kitio.aiHelp Scout vs Zoho Desk
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Zoho Desk has the lower starting price: about $9 a month, against $25 for Help Scout.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Shared email inbox
- Docs knowledge base
- Beacon chat widget
- AI Answers
- AI drafts and summaries
- Zia AI assistant
- Omnichannel ticketing
- Blueprint workflows
- Multi-brand help center
- SLA management
| Feature | Help Scout | Zoho Desk |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Shared inbox and help center with AI answers for small support teams | Affordable help desk with Zia AI for ticket replies and insights |
| Category | Customer support | Customer support |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $25/mo | $9/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Help Scout | Zoho Corporation |
| Based in | United States | India |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
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Pricing compared
Zoho Desk has the lower starting price: about $9 a month, against $25 for Help Scout.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Free
Free
- 5 users
- 1 inbox
- 1 Docs site
Standard
$25/mo
- Per user
- Multiple inboxes and knowledge bases
- Live chat, SMS and social channels
- AI Inbox assistant
Plus
$45/mo
- Per user
- Advanced workflows and 2 SLA policies
- Secure customer portal
- Unlimited AI Drafts
Pro
$75/mo
- Per user
- Unlimited workflows and SLA policies
- SSO/SAML
- Strategic account manager
5 plans
Free
Free
- Up to 3 agents
- Email ticketing
- Basic help center
Express
$9/mo
- Per user
- Email and web forms
- AI agents with free tokens
- Custom domain
Standard
$20/mo
- Per user
- WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger
- Answer bot and community forum
- Custom reports and dashboards
Professional
$35/mo
- Per user
- Telephony integration
- Zia AI built in
- Round-robin assignment
Enterprise
$50/mo
- Per user
- Advanced AI and automation
- Multi-brand help centers
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Help Scout
- Very easy for new agents to learn
- Emails feel personal, not ticket-like
- Free plan for tiny teams
- Fewer enterprise features
- Phone support is limited
- Free plan caps monthly contacts
Zoho Desk
- Low price per agent
- Good fit with Zoho apps
- Free plan for small teams
- Interface feels busy
- AI less advanced than leaders
- Third-party integrations are fewer
Which one should you choose?
Choose Help Scout if you want:
- Very easy for new agents to learn
- Emails feel personal, not ticket-like
- Free plan for tiny teams
Watch out: fewer enterprise features.
Choose Zoho Desk if you want:
- Low price per agent
- Good fit with Zoho apps
- Free plan for small teams
Watch out: interface feels busy.
Help Scout vs Zoho Desk FAQ
What is the difference between Help Scout and Zoho Desk?
Help Scout: Shared inbox and help center with AI answers for small support teams. Zoho Desk: Affordable help desk with Zia AI for ticket replies and insights. Both are customer support tools.
Is Help Scout or Zoho Desk cheaper?
Zoho Desk has the lower starting price: about $9 a month, against $25 for Help Scout.
Do Help Scout and Zoho Desk have free plans?
Help Scout: Yes. Zoho Desk: Yes.
Who makes Help Scout?
Help Scout is made by Help Scout, based in United States.
Who makes Zoho Desk?
Zoho Desk is made by Zoho Corporation, based in India.
Which should I choose, Help Scout or Zoho Desk?
Choose Help Scout if you value very easy for new agents to learn and emails feel personal, not ticket-like. Choose Zoho Desk if you value low price per agent and good fit with zoho apps.