Best tools · Customer Support
Best tools to run a help desk
Ticketing and shared inbox for support teams. 5 tools in this list, 3 with a free plan.
How this list is ranked. Tools are ordered by how strongly they are built for this job (as tagged in VERILO’s catalogue), then by editorial score and editor rating. Affiliate relationships and featured status are never inputs.
- 01
Zendesk
Built for itEnterprise-grade help desk with ticketing, messaging, voice and a help center on per-agent pricing.
4.5From $19/moFree trial- This is a core use case of the product.
- Includes AI agents, Workflow automation, API access
- 02
Help Scout
Built for itEmail-style shared inbox, knowledge base and chat widget for support teams, priced by contacts helped.
4.3From $50/moFree plan- This is a core use case of the product.
- Includes AI assistant, Workflow automation, API access
- 03
Freshdesk
Built for itTicket-based help desk from Freshworks with a free tier for two agents and per-agent paid plans.
4.1From $15/moFree plan- This is a core use case of the product.
- Includes AI assistant, Roles & permissions, Workflow automation
- 04
Intercom
Good at itChat-first customer service platform with a shared inbox, help center and the Fin AI agent.
4.4From $29/moFree trial- Well supported, though not the product's main focus.
- Includes AI agents, Workflow automation, API access
- 05
Crisp
Good at itAll-in-one customer messaging platform with live chat, shared inbox and chatbots, priced per workspace.
3.9From $45/moFree plan- Well supported, though not the product's main focus.
- Includes AI agents, Workflow automation, API access
Choosing between the top two?
See Zendesk and Help Scout side by side on pricing, free plans, ease of use and features.
Compare Zendesk vs Help Scout5 tools compared. Each listing shows when its information was last reviewed; prices can change, so check the vendor’s pricing page before you decide.