19 alternatives and competitors to Freshdesk for every type of business (2025 list)

Looking for an alternative to Freshdesk? We know your time is valuable, so instead of an extended comparison, we’ve put together a curated list of the top competitors to Freshdesk, showcasing what makes each stand out and the types of businesses they’re ideal for.

What is Freshdesk?

Freshdesk is a cloud-based customer support platform designed to help businesses manage interactions with their customers across multiple channels. It provides tools like ticketing systems, automation, and in-box collaboration features to streamline support operations.

Known for its intuitive interface, customizable workflows, and strong integration options, Freshdesk is a go-to solution for businesses of all sizes aiming to deliver efficient and organized customer service.

Why look for an alternative to Freshdesk?

Freshdesk is a popular and effective customer support tool,  but it may not fit every business's unique requirements. Common reasons to consider alternatives include:

1. Scalability concerns. As businesses grow, Freshdesk’s features or pricing might not scale efficiently to meet expanding needs.
2. Customization limitations. Some organizations require more flexibility or industry-specific solutions that Freshdesk may not offer.
3. Cost. The pricing structure of Freshdesk can become a concern for larger teams or those requiring advanced functionalities.
4. Feature gaps: Businesses might find that certain features or integrations they need are unavailable or limited in Freshdesk.
5. User experience
6. . Preferences for a more intuitive interface or different user experience can lead businesses to explore other options.

19 alternatives and competitors to Freshdesk that you should consider

1. Outvio Desk

Specialization: Customer service software for eCommerce

Outvio Desk is the only help desk solution designed to fully integrate customer service with order management and carrier selection systems. It synchronizes every step of the customer journey—from the moment a customer visits your website to shipping, tracking, and returns. 

Its robust features include automated notifications, real-time chat, AI-driven personalization, and self-service portals for returns and tracking, all designed to streamline operations and enhance customer satisfaction. With carrier integration and automation tools, Outvio reduces manual effort and improves efficiency at every stage.

When to choose it:

1. If you run an eCommerce business and need a tailored support solution
2. If you want end-to-end automation that integrates with carriers and order workflows
3. If omnichannel communication and AI-driven personalization are priorities

2. Zendesk

Specialization: Customer support with omnichannel and analytics for enterprises and agencies

Zendesk is a full-featured platform designed to manage the entire customer service lifecycle. It excels in handling tickets from multiple channels (email, live chat, social media, phone) while offering powerful workflow automation and customization. 

The platform includes advanced reporting tools for tracking performance and customer satisfaction. However, it can be pricey for small businesses, and its interface may feel overwhelming for new users.

When to choose it:

• If you are a medium or large enterprise with complex customer interactions requiring scalability and customization
• If you need a solution with advanced analytics and omnichannel support to unify customer communication

3. HelpScout

Specialization: Simple email-based help desk for team collaboration

Help Scout is a lightweight yet effective platform for teams focused on email-based customer service. It offers shared inboxes for team collaboration, an integrated knowledge base to deflect common questions, and customer profiles for context-rich support. 

The interface is clean and intuitive, making it easy to use. However, it lacks advanced features like built-in phone support or deep customizations.

When to choose it:

• If you’re on a tight budget but don’t want to sacrifice essential features
• If your business already relies on other Zoho tools and needs smooth integration

4. Zoho Desk

Specialization: Affordable multichannel support within the Zoho ecosystem

Zoho Desk offers a feature-rich support platform that’s ideal for small to medium-sized businesses on a budget. It supports email, live chat, and social media, with tools like SLA tracking and workflow automation 

Being part of the Zoho suite, it integrates seamlessly with tools like Zoho CRM. However, its interface can feel less polished, and external integrations outside the Zoho ecosystem are limited.

When to choose it:

• If you’re already using other Zoho products and want a tightly integrated support solution.
• If you’re seeking a cost-effective help desk for multichannel support.

5. Intercom

Specialization: Real-time customer engagement with chatbots and proactive support

Intercom combines live chat, email, and bots to create a customer engagement platform focused on proactive communication. Its advanced targeting and AI-driven automation make it ideal for generating leads and personalizing customer interactions. 

While it’s a powerful tool, its pricing can escalate quickly, and it may require technical expertise to implement effectively.

When to choose it:

• When your priority is engaging with customers in real-time to boost conversions
• When you’re looking for AI-powered automation and tailored customer journeys

6. Hubspot Service Hub

Specialization: Unified customer service integrated with marketing and sales

HubSpot Service Hub combines ticketing, automation, and knowledge base tools into a unified platform. The deep integration with HubSpot CRM ensures all customer data is accessible across teams, providing a cohesive customer experience.

While it’s feature-rich, its advanced tools are reserved for higher-priced plans, and it’s less flexible for users outside the HubSpot ecosystem.

When to choose it:

• If you’re already using HubSpot and want to unify marketing, sales, and support
• If you need a CRM-powered service platform to centralize customer interactions

7. Live Agent

Specialization: Budget-friendly help desk with live chat and ticketing

LiveAgent is a cost-effective help desk solution offering ticketing, live chat, and social media integration. Its basic plans are accessible to small businesses, while higher tiers provide more advanced features like call center tools. 

The platform supports over 200 integrations but may feel outdated compared to modern alternatives.

When to choose it:

• If you’re a small business looking for an affordable, feature-packed help desk
• If you need multi-channel support without breaking the budget

8. Kustomer

Specialization: Unified customer interaction platform with a 360° view

Kustomer organizes customer data into a unified timeline, enabling personalized and context-rich support. It integrates data from various sources and offers tools like automation and AI-driven chatbots. While it excels at contextual support, its pricing may be too high for smaller teams.

When to choose it:

• If you want to prioritize personalized, data-driven customer support
• If you need a platform that unifies customer data for enhanced agent efficiency

9. FreshService

Specialization: IT service management with incident tracking and asset management

Freshservice, part of the Freshworks suite, is tailored for IT teams needing tools for incident management, asset tracking, and automation. 

It’s user-friendly and integrates well with other Freshworks products. However, it’s primarily suited for internal IT service, not external customer support.

When to choose it:

• If you’re an IT team needing an affordable ITSM tool with strong asset management
• If you’re looking for a simple, scalable solution for internal service requests

10. Desk365

Specialization: Help desk built for Microsoft Teams integration

Desk365 integrates directly into Microsoft Teams, allowing businesses to handle customer inquiries within the Teams interface. It provides email ticketing, SLA management, and automation features for managing support workflows. 

While it’s a good choice for Microsoft-centric organizations, its feature set may not compete with more established platforms.

When to choose it:

• If your team heavily uses Microsoft Teams and needs a help desk integrated into that environment
• If you’re a small to medium-sized business seeking an affordable cloud-based support solution

11. Kayako

Specialization: Omnichannel customer support for seamless communication

Kayako provides a single view of all customer conversations, regardless of the channel. It emphasizes simplicity and ease of use while offering tools like live chat, email ticketing, and help center creation. 

However, it lacks advanced automation and analytics compared to larger platforms like Zendesk.

When to choose it:

• If you need a straightforward, omnichannel help desk solution with no steep learning curve
• If you’re a small to medium-sized business focused on enhancing customer communication

12. Tidio

Specialization: Affordable live chat and chatbot for small businesses

Tidio is an affordable, easy-to-use platform offering live chat and AI-powered chatbots to streamline customer communication. It integrates with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WordPress. 

While its automation features are strong, it’s not a full-featured help desk solution and is better suited for basic customer engagement.

When to choose it:

• If you’re a small business looking for an affordable live chat and chatbot tool
• If you need simple automation to manage customer inquiries efficiently

13. Crisp

Specialization: Messaging platform with team collaboration and multi-channel support

Crisp enables businesses to centralize customer communication via live chat, email, and social media. It also includes features like knowledge bases and a shared inbox for team collaboration. 

While it offers good customization options, its reporting capabilities are less advanced than competitors.

When to choose it:

• If you’re a small to medium-sized business looking for a messaging-first platform with solid integration options
• If you need a tool that prioritizes live chat and social media messaging

14. SalesForce Service Cloud

Specialization: Enterprise-grade service platform with CRM integration

Salesforce Service Cloud is built on the Salesforce CRM platform, offering powerful tools for ticketing, automation, and analytics. 

It excels in scalability and customization, making it ideal for large organizations with complex workflows. However, it comes with a high price tag and a steep learning curve.

When to choose it:

• If you’re an enterprise requiring advanced service management and CRM capabilities
• If you need a highly customizable platform to handle intricate workflows and reporting

15. Groove

Specialization: Simple, user-friendly help desk for small businesses

Groove focuses on simplicity and accessibility, offering email-based ticketing, a shared inbox, and a knowledge base. 

It’s designed for small teams who want to streamline customer support without the complexity of larger platforms. However, it lacks advanced features like automation or omnichannel capabilities.

When to choose it:

• If you’re a small business looking for an easy-to-use and affordable ticketing system
• If you need a lightweight solution without overwhelming features

16. JivoChat

Specialization: Multi-channel live chat for customer communication

JivoChat is a live chat solution designed for real-time customer interactions. It integrates with email, social media, and even phone support, making it versatile for businesses that want to centralize communication. While it’s affordable, it may not replace a full-featured help desk.

When to choose it:

• If you prioritize real-time communication through live chat and social media
• If you’re a small to medium-sized business looking for a cost-effective, multi-channel communication tool

17. Front

Specialization: Shared inbox platform for team collaboration 

Front is designed to bring transparency and collaboration to customer communication. It centralizes emails, social media, and other messaging platforms into a shared inbox, enabling teams to work together efficiently. It’s excellent for team workflows but lacks advanced customer service-specific features like ticket prioritization.

When to choose it:

• If you want a collaborative platform to manage team email and customer communication
• If you’re a growing business prioritizing internal efficiency in customer interactions

18. HappyFox

Specialization: Workflow-focused help desk with automation and ticket prioritization

HappyFox provides a powerful ticketing system with automation tools for task assignment, prioritization, and SLA tracking. It’s known for its clean interface and focus on making customer support workflows more efficient. However, it can be cost-prohibitive for smaller teams.

When to choose it:

• If you’re a medium or large business looking to automate repetitive customer service tasks
• If you value workflow optimization and advanced ticket management

19. Hiver

Specialization: Help desk solution built directly into Gmail

Hiver transforms Gmail into a fully functional help desk, allowing teams to manage customer support queries without leaving their inbox. 

It offers features like shared inboxes, email tagging, collision detection, and simple automation tools. Its design makes it ideal for teams already working within the Google Workspace ecosystem.

When to choose it:

• If your team operates heavily within Gmail and prefers not to switch platforms
• If you need a lightweight help desk solution that integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace

How to migrate from Freshdesk to an alternative

So, you’ve decided to move on from Freshdesk and switch to a better alternative—congrats!

Choosing the right tool is a big step, but now it’s time to make the transition happen. While migrating to a Freshdesk competitor might seem overwhelming, with a clear plan, it can be a seamless process.

First, familiarize yourself with the alternative platform you’ve chosen. Before diving into data migration, configure the basics to fit your workflows.

Set up ticket statuses, create categories, and implement automations that align with your team’s needs. This foundational work ensures your Freshdesk replacement is ready to go.

Data migration is one of the most critical steps when switching from Freshdesk to a competitor. Start by exporting all essential data: tickets, customer profiles, and historical records.

Clean and organize this data to ensure it’s easy to import into the new system.

Many alternatives to Freshdesk offer migration tools or professional support, so take advantage of these resources. Always test the migration with a small batch of data first to ensure everything transfers smoothly and accurately.

Once the data migration is complete, verify its accuracy and test your workflows within the new system. This ensures your chosen Freshdesk alternative is functioning correctly. Next, focus on training your team.

Conduct hands-on sessions to familiarize them with the new platform’s features and encourage feedback to quickly resolve any issues.

As you go live, keep an eye on key performance metrics like ticket resolution times and customer satisfaction.

Your new Freshdesk competitor should not only match but ideally improve these metrics. Use team and customer feedback to fine-tune the system and maximize its potential.

Freshdesk competitors: pricing comparison for 2025

How to choose the right alternative to Freshdesk

Finding the best Freshdesk alternative isn’t just about switching tools; it’s about choosing a platform that aligns with your business goals.

Start by identifying the gaps in Freshdesk, whether it’s limited features, poor scalability, or difficulties with usability. Use these pain points as a guide to prioritize what you need in a Freshdesk competitor.

Advanced automation, omnichannel support, and seamless integrations are common features that alternatives offer to enhance workflows.

Take advantage of free trials or demos to explore how these tools handle your specific needs. Consider the day-to-day impact on your team—your Freshdesk replacement should make their tasks easier, not more complicated. Scalability is also crucial, especially for growing businesses.

The best Freshdesk alternative is one that balances functionality, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness.

By carefully evaluating competitors, you can ensure the new platform not only solves current challenges but also supports your long-term growth.