Best Helpdesk for startups
Ranked by AI-assistant recommendations, with a free tier and low entry price weighted up. We ask ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini and Copilot real buyer questions every hour and record which brands they name.
#1Intercom
91.1% AI citation rate(2246 questions)- From:
- $19/user/month
- Free tier:
- yes
- Integrations listed:
- 1
Fin Customer Agent · Shared inbox and ticketing system · Public help center
Offers a free trial · Powerful automation capabilities
#2Zendesk
90.3% AI citation rate(2246 questions)- From:
- $19/agent/month
- Integrations listed:
- 5
Email and ticketing system · Ticket routing · Prebuilt analytics dashboards
User-friendly interface · Strong support and documentation
#3Salesforce Service Cloud
68.7% AI citation rate(2246 questions)Manage customer support cases faster · Support across every channel · Powerful CRM integration
Robust support case management · Wide range of features
#4HubSpot Service
33.9% AI citation rate(2246 questions)- From:
- $0/mo
- Free tier:
- yes
- Integrations listed:
- 6
Email marketing · Live chat · Forms
User-friendly interface · Comprehensive marketing tools
#5Gorgias
43% AI citation rate(2246 questions)- From:
- $10/user/month
- Integrations listed:
- 5
Unlimited users · Centralize customer conversations · Support & ticket management
Affordable monthly pricing · Scalable with growth
#6Freshdesk
38.4% AI citation rate(2246 questions)- Free tier:
- yes
AI-enabled IT service management · Fast and scalable setup · 24/7 support with AI agents
AI integration enhances efficiency · User-friendly interface
#7Help Scout
33.4% AI citation rate(2246 questions)- From:
- $25/user/month
- Free tier:
- yes
- Integrations listed:
- 4
Multiple Inboxes · Live chat, Instagram, & Messenger · Unlimited AI Drafts
User-friendly interface · Robust automation features
#8Zoho Desk
37.8% AI citation rate(2246 questions)- From:
- ₹1250/user/month
Autonomous agents for lead qualification · Ticket resolution · Email drafting
Powerful customer support tool · Suitable for businesses of all sizes
#9Front
7.8% AI citation rate(2246 questions)- From:
- $25/seat/mo
- Free tier:
- yes
- Integrations listed:
- 6
Shared inbox and ticketing · AI Topics and up to 10 automation rules · Basic analytics
User-friendly interface · Strong AI automation features
#10Groove
3.8% AI citation rate(2246 questions)- From:
- $0.50/outcome
- Free tier:
- yes
- Integrations listed:
- 2
Shared inbox & ticketing · Email & live chat · Knowledge base
Free support platform forever · Predictable pricing based on outcomes
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