Freshdesk
Help desk with AI ticket automation, chatbots, and a free plan for small support teams.
Overview
Freshdesk is a help desk platform from Freshworks that centralizes support tickets from email, phone, chat, and social into a shared inbox. Its AI features include Freddy AI for auto-categorizing tickets, suggesting replies, and running a support chatbot. Freshdesk stands out for offering a functional free plan for small teams and a gradual upgrade path as the team grows. It integrates with other Freshworks products for CRM and sales.
Key features
- Multi-channel ticket management (email, phone, chat, social)
- Freddy AI for ticket categorization and reply suggestions
- Chatbot builder for websites
- SLA policies and escalation rules
- Knowledge base and help center
- Automation workflows
- Reporting and analytics
Pricing
- Pricing model
- Freemium
- Monthly
- From $19/month, billed annually
- Yearly
- $228/year billed annually
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- Yes
- Last verified
- Checked October 4, 2026
Pros
- Free plan for unlimited agents with basic features
- Gradual pricing tiers make growth affordable
- Strong multi-channel ticketing out of the box
Cons
- AI and automation features are on higher-priced tiers
- Interface can feel dated compared to newer tools
Who should use it
- Small teams wanting a free help desk to start
- Growing businesses that want gradual feature upgrades
- Teams in the Freshworks ecosystem needing CRM and support integration
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced · Individuals, Small teams, Mid-size teams, Enterprise
Who shouldn't
- Very complex enterprise workflows without significant configuration
- Teams primarily focused on chat-first support
Facts
- Category
- AI customer support
- Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android
- Integrations
- Freshsales, Freshchat, Slack, Jira, Shopify, Salesforce, Zapier
- API
- Available
- Skill level
- Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
- Team size
- Individuals, Small teams, Mid-size teams, Enterprise
- Data and privacy
- We have no verified details on data handling. Read the vendor's privacy policy before uploading sensitive material.
Alternatives
- ZendeskAI customer support
Help desk and customer service platform with AI ticket routing, bots, and agent assistance.
From $25/month - Intercom (Fin)AI customer support
Customer messaging platform with an AI agent that resolves support queries automatically.
From $29/month - TidioAI customer support
Live chat and AI chatbot platform for small businesses, with a free tier and easy website setup.
From $24.17/monthNot yet verified - CrispAI customer support
Customer messaging platform with live chat, AI chatbot, and shared inbox, including a free plan.
From $45/month
Frequently asked questions
How much does Freshdesk cost?
From $19/month, billed annually. $228/year billed annually. Checked October 4, 2026.
Does Freshdesk have a free plan?
Yes. Freshdesk has a free plan, and paid plans can be tried before buying.
Who is Freshdesk best for?
Small teams wanting a free help desk to start; Growing businesses that want gradual feature upgrades; Teams in the Freshworks ecosystem needing CRM and support integration.
Which platforms does Freshdesk run on?
Web, iOS, Android.
Does Freshdesk have an API?
Yes, Freshdesk offers an API.
What are the alternatives to Freshdesk?
Tools often weighed against Freshdesk include Zendesk, Intercom (Fin), Tidio, Crisp.