Quick Overview
- 1#1: Freshdesk - Cloud-based help desk software offering free plans with ticketing, automation, and multi-channel support for small teams.
- 2#2: Zoho Desk - Affordable omnichannel help desk with AI automation, self-service portals, and seamless CRM integration starting under $15 per agent.
- 3#3: Spiceworks Help Desk - Completely free IT-focused help desk for unlimited tickets, asset management, and community support.
- 4#4: HubSpot Service Hub - Free scalable customer service platform with ticketing, knowledge base, and CRM tools for growing businesses.
- 5#5: LiveAgent - All-in-one help desk combining live chat, ticketing, and call center features at budget-friendly prices.
- 6#6: HappyFox - User-friendly help desk ticketing system with automation, custom fields, and reporting starting at $19 per agent.
- 7#7: osTicket - Free open-source ticket management system for organizing customer support requests efficiently.
- 8#8: ProProfs Help Desk - Low-cost help desk with unlimited agents, knowledge base, and ticket rules for small support teams.
- 9#9: UVdesk - Open-source help desk tailored for e-commerce with ticketing, marketplace extensions, and low hosting costs.
- 10#10: FreeScout - Self-hosted shared mailbox and help desk alternative with modular apps for cost-free support management.
Tools were chosen based on features like automation, omnichannel support, and CRM integration, paired with ease of use, reliability, and exceptional value for money, ensuring they meet diverse business needs.
Comparison Table
Discover a comparison of affordable help desk software tools, featuring Freshdesk, Zoho Desk, Spiceworks Help Desk, HubSpot Service Hub, LiveAgent, and more, tailored to help streamline support operations on a budget. Readers will learn about key features, pricing structures, and suitability for different team sizes to identify the best fit for their needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freshdesk Cloud-based help desk software offering free plans with ticketing, automation, and multi-channel support for small teams. | enterprise | 9.3/10 | 9.1/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 2 | Zoho Desk Affordable omnichannel help desk with AI automation, self-service portals, and seamless CRM integration starting under $15 per agent. | enterprise | 8.8/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 3 | Spiceworks Help Desk Completely free IT-focused help desk for unlimited tickets, asset management, and community support. | other | 8.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 7.5/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 4 | HubSpot Service Hub Free scalable customer service platform with ticketing, knowledge base, and CRM tools for growing businesses. | enterprise | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.0/10 | 6.5/10 |
| 5 | LiveAgent All-in-one help desk combining live chat, ticketing, and call center features at budget-friendly prices. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 8.6/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 6 | HappyFox User-friendly help desk ticketing system with automation, custom fields, and reporting starting at $19 per agent. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 7 | osTicket Free open-source ticket management system for organizing customer support requests efficiently. | other | 7.8/10 | 7.5/10 | 6.8/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 8 | ProProfs Help Desk Low-cost help desk with unlimited agents, knowledge base, and ticket rules for small support teams. | enterprise | 7.8/10 | 7.5/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 9 | UVdesk Open-source help desk tailored for e-commerce with ticketing, marketplace extensions, and low hosting costs. | other | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 | 6.9/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 10 | FreeScout Self-hosted shared mailbox and help desk alternative with modular apps for cost-free support management. | other | 7.8/10 | 7.5/10 | 6.2/10 | 9.7/10 |
Cloud-based help desk software offering free plans with ticketing, automation, and multi-channel support for small teams.
Affordable omnichannel help desk with AI automation, self-service portals, and seamless CRM integration starting under $15 per agent.
Completely free IT-focused help desk for unlimited tickets, asset management, and community support.
Free scalable customer service platform with ticketing, knowledge base, and CRM tools for growing businesses.
All-in-one help desk combining live chat, ticketing, and call center features at budget-friendly prices.
User-friendly help desk ticketing system with automation, custom fields, and reporting starting at $19 per agent.
Free open-source ticket management system for organizing customer support requests efficiently.
Low-cost help desk with unlimited agents, knowledge base, and ticket rules for small support teams.
Open-source help desk tailored for e-commerce with ticketing, marketplace extensions, and low hosting costs.
Self-hosted shared mailbox and help desk alternative with modular apps for cost-free support management.
Freshdesk
enterpriseCloud-based help desk software offering free plans with ticketing, automation, and multi-channel support for small teams.
Freddy AI Copilot for intelligent ticket summarization, auto-responses, and predictive insights included even in lower plans
Freshdesk is a cloud-based help desk software designed to streamline customer support through multi-channel ticketing, automation, and collaboration tools. It enables teams to manage inquiries from email, chat, phone, social media, and web portals in one unified interface. With AI-driven features like Freddy AI for smart routing and insights, it scales effortlessly from small teams to enterprises while keeping costs low.
Pros
- Generous free plan for up to 10 agents with core ticketing features
- Intuitive interface and quick setup with minimal training needed
- Powerful automation, AI bots, and omnichannel support at low cost
Cons
- Advanced reporting and custom apps limited to higher tiers
- Free plan lacks some integrations and automation depth
- Occasional performance lags during peak usage reported by users
Best For
Small businesses and startups needing affordable, feature-rich help desk software without upfront costs.
