--- title: "Free Help Desk Software for Startups with AI | BoldDesk" description: "Get free help desk software for startups for 12 months. Manage tickets, AI support, automation, and omnichannel customer service. Free migration" url: "https://www.bolddesk.com/help-desk-software-for-startups" last_updated: 2026-11-02 --- Startup Program, Now Accepting Applications # Help Desk Software for Startups, Free for 12 Months Deliver exceptional customer support from day one with BoldDesk. 24/7 AI ticket agents, omnichannel AI assistance, and automated workflows take care of repetitive tasks, empowering your team to focus on resolving customer issues faster. [Apply for the Startup Program](https://www.bolddesk.com/startups/request) [Book a Free Demo](https://www.bolddesk.com/request-demo) Trusted by Companies of all Sizes ![G2 Spring 2026 awards showcase 4.5/5 rating with Leader, High Performer, Momentum Leader and Best Results badges earned](https://www.bolddesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/G2-badge-image.webp) Backed by Syncfusion 41K+ Companies worldwide 25+ Years in business 80% of the Fortune 500 use Syncfusion software * * * 3M+ Tickets Migrated Free Migration & Onboarding SOC 2, GDPR & HIPAA Compliant · HIPAA with BAA 99.9% Uptime SLA Startup program eligibility ## Check if Your Startup Qualifies If your startup meets all three, you get BoldDesk free for 12 months: full features, up to 5 agent seats, 1,000 AI credits a month, free data migration included. [Apply for the Startup Program](https://www.bolddesk.com/startups/request) - Approval status arrives by email. Don’t meet all three?  [Start a 15-day free trial](https://app.bolddesk.com/signup?) instead, migration still free. Annual recurring revenue under $1M Based on your current ARR at the time of application. Total funding raised under $10M Across all rounds to date, including pre-seed through Series A. New to BoldDesk Current or former paying BoldDesk customers are not eligible for this specific offer. Built to scale with you ## Everything a Growing Support Team Needs, in One Plan Help desk software features that are switched on from day one, not reserved for a higher tier. ### AI that resolves, not just replies - Explore BoldDesk AI The AI Agent resolves common requests the moment they come in, no queue and no wait, so your team only steps in for tickets that truly need a human touch. ![BoldDesk AI agents for startups automating customer support with smart replies, ticket insights, and knowledge recommendations](https://www.bolddesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/BoldDesk-AI-1-1024x585.webp) Industry fit ## Customer Support Solutions for Every Kind of Startup Empower your team with help desk software featuring AI agent support, tailored to your sector. [SaaS Track bugs, feature requests, and team tickets in one queue, auto-assigned across your dev team.](https://www.bolddesk.com/industries/help-desk-for-saas)[Education Answer students, parents, and staff from a single inbox, with a self-serve help center for repeat questions.](https://www.bolddesk.com/industries/help-desk-for-education)[Finance Handle account and compliance queries with audit logs, role-based access, and SLA tracking built in.](https://www.bolddesk.com/industries/finance-help-desk)[Healthcare Resolve technical and compliance issues fast, with centralized documentation and HIPAA support under a signed BAA.](https://www.bolddesk.com/help-desk-for-healthcare) [Explore More Industries](https://www.bolddesk.com/industries) AI Powered Support ## Answer Routine Questions Instantly, Day or Night Growing startups can't afford a large support team, but customers still expect fast, accurate answers. BoldDesk combines AI-powered self-service and agent assistance to help you deliver exceptional support at scale. - **AI Agent** handles routine questions instantly, including password resets, order updates, and account access, 24/7, without creating tickets or adding to your team's workload. - **AI Actions** connect with your CRM, ERP, and e-commerce tools to fetch customer information and perform tasks in real time, without leaving the help desk. [See BoldDesk AI in detail](https://www.bolddesk.com/agent-builder) ![icon](https://www.bolddesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/star-point.svg) What the free program covers AI Agent, AI Copilot and AI Actions, with 1,000 AI credits included every month. Extra credits are $40 per 1,000. ![BoldDesk help desk software for startups automating responses to routine customer questions through AI-powered support](https://www.bolddesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/answer-routine-questions-instantly.svg) Why Startups Choose BoldDesk ## Free to Start, Fast to Launch, Ready to Scale A full year at zero cost, live the same week, and per-agent pricing that drops as the team grows. Free for 12 months, up to 5 agents Qualifying startups get the full BoldDesk plan at no cost for a full year, with up to 5 agents and 1,000 AI credits a month. 