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Best Free Alternatives to Zendesk
Stop paying $19 - $115+/agent/mo. Discover professional-grade tools that won't break your budget.
Category: Customer SupportVerified for 2025
Top Recommended Replacements
Freshdesk
FREEBest Scalable Alternative for SMBs
Why we like it
Generous free tier for up to 10 agents; 'Freddy AI' offers similar automation to Zendesk at a lower price point; much faster setup and more intuitive UI.
Keep in mind
Advanced 'Enterprise' features like skill-based routing require the highest paid tiers.
Zoho Desk
FREEBest for AI-Powered Support on a Budget
Why we like it
Unbeatable value; includes 'Zia' AI for sentiment analysis and auto-tagging; deep integration with the Zoho ecosystem; supports multiple brands on lower tiers.
Keep in mind
The interface can feel fragmented; mobile app is not as feature-rich as the desktop version.
Help Scout
FREEBest for 'Human' Email-First Support
Why we like it
Focuses on a shared inbox that feels like regular email to the customer; beautiful, minimalist UI; includes 'Beacon' for onsite help docs.
Keep in mind
Lacks the complex 'Ticket ID' tracking and deep ITIL workflows required by large enterprises.
Gorgias
Best for E-commerce (Shopify/BigCommerce)
Why we like it
Allows agents to edit orders and issue refunds directly inside the help desk; AI templates specific to e-commerce (e.g., 'Where is my order?'); deep integration with Klaviyo.
Keep in mind
Pricing is based on ticket volume, which can become unpredictable during peak holiday seasons.
Front
Best for High-Touch B2B Teams
Why we like it
Combines a shared inbox with a personal email client; internal 'side-chats' on tickets prevent messy CC threads; excellent for account management.
Keep in mind
Not a traditional 'ticketing system'; lacks a native customer-facing knowledge base on lower tiers.
Zammad
FREEBest Professional Open Source Choice
Why we like it
Web-based and 100% open-source; supports phone, chat, and social media; includes professional features like 'escalations' and 'audit logs' for free.
Keep in mind
Requires self-hosting and technical server maintenance; smaller integration ecosystem than Zendesk.
FreeScout
FREEBest 'Old-School' Open Source Help Scout
Why we like it
A free, self-hosted clone of Help Scout; very lightweight; supports countless community-developed modules.
Keep in mind
UI is functional but dated; no official mobile app (3rd party only).
Intercom
Best for Proactive Chat & AI Bots
Why we like it
The leader in 'Fin' AI chatbot technology; focuses on resolving issues before they become tickets; world-class in-app messaging.
Keep in mind
Extremely expensive for high-traffic websites; the 'legacy' ticketing features are less robust than Zendesk.
Hiver
Best for Teams using Google Workspace
Why we like it
Turns Gmail into a full help desk; zero learning curve for teams already in Google; includes collision detection and shared drafts.
Keep in mind
You are limited to the constraints of the Gmail interface; not suitable for non-Google companies.
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