses and integrates with numerous e-commerce platforms. Conversely, Zendesk is a broader customer service program.
- User interface: In comparison to Zendesk, Gorgias offers a more contemporary and user-friendly interface.
3. Zoho Desk
Zoho Desk is one of the alternatives to Zendesk for sales-focused teams.
Zoho Desk is designed to help businesses manage their customer service operations.
It provides a centralized platform with features such as multichannel support, customizable workflows, AI-powered chatbots, and integration to help users in handling customer queries, support tickets, and other related activities.
Zoho Desk pricing
Starts at $4/agent/month.
Free trial: 15 days
Pros
- Provides a free plan.
- Offers cost-effective pricing options.
- Includes automation in all available plans.
Cons
- The free plan lacks integrations
How does Zoho Desk compare to Zendesk?
- Cost-effectiveness: Zoho Desk provides a free plan suitable for small teams with limited budgets, whereas Zendesk primarily caters to larger teams with greater financial resources.
- Automation emphasis: While Zendesk includes automation features, Zoho Desk primarily focuses on its AI-powered chatbot.
4. HubSpot Service Hub
HubSpot Service Hub is one of the ideal Zendesk alternatives for teams in need of a comprehensive CRM tool.
HubSpot is a CRM tool that includes a ticketing system and live chat capabilities. It offers a customer service solution called Service Hub, which is particularly advantageous for teams already using HubSpot’s CRM.
Pricing
Starts at $9/month/seat.
Free trial: 14 days
Pros
- A comprehensive solution for managing marketing, sales, support, and content.
- Automation for marketing and sales tasks.
- A unified content management system.
Cons
- Only includes annual contracts.
How does HubSpot compare to Zendesk?
- Ecosystem: The HubSpot Service Hub ecosystem allows for seamless integration of various HubSpot applications. While Zendesk does offer some additional features, its ecosystem is not as advanced as HubSpot’s.
- Cross-functional team alignment: While the HubSpot Service Hub supports team collaboration and personalization in ticket routing, Zendesk can only allow ticket assignment to a specific team.
5. Freshdesk
Freshdesk is amongst the affordable Zendesk alternatives suitable for larger teams.
Freshdesk is a customer support tool that efficiently converts customer inquiries from emails, phone calls, web forms, chat, and social media channels into manageable tickets.
Pricing
Starts at $15/agent/month.
Free trial: 14 days
Pros
- Integrates various customer channels into a shared inbox.
- Allows an entire team to be aligned on one app.
- Offers reply templates to respond to frequently asked or repetitive questions.
Cons
- Has limited communication channels.
How does Freshdesk compare to Zendesk?
- Customer support: Freshdesk offers 24/7 phone assistance to its customers even with lower subscription levels, whereas Zendesk only provides this option for more expensive Premier plans.
- User interface: Freshdesk offers a more intuitive interface compared to Zendesk, although it is less customizable.
6. Help Scout
Help Scout is one of the best Zendesk alternatives for remote teams.
Help Scout offers a range of features for custom workflows, automation, and reports and analytics to help users check what’s in the queue, reply to customers, assign conversations to teammates, and improve response times.
Pricing
Starts at $50/month for 100 contacts & unlimited users.
Free trial: 15 days
Pros
- Provides an excellent user interface for monitoring emails.
- Possesses a tagging system.
- Features a workflow that streamlines and automates tasks.
Cons
- Limited knowledge base customization.
How does Help Scout compare to Zendesk?
- Pricing: Help Scout offers cheaper plans than Zendesk.
- Target audience: Help Scout is better for startups and small businesses, while Zendesk is designed for mid-sized and large firms.
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7. Intercom
Intercom is one of the best Zendesk alternatives that is effective for self-service assistance and teams wanting chat-heavy features.
Intercom combines a Fin AI agent and other help desk features that interconnect every team and function, allowing them to interact and communicate with their customers in real time.
Pricing
Starts at $29/seat/month.
Free trial: 14 days
Pros
- The process of setting up Intercom requires minimal time.
- It possesses a comprehensive knowledge base.
- It integrates with company websites.
Cons
- Has extra usage-based and add-on fees.
How does Intercom compare to Zendesk?
- User interface design: Intercom’s user interface is contemporary and elegant. In contrast, Zendesk’s user interface may appear more organized and limiting.
- Messaging-centric approach: While Zendesk primarily concentrates on ticket management, Intercom provides a messaging-centric approach.
8. HappyFox
HappyFox is one of the right Zendesk alternatives for teams wanting project management features.
HappyFox is a cloud-based customer service software that helps businesses in optimizing workflows, tracking and managing customer inquiries across diverse communication channels.
Pricing
Starts at $21/agent/month
Free trial: 14 days
Pros
- Provides live chat support.
- Conducts surveys that are progressive and beneficial.
- Offers a case-management feature.
Cons
- Some users find the email management capabilities lacking
How does HappyFox compare to Zendesk?
- Smart rules: In comparison to Zendesk’s automation capabilities, HappyFox’s smart rules optimize automated workflows better.
- Task management: HappyFox provides a task management feature that aids agents in streamlining their workflows. Zendesk does not provide one on its own.
9. Groove
Groove is one of the Zendesk alternatives for enterprise help desks and mid-market companies.
Groove, one of the Zendesk competitors, is a sales engagement tool with functionalities such as customization, email management, and knowledge base software.
With Groove, teams can collaborate on accounts in connected workspaces, and admins can configure views and workflows by role or by team.
Pricing
Starts at $24/agent/month.
Free trial: 30 days
Pros
- Budget-friendly pricing plans compared to Zendesk.
- Easy-to-use functionalities.
- Simple user interface.
Cons
- Includes very few feature options, and some are limited.
How does Groove compare to Zendesk?
- Simplicity and ease of use: While not as customizable as Zendesk, Groove is highly efficient and simple to set up and utilize.
- Personalized approach: Groove puts an emphasis on personalized customer experiences. Conversely, Zendesk frequently faces criticism regarding inadequate customer support.
10. Front
Front is among the top-rated Zendesk alternatives for startups focused on account management.
Front is a customer service platform with human interaction as its top priority. Front is an option for individuals seeking Zendesk similar products for managing customer service.
The platform keeps all team discussions in a single place, a shared team inbox. It combines messages from email, live website chat, SMS, and social media channels.
Pricing
Starts at $25/seat/month (up to 10 seats).
Free trial: 14 days
Pros
- Offers centralized communication.
- Has a comprehensive mobile app.
- Adaptable pricing.
Cons
- Limited reporting and analytics features.
How does Front compare to Zendesk?
- Collaboration: Front’s software has numerous collaborative features. While Zendesk does offer some collaboration tools, they primarily focus on individual ticket assignment.
- Channel setup: Front’s channel setup is simpler and faster than Zendesk, which requires more extensive configuration and integration.
11. Hiver
This Zendesk alternatives solution is for customer support teams who use Gmail but require assistance in handling customer inquiries.
Hiver is one of the ideal Zendesk alternatives that integrates with Google Workspace to help teams collaborate on generic email IDs like operations@ and support@.
Rather than introducing a completely new system, Hiver improves a company’s existing Google Office tools by incorporating customer service functionalities like shared inboxes, analytics, and SLAs.
Pricing
Starts at $19/agent/month.
Free trial: 7 days
Pros
- Setting up and managing ongoing tasks is easy.
- Customer support has prompt check-ins and quick responses.
- Support emails can be handled with transparency.
Cons
- Changing the pricing plans often.
How does Hiver compare to Zendesk?
- Pricing: Hiver offers budget-friendly pricing plans while Zendesk offers slightly expensive pricing plans with certain features that can only be accessed at an extra cost.
- Canned responses accessibility: Hiver allows every team member to share canned responses, unlike Zendesk, which only allows admins to share canned responses.
12. Kustomer
Kustomer is one of the top alternatives to Zendesk for teams wanting CRM capabilities.
Kustomer is a customer relationship management (CRM) platform that, unlike traditional ticket-based systems, places a strong emphasis on the customers themselves. It aims to ensure that businesses have a complete understanding of every customer.
Pricing
Starts at $89/seat/month.
Free trial: Contact Kustomer
Pros
- Conversational AI enables advanced automation.
- The interface is customizable.
- Customer segments can be easily created.
Cons
- Challenging learning process.
How does Kustomer compare to Zendesk?
- Customer service: Kustomer provides a customer-oriented method for dealing with inquiries, whereas Zendesk primarily focuses on managing tickets.
13. ServiceNow
ServiceNow is among the popular alternatives to Zendesk suitable for IT teams.
ServiceNow is a cloud-based workflow automation platform that combines all customers’ IT needs into a single platform. Its purpose is to facilitate rapid development and automation. This Zendesk alternative enables the connection of data and organizational divisions.
Pricing
Contact ServiceNow for pricing.
Free trial: 30 days
Pros
- Suitable for IT operations and agile environments.
- Numerous options are available for ticket automation.
- User-friendly interface.
Cons
- Its capabilities are limited primarily to ITSM
How does ServiceNow compare to Zendesk?
- Scope and functionality: ServiceNow provides an array of IT service management solutions. In contrast, Zendesk primarily concentrates on customer support and service management.
- Customization options: ServiceNow has adaptable customization features, while Zendesk’s functionalities are comparatively more restricted.
14. LiveAgent
LiveAgent is one of the Zendesk competitors that serves as an option for live chat support.
LiveAgent offers features that enhance the quality of customer assistance in an online setting. This top-rated Zendesk alternative has 200+ native integrations to streamline business communication channels and manage customer interactions.
Pricing
Starts at $19/agent/month.
Free trial: 30 days
Pros
- Users are able to monitor conversations from all platforms.
- It is user-friendly.
- It offers efficient back-end tools for acquiring new accounts.
Cons
- The mobile apps are not user-friendly.
How does LiveAgent compare to Zendesk?
- Pricing: LiveAgent offers a more affordable and flexible pricing structure than Zendesk.
- All-in-one solution: LiveAgent is an all-encompassing customer support platform, whereas Zendesk offers multiple products you have to purchase separately.
15. Helpjuice
Helpjuice is one of the ideal Zendesk alternatives for a cloud-based knowledge base software.
Helpjuice is user-friendly and efficient at helping enterprises build and maintain their knowledge bases.
Pricing
Starts at $249/30 users/month.
Free trial: 14 days
Pros
- Dependable customer support.
- Easy-to-use interface.
- Comprehensive knowledge base features.
Cons
- Limited integrations, automation, and customization options.
How does Helpjuice compare to Zendesk?
The main contrast between the two lies in their areas of emphasis. Zendesk primarily focuses on ticket management, whereas Helpjuice prioritizes the creation and maintenance of internal and external knowledge bases.
Helpjuice is one of the top Zendesk competitors that places a significant importance on team collaboration and content management above all other aspects.
16. Gladly
Gladly is one of the best Zendesk alternatives and competitors, designed to streamline customer service operations.
Gladly is an all-in-one platform, letting agents respond to customers across all channels from a single screen but without tickets.
Pricing
For pricing and a free trial, contact the Gladly sales team.
Pros
- The user interface is user-friendly.
- Excellent call quality.
- Personalized customer support.
Cons
- Separate pricing rates for calls
How does Gladly compare to Zendesk?
- Customer-centricity: Gladly focuses mainly on individual customer conversations while Zendesk is more for ticket management.
How to choose the right Zendesk alternative
When selecting the best Zendesk alternatives & competitors for your business, consider several factors:
- Your company’s needs: Figure out what features you need. Do extensive research on the help desks on the market and the features they provide.
- Scalability: See which Zendesk alternative can adapt and grow with your company.
- Integration: Select a help desk that can be easily integrated with your current apps to simplify your agents’ workload.
- Customer reviews: Check on reputable software review sites and learn from real customers the pros and cons of each help desk.
- Support: See what kind of support is available for the Zendesk replacement you evaluate. Is there self-service documentation? Can you reach live support if needed, either by chat or phone? See if their live support is available during the work hours of your time zone.
- Cost and pricing plans: Learn about monthly and yearly pricing plans, evaluating which combination of price and features works best for your business.
A summary comparison table of top Zendesk competitors
There are many help desk software options in the market today. The following summary table compiles Zendesk’s biggest competitors to help you choose the best option for your customer service success.
| Name | Features | Pricing | G2 User ratings | Best use case |
| BoldDesk |
|
Starts at $12 per agent/month | 4.5 | Best for startups and small businesses |
| Gorgias |
|
Starts at $50 for 300 tickets/month | 4.6 | Best for small businesses that utilize Shopify |
| Zoho Desk |
|
Starts at $4/agent/month | 4.4 | Best for sales-focused teams |
| HubSpot Service Hub |
|
Starts at $20/month/seat | 4.4 | Best for teams in need of a comprehensive CRM tool |
| Freshdesk |
|
Starts at $15/agent/month | 4.4 | Suitable for larger teams |
| Help Scout |
|
Starts at $50/month for 100 contacts & unlimited users | 4.4 | Best for expanding teams |
| Intercom |
|
Starts at $29/seat/month | 4.5 | Best for self-service assistance and teams wanting chat-heavy features |
| HappyFox |
|
Starts at $21/agent/month | 4.5 | Best for teams wanting project management features |
| Groove |
|
Starts at $24/agent/month | 4.6 | Best for enterprise and mid-market companies |
| Front |
|
Starts at $25/seat/month (up to 10 seats) | 4.7 | Best for startups focused on account management |
| Hiver |
|
Starts at $19/agent/month | 4.6 | Best for customer support teams who use Gmail but require assistance in handling customer inquiries |
| Kustomer |
|
Starts at $89/seat/month | 4.4 | Best for teams wanting CRM capabilities |
| ServiceNow |
|
Contact ServiceNow for pricing | 4.4 | Best for teams wanting CRM capabilities |
| LiveAgent |
|
Starts at $19/agent/month | 4.5 | Best for live chat support |
| Helpjuice |
|
Starts at $249/30 users/month | 4.7 | Best for a cloud-based knowledge base software |
| Gladly |
|
Contact Gladly | 4.7 | Best for streamlining customer service operations |
Choose your support team’s ideal Zendesk alternative
When selecting a support platform, it is important to have a clear understanding of the functionalities, features, advantages, disadvantages, and pricing of the available options.
The alternatives to Zendesk listed in this blog have different features and pricing plans that might suit your company’s specific needs.
By exploring these alternatives to Zendesk, you can find a help desk solution that aligns with your business objectives and ensures excellent customer support.
We wish you success in finding the right top-rated alternative to Zendesk for your needs.
Should you have any feedback, ideas, or suggestions for BoldDesk, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below. Your opinion matters to us, and we’re excited to hear what you have to say!
Related articles
- 10 Best Freshdesk Alternatives for Businesses in 2025
- 15 Best Free Tools for Startups in 2025
- 15 Best Small Business Tools & Software (2025)
Frequently Asked Questions
Not at all. Most quality Zendesk alternatives & competitors, including BoldDesk, offer comprehensive free data migration tools and a dedicated team to smoothly and securely import your tickets, contacts, and other essential data without interruptions during the switch.
The time it takes to switch from Zendesk to alternatives can vary depending on the amount of data and the complexity of your setup. Generally, the migration process can take a few hours to several days.
Factors influencing the duration include the volume of tickets, custom fields, and integrations. It’s best to plan the migration in advance and allow sufficient time for data mapping and testing.
One of the most popular free help desk software alternatives to Zendesk is BoldDesk. It offers a generous one-year free plan for startups and small businesses with essential features like ticket management, automation, and a modern interface.
Other top Zendesk alternatives and competitors include Freshdesk, Zoho Desk, and HelpScout, which also provide free plans with varying features that can cater to different business needs.
Yes, most customer support platforms allow you to import data from Zendesk.
Common methods include using CSV file exports or utilizing built-in migration tools provided by the new platform.
It’s important to check the documentation of the specific alternative you are considering to understand the process and any limitations.
For small businesses, BoldDesk is the most affordable Zendesk alternative, especially appealing due to its free plans for small businesses like startups and NGOs.
It offers essential features like ticket management, automation, and a modern, user-friendly interface; making it ideal for startups and teams with limited budgets.
Other affordable Zendesk alternatives like Freshdesk and Zoho Desk are also recommended due to their intuitive design. HubSpot Service Hub is a good option as well, particularly if you are already using HubSpot for marketing or sales, since it integrates seamlessly with those tools.
Each of these platforms provides features tailored to smaller teams, including ticketing, automation, and reporting.
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