Top 10 Zoho Desk Alternatives for 2026

Zoho Desk is a strong help desk with ticketing, omnichannel support, and tight Zoho app integrations.

But many teams run into a steep learning curve, a busy interface, and key features that sit behind higher-tier plans (like advanced analytics, AI, and multi-brand help centers).

If you want a simpler setup, better AI, or pricing that fits your team today, there are solid alternatives.

This guide compares the 10 best Zoho Desk alternatives for 2026 by features, pricing, and which teams they fit best.

Let’s get started!

Alternative #1: Helply AI

Helply AI is an AI-powered customer support platform that guarantees a 65% AI resolution rate within 90 days or you pay nothing.

Unlike competitors like Chatbase, Helply focuses on getting you to a working, deployed chatbot in minutes rather than hours.

The platform integrates with your existing help desk (Zendesk, Freshdesk, Groove, Help Scout, Front, Crisp) and adds AI capabilities that can take real actions, not just answer questions.

You can create multiple AI agents, each trained on different knowledge sources for specialized use cases (one for marketing pages, another for in-app support, etc.).

Features

• AI Agents: Create multiple agents with different training materials, personas, and configurations. Each agent can be specialized for different contexts (marketing vs. in-app support).
• AI Actions: Custom API triggers that let your chatbot take real actions. Query product databases, ping Slack when someone mentions cancellation, integrate with Stripe to show billing info, or connect Calendly for demo scheduling.
• Gap Finder: Scans your recent support tickets and compares them against your knowledge base to identify missing content your AI should be able to answer.
• Escalations: Helply's standout feature. When the AI can't answer, it automatically renders a form and creates a ticket in your connected help desk. No Zapier setup required, just toggle it on.
• Suggestions: Pre-built conversation starters that appear in your widget (like "Report an issue" or "System status"). These don't count against your message credits since they don't use AI.
• Guidance: Custom instructions you can pass to your agent for context that should always be present in every conversation.
• Identify Contacts: Pass user data (email, plan type, custom attributes) to the AI so it can provide personalized answers without asking follow-up questions.
• Unlimited Training Documents: Unlike Chatbase which limits document size and count by tier, Helply doesn't track or limit your training materials.
• Widget Customization: Colors, logo, welcome message, position, persona, and icon customization.
• Integrations: Zendesk, Freshdesk, Help Scout, Groove, Front, Crisp, Notion, Stripe, Calendly, WhatsApp, Slack

Pricing Plans

• Starter: $40/month (500 message credits/month, 1 AI Agent, 1 Gap Finder runs/mo, 5 Actions, Analytics, 1-1 VIP Program)
• Growth: $150/month (Everything in Starter, 12,000 message credits/month, 2 Gap Finder runs/mo, 10 Actions)
• Scale: $500/month (Everything in Growth, 40,000 message credits/month, 3 Gap Finder runs/mo, 15 Actions)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing (Everything in Scale, Everything is unlimited, SLAs, Success Manager, Advanced+ Analytics)
• Add-ons: Remove branding ($39/month), Extra credits ($14 one-time), Extra agents ($7/month), Extra seats ($25/month)

Note: "Message credits" means each individual message in a conversation counts as one credit (not per conversation).

Pros

• Fastest time-to-value: Go from signup to deployed widget in 10-15 minutes
• Escalations work out of the box without technical setup (unlike Chatbase which requires Zapier configuration)
• Unlimited training documents with no size restrictions
• Multiple specialized AI agents with different personas and knowledge bases
• AI actions can query external APIs, ping Slack, integrate with Stripe billing, and more
• Dedicated AI support engineer ensures proper implementation
• Money-back guarantee on resolution rate reduces risk

Cons

• No external API yet for fetching data from Helply
• Scraped websites don't auto-sync on lower tiers
• Shopify and retail integrations not yet available

Who It's For

• Growing SaaS companies and support teams that want a working AI chatbot deployed quickly without technical complexity.
• Ideal for non-technical users who need escalations to work immediately
• Teams already using Groove, Zendesk, Freshdesk, or other supported help desks
• Companies that want guaranteed AI resolution outcomes

Who It's Not For

• Developers who want extensive API access and customization
• Retail/e-commerce businesses needing Shopify integration
• Teams requiring advanced analytics and reporting
• Organizations that need the AI to process payments or refunds directly

Alternative #2: Groove

Groove is a help desk software designed for small to mid-sized businesses, offering a shared inbox, live chat, and knowledge base in one affordable package.

