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Help Scout vs Zoho Desk: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of Help Scout and Zoho Desk. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: Zoho Desk starts at $7/mo, making it $18/mo cheaper than Help Scout ($25/mo). Help Scout offers a free plan.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026

Help Scout vs Zoho Desk: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureHelp ScoutZoho Desk
Starting Price$25/mo$7/mo
Number of Plans45
Free TierYesYes
Pricing Modelper-seatper-seat
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Zoho Desk is the more affordable option, starting at $7/mo compared to Help Scout's $25/mo. Both are Customer Support tools with 9 combined pricing plans and 64 features compared. At comparable tiers, the monthly price difference is $22.

Both tools offer free plans, making them accessible for teams on a budget.

Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Customer Support needs.

Pricing Plans
Help Scout
Help Scout
Try it free
Zoho Desk
Zoho Desk
Try it free
Tier 1
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • 1 shared email Inbox
  • 1 public knowledge base
  • Limited saved replies
  • No AI tools included
Start with Free
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Gestion des tickets facilitée par e-mail
  • 3 licences utilisateur
Start with Free
Tier 2
Standard
$25/month
Includes
  • Multiple Inboxes
  • Live chat, Instagram, & Messenger
  • Multiple knowledge bases
  • Basic workflows
  • Unlimited tags and saved replies
  • AI Inbox assistant
Start with Standard
Express
$7/monthCheapest
$7 / year
Includes
  • Messagerie électronique
  • Réseaux sociaux
  • Formulaires Web
  • Attribution directe
  • Workflows
  • Domaine personnalisé
  • Remontées multi-niveaux
  • Calendrier et historique des tickets
  • Gestion des contacts
Start with Express
Tier 3
PlusPopular
$45/month
Includes
  • WhatsApp messaging
  • Advanced workflows
  • Unlimited AI Drafts
  • Round robin routing
  • Salesforce, Jira, and HubSpot
  • Internal teams
  • Group conversations by company
Start with Plus
Standard
$14/monthCheapest
$14 / year
Includes
  • Messagerie professionnelle
  • Messagerie instantanée
  • Forum communautaire
  • IA générative
  • Modes de travail
  • Base de connaissances
  • Widget de libre-service ASAP
  • Niveaux de satisfaction client
  • Rapports et tableaux de bord personnalisés
Start with Standard
Tier 4
Pro
$75/month
Includes
  • Unlimited workflows
  • Multiple routing types
  • SSO/SAML
  • HIPAA compliance
  • Up to 50 light users
  • Dedicated onboarding specialist
  • Strategic account manager
  • Preferred pricing on Aircall
Start with Pro
ProfessionalPopular
$23/monthCheapest
$23 / year
Includes
  • Téléphonie
  • Blueprints
  • Multiservice
  • Attribution de tickets circulaire
  • Champs de recherche personnalisés
  • Centre d'assistance multilingue
  • Génération de tickets parent-enfant
  • Actions personnalisées
  • Webhooks
Start with Professional
Tier 5
Enterprise
$40/monthCheapest
$40 / year
Includes
  • Agents IA
  • Robot de réponse
  • Zia, assistante IA
  • Tchat en direct (Zoho SalesIQ)
  • Conversations guidées
  • Attribution basée sur les compétences
  • IVR multiniveau
  • Centre d'assistance multimarque
  • Modules personnalisés
  • Sandbox
Start with Enterprise

Swipe to compare plans →

Help Scout

Customer support platform with shared inbox and knowledge base

View all Help Scout plans

Zoho Desk

Context-aware helpdesk software from Zoho

View all Zoho Desk plans
Our Pick

Zoho Desk

Zoho Desk offers a free plan, starts at $18/mo lower ($7/mo vs $25/mo), offers 5 tiers vs 4.

Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.

Best value: Zoho Desk

Try Zoho Desk free

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Help Scout if:

  • You prefer Help Scout's free tier features—1 shared email Inbox, 1 public knowledge base
  • Help Scout's 4-tier per-seat structure gives clearer cost visibility for budget planning
  • You value Help Scout's specific feature progression from free to advanced tier levels

Choose Zoho Desk if:

  • You want lower per-user costs—Zoho Desk starts at $7/mo, saving $18/mo compared to Help Scout at $25/mo
  • You prefer Zoho Desk's free tier features—Gestion des tickets facilitée par e-mail, 3 licences utilisateur
  • You need 5 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
  • You want more features built-in—Zoho Desk offers 14 additional features across its plans

Both Help Scout and Zoho Desk offer free plans [1], eliminating cost barriers for evaluation. This means you can test both tools thoroughly with your actual workflows before any financial commitment. The free tiers differ in scope: Help Scout includes 4 features, while Zoho Desk includes 2 features. Evaluate which free tier matches your evaluation needs before deciding to upgrade. When upgrading to paid tiers, Zoho Desk offers better value at approximately $22.00/mo difference for comparable tier levels. Plan accordingly if your team will graduate from the free tier within 12 months. Your best approach is to activate both free trials and evaluate which tool's workflow, integrations, and user experience align better with your team's needs before committing to paid plans.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Help Scout vs Zoho Desk

Which is cheaper, Help Scout or Zoho Desk?
As of March 2026, Zoho Desk starts at a lower price point. Help Scout starts at $25/mo while Zoho Desk starts at $7/mo. However, the best value depends on the features you need at each tier.
How many pricing plans does Help Scout have vs Zoho Desk?
Help Scout offers 4 pricing plans, while Zoho Desk offers 5 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Help Scout or Zoho Desk offer a free plan?
Yes, both Help Scout and Zoho Desk offer free plans. Compare the feature limits of each free tier to see which better fits your use case before upgrading.
Can I save money by paying annually for Help Scout or Zoho Desk?
Both Help Scout and Zoho Desk offer annual billing options. Check each plan's yearly pricing for potential savings compared to monthly billing.
What is the most popular Help Scout plan?
The Plus plan is Help Scout's most popular tier, priced at $45/mo. Key features include WhatsApp messaging, Advanced workflows, Unlimited AI Drafts.
What is the most popular Zoho Desk plan?
The Professional plan is Zoho Desk's most popular tier, priced at $23/mo. Key features include Téléphonie, Blueprints, Multiservice.
How do Help Scout and Zoho Desk compare for Customer Support?
Both Help Scout and Zoho Desk are Customer Support tools. Help Scout offers 4 plans starting at $25/mo, while Zoho Desk offers 5 plans starting at $7/mo. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Customer Support needs.

Sources

  1. Help Scout Official PricingVendor pricing page
  2. Zoho Desk Official PricingVendor pricing page

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