The alternatives, side by side
Prices for 5 agents per month, billed annually, from each vendor's page on 16 October 2026. Every row links to a full comparison with sources.
| Helpdesk | 5 agents | Pricing model | Open source | Freshdesk import | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colliedesk | $49 + AI usage | Flat per workspace, up to 10 agents | AGPL-3.0 | Available now (alpha), with reconcile report | — |
| Zammad | €80–90 (Professional) | Per agent (hosted, in euros) | AGPL-3.0 | Released, self-serve | vs Zammad |
| Chatwoot | $195 (Business) | Per agent | MIT (core) | Paid plans; no attachments | vs Chatwoot |
| FreeScout | Hosting + modules | Free core, paid modules, no official cloud | AGPL-3.0 | Third-party or community module | vs FreeScout |
| Zendesk | €825 (with Copilot) | Per agent (in euros) | No | — | vs Zendesk |
| Help Scout | $125 (Standard) | Per user, plus $0.75 per AI resolution | No | — | vs Help Scout |
| Front | $425 (Professional + Copilot) | Per seat | No | — | vs Front |
| Zoho Desk | €115 (Professional, with Zia) | Per user (in euros) | No | Free migration offered by Zoho | vs Zoho Desk |
| HappyFox | $120 (Basic, max 5) | Per agent | No | — | vs HappyFox |
| Gorgias | $77–1,227 by tickets, with AI Agent | By ticket volume | No | — | vs Gorgias |
| HubSpot Service Hub | $500 (Professional) | Per seat | No | — | vs HubSpot |
| Groove (now Helply) | From $49 in credits | AI credits | No | — | vs Groove |
| Freshdesk, for reference | $420 (Pro + Copilot) | Per agent | No | — | vs Freshdesk |
How to choose
- Count your agents. One or two agents: per-agent plans are often cheaper than any flat price. Three to ten: a flat price wins.
- Name your channels. Mostly email: a ticket helpdesk. Mostly chat and messaging apps: an omnichannel inbox such as Chatwoot.
- Decide where the data lives. If it must stay on your servers, pick an open-source helpdesk you can self-host: Colliedesk, Zammad, FreeScout or Chatwoot.
- Price the AI. Per-seat AI add-ons and per-resolution fees can cost more than the helpdesk. Ask for the price at your ticket volume.
- Plan the move before your renewal. The Freshdesk CSV export has ticket fields only, not the conversation. Read how to export tickets from Freshdesk, and insist on proof that every ticket and attachment arrived.
Where Colliedesk fits
Colliedesk is for small support teams (3 to 10 agents) leaving Freshdesk, mostly on email, who want a flat price, AI at model cost and their data in an open database. It is alpha: released and running on Colliedesk Cloud, with the email channel and the Freshdesk importer, but Cc, new conversation from the inbox, contact history and AI are not there yet, and the interface may change. If you need those this week, pick a mature option above. If your renewal is months away, we migrate you for free on the founding plan.
Questions people ask
What is the best open-source Freshdesk alternative?
It depends on your channels and timing. Zammad is the most mature open-source helpdesk and its Freshdesk migrator is released today. Chatwoot fits teams whose support is mostly chat and messaging. FreeScout is a light PHP helpdesk with paid modules. Colliedesk is built for small email-support teams leaving Freshdesk, at a flat $49 per workspace, with an importer and reconcile report available now, in alpha.
Why are teams leaving Freshdesk?
Mostly price. Between December 2025 and January 2026 Freshdesk raised Growth from $15 to $19 and Pro from $49 to $55 per agent per month (billed annually), and Freddy AI Copilot is another $29 per agent. See Freshdesk price history.
Which Freshdesk alternative is cheapest for 5 agents?
Among the paid plans we compared on 16 October 2026, Colliedesk Cloud at $49