1,000 AI credits included every month AI Agent works from your first ticket, so overnight and weekend requests are not waiting for someone to log in. No lock-in, no surprise renewal BoldDesk contacts you around 30 days before the free year ends, so nothing renews unannounced. Move to a paid plan or walk away. Live in hours, not weeks Guided onboarding comes with every plan, including the free program, and most teams are productive within hours of go-live. Free expert migration, for every customer Tickets, contacts, and knowledge base articles move at no cost. More than 3 million tickets have been migrated to BoldDesk. Per-agent cost falls as you add seats After the free year, plans start at $99 a month billed yearly, with unlimited human agents. Integrations ## Seamlessly Integrate Your Startup Help Desk With the Apps You Already Run BoldDesk works with your favorite tools, like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Workspace, to streamline workflows, improve communication, and boost team productivity. ![Integration icons for Jira, Salesforce, Zapier, Shopify, Slack, and HubSpot centered around the orange BoldDesk logo.](https://www.bolddesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Integration-1-1024x123.webp) - Connect Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Workspace so support work reaches the team where it already happens. - Build anything else on a documented REST API and webhooks with no plan upgrade required to use them. - Fit tickets into your existing workflow with marketplace apps rather than rebuilding around the help desk. [Explore Integrations](https://www.bolddesk.com/integrations) Any device ## Always-On Support: Help Desk Access Across All Devices Stay connected with customers on the go. Access, manage, and resolve tickets securely using a cloud-based help desk for startups, from any device, anywhere. ![BoldDesk mobile live chat app displaying customer conversations and real-time messaging, enabling support teams to manage customer service interactions from Android devices.](https://www.bolddesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Help-Desk-Access-1024x655.webp) - Mobile-ready. Tablet-friendly. Desktop-optimized. - Deliver fast, secure support from iOS, Android, Mac, or Windows right when your customers need it most. [![Download BoldDesk App QR Code](https://www.bolddesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/app-store.webp)](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bolddesk/id6451113762)[![Download BoldDesk mobile app on the Apple App Store.](https://www.bolddesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/App-Store-1.webp)](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bolddesk/id6451113762) [![Download BoldDesk App QR Code](https://www.bolddesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/play-store.webp)](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.syncfusion.bolddesk)[![Download BoldDesk mobile app on the Google Play Store.](https://www.bolddesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Google-Play-Store-button.webp)](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.syncfusion.bolddesk) Customer proof ## What BoldDesk Customers Say A few words from customers who run support on BoldDesk every day, across company sizes. - ["BoldDesk is easily configurable, highly intuitive, and has many features one would only expect to have in higher priced products." **John S** Head of Customer Support Ethos Beauty Partners](https://www.g2.com/products/bolddesk/reviews/bolddesk-review-9784683) - ["The overall application functionality is good, UI/UX and the configurations including automations all the other services are constantly working fine." **Harsha R** Support Team Lead LTIMindtree](https://www.g2.com/products/bolddesk/reviews/bolddesk-review-9622891) - ["BoldDesk has everything you could imagine in a customer service platform, including many features like APIs that we are yet to explore fully." **Carlos R** VP of Operations Movisis Tecnologia Limited](https://www.g2.com/products/bolddesk/reviews/bolddesk-review-10307535) - [“BoldDesk provided an all-in-one solution that saves time and reduces redundancy, improving the user experience and shortening ticketing time by 