Independent · sourced · Updated November 2026
Best Helpdesk Software (2026)
9 helpdesk software options compared on price, free tier, compliance and fit — ranked by entry price. Every figure links to the public page it was captured from — the vendor's own wherever the vendor publishes the number, otherwise the named public source — with the date we captured it; where a vendor publishes no monthly price we name the kind of pricing it uses, never a guess.
The cheapest helpdesk software is Help Scout at $0/user/mo. 3 offer a free tier. All 9 compared below on price, free tier and compliance — every figure sourced and dated, updated November 2026.
As of Nov 1, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
Cite this comparison
Per The Front Desk Review, the cheapest helpdesk software is Help Scout at $0/user/mo; across 9 with published pricing the median is $23/mo ($9–$39/mo), 3 with a free tier, every figure sourced and dated, as of 2026-11-01. https://frontdeskreview.com/best/helpdesk-software/ Key takeaways
- Typical paid price: from $9/mo, median $23/mo, up to $39/mo — across 9 with published pricing.
- Free tier: Help Scout, Tidio, Zoho Desk.
- States HIPAA support: Help Scout, Zoho Desk, Gorgias, Zendesk, Freshdesk, Front, Intercom.
- Tracked: 9 vendors, data current through 2026-11-01. STALE · 2026-09-02
Comparison
| # | Helpdesk Software | Entry price | Free | HIPAA | SOC 2 | Best for | Source | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Help Scout | $0/user/mo Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Healthcare and HIPAA-regulated support teams (Pro plan) | helpscout.com | Visit → |
| 2 | Tidio | $0/mo Free | Yes | — | Yes | E-commerce SMBs on Shopify or WooCommerce wanting AI chat | tidio.com | Visit → |
| 3 | Zoho Desk | $0/user/mo Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Teams already in the Zoho ecosystem | zoho.com | Visit → |
| 4 | Gorgias STALE · 2026-09-02 | $10/mo Starter | No | Yes | Yes | Shopify and DTC e-commerce brands | gorgias.com | Visit → |
| 5 | LiveAgent STALE · 2026-09-27 | $19/user/mo Small Business | No | — | — | SMBs wanting an all-in-one helpdesk + call center without extra cost | liveagent.com | Visit → |
| 6 | Zendesk | $19/user/mo Support Team | No | Yes | Yes | Large enterprise support teams | zendesk.com | Visit → |
| 7 | Freshdesk | $23/user/mo Growth | — | Yes | Yes | SMBs scaling their first support team | freshworks.com | Visit → |
| 8 | Front STALE · 2026-09-02 | $25/user/mo Starter | No | Yes | Yes | Operations and logistics teams managing high-volume external email | front.com | Visit → |
| 9 | Intercom STALE · 2026-09-09 | $39/user/mo Essential | No | Yes | Yes | SaaS product teams wanting in-app chat + support in one tool | intercom.com | Visit → |
Prices are the lowest published self-serve rate, with the period it is charged on, as captured on the linked source. Annual-billing and usage details are on each vendor's record in our open dataset.
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What is the cheapest helpdesk software?
Help Scout has the lowest published entry price at $0/user/mo (Free), as of 2026-11-01.
How much does helpdesk software cost per month?
Across the 9 helpdesk software with published paid pricing, the median starting price is $23/mo, ranging from $9/mo to $39/mo, as of 2026-11-01. 3 also offer a free tier.
Which helpdesk software have a free plan?
Help Scout, Tidio, Zoho Desk offer a free tier.
Which helpdesk software support HIPAA?
Help Scout, Zoho Desk, Gorgias, Zendesk, Freshdesk, Front, Intercom state HIPAA support (a BAA). Always confirm current scope with the vendor.
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