If you’ve been using Freshworks or are considering it, you probably like the clean design, easy setup, and affordable plans.
Freshdesk, Freshsales, and Freshservice are popular products in customer support, CRM, and IT service management. But here’s the truth: Freshworks is not the only option.
Businesses today want tools that can scale faster, integrate deeply, and offer better value.
Some need advanced AI, others want cheaper plans, while big companies look for enterprise-level control. That’s where Freshworks competitors come in.
In this article, I’ll show you the best alternatives to Freshworks, compare their pricing and features, and help you find the right solution for your business.
Quick Picks: Best Freshworks Alternatives by Use Case
Here’s a quick overview if you’re short on time:
- Best overall help desk: Zendesk
- Best budget help desk: Zoho Desk
- Best live chat & product-led support: Intercom
- Best e-commerce support: Gorgias
- Best enterprise ITSM: ServiceNow
- Best ITSM for developers: Jira Service Management
- Best CRM for marketing + sales: HubSpot CRM
- Best enterprise CRM: Salesforce
- Best simple sales CRM: Pipedrive
These tools consistently show up as the strongest Freshworks competitors because they solve the same problems but with different strengths.
How to Choose Between Freshworks and Competitors?
Before you pick a tool, ask yourself: What do I need most right now?
- Cost vs Value: Freshdesk starts at $15/agent/month, but Zoho Desk is only $14/agent. At scale, the savings add up.
- Channels: Do you need WhatsApp, Instagram DMs, or just email + chat?
- Automation & AI: Zendesk and Intercom lead here with advanced bots and ticket summaries.
- Integrations: Salesforce has 3,000+ apps, while Freshworks has around 1,200.
- Ease of Use: Freshworks is beginner-friendly, while ServiceNow requires training.
- Team Size: Small teams may prefer Zoho Desk, while enterprises lean toward ServiceNow or Salesforce.
A simple rule: If you’re under 50 users, pick ease of use and price. If you’re over 200 users, look for depth and scalability.
Freshworks Competitors in Help Desk & Support
1. Zendesk – The Market Leader
Zendesk is the biggest name in help desk software. With over 160,000 customers worldwide, it offers email, chat, voice, and social channels in one place.
Why it beats Freshdesk: Larger app marketplace (1,500+ integrations), stronger analytics, and AI-powered ticket routing.
Price: From $19/agent/month.
Best for: Businesses that need omnichannel support at scale.
2. Zoho Desk – Affordable Alternative
Zoho Desk is part of the Zoho suite and costs less than Freshdesk. It has automation, SLAs, and multi-department management.
Why it beats Freshdesk: Lower cost, native integration with Zoho CRM, and a free plan for up to 3 agents.
Price: From $14/agent/month.
Best for: Startups and SMBs looking for value.
3. Intercom – Best for Live Chat and Bots
Intercom focuses on real-time conversations. It has AI chatbots, product tours, and proactive messaging.
Why it beats Freshdesk: Stronger chat-first approach and customer engagement tools.
Price: Starts higher at $39/seat/month.
Best for: SaaS companies that rely on in-app chat.
4. Help Scout – Simple and Email-Friendly
Help Scout feels like Gmail but adds team collaboration, docs, and reporting.
Why it beats Freshdesk: Easy to use, lightweight, and no steep learning curve.
Best for: Small businesses that want an email-style support desk.
5. Jira Service Management – Built for IT & Dev Teams
Built by Atlassian, Jira Service Management is designed for IT help desks.
Why it beats Freshservice: Seamless integration with Jira Software, CMDB, and change management.
Best for: Developer-heavy companies and IT support teams.
6. ServiceNow – Enterprise ITSM Leader
ServiceNow is a giant in IT service management.
Why it beats Freshservice: Enterprise-grade workflows, advanced governance, and deep customization.
Best for: Large enterprises with 500+ employees.
7. Gorgias – For Ecommerce Stores
Gorgias is built for e-commerce and integrates natively with Shopify, Magento, and BigCommerce.
Why it beats Freshdesk: E-commerce-first features like order lookups inside tickets.
Best for: Online stores with high customer volumes.
8. LiveAgent – Strong Chat + Call Center Combo
LiveAgent offers email, chat, and a built-in call center.
Why it beats Freshdesk: Better voice support at a lower cost.
Best for: SMBs that want phone + chat in one tool.
Freshworks Competitors in CRM (Freshsales Alternatives)
1. HubSpot CRM – All-in-One Growth Platform
HubSpot CRM is free at the base level and integrates marketing, sales, and service.
Why it beats Freshsales: More advanced marketing automation, a large ecosystem, and a free forever tier.
Price: Free, paid plans from $18/seat/month.
2. Salesforce – Enterprise CRM Standard
Salesforce is the #1 CRM worldwide, with over 150,000 customers.
Why it beats Freshsales: Advanced customization, AI (Einstein), and AppExchange with 3,000+ apps.
Price: From $25/user/month.
3. Pipedrive – Simple Pipeline CRM
Pipedrive focuses on sales pipelines with drag-and-drop simplicity.
Why it beats Freshsales: Easier setup, cleaner UI, and strong sales automation.
Price: From $15/user/month.
4. Zoho CRM – Budget-Friendly Suite
Zoho CRM integrates tightly with Zoho Desk, Zoho Books, and more.
Why it beats Freshsales: Lower cost and better value for SMBs.
5. Monday Sales CRM – Visual and Flexible
Monday.com’s CRM is based on customizable boards.
Why it beats Freshsales: Visual workflows, high flexibility, and team-friendly design.
Freshworks Competitors in ITSM (Freshservice Alternatives)
1. ServiceNow
Enterprise ITSM with asset management, incident, change, and problem management.
2. Jira Service Management
Developer + IT alignment with the Atlassian ecosystem.
3. ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus
Affordable ITSM with on-premises and cloud options.
4. SolarWinds Service Desk
Strong automation and ITIL compliance.
5. Ivanti Neurons
Blends endpoint management with IT service workflows.
Pricing Comparison
Tool
Starting Price
Billing Unit
Best For
Freshdesk
$15/agent/mo
Per agent
SMB support teams
Zendesk
$19/agent/mo
Per agent
Mid-market/Enterprise
Zoho Desk
$14/agent/mo
Per agent
SMBs on budget
Intercom
$39/seat/mo
Per seat
SaaS, chat-heavy
HubSpot CRM
Free–$18/mo
Per user
SMB + Marketing
Salesforce
$25/user/mo
Per user
Enterprise CRM
ServiceNow
Custom
Per user
Enterprise ITSM
If you’re considering Freshdesk, keep an eye out for seasonal offers—sometimes you can save up to 50% with a Freshworks coupon, making it one of the most affordable choices for small teams.
Freshworks vs Top Competitors: Head-to-Head
Freshdesk vs Zendesk
- Freshdesk wins: Easier to use, cheaper.
- Zendesk wins: Larger marketplace, advanced analytics.
Freshsales vs HubSpot CRM
- Freshsales wins: Lower price.
- HubSpot wins: Free plan, better marketing automation.
Freshservice vs Jira Service Management
- Freshservice wins: User-friendly for ITSM beginners.
- Jira wins: Better for dev teams already on Atlassian.
FAQs
1. Is Freshworks good for small businesses?
Yes, Freshworks is easy to set up and budget-friendly, but Zoho Desk or Help Scout may be even cheaper.
2. Which Freshdesk alternative is best for e-commerce?
Gorgias is the best Freshdesk alternative for e-commerce brands.
3. What is the cheapest Freshworks competitor?
Zoho Desk and Pipedrive start at around $14–$15/month per user.
4. Which CRM is better than Freshsales?
HubSpot and Salesforce are the strongest Freshsales competitors, depending on your size.
5. Which ITSM tool beats Freshservice?
Jira Service Management is best for dev-driven teams, while ServiceNow suits enterprises.
Verdict
Freshworks is a strong choice for many businesses, but competitors like Zendesk, HubSpot, and ServiceNow often deliver better value depending on your needs.
- If you want budget support software → Zoho Desk
- If you want CRM with marketing automation → HubSpot
- If you want enterprise ITSM → ServiceNow
The best Freshworks competitor is not about the most features, but the one that fits your team size, budget, and growth path.
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