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Our editors evaluate support pricing against the same seven published criteria - hands-on setup, the core support workflow, automation and AI, integrations, reporting and analytics, pricing and value, and vendor support and documentation. The ranking below is editorial: it follows that methodology, and paid partnerships are labeled and kept separate. Full hands-on reviews are linked from each pick.
At a glance
A quick side-by-side of every tool in the ranking. Pricing and detailed scoring land with each full review.
| # | Tool | Best for | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Zoho Desk | Best for Zoho users | Free for 3 users; paid from $7 per agent/month, billed annually |
| 2 |  Tawk.to | Best free live chat | Free; add-ons from $29/month |
| 3 |  Help Scout | Best overall for small support teams | Free for up to 5 users; paid from $25 per user/month |
| 4 |  Crisp | Best all-in-one messaging | Free for 2 agents; paid from $45/month for 4 agents |
| 5 |  Missive | Best low-cost team inbox | From $14 per user/month, billed annually |
| 6 |  Freshdesk | Best value help desk | From $19 per agent/month, billed annually |
| 7 |  LiveAgent | Best for built-in call center | From $15 per agent/month, billed annually |
| 8 |  Jira Service Management | Best for IT service desks | Free for 3 agents; Standard about $27 per agent/month for 10 agents, billed monthly |
| 9 |  HubSpot Service Hub | Best for CRM-native support | Free for 2 users; Starter from $20 per seat/month |
| 10 |  Tidio | Best for small e-commerce | Free plan; paid from $24.17/month for 100 conversations, billed annually |
The 10 best support pricing tools
Ranked by our editors against the methodology below. Each verdict, pros/cons, and price is filled in as our hands-on review of that tool is published.
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1. Zoho Desk
Best for Zoho usersTrade-off Telephony, Zia AI and round-robin routing all start on Professional, and generative AI features use your own OpenAI or DeepSeek API key.
Context-aware help desk that plugs into the wider Zoho business suite. It has the lowest per-agent prices of the full help desks here, from $7 a month billed annually, plus a free plan for 3 users and free migration from another help desk. The Professional plan adds telephony, AI and round-robin assignment at $23 per agent. It suits budget-conscious teams that still want a complete help desk.
Pros
- Free plan for 3 users with email ticketing
- Paid plans from $7 per agent per month, billed annually
- 15-day trial with no credit card
- Free data migration from other help desks
Cons
- Telephony, Zia AI and round-robin routing need Professional
- Skill-based routing and multi-brand help centers need Enterprise
- Standard is limited to 5 users
- Generative AI features need your own AI provider key
Best for Best for Zoho users. Full confirmation lands with our complete review of this category.
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2. Tawk.to
Best free live chatTrade-off The free widget shows tawk.to branding, and removing it costs $29 a month for each website.
Free live chat, ticketing, and knowledge base, funded by optional paid add-ons. Its live chat, ticketing, knowledge base and CRM are free with unlimited agents, and paid extras are priced per website rather than per seat. For a team that only needs chat and basic ticketing, the software cost can be zero. It suits small businesses and nonprofits with no software budget.
Pros
- Free chat, ticketing, knowledge base and CRM with unlimited agents
- Add-ons priced per website, not per seat
- AI Assist from $29 a month, with a free tier for low volume
- One agent login can cover several websites
Cons
- Removing branding costs $29 a month per website
- The free AI tier's limit is not published
- Voice agents (from $49 a month plus usage) and data enrichment (from $59) cost extra
- Phone and SMS are labeled as a beta coming soon
Best for Best free live chat. Full confirmation lands with our complete review of this category.
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3. Help Scout
Best overall for small support teamsTrade-off User caps on Standard (25) and Plus (50) and a 10-user minimum on Pro mean fast-growing teams can outgrow a tier quickly.
Shared inbox and help desk designed around a lightweight, human support experience. Its free plan covers up to 5 users with a shared inbox and a small knowledge base, and paid plans add live chat, SMS and WhatsApp at $25 per user. AI is billed only when it resolves a conversation, with a monthly spending cap. It suits small teams that want to start free and pay as they grow.
Pros
- Free plan for up to 5 users with no payment method
- Standard includes live chat, SMS, WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger
- AI Answers costs $0.75 per resolution, with a monthly spending cap
- Knowledge base included on every plan
Cons
- Advanced workflows and round-robin routing need Plus
- Pro has a 10-user minimum, about $750 per month
- SSO and HIPAA need Pro or a paid add-on
- Extra inboxes and Docs sites cost extra
Best for Best overall for small support teams. Full confirmation lands with our complete review of this category.
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4. Crisp
Best all-in-one messagingTrade-off Removing the Crisp branding from the chat widget requires the Plus plan at $295 a month.
Multichannel messaging, shared inbox, and chatbots for growing teams. It charges a flat monthly price per workspace that includes several agents and unlimited conversations, so the bill does not rise with volume. Essentials includes 10 agents for $95 a month, or $9.50 per agent with a full team. It suits growing teams that want a predictable bill.
Pros
- Free plan for 2 agents with no time limit
- Flat workspace pricing with 4, 10 or 20 agents included
- Unlimited conversations on every plan
- 14-day trial of every feature with no card
Cons
- White labelling needs Plus at $295 a month
- WhatsApp, SMS and the knowledge base start on Essentials
- The free plan has no AI credits and 100 customer profiles
- Yearly prices are not published
Best for Best all-in-one messaging. Full confirmation lands with our complete review of this category.
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5. Missive
Best low-cost team inboxTrade-off There is no free plan, Starter is capped at 5 users, and SMS runs through your own Twilio, Quo or Dialpad account.
Collaborative team inbox that brings email, SMS, WhatsApp, and social messages into one app. At $14 per user a month billed annually, it is the cheapest paid team inbox here, with AI that runs on Missive credits or your own OpenAI, Anthropic or Google key. It suits small teams whose support runs mostly through email and messaging apps.
Pros
- Starter from $14 per user per month, billed annually
- 30-day trial of the Productive plan with no card
- Unlimited email import history
- AI through Missive credits or your own provider key
Cons
- No free plan
- Starter is capped at 5 users
- SMS runs through a Twilio, Quo or Dialpad account
- SSO and IP restriction need the Business plan at $36 per user
Best for Best low-cost team inbox. Full confirmation lands with our complete review of this category.
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6. Freshdesk
Best value help deskTrade-off Routing, multiple SLA policies and the Copilot AI assistant need the Pro plan or higher, and AI agent use beyond the included 500 sessions is billed extra.
Help desk with automation, SLAs, and an AI agent included on every plan. Its Growth plan covers ticketing, a shared inbox, a customer portal and a knowledge base, and every plan includes the Freddy AI agent with 500 free sessions per account, so small teams get AI without a separate add-on. Day passes from $2 cover seasonal agents without full seats. It suits teams that want a full help desk at a mid-range price.
Pros
- Every plan includes the Freddy AI Agent, with the first 500 sessions free
- Growth plan covers ticketing, shared inbox, portal and knowledge base
- Day passes for seasonal or occasional agents, from $2
- No cancellation fees, and upgrades apply immediately
Cons
- No free plan, only a 14-day trial
- Intelligent routing and multiple SLAs start on Pro ($55 per agent)
- Copilot costs an extra $29 per agent and is not available on Growth
- Extra AI agent sessions cost $49 per 100
Best for Best value help desk. Full confirmation lands with our complete review of this category.
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7. LiveAgent
Best for built-in call centerTrade-off The Starter plan is limited to 5 agents, 3 email accounts and 2 chat buttons, and leaves out the call center, SLAs, SSO and social channels, which start on Team.
Multichannel help desk combining ticketing, live chat, and a built-in call center. From $15 per agent a month, it bundles ticketing, live chat and, from the Team plan, a call center with IVR that would otherwise need separate tools. It also offers a 30-day trial with no card. It suits small and mid-size teams that want phone, chat and email support on a budget.
Pros
- Entry plan from $15 per agent per month, billed annually
- Call center with IVR from the Team plan
- 30-day trial with no credit card
- Choice of EU, US or Singapore data center
Cons
- Starter has no call center, SLAs, SSO or social channels
- Starter is limited to 5 agents
- Starter caps email accounts at 3 and chat buttons at 2
- No AI fees, but AI runs on your own OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini or FlowHunt account
Best for Best for built-in call center. Full confirmation lands with our complete review of this category.
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8. Jira Service Management
Best for IT service desksTrade-off It is built for IT service management, so teams that only need customer email support will find it heavier to set up than a dedicated customer help desk.
Atlassian's service desk for IT and customer requests, built on Jira with queues, SLAs, and asset tracking. It is free for up to 3 agents with unlimited customers, and paid plans cost less per agent as the team grows, from about $27 at 10 agents to $21.50 at 75 on monthly billing. It suits IT and internal service teams, especially those already using Jira.
Pros
- Free for up to 3 agents with unlimited customers
- Per-agent price falls as the team grows
- On-call scheduling and incident alerts on every plan
- Asset management included from Standard up
Cons
- The virtual service agent and change and problem management need Premium
- Status pages, SSO and multiple sites need Enterprise
- Automation runs and asset objects are capped per plan
- Annual prices for teams under 11 agents could not be confirmed
Best for Best for IT service desks. Full confirmation lands with our complete review of this category.
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9. HubSpot Service Hub
Best for CRM-native supportTrade-off Moving up to Professional for routing and SLAs means a $1,500 onboarding fee.
Service tools tied natively into HubSpot's CRM, knowledge base, and reporting. Its free plan covers 2 users and view-only seats are free, so a small team can run support on the same CRM as sales at no cost, and Starter seats are $20. It suits companies already on HubSpot CRM.
Pros
- Free plan for 2 users and free view-only seats
- Support on the same CRM record as sales and marketing
- Over 2,000 integrations
- Monthly AI credits included on paid plans
Cons
- Professional and Enterprise require one-time onboarding fees of $1,500 and $3,500
- Starter is limited to 1 knowledge base and 5 playbooks
- AI agent use is metered in credits that expire each month
- Enterprise costs $150 per seat per month
Best for Best for CRM-native support. Full confirmation lands with our complete review of this category.
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10. Tidio
Best for small e-commerceTrade-off Because chat, Lyro and Flows are each billed by usage, the monthly cost grows in several places at once as traffic rises.
Live chat and chatbots with the Lyro AI assistant, aimed at online stores. It prices by billable conversations rather than seats, so a team with several agents but modest chat volume can pay less than with per-seat tools. The free plan covers 50 billable conversations a month, and the Lyro AI agent and Flows are optional add-ons. It suits small online stores with low to moderate chat volume.
Pros
- Free plan with 50 billable conversations a month and up to 10 seats
- Paid chat from $24.17 a month, not per seat
- Lyro AI agent replies do not count toward chat limits
- 7-day trial of paid plans and add-ons
Cons
- Starter includes only 100 billable conversations a month
- Lyro AI is a separate add-on, from $32.50 a month
- Removing Tidio branding is a $16.67 a month add-on on Growth, and not offered below it
- Self-serve plans are capped at 10 seats
Best for Best for small e-commerce. Full confirmation lands with our complete review of this category.
How do we pick support pricing?
Every tool is reviewed against the same seven published criteria by our editorial reviewer - not by vendors, and not by ad spend. A sponsored vendor is never placed at number one, and paid placements are labeled and kept separate from the ranking.
- Hands-on setupHow long it takes to connect a mailbox or install the widget and reach a first resolved conversation.
- Core support workflowRouting, assignment, macros, and SLAs under real ticket volume.
- Automation and AIHow much bots and AI replies resolve versus hand back to a person.
- IntegrationsDepth of the CRM, e-commerce, and channel integrations, and the setup each one needs.
- Reporting and analyticsResolution time, CSAT, and volume by channel without exporting to a spreadsheet.
- Pricing and valueThe real cost at a realistic seat count, usage charges, and what higher tiers gate.
- Support and documentationHow responsive the vendor is, and whether its docs and onboarding get a new team productive.
Read the full, named methodology on our How We Test page.
How to choose support pricing?
The right pick comes down to your channels, how much you need to automate, your existing integrations, and a live trial. Work through these four checks before you commit:
- Map your channels Decide where customers reach you - email, live chat, social, or in-app - and shortlist tools that cover them.
- Weigh automation Estimate how much volume an AI agent or macros could deflect before you pay per seat.
- Check the integrations Confirm the tool connects to your store, CRM, and billing without custom work.
- Trial with real tickets Run a week of live conversations before committing to an annual plan.
How much does support pricing cost?
The pricing model matters as much as the headline price. Here is what a team of 5 agents would pay per month on annual billing. Zoho Desk Standard: $70 (5 × $14). Missive Starter: $70 (5 × $14). LiveAgent Starter: $75 (5 × $15). Freshdesk Growth: $95 (5 × $19). Crisp Essentials: a flat $95 for up to 10 agents with unlimited conversations. Help Scout is free for up to 5 users, Jira Service Management for 3 agents, HubSpot for 2 users, and Tawk.to for unlimited agents. Tidio does not charge per seat: its Starter plan is $24.17 for 100 billable conversations a month, so the cost depends on chat volume. AI is usually extra: Freshdesk includes 500 free AI agent sessions per account, Help Scout charges $0.75 per AI resolution, and Tidio's Lyro starts at $32.50 a month. Prices checked on each vendor's pricing page in October 2026.
Where do I buy support pricing?
Each tool is bought directly from its vendor on a monthly or annual subscription. From any pick above, follow through to our full review for current plans, then start a trial or request a demo. Links marked as partners are paid placements and are labeled as such.
Frequently asked questions
How do we rank these tools?
Every tool is reviewed against the same seven criteria: setup, the core support workflow, automation and AI, integrations, reporting, pricing and value, and vendor support. Vendors cannot pay for a better position, and a sponsored vendor is never placed first. Paid placements appear only in the labeled Featured Partner box. Full details are on our How We Test page.
What do the free plans leave out?
Mostly capacity. Help Scout's free plan allows 5 users but only 1 inbox, 1 Docs site and 100 contacts a month. Crisp's covers 2 agents and 100 customer profiles with no AI credits. Tidio's allows 10 seats but 50 billable conversations a month. Zoho Desk's free plan has 3 user licenses with limited capabilities.
Is annual billing cheaper than paying monthly?
Usually, yes. LiveAgent's Starter plan is $15 per agent a month billed annually versus $19 monthly, a 21% saving. Missive takes 20% off for yearly billing, Help Scout shows 16% off and Tidio gives 2 months free on annual plans. Crisp lets you switch to yearly payment in the app but publishes no discount.
Is per-seat, per-conversation or flat pricing cheaper?
It depends on your team size and volume. Per-seat tools like Freshdesk and Help Scout grow with headcount. Crisp charges per workspace, $45 a month for 4 agents or $295 for 20, with no conversation cap. Tidio charges by billable conversations, so a large team with little chat traffic can pay less there.
What hidden costs should we budget for?
Watch for one-time and add-on fees. HubSpot charges a $1,500 onboarding fee for Service Hub Professional and $3,500 for Enterprise. Help Scout charges $10 a month for each extra inbox and $20 for each extra Docs site, billed annually. Removing branding costs $29 a month per property on tawk.to and $16.67 a month on Tidio Growth.
How is AI usage billed?
Each vendor meters it differently. Freshdesk includes 500 AI agent sessions per account, then charges $49 per 100, and its Copilot assistant costs $29 per agent on Pro and up. Help Scout charges per resolution with a monthly spending cap. LiveAgent does not charge for AI; you pay your own AI provider. HubSpot's extra AI credits cost $0.010 each.
Are there seat minimums or user caps?
Several plans cap users, which can force an upgrade. Help Scout Standard allows up to 25 users, Plus up to 50, and Pro requires at least 10. Missive Starter and LiveAgent Starter stop at 5 users, and LiveAgent Team at 15. Zoho Desk Standard is limited to 5 users, and Tidio's self-serve plans to 10 seats.
Which tools offer a free trial without a credit card?
Most of them. Missive gives 30 days of its Productive plan and LiveAgent 30 days on every plan, both with no card. Help Scout offers 15 days on Standard and Plus, Crisp 14 days on any plan, and Tidio 7 days, all with no card. Zoho Desk has a 15-day trial and Freshdesk a 14-day trial.
What happens when a trial ends or we cancel?
It varies by vendor. Zoho Desk drops you to its free plan when the trial ends, while Freshdesk suspends the account until you choose a plan. Missive charges nothing at the end of its trial. Freshdesk has no cancellation fees, with downgrades and cancellations taking effect at the end of the term, and LiveAgent has no contracts or setup fees.
Can we pay less for part-time or occasional agents?
Some vendors offer cheaper seat types. Freshdesk sells day passes at $2 on Growth, $7 on Pro and $12 on Enterprise. HubSpot gives view-only seats at no extra cost. Zoho Desk offers light agents on Professional and Enterprise, with 50 free light users on Enterprise, and Help Scout Pro includes up to 50 light users.
When is a free tool enough?
A free plan works while your volume stays small and you can live with vendor branding. tawk.to's chat, ticketing and knowledge base are free if you keep its branding. Help Scout's free plan suits up to 5 users with fewer than 100 contacts a month. Once you need routing, SLAs or more channels, budget for a paid plan.
References
Sources and testing notes will be listed here as the reviews behind this ranking are published.
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