Pricing
Free for up to 10 agents; paid plans start at $15/agent/month (billed annually) for Sprout tier, scaling to $79+ for advanced features.
Zoho Desk
enterpriseAffordable omnichannel help desk with AI automation, self-service portals, and seamless CRM integration starting under $15 per agent.
Zia AI for intelligent ticket routing, summarization, and predictive insights
Zoho Desk is a robust, cloud-based help desk software designed to manage customer support tickets across multiple channels like email, chat, social media, phone, and web portals. It provides automation tools, AI-driven insights via Zia, customizable workflows, and detailed reporting to enhance support efficiency. As part of the Zoho ecosystem, it integrates seamlessly with other Zoho apps and third-party services, making it scalable for businesses of varying sizes.
Pros
- Highly affordable with a free plan for up to 3 agents and low-cost tiers starting at $14/user/month
- Omnichannel support and strong automation reduce manual work
- Extensive integrations, especially within the Zoho suite, for streamlined operations
Cons
- Interface can feel overwhelming for absolute beginners due to feature depth
- Advanced AI and reporting features locked behind higher plans
- Mobile app lacks some desktop functionalities
Best For
Small to medium-sized businesses needing affordable, scalable help desk software with robust features and integrations.
Pricing
Free for up to 3 agents; Standard at $14/user/month, Professional at $23/user/month, Enterprise at $40/user/month (billed annually).
Spiceworks Help Desk
otherCompletely free IT-focused help desk for unlimited tickets, asset management, and community support.
100% free with unlimited scale, including seamless integration into a full IT management suite
Spiceworks Help Desk is a completely free, on-premises IT ticketing system designed primarily for small to medium-sized businesses and IT teams. It enables efficient ticket creation, assignment, tracking, and resolution, while integrating seamlessly with Spiceworks' network inventory and monitoring tools. The software supports unlimited users and tickets, backed by a vibrant community forum for support and customization.
Pros
- Completely free with no limits on users, agents, or tickets
- Built-in integration with network inventory and monitoring
- Active community-driven support and extensive customization options
Cons
- Requires self-hosting on your own Windows server, adding setup complexity
- Dated user interface that lacks modern polish
- Limited native integrations and advanced automation compared to paid SaaS alternatives
Best For
Budget-conscious IT admins in small to midsize businesses needing a reliable, no-cost self-hosted ticketing solution.
Pricing
Free forever; self-hosted on your own server with no paid tiers or usage limits.
HubSpot Service Hub
enterpriseFree scalable customer service platform with ticketing, knowledge base, and CRM tools for growing businesses.
Seamless integration with free HubSpot CRM for a unified customer view across sales, marketing, and service
HubSpot Service Hub is a customer service platform designed to streamline support operations through ticketing, knowledge bases, live chat, and feedback tools, all integrated with HubSpot's free CRM. It enables teams to manage customer interactions efficiently, automate workflows, and gain insights via reporting. While powerful for scaling businesses, its full capabilities require paid tiers beyond basic free features.
Pros
- Generous free tier with shared inbox and basic ticketing
- Intuitive interface with seamless CRM integration
- Robust automation and reporting even at entry level
Cons
- Paid plans get expensive quickly for advanced features
- Overkill for very simple help desk needs
- Limited customization in free/basic versions
Best For
Small to mid-sized businesses already using HubSpot CRM seeking scalable, user-friendly support tools without high upfront costs.
Pricing
Free basic tools; Starter at $20/user/month (annual); Professional at $90/user/month; Enterprise custom.
LiveAgent
enterpriseAll-in-one help desk combining live chat, ticketing, and call center features at budget-friendly prices.
Universal Inbox that consolidates all support channels into one intuitive interface
LiveAgent is a comprehensive help desk software that unifies customer support across multiple channels including email, live chat, social media, phone, and WhatsApp. It offers ticketing, automation rules, knowledge base, and reporting tools to streamline support operations. Designed for small to medium-sized businesses, it provides scalable features without high costs.
Pros
- Affordable pricing starting at $15/agent/month
- Multi-channel support in a single universal inbox
- Strong automation and canned responses for efficiency
Cons
- Lower plans lack advanced reporting and integrations
- Interface can feel cluttered for new users
- No free forever plan, only trial
Best For
Small to medium businesses needing cost-effective multi-channel help desk without sacrificing core features.
Pricing
Starts at $15/agent/month (Ticket plan, billed annually); $25 (Ticket+Chat); $49 (All-inclusive); 14-day free trial.
HappyFox
enterpriseUser-friendly help desk ticketing system with automation, custom fields, and reporting starting at $19 per agent.
Advanced collision detection and auto-assignment rules that prevent ticket duplication and ensure efficient routing
HappyFox is a cloud-based help desk software that provides multi-channel ticketing, automation, and customer self-service tools to streamline support operations. It supports email, web forms, chat, and social channels, with features like SLA management, reporting, and a knowledge base. Designed for small to mid-sized teams, it emphasizes affordability without sacrificing core functionality.
