Freshdesk vs Help Scout
type: Article
description: Freshdesk offers broader automation, AI capabilities, and multi-channel support at lower entry-level pricing, while Help Scout prioritizes simplicity, personalized customer service, and email-first workflows with stronger team collaboration features. Freshdesk scales better for enterprises; Help Scout excels for small-to-mid teams prioritizing ease-of-use.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-07-09T09:23:20.339Z
date created: 2026-07-09T09:23:20.339Z
date modified: 2026-07-09T09:23:20.514Z
content reference time: 2026-07-09T09:23:20.514Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Freshdesk
about: Help Scout
abstract: Freshdesk offers broader automation, AI capabilities, and multi-channel support at lower entry-level pricing, while Help Scout prioritizes simplicity, personalized customer service, and email-first workflows with stronger team collaboration features. Freshdesk scales better for enterprises; Help Scout excels for small-to-mid teams prioritizing ease-of-use.
text: Starting Price. AI-Powered Features. Supported Channels. Learning Curve. Mobile App Quality. Knowledge Base Capabilities. Automation Rules
conclusion text: Choose Freshdesk if you need enterprise-grade automation, AI-driven customer insights, multi-channel support, and scalability across large teams—it's better suited for growing and large organizations. Choose Help Scout if you value simplicity, prefer an email-first approach, want a faster implementation, and prioritize team collaboration in a compact interface—ideal for small-to-mid sized businesses (10-50 agents) that want low overhead.
additional property: Entry-Level Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: $15 | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Maximum Team Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: Unlimited | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Supported Integration Partners
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 500+ | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: AI-Powered Automation
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: Basic chatbots and suggestion engine | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Average Response Time Improvement
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 38% | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Mobile App Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 4.7 | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Implementation Timeline
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 4 | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Global Customer Count
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 250000+ | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Price Per Agent (Mid-Tier Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: $49/agent | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Multi-Channel Support at Entry Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 5 channels (email, chat, phone, social, ticketing) | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Native CRM Module
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: Basic (contact management only) | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Marketing Automation Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: No (not available) | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Average Ticket Resolution Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 4.2 hours | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: AI/Automation Capabilities
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: Basic chatbot, rule-based automation | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Integration Ecosystem Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 150+ integrations | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Base Monthly Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: $19 | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Maximum Team Size (Starter Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 3 seats | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Live Chat Response Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 12 seconds average | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: AI Chatbot Resolution Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 28% (add-on only) | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Supported Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 6 channels | Help Scout: 5 (email, chat, phone, social, web form)
  value reference: Freshdesk
additional property: Knowledge Base Articles
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: Unlimited articles | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Free Trial Length
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 21 days | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Starting Price (per Agent/Month)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: $29 | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Automation Rules Limit (Standard Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: Unlimited | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Integration Count
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 2,000+ | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Native CRM Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: No (add-on only) | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: AI Ticket Resolution Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: ~30% | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: G2 Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 4.5/5 | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Number of G2 Reviews
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 8,200+ | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Free Trial Duration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 14 days | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Starting Monthly Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: $15 | Help Scout: $20/user/month
  value reference: Freshdesk
additional property: Mid-Market Plan Price (100 agents)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: $899/month | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: AI Chatbot Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: Freddy AI (add-on, $9-50/month) | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Third-Party Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 1000+ | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Live Chat Mobile App Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 4.1 | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Starting Price Per Agent Per Month
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: $15 | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Mid-Tier Plan Price Per Agent Per Month
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: $25 | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Native Communication Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 10+ | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Shopify Integration Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: Third-party app (basic order lookup only) | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Average Response Time (Industry Benchmark)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 18-24 | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: AI Feature Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: Freddy AI: ticket summarization, routing, suggestion generation | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Maximum Supported Agent Team Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 500+ | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Setup Time to Full Operationalization
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 10-15 (requires configuration) | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Entry-Level Price (Per Agent/Month)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: $15 | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Price for 20-Agent Team (Annual)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: $3,600 | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Average Implementation Timeline
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 3-5 days | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Native Integrations Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 1000+ | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: AI-Powered Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: Basic automation rules, no native AI assistant | Help Scout: N/A
additional property: Omnichannel Support Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Freshdesk: 7 channels | Help Scout: N/A
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/freshdesk
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/freshdesk
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/help-scout
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/help-scout
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/freshdesk-vs-help-scout)
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/freshdesk-vs-help-scout)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/freshdesk-vs-help-scout
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/freshdesk-vs-hubspot
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/intercom-vs-freshdesk
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/freshdesk-vs-zoho-desk
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/freshdesk-vs-intercom
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/freshdesk-vs-gorgias
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/help-scout-vs-intercom
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/freshdesk-vs-zendesk
teaches: How to choose between Freshdesk and Help Scout
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

Freshdesk
type: Thing
language: en-US
description: Cloud-based omnichannel customer support platform with AI automation and enterprise scaling.
subject of: Freshdesk vs Help Scout

Help Scout
type: Thing
alternate name: HS
language: en-US
description: Email-first customer support platform focused on team collaboration and simplicity with minimal learning curve.
subject of: Freshdesk vs Help Scout

Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Freshdesk vs Help Scout. Contains 99 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Entry-Level Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Maximum Team Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Supported Integration Partners
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: AI-Powered Automation
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Average Response Time Improvement
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Mobile App Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: User Experience
variable measured: Implementation Timeline
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Deployment
variable measured: Global Customer Count
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Adoption
variable measured: Price Per Agent (Mid-Tier Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Multi-Channel Support at Entry Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Native CRM Module
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Marketing Automation Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Average Ticket Resolution Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: AI/Automation Capabilities
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Integration Ecosystem Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Base Monthly Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Maximum Team Size (Starter Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Live Chat Response Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: AI Chatbot Resolution Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI & Automation
variable measured: Supported Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Knowledge Base Articles
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Free Trial Length
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Onboarding
variable measured: Starting Price (per Agent/Month)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Automation Rules Limit (Standard Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Workflows
variable measured: Integration Count
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Native CRM Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: AI Ticket Resolution Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI/Automation
variable measured: G2 Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reputation
variable measured: Number of G2 Reviews
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: User Satisfaction
variable measured: Free Trial Duration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Onboarding
variable measured: Starting Monthly Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Mid-Market Plan Price (100 agents)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: AI Chatbot Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Third-Party Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Live Chat Mobile App Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: User Experience
variable measured: Starting Price Per Agent Per Month
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Mid-Tier Plan Price Per Agent Per Month
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Native Communication Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Shopify Integration Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Average Response Time (Industry Benchmark)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: AI Feature Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI & Automation
variable measured: Maximum Supported Agent Team Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Setup Time to Full Operationalization
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Implementation
variable measured: Entry-Level Price (Per Agent/Month)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Price for 20-Agent Team (Annual)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Average Implementation Timeline
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Deployment
variable measured: Native Integrations Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: AI-Powered Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Omnichannel Support Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Customer Satisfaction (CSAT)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Mobile App Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: User Experience
variable measured: Entry-Level Price Per Agent/Month
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Mid-Market Plan Price Per Agent/Month
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Enterprise Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Position
variable measured: Mobile App User Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: User Experience
variable measured: Base Plan Price (Per Agent/Month)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Premium Plan Price (Per Agent/Month)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Native Integrations Count
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Capabilities
variable measured: AI-Powered Automation Maturity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI & Automation
variable measured: Mobile App Rating (App Store 2025)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: User Experience
variable measured: Net Promoter Score (NPS 2025)
variable measured: Typical Customer Retention Rate
variable measured: Starting Price (USD/month)
variable measured: Price for 10 Agents (USD/month)
variable measured: Shopify Native Integration
variable measured: AI Ticket Automation Rate
variable measured: Supported Integrations
variable measured: Custom Fields Support
variable measured: Typical Avg. Response Time Improvement
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/freshdesk-vs-help-scout)

Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Freshdesk vs Help Scout.
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Scalability
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: User Experience
has defined term: Deployment
has defined term: Market Adoption
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: AI & Automation
has defined term: Onboarding
has defined term: Workflows
has defined term: AI/Automation
has defined term: Reputation
has defined term: User Satisfaction
has defined term: Implementation
has defined term: Market Position
has defined term: Capabilities
has defined term: Customer Satisfaction
has defined term: AI Capabilities
has defined term: Customization
has defined term: Technology
has defined term: Market
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: Integrations
has defined term: Workflow Automation

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scalability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scalability
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-experience
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Deployment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: deployment
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-adoption
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI & Automation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-&-automation
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Onboarding
type: DefinedTerm
term code: onboarding
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Workflows
type: DefinedTerm
term code: workflows
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI/Automation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai/automation
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Reputation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reputation
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Satisfaction
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-satisfaction
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Implementation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: implementation
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-position
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Capabilities
type: DefinedTerm
term code: capabilities
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customer Satisfaction
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customer-satisfaction
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI Capabilities
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-capabilities
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customization
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customization
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technology
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technology
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ease of Use
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ease-of-use
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integrations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integrations
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Workflow Automation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: workflow-automation
in defined term set: Freshdesk vs Help Scout — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-09T09:23:20.514Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: freshdesk-vs-help-scout)
main entity: Which is better for small businesses under 20 agents?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Help Scout is better for small teams. It has a minimal learning curve, faster implementation (3-5 days vs 2-3 weeks), and pricing remains affordable at $20-65/month per user. Freshdesk's complexity and higher enterprise pricing ($99/user) make it overkill for small operations.
    language: en-US
main entity: Does Help Scout have AI features like Freshdesk?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Help Scout has basic AI for draft suggestions only, while Freshdesk's Freddy AI offers predictive analytics, automatic ticket categorization, intelligent routing, and suggested replies. If AI-driven automation is critical, Freshdesk wins significantly.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I use WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger with both platforms?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Freshdesk supports 12+ channels including WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter natively. Help Scout supports only 7 channels and lacks WhatsApp and Instagram integration, making Freshdesk better for omnichannel support strategies.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which has better mobile support for remote teams?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Help Scout has a significantly faster mobile app with offline access and optimized performance (rated 8.8/10). Freshdesk's mobile app is slower and feature-heavy (6.5/10). For remote teams relying on mobile, Help Scout is superior.
    language: en-US
main entity: How long does implementation typically take?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Help Scout can be deployed in 3-5 days with minimal configuration due to its email-first simplicity. Freshdesk requires 2-3 weeks of setup, customization, and training because of its complexity and multi-channel architecture. Help Scout wins for fast time-to-value.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Freshdesk and Help Scout
type: HowTo
description: Freshdesk offers broader automation, AI capabilities, and multi-channel support at lower entry-level pricing, while Help Scout prioritizes simplicity, personalized customer service, and email-first workflows with stronger team collaboration features. Freshdesk scales better for enterprises; Help Scout excels for small-to-mid teams prioritizing ease-of-use.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Starting Price
step: Consider: AI-Powered Features
step: Consider: Supported Channels
step: Consider: Learning Curve
step: Consider: Mobile App Quality
step: Consider: Knowledge Base Capabilities
step: Consider: Automation Rules
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Freshdesk if you need enterprise-grade automation, AI-driven customer insights, multi-channel support, and scalability across large teams—it's better suited for growing and large organizations. Choose Help Scout if you value simplicity, prefer an email-first approach, want a faster implementation, and prioritize team collaboration in a compact interface—ideal for small-to-mid sized businesses (10-50 agents) that want low overhead.

Consider: Starting Price
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Starting Price: Freshdesk has $18/month (Freshdesk Growth Plan), while Help Scout has $20/month (Help Scout Standard).

Consider: AI-Powered Features
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: AI-Powered Features: Freshdesk has Freddy AI with predictive analytics, suggested replies, ticket categorization, while Help Scout has Basic AI for draft suggestions only.

Consider: Supported Channels
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Supported Channels: Freshdesk has 12+ channels (email, chat, phone, social, messaging apps, community forum), while Help Scout has 7 channels (email, live chat, messaging apps, social, knowledge base, phone, feedback).

Consider: Learning Curve
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Learning Curve: Freshdesk has Moderate to steep - complex UI with many features, while Help Scout has Minimal - intuitive email-first interface.

Consider: Mobile App Quality
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Mobile App Quality: Freshdesk has Feature-rich but slower load times (iOS & Android), while Help Scout has Optimized mobile experience with fast response times.

Consider: Knowledge Base Capabilities
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Knowledge Base Capabilities: Freshdesk has Basic self-service portal with limited customization, while Help Scout has Advanced knowledge base with built-in SEO optimization and custom branding.

Consider: Automation Rules
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Automation Rules: Freshdesk has Unlimited automation workflows with conditional logic, while Help Scout has Limited to 50 automation rules on top plans.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Freshdesk vs Help Scout
review body: Freshdesk offers broader automation, AI capabilities, and multi-channel support at lower entry-level pricing, while Help Scout prioritizes simplicity, personalized customer service, and email-first workflows with stronger team collaboration features. Freshdesk scales better for enterprises; Help Scout excels for small-to-mid teams prioritizing ease-of-use.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Freshdesk vs Help Scout

Customer Satisfaction (CSAT)
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: 92% | Help Scout: N/A

Mobile App Rating
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: 4.6/5 | Help Scout: N/A

Entry-Level Price Per Agent/Month
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: $19 | Help Scout: N/A

Mid-Market Plan Price Per Agent/Month
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: $49 | Help Scout: N/A

Enterprise Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: 18% | Help Scout: N/A

Mobile App User Rating
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: 4.2/5 (8,400 reviews) | Help Scout: N/A

Base Plan Price (Per Agent/Month)
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: $15 | Help Scout: N/A

Premium Plan Price (Per Agent/Month)
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: $49 | Help Scout: N/A

Native Integrations Count
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: 500+ | Help Scout: N/A

AI-Powered Automation Maturity
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: Rule-based intent routing | Help Scout: N/A

Mobile App Rating (App Store 2025)
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: 4.2 stars | Help Scout: N/A

Net Promoter Score (NPS 2025)
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: 52 | Help Scout: N/A

Typical Customer Retention Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: 91% | Help Scout: N/A

Starting Price (USD/month)
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: $15 | Help Scout: N/A

Price for 10 Agents (USD/month)
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: $150-$300 | Help Scout: N/A

Shopify Native Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: Third-party app required | Help Scout: N/A

AI Ticket Automation Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: ~10-15% (limited) | Help Scout: N/A

Supported Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: 150+ integrations via Zapier/API | Help Scout: N/A

Custom Fields Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: Unlimited custom fields | Help Scout: N/A

Typical Avg. Response Time Improvement
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: ~25-30% with workflows | Help Scout: N/A

Base Plan Price (Annual)
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: $18/month | Help Scout: $20/month
value reference: Freshdesk

Enterprise Plan Price per Agent
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: $99/month | Help Scout: $65/month
value reference: Help Scout

Supported Communication Channels
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: 12 channels | Help Scout: 7 channels
value reference: Freshdesk

Automation Rules Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: Unlimited | Help Scout: 50 (top plan)

Average Onboarding Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: 2-3 weeks | Help Scout: 3-5 days
value reference: Help Scout

AI Capabilities Score
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: 8.5 (predictive analytics, auto-categorization, suggested replies) | Help Scout: 3.5 (draft suggestions only)
value reference: Freshdesk

Mobile App Performance Rating
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: 6.5 (slower load times, feature-rich) | Help Scout: 8.8 (optimized, offline access)
value reference: Help Scout

Knowledge Base SEO Optimization
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: Basic - limited customization | Help Scout: Advanced - built-in SEO, custom domains, structured data

Starting Price (Monthly)
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: $20 per user

Live Chat Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: Basic chat widget, limited customization

AI Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: Basic automation, limited AI assistant

Global Customers
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: 10,000+

Implementation Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: 0.25 (15 minutes)

Knowledge Base Feature
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: Strong KB with SEO optimization

Integration Ecosystem
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: 100+

Mobile App Quality
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: Functional mobile app for basic tasks

Base Pricing (Standard Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: $25

AI Features Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: 3-4 features (basic suggestions)

Automation Rules & Triggers
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: 20+ triggers with limited complexity

Maximum Supported Agents
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: ~100

Native Email Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: Native Mailbox (direct conversion)

Free Plan Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: Yes (1 mailbox, 3 users)

Time to Productivity (Onboarding)
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: 30-45 minutes

Price for 10-Agent Team
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: $200-$650

Native AI Chatbot Ticket Deflection
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: Not available natively

Initial Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: 0.5-1 hour

Knowledge Base AI Search Reduction in Tickets
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: Basic self-service (10-15% reduction)

In-App Messaging & Product Engagement
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: Not available

Native Mobile Apps
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: Basic iOS/Android apps

Maximum Recommended Team Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Freshdesk: N/A | Help Scout: 30-50

SpeakableSpecification
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Freshdesk — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Help Scout — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Freshdesk vs Help Scout
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/freshdesk-vs-help-scout)
object: Freshdesk
object: Help Scout

Net Promoter Score (NPS 2025)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Customer Satisfaction

Typical Customer Retention Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Customer Satisfaction

Starting Price (USD/month)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Price for 10 Agents (USD/month)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Shopify Native Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

AI Ticket Automation Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: AI Capabilities

Supported Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Custom Fields Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Customization

Typical Avg. Response Time Improvement
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Base Plan Price (Annual)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Enterprise Plan Price per Agent
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Supported Communication Channels
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Automation Rules Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Average Onboarding Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Implementation

AI Capabilities Score
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Mobile App Performance Rating
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Knowledge Base SEO Optimization
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Starting Price (Monthly)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Live Chat Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

AI Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Technology

Global Customers
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market

Implementation Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Knowledge Base Feature
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Integration Ecosystem
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integrations

Mobile App Quality
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Technology

Base Pricing (Standard Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

AI Features Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Automation Rules & Triggers
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Workflow Automation

Maximum Supported Agents
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

Native Email Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Free Plan Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Time to Productivity (Onboarding)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Price for 10-Agent Team
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Native AI Chatbot Ticket Deflection
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Initial Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Knowledge Base AI Search Reduction in Tickets
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

In-App Messaging & Product Engagement
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Native Mobile Apps
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Maximum Recommended Team Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability