Help desk Category leader
Freshdesk
Omnichannel ticketing with AI agents from Freshworks
Key features
- Omnichannel inbox
- SLA management
- Support analytics
Our picks · 6 tools reviewed
Best Help desk software for 2026
Turns customer emails and messages into tickets that support teams assign, track and resolve. Below: the names buyers expect to see, the newer tools gaining ground, and how their key features and prices compare. How we pick; nobody pays for a place here.
| Feature |
|
|
|
Chatwoot
|
Coasting
|
Plain
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $19/agent/month | $19/agent/month | Free plan | Free plan paid from $19/agent/mo | Free plan paid from $29/mo | From $45/user/mo (7-day free trial) |
| Best for | — | — | — | Small to mid-sized tech and ecommerce teams that want an open-source support inbox they can self-host to control costs and data | Solo Shopify store owners and small teams answering order questions without paying per-agent fees | Small to mid-sized B2B software teams supporting technical customers in Slack and email, with Linear or Jira in their workflow |
| Team size | 2–500+ people | 2–500+ people | 2–500+ people | 1–500 people | 1–50 people | 2–500 people |
| Ticket management | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Omnichannel inbox | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Ticket routing | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SLA management | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Yes |
| Macros and canned replies | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Support analytics | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Visit | Visit | Visit | Visit | Visit | Visit | Visit |
Category leaders
The best-known help desk tools: the ones most buyers shortlist.
Help desk Category leader
Zendesk
Ticketing and omnichannel customer support platform
Key features
- Ticket management
- Omnichannel inbox
- Ticket routing
- Macros and canned replies
- Support analytics
Help desk Category leader
Zoho Desk
Multichannel help desk with a free plan, from Zoho
Key features
- Omnichannel inbox
- SLA management
- Support analytics
Also worth a look
Help desk
Chatwoot
Open-source customer support inbox
Key features
- Ticket management
- Omnichannel inbox
- Ticket routing
- SLA management
- Macros and canned replies
- Support analytics
Help desk Founder's app
Coasting
AI-native helpdesk built for Shopify stores
Key features
- Ticket management
- Ticket routing
- Support analytics
Help desk
Plain
Support platform for B2B software companies
Key features
- Ticket management
- Ticket routing
- SLA management
- Support analytics