It emphasizes simplicity and ease of use while providing essential customer support features without the complexity of enterprise solutions.

Features

• Shared inbox with email management and ticketing
• Unlimited help widgets and live chat
• Round robin auto assignments
• Standard and advanced rule automations
• Satisfaction ratings (CSAT)
• Standard and advanced reporting
• API and webhook access
• 40+ native integrations
• AI summarize, sentiment analysis, tagging, and writing assist (Plus+ plan)
• SLA management and team assignments
• Premium integrations: HubSpot, Jira, Salesforce (Plus+ plan)

Pricing Plans

• Standard: $29/user/month billed annually (2 shared inboxes, 1 knowledge base, email/live chat/social)
• Plus: $45/user/month billed annually (5 shared inboxes, 10 free lite users, advanced rule automation, AI features, SLA management) - Most Popular
• Pro: $70/user/month billed annually (25 shared inboxes, 50 free lite users, enterprise security, dedicated account manager)

Pros

• Easy to use with intuitive interface
• Good value for money compared to enterprise alternatives
• Excellent collaboration features (shared inbox, internal notes)
• Responsive customer support team
• Canned replies save significant time
• Clean, straightforward UI

Cons

• Reporting capabilities are limited and not highly customizable
• Mobile app needs improvement
• UI can feel slightly outdated
• Frequent updates sometimes move features around
• Cannot reverse merged tickets
• Limited filter options and inability to filter tickets by date

Who It's For

• Small to mid-sized businesses, startups, and teams that need simple, affordable customer support with a knowledge base.
• Perfect for companies that value ease of use over extensive customization.

Who It's Not For

Sales and marketing teams (better alternatives exist),

Large enterprises needing advanced analytics and reporting, or teams requiring extensive customization and complex workflows.

Alternative #3: Zendesk

Zendesk is an industry-leading customer service platform with extensive features, AI capabilities, and scalability for businesses of all sizes.

It offers a comprehensive suite including ticketing, messaging, help center, voice, quality assurance, and workforce management.

Features

• AI agents for automated customer conversations
• Copilot for AI-powered agent assistance
• Comprehensive ticketing system
• Messaging and live chat
• Help center/knowledge base
• Voice support
• Quality assurance tools
• Workforce management
• Omnichannel support
• Robust analytics and reporting
• Extensive marketplace with 1000+ integrations

Pricing Plans

• Support Team: $19/agent/month (basic email ticketing)
• Suite Team: $55/agent/month (omnichannel, basic AI)
• Suite Growth: $89/agent/month (customization, SLA management)
• Suite Professional: $115/agent/month (advanced analytics, routing)
• Suite Enterprise: $169/agent/month (custom solutions, advanced security)
• Add-ons: Copilot ($50/agent/month), Quality Assurance ($35/agent/month), Workforce Management ($25/agent/month)

Pros

• Powerful automation and workflow capabilities
• Comprehensive feature set for enterprise needs
• Excellent integrations with third-party tools
• Strong analytics and reporting
• Omnichannel support across all channels
• Highly scalable for large enterprises

Cons

• Very expensive, especially with add-ons (total cost often 2-3x base price)
• Complex setup with steep learning curve
• Interface can feel outdated and clunky
• Poor customer support responsiveness (1.8/5 rating on Trustpilot)
• Hidden costs and features locked behind higher tiers
• Can feel overwhelming for smaller teams

Who It's For

Large enterprises, companies needing extensive customization, businesses requiring advanced analytics and omnichannel support, organizations with dedicated admin resources for setup and maintenance.

Who It's Not For

Small businesses and startups (too expensive), teams wanting simple solutions without complexity, companies with limited budgets, or organizations without technical resources for implementation.

Alternative #4: Freshdesk

Freshdesk is a user-friendly, feature-rich omnichannel customer support platform by Freshworks.

It offers ticketing, automation, and a self-service portal, with AI capabilities through Freddy AI for enhanced support operations.

Features

• Ticketing system with shared inbox
• Threads and tasks for collaboration
• Customer portal and knowledge base
• Multilingual help desk
• Workflow automation and SLA management
• Freddy AI Agent for automated responses
• Freddy AI Copilot for agent assistance
• Omnichannel support (email, chat, phone, social)
• 1000+ app integrations

Pricing Plans

• Free: $0 for 1-2 agents for 6 months (basic ticketing, knowledge base)
• Growth: $19/agent/month billed annually (automation, SLA, integrations)
• Pro: $55/agent/month billed annually (custom objects, advanced routing, AI included) - Most Popular
• Enterprise: $89/agent/month billed annually (audit logs, approval workflows, skills-based assignments)
• Freddy AI Agent: First 500 sessions included on Pro/Enterprise, then $49 per 100 sessions

Pros

• Affordable pricing compared to Zendesk
• Easy to use with minimal training required
• Strong automation capabilities
• Good multi-channel support
• Generous free tier for small teams
• Good integrations ecosystem

Cons

• Session-based AI pricing can be unpredictable
• Costs add up quickly with add-ons
• Reporting limited on lower tiers
• Advanced features require higher plans
• Can get expensive at scale with AI usage

Who It's For

• Small to mid-sized businesses, growing teams on a budget
• Companies needing omnichannel support without enterprise pricing
• Organizations looking for a Zendesk alternative at lower cost.

Who It's Not For

Very large enterprises with highly complex needs

Companies requiring extensive customization beyond what templates offer

Teams that need predictable AI costs.

Alternative #5: Salesforce Service Cloud

Salesforce Service Cloud is an enterprise-grade customer service platform offering deep CRM integration, advanced automation, and AI-driven insights through Einstein AI.

It is built for organizations already invested in the Salesforce ecosystem.

Features

• Case management across all channels
• Einstein AI for automation and insights
• Knowledge management
• Self-service portals
• Workflow automation and omnichannel routing
• Deep Salesforce CRM integration
• Field service management
• AppExchange marketplace

Pricing Plans

• Starter Suite: $25/user/month (basic CRM for small businesses)
• Pro Suite: $100/user/month (growing teams)
• Enterprise: $175/user/month (full customization, advanced features)
• Unlimited: $350/user/month (unlimited customization, 24/7 support, advanced AI)
• Agentforce 1 Service: $550/user/month (Everything in Unlimited, plus full suite of AI, 1M Flex Credits & 2.5M Data Cloud Credits per org every year)

Pros

• Deep integration with Salesforce ecosystem
• Powerful customization options
• Excellent for complex, enterprise-level workflows
• Strong automation capabilities
• Highly scalable for large organizations
• Robust analytics and reporting

Cons

• Very expensive, especially with implementation costs
• Complex setup requiring specialized expertise
• Steep learning curve for administrators
• Performance issues with large datasets
• Challenging to integrate with non-Salesforce systems
• Overkill for companies not using Salesforce CRM

Who It's For

• Large enterprises, companies already using Salesforce CRM
• Businesses needing deep CRM-service integration
• Organizations with complex support operations
• Dedicated Salesforce administrators

Who It's Not For

• Small businesses, startups
• Teams without technical resources or Salesforce expertise
• Budget-conscious companies
• Organizations not already invested in the Salesforce ecosystem

Alternative #6: Kustomer

Kustomer is a CRM-first customer service platform offering a 360-degree customer view with a unified timeline of all interactions.

It is designed for businesses needing complex, data-driven support with deep customer context.

Features

• Unified timeline view across all channels
• Omnichannel support (email, chat, SMS, social, voice)
• AI-powered automation and intelligent routing
• Custom objects and workflows
• Real-time insights and analytics
• Built-in CRM capabilities
• Knowledge base
• SLA management

Pricing Plans

• Starting at: $89/agent/month (requires 8-user minimum, annual contract)
• Two main tiers: $89 and $139/agent/month
• No free trial available

Pros

• Comprehensive 360-degree customer view
• Excellent timeline interface showing all interactions
• Strong automation capabilities
• User-friendly once learned
• Effective for high-volume support operations
• Robust CRM features built-in

Cons

• Steeper learning curve than simpler tools
• Occasional interface complexities
• Advanced features only in higher-tier plans
• Web interface can be buggy at times
• Search functionality needs improvement
• Minimum 8-user requirement limits accessibility

Who It's For

Mid-sized to large businesses, companies needing combined CRM and support functionality, high-volume support teams, data-driven organizations that value customer context and unified views.

Who It's Not For

Very small teams (8-user minimum), businesses wanting simple plug-and-play solutions, budget-constrained startups, or companies that already have a separate CRM they want to keep.

Alternative #7: LiveAgent

LiveAgent is an all-in-one omnichannel help desk solution known for its robust ticketing system, live chat, and built-in call center.

It offers comprehensive features at competitive pricing for businesses of all sizes.

Features

• Universal inbox (email, chat, phone, social media)
• Ticketing system with 130+ features
• Built-in call center (VoIP, IVR, call recording, video calls)
• Fast live chat widget
• Knowledge base with customer portal
• Automation rules and canned messages
• 200+ integrations
• Gamification features for agent motivation

Pricing Plans

• Small Business: $15/agent/month billed annually
• Medium Business: $29/agent/month billed annually
• Large Business: $49/agent/month billed annually
• Enterprise: $69/agent/month billed annually (all features, unlimited everything)

Pros

• Excellent value for money with comprehensive features
• Fast live chat
• Good call center integration included
• Easy to use after initial setup
• Responsive 24/7 customer support

Cons

• UI can feel outdated compared to modern alternatives
• Mobile app lacks features and can be clunky
• Email management threading can be confusing
• Some integrations require manual configuration
• Interface not as polished as competitors

Who It's For

• Small to mid-sized businesses
• Teams needing built-in call center features
• Budget-conscious companies wanting an all-in-one solution
• Organizations that prioritize value over aesthetics

Who It's Not For

• Teams prioritizing modern, polished UI, mobile-first operations
• Enterprises needing cutting-edge features and design
• Companies that require extensive API customization

Alternative #8: Help Scout

Help Scout is a simple, email-based customer support solution focused on collaboration and ease of use.

It offers a shared inbox, knowledge base, and Beacon help widget with AI features included in all plans.

Features

• Shared inbox for team collaboration
• Knowledge base (Docs)
• Beacon help widget for websites
• AI features included: AI Answers, AI Drafts, AI Assist, AI Summarize
• Live chat and in-app messaging
• Workflows and automation
• Collision detection
• 100+ integrations

Pricing Plans

• Free: $0/month (1 shared Inbox, 1 public knowledge base, Limited saved replies, No AI tools included)
• Standard: $25/month (Multiple Inboxes, Multiple knowledge bases, Basic workflows, Unlimited tags and saved replies, AI Inbox assistant)
• Plus: $45/month (Advanced workflows, Unlimited AI Drafts, Round robin routing, Salesforce, Jira, and HubSpot, Internal teams, Group conversations by company)
• Pro: $75/user/month (Unlimited workflows, Multiple routing types, SSO/SAML, HIPAA compliance, Up to 50 light users, Dedicated onboarding specialist, Strategic account manager, Preferred pricing on Aircall)

Pros

• Clean, intuitive interface
• Excellent collaboration features
• AI features included in all plans (no extra cost)
• Great for email-first support teams
• Strong customer support from Help Scout team
• Easy to use with minimal training

Cons

• Can get expensive for growing businesses with high contact volumes
• Limited customization options
• Basic reporting compared to competitors
• Contact-based pricing causes cost spikes during volume increases
• Limited mobile functionality

Who It's For

Small to mid-sized businesses

Email-focused support teams

Companies wanting simplicity over complexity

Teams that value collaboration and shared inbox workflows

Who It's Not For

Large enterprises with complex needs, seasonal businesses (contact-based pricing spikes), teams needing extensive automation, mobile-first support operations.

Alternative #9: Front

Front is a shared-inbox tool focused on team collaboration for customer service.

It combines email, SMS, chat, and social media into a unified inbox while maintaining the familiar feel of regular email.

Features

• Shared inbox (email, SMS, chat, social media)
• Internal comments and @mentions for collaboration
• Live chat widget
• Automation rules and workflows
• Analytics and performance tracking
• Knowledge base
• CRM-like customer context

Pricing Plans

• Starter: $25/seat/month billed annually (1 channel type, 10 users max)
• Professional: $65/seat/month billed annually (omnichannel, advanced analytics, SSO)
• Scale: $105/seat/month billed annually (expanded features)
• Premier: $99+/seat/month (custom enterprise features)
• AI Add-ons: Copilot ($20-29/seat/month), Smart QA, Smart CSAT, Autopilot

Pros

• Excellent team collaboration capabilities
• Unified inbox brings all channels together
• Clean, familiar email-like interface
• Great for high-volume email teams
• Strong assignment and accountability features
• Good for B2B and SaaS companies

Cons

• Expensive, especially with AI add-ons
• Conversation threading can be confusing
• Learning curve for complex automation rules
• Mobile app has limitations
• Per-seat pricing scales poorly for larger teams
• Limited integrations on lower tiers

Who It's For

Customer support and operations teams, companies prioritizing team collaboration, teams managing high email volumes, B2B and SaaS companies with complex client communications.

Who It's Not For

Very small teams (expensive per-seat), budget-conscious businesses, teams needing extensive mobile functionality, organizations looking for all-in-one with built-in phone.

Alternative #10: Intercom

Intercom is a conversational support platform known for its AI chatbot capabilities through Fin.

It combines messaging, automation, and customer engagement tools for modern, chat-first customer service.

Features

• Fin AI Agent (industry-leading chatbot)
• Fin AI Copilot for agent assistance
• Shared inbox and ticketing
• Omnichannel messaging
• Live chat
• Help center/knowledge base
• Product tours and onboarding
• Automation and workflows

Pricing Plans

• Essential: $29/seat/month billed annually (basic features)
• Advanced: $85/seat/month Higher tier (automation, multilingual support)
• Expert: $132/seat/month (multi-brand, advanced security)
• Fin AI Agent: $0.99 per resolution (50 resolution monthly minimum)
• Copilot: $29/seat/month for unlimited
• Proactive Support Plus: $99/month (Advanced in-app and outbound support features like Checklists, Posts, Surveys, and Series campaign builder.)

Pros

• Powerful AI chatbot (Fin) with high resolution rates
• Excellent for conversational, chat-first support
• Good user interface and experience
• Fast deployment and setup
• Strong multilingual support
• Good automation capabilities

Cons

• Expensive at scale ($0.99/resolution adds up quickly)
• Complex pricing structure with many variables
• "Assumed resolutions" count even if customer abandons chat
• Requires well-maintained knowledge base for AI to work well
• Long setup time for advanced features
• Hidden costs with various add-ons

Who It's For

• SaaS companies, businesses prioritizing AI chatbots
• Teams with well-documented help centers
• Companies wanting conversational support experience
• Organizations with moderate support volumes

Who It's Not For

• Small businesses (too expensive)
• Companies with incomplete documentation
• Budget-conscious teams
• Businesses with high support volumes (costs escalate rapidly)

So, Which Zoho Desk Alternative Should You Choose?

Most help desk platforms will solve your basic ticketing needs. But if you want AI that actually resolves tickets (not just deflects them), you need a platform built for outcomes, not just features.

That's where Helply stands apart.

While Zendesk charges $50/agent/month just for their AI Copilot add-on, and Intercom's Fin costs $0.99 per resolution (which adds up fast), Helply guarantees a 65% AI resolution rate within 90 days, or you don't pay.

No other platform on this list makes that promise.

Here's what you get with Helply that you won't find elsewhere:

• 10-15 minutes to a working chatbot. Not hours. Not days. Minutes. Scrape your knowledge base, toggle on escalations, and you're live.
• Escalations that just work. No Zapier configuration. No custom actions to build. When your AI can't answer, it creates a ticket in your existing help desk automatically.
• Unlimited training documents. While other tools nickel-and-dime you on document size and count, Helply doesn't track or limit your knowledge base.
• A dedicated AI support engineer. You're not left figuring this out alone. Someone works with you 1-on-1 to hit that 65% resolution rate.

The best part? You can start for free. No credit card. No sales call required.

Ready to see it in action?

Try Helply Free and deploy your first AI agent in under 15 minutes.

Or, if you want a personalized walkthrough of how Helply would work with your specific help desk and knowledge base:

Book a Free Demo with our team!