Pros
- Highly affordable pricing for feature-rich help desk capabilities
- Intuitive interface with quick setup and easy navigation
- Robust automation and workflow rules to reduce manual work
Cons
- Reporting and analytics are basic in lower tiers
- Limited native integrations compared to enterprise competitors
- No built-in AI-powered features like chatbots in base plans
Best For
Small to medium-sized businesses needing a budget-friendly ticketing system with solid automation and multi-channel support.
Pricing
Starts at $29/agent/month (Mighty plan, billed annually) up to $69/agent/month (Enterprise), with a 14-day free trial.
osTicket
otherFree open-source ticket management system for organizing customer support requests efficiently.
Unlimited free customization and scalability without licensing fees due to its fully open-source model
osTicket is a free, open-source help desk ticketing system that enables teams to manage customer support requests through email integration, ticket queues, and agent assignments. It offers features like custom forms, knowledge base, SLA management, and task automation to streamline support workflows. Ideal for self-hosted deployments, it provides robust core functionality without any licensing costs.
Pros
- Completely free and open-source with no user or ticket limits
- Highly customizable queues, forms, and workflows
- Strong email piping and auto-response capabilities
Cons
- Self-hosted setup requires technical expertise and server maintenance
- Dated interface lacks modern polish and mobile optimization
- Limited native reporting and analytics compared to paid alternatives
Best For
Small businesses or startups seeking a no-cost, customizable ticketing solution for basic email-based support.
Pricing
Free open-source software (self-hosted); optional paid cloud hosting starts at around $15/month.
ProProfs Help Desk
enterpriseLow-cost help desk with unlimited agents, knowledge base, and ticket rules for small support teams.
Collision detection that automatically merges duplicate tickets to save agent time
ProProfs Help Desk is a cloud-based help desk software designed for small to medium businesses, offering multi-channel ticketing from email, chat, social media, and phone. It includes automation rules, SLA management, collision detection to prevent duplicate tickets, and customizable reporting. The platform also features an integrated knowledge base and asset management for efficient support operations.
Pros
- Affordable pricing with a free plan for up to 50 tickets/month
- Intuitive interface and quick setup
- Multi-channel support and automation tools included
Cons
- Limited advanced reporting in lower tiers
- Customer support response can be slow
- Scalability issues for very large teams
Best For
Small businesses and startups seeking a budget-friendly help desk with essential features for basic customer support.
Pricing
Free plan available; paid plans start at $19/agent/month (billed annually) for Starter, up to $49/agent/month for Pro.
UVdesk
otherOpen-source help desk tailored for e-commerce with ticketing, marketplace extensions, and low hosting costs.
Fully open-source core with no vendor lock-in, allowing complete code access and unlimited self-hosting
UVdesk is an open-source help desk software designed for managing customer support tickets through a centralized platform. It offers multi-channel ticketing from email, social media, chat, and web forms, along with built-in knowledge base, automation workflows, and reporting tools. As a self-hosted solution, it provides flexibility for customization without ongoing subscription fees for the core community edition.
Pros
- Free open-source community edition with no limits on agents or tickets
- Multi-channel support and extensive customization options
- Integrated knowledge base and automation rules for efficient workflows
Cons
- Self-hosting requires technical expertise for setup and maintenance
- User interface feels dated and less intuitive compared to modern SaaS alternatives
- Limited official support in the free version; relies on community forums
Best For
Small to medium-sized businesses with in-house IT resources looking for a free, customizable, self-hosted help desk.
Pricing
Community edition free (self-hosted); cloud-hosted Pro plans start at $19/month for 3 agents; one-time extension purchases available via marketplace.
FreeScout
otherSelf-hosted shared mailbox and help desk alternative with modular apps for cost-free support management.
Unlimited free usage with no agent or ticket limits, unlike many freemium competitors
FreeScout is a free, open-source, self-hosted help desk platform designed as a lightweight alternative to Help Scout, enabling teams to manage customer support tickets through a shared email inbox. It supports ticket organization, assignment, custom fields, automation rules, and basic reporting without any usage limits or licensing costs. While highly customizable via its PHP-based architecture, it requires technical setup on a server.
Pros
- Completely free with unlimited agents, tickets, and mailboxes
- Strong data privacy through self-hosting
- Highly customizable with open-source code and modular extensions
Cons
- Requires server setup and ongoing maintenance, not beginner-friendly
- Limited native integrations and no built-in omnichannel support (email-only)
- No official mobile app or cloud-hosted option
Best For
Tech-savvy small businesses or startups seeking a no-cost, self-hosted help desk without usage restrictions.
Pricing
Free open-source core; optional paid modules starting at $25 one-time.
Conclusion
The best cheap help desk software caters to diverse needs, with Freshdesk leading as the top choice for its free, all-in-one features ideal for small teams. Zoho Desk and Spiceworks Help Desk stand out as strong alternatives—Zoho for affordable omnichannel support and CRM integration, and Spiceworks for free, unlimited IT-focused tools. Together, these options ensure reliable, cost-effective support for nearly every setup.
Explore Freshdesk’s free plan today to discover why it’s the top pick for budget-friendly, versatile help desk management.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison