Freshdesk vs Help Scout
Freshdesk starts at $19/agent/mo and Help Scout at $25/agent/mo on annual billing — but agent minimums, seat caps and AI resolution fees decide the real bill. See it costed below.
Costed for three setups
| Setup | Freshdesk | Help Scout | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup · 3 agents · no AI | $57/mo Growth | $0/mo Free | Help Scout |
| Startup · 3 agents · no AI (monthly billing) | $69/mo Growth | $0/mo Free | Help Scout |
| Growing team · 10 agents · 300 AI resolutions/mo | $190/mo Growth | $475/mo Standard | Freshdesk |
| Growing team · 10 agents · 300 AI resolutions/mo (monthly billing) | $230/mo Growth | $525/mo Standard | Freshdesk |
| Support org · 50 agents · 2,000 AI resolutions/mo | $1,685/mo Growth | $2,750/mo Standard | Freshdesk |
| Support org · 50 agents · 2,000 AI resolutions/mo (monthly billing) | $1,885/mo Growth | $3,000/mo Standard | Freshdesk |
At a glance
| Feature | Freshdesk | Help Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing unit | Per agent | Per user |
| Watch out for | The page says “first 500 sessions included” without saying whether that resets monthly. | Annual billing saves about 16% ($25 vs $30 on Standard). |
| Cheapest paid (annual) | $19/agent/mo | $25/agent/mo |
| Cheapest paid (monthly) | $23/agent/mo | $30/agent/mo |
| Entry plan includes | Growth: per agent · 500 AI resolutions included, then $49 per 100 | Standard: per agent · $0.75 per AI resolution |
| Forever free | No | Yes |
| Trial | 14 days | Not listed |
| Add-ons | Freddy AI Copilot $35/agent/mo (Pro, Enterprise); day passes $2/$7/$12; connector app tasks $80/5,000; MCP actions $15/1,000. | Envoy AI $0.75/resolution. Pre-paid AI discounts not priced. |
All plans
Freshdesk
| Plan | Mo | Yr/mo | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth | $23 | $19 | per agent · 500 AI resolutions included, then $49 per 100 |
| Pro | $66 | $55 | per agent · 500 AI resolutions included, then $49 per 100 |
| Enterprise | $107 | $89 | per agent · 500 AI resolutions included, then $49 per 100 |
Help Scout
| Plan | Mo | Yr/mo | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | per agent · max 5 · $0.75 per AI resolution |
| Standard | $30 | $25 | per agent · $0.75 per AI resolution |
| Plus | $54 | $45 | per agent · $0.75 per AI resolution |
| Pro | $90 | $75 | per agent · $0.75 per AI resolution |
Gotchas
Freshdesk
- The page says “first 500 sessions included” without saying whether that resets monthly.
- AI sessions are sold in 100-session blocks ($49), so 101 extra sessions cost $98.
- Copilot is a separate $35/agent add-on.
Help Scout
- Annual billing saves about 16% ($25 vs $30 on Standard).
- The Free plan is capped at 5 users and a single inbox.
- Pro must be bought through a demo even though its price is listed.
FAQ
Is Freshdesk cheaper than Help Scout?
For 10 agents, 300 AI resolutions a month, annual billing: Freshdesk $190/mo on Growth vs Help Scout $475/mo on Standard. The answer flips with agent count, AI resolution volume and monthly vs annual billing — use the calculator on the help desk hub for your exact setup.
Do Freshdesk and Help Scout have free plans or trials?
Freshdesk: 14-day free trial of the Enterprise plan; no forever-free plan shown on the pricing page. Help Scout: Free plan: 5 users, 1 inbox and 1 Docs site. Paid plans: “Try for Free”; Envoy AI add-on has a 3-month free trial.
How do Freshdesk and Help Scout charge for AI?
Freshdesk: Freddy AI Agent on every plan with the first 500 sessions included; additional sessions $49 per 100. Help Scout: Envoy AI add-on: $0.75 per resolution, billed monthly; 3-month free trial; pre-paid discounts available.