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Help Scout is listed from $25, with a free plan, and is positioned for small teams sharing support work across channels. But seat costs and marketplace requirements may change the math. Reddit discussions also raise concerns about a free-plan phaseout and feature gaps, though they do not establish how widespread those issues are. We’ve picked alternatives for different needs, from a lower listed starting price to ecommerce support and B2B workflows. Check each vendor’s current terms before moving your team.
01Why people leave Help Scout
Free-plan uncertainty
A Reddit thread discusses Help Scout phasing out its free plan. Confirm current availability and eligibility before building your support setup around it.
Feature gaps
One Reddit commenter described serious deficiencies but did not list them. Compare your required workflows and integrations against the product before deciding.
Seat and marketplace fit
Help Scout’s listing flags seat math and marketplace needs as things to check first, especially as your team or tool requirements grow.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Lower starting price
FreshdeskFreshdeskFreshdesk is listed from $19, below Help Scout’s $25 starting price, and is aimed at teams replacing email-only support or wanting a shared inbox. Its listing also calls out AI-assisted ticket handling. If you are comparing bills, check the session caps, add-on costs, and renewal terms before moving your team.
Trade-off: Session caps, add-ons, and renewal terms need checking.
6.8/10from
$19/mo - Ticket workflows
HelpDeskHelpDeskHelpDesk is listed from $19 and suits teams consolidating several support channels or planning a ticketing-system migration. That makes it a straightforward option to compare if Help Scout’s workflows no longer fit. Its listing warns that AI caps and per-seat billing affect the cost, so calculate the full seat count before switching.
Trade-off: AI caps and per-seat costs can change the bill.
7.2/10from
$19/mo - Support and sales
FrontFrontFront is listed from $25, the same starting price as Help Scout, and is designed for teams managing requests across channels with support and sales working together. Shared customer context is another stated fit. Compare the capabilities you need against your current setup: Front’s listing warns that key features cost more as teams scale.
Trade-off: Key capabilities cost more as teams scale.
6.5/10from
$25/mo - Gmail-based support
HiverHiverHiver is listed from $25 and is aimed at teams already working in Gmail, including those handling complex requests and omnichannel support. It may fit better if Gmail is central to your support work. The tradeoff is cost: its listing describes it as feature-rich but says pricing can add up quickly.
Trade-off: Pricing can add up quickly.
6.5/10from
$25/mo - Shopify support
GorgiasGorgiasGorgias is listed from $10 and is built for Shopify brands that need order context, consolidated ecommerce channels, or revenue attribution. That focus may be more useful than a general shared inbox if ecommerce is your main support workload. Price ticket overages and AI separately; the listed starting price does not cover those costs.
Trade-off: Watch ticket overages and price AI separately.
6.0/10from
$10/mo - B2B support
PylonPylonPylon is positioned for B2B teams consolidating support context, automating repeatable work, or using Slack for customer support. It is a more specialized comparison than a general support inbox. The starting price is $89, and agent credits are unpriced in the listing, so ask for a full cost breakdown before switching.
Trade-off: Higher $89 starting price; agent credits are unpriced.
6.8/10from
$89/mo - Small support teams
HappyFox Help DeskHappyFox Help DeskHappyFox Help Desk is listed from $24 and suits teams consolidating support channels or needing ticket automation. Its stated fit includes small teams of up to five agents, which gives smaller groups a concrete option to compare with Help Scout. Add-on costs and ticket limits are unclear in the listing, so confirm both before committing.
Trade-off: Add-on costs and ticket limits are unclear.
6.5/10from
$24/mo
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Help Scout Help Scout (current) | 6.8 | $25/mo | Yes | Small teams sharing support work |
| Freshdesk Freshdesk | 6.8 | $19/mo | No | Teams replacing email-only support |
| HelpDesk HelpDesk | 7.2 | $19/mo | No | Teams consolidating several support channels |
| Front Front | 6.5 | $25/mo | No | Teams managing requests across channels |
| Hiver Hiver | 6.5 | $25/mo | No | Teams handling complex support requests |
| Gorgias Gorgias | 6.0 | $10/mo | No | Shopify brands needing order context |
| Pylon Pylon | 6.8 | $89/mo | No | B2B teams consolidating support context |
| HappyFox Help Desk HappyFox Help Desk | 6.5 | $24/mo | No | Teams consolidating support channels |
Questions people ask
Why are teams leaving Help Scout?
The Reddit threads we read mention uncertainty about a free-plan phaseout and one commenter’s unspecified feature deficiencies. They do not show how common those problems are. Help Scout’s listing also recommends checking seat costs and marketplace needs, so those are sensible points to verify against your own setup.
Does Help Scout still have a free plan?
The published Help Scout listing says “from $25 (free plan),” while a Reddit thread discusses phasing out the free plan. Those details leave current availability unclear. Check Help Scout’s current pricing and eligibility terms directly before relying on a free tier.
Which Help Scout alternative is cheapest?
Among these picks, Gorgias is listed from $10, followed by Freshdesk and HelpDesk from $19. Starting prices are not full cost comparisons: Gorgias flags ticket overages and separately priced AI, while the other listings call out caps, add-ons, or per-seat costs.