50%.” **Amy** Syncfusion](https://www.bolddesk.com/customers/syncfusion) - [“Almost overnight, a problem that I've been fighting with every other day went away.” **Mike Omiccioli** Apexa iQ](https://www.bolddesk.com/customers/apexaiq) - [“I didn't know BoldDesk one year ago, and I have discovered a very good solution. Easy to integrate. The API is very well documented” **Luc Fombonne** ioteecs](https://www.bolddesk.com/customers/ioteecs) Free Migration & Onboarding ## Already Paying for a Help Desk? We Move It Free. Startups on the program often arrive mid-contract. Nothing gets lost, and nothing gets paid twice. ![Help desk migration interface showing tools import from Zendesk, Freshdesk and Salesforce with secure data transfer dashboard](https://www.bolddesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Switch-to-BoldDesk-Without-the-Migration-Risk-1-1024x618.webp) Free expert-led migration Tickets, contacts, knowledge base, and automations, rebuilt so your rules work from day one. Review in a live sandbox Verify everything before your team switches over. Nothing changes until you say so. Free until your contract ends Switch before renewal without paying for two help desks. Guided onboarding on every plan Most teams are productive within hours of go-live. Secure, expert-led migration | 3M+ tickets migrated [Talk to a Migration Expert](https://www.bolddesk.com/migration) - Up to 70% Savings vs Zendesk - G2 Leader Fastest Implementation - 30 Day Money-Back Guarantee - Enterprise Grade Security - 99.9% Uptime SLA Security & Compliance ## Pass a Security Review Before You Have a Security Team Protect customer data with secure infrastructure, compliance-ready controls, and enterprise-grade access management. All of it standard on the startup program. - SOC 2 Type 2 report & GDPR compliant - AES-256 encrypted infrastructure - SSO and IP restrictions - HIPAA compliance with a signed BAA - Secure cloud architecture - Role-based access control and audit logs ![Security compliance badges showing SOC 2, RBAC, GDPR and HIPAA standards for data protection and access control systems](https://www.bolddesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Enterprise-Grade-Security-and-Compliance-1-1-1024x632.webp) Before you apply ## Frequently Asked Questions About the Startup Program Who is eligible for the program? Startups with annual recurring revenue under $1M and total funding under $10M that are new to BoldDesk. Current or former paying customers are not eligible. Which BoldDesk plan is included in the program? The full BoldDesk plan, with every feature, up to 5 agents and 1,000 AI credits a month, so there is no tier to choose between. Is AI Agent free for startups? Yes. Startups get 1,000 AI credits every month during the free year, for AI Agent and AI Copilot. Extra credits are $40 per 1,000. How will I know if my application is approved? After you submit your application, BoldDesk emails you with your approval status and the steps to get started. What happens after the free period ends? BoldDesk contacts you about 30 days before your free period ends. You can move to a paid plan, priced 15% lower on yearly billing, or cancel. What if I need more than 5 agents during the free year? Contact the BoldDesk team and they will walk through the options available for your account. What if I don’t qualify for the startup program? You can still start a 15-day free trial and choose from flexible paid plans as your startup grows. Free migration applies either way. What terms and conditions will apply? The BoldDesk [EULA](https://www.bolddesk.com/legal/privacy-policy) will apply. You must ensure you abide by all of the terms. Any false statements about funding criteria and revenue details will result in the withdrawal of any applied discounts, and you may be asked to reimburse BoldDesk any discounts received as a consequence of falsely stated information. - Still weighing up how to run support? Read the [do’s and don’ts for startup customer support.](https://www.bolddesk.com/help-desk-software-for-startups/dos-and-donts) ## A Year of Support Handled Free, Starting This Week Apply in minutes and BoldDesk emails your approval status. Guided onboarding comes with the program, we migrate your existing tickets free, and you don't pay until your current contract ends. Not a startup? Our [help desk software](https://www.bolddesk.com/help-desk-software) plans cover every team size. - Unlimited Human Agents - No Forced Upgrades - Free Migration - No Credit Card Required - Cancel Anytime [Apply for the Startup Program](https://www.bolddesk.com/startups/request) [Book a Free Demo](https://www.bolddesk.com/request-demo)