Zendesk vs Freshdesk
Zendesk and Freshdesk side by side: what each one is, what it costs to start, and whether you can try it free. Everything below comes from the vendors' own sites and other public sources, not from hands-on testing.
At a glance
| Zendesk | Freshdesk | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Customer Support & Chatbots | Customer Support & Chatbots |
| Starting price | $19/mo (checked October 2026) | $19/mo (checked October 2026) |
| Free tier | Not listed | Not listed |
| Profile | Read profile | Read profile |
Prices are in US dollars unless shown otherwise. Confirm the current price on the vendor's site before you buy.
Key differences
Neither lists a free tier, so expect to pay to use either one.
Their starting paid plans are listed at the same price, $19/mo.
Both are in our Customer Support & Chatbots category.
About each tool
Zendesk
Customer service platform with ticketing, multichannel messaging, AI agents billed per automated resolution, and a Copilot add-on for agents. 14-day trial.
Strengths
- 14-day free trial
- AI agents are included in Suite and Support plans and are billed per automated resolution
- AI agents list support for 80 languages across messaging, email and voice
- Zendesk's marketplace lists more than 1,800 apps and integrations
- Each plan includes some automated resolutions: 5 per agent per month on Support Team and Suite Team, 10 on Suite Professional
Limitations
- Support Team has no messaging or live chat, no telephony and no skills-based routing
- AI agent use beyond the included allowance costs $1.50 per automated resolution on committed volume, or $2.00 pay-as-you-go
- Copilot is a separate add-on at $50 per agent per month, available on Professional and higher plans
- Suite Enterprise pricing is not published
Freshdesk
Helpdesk with ticketing, shared inbox and knowledge base, plus Freddy AI Agent and Copilot add-ons. Per-agent plans; 14-day trial and a limited free program.
Who it is for
Support teams that handle customer requests by email and other channels. The plans scale from small teams to larger ones that need SLAs, routing rules and audit logs.
Strengths
- Three paid plans (Growth, Pro, Enterprise), starting at $19 per agent per month billed annually
- 14-day free trial
- Freddy AI Agent: 500 sessions included for new customers on every paid plan
- A Free Program for Freshdesk (not Omni) covers up to 2 agents for 6 months, with ticketing, a knowledge base and email support
- The Enterprise plan lists skill-based routing, sandbox, audit logs and IP whitelisting
Limitations
- Freddy AI Copilot is a separate add-on at $29 per agent per month, listed for Pro and Enterprise
- Freddy AI Agent sessions beyond the first 500 cost $49 per 100 sessions
- The Free Program is limited to 2 agents and 6 months, and is not shown on the public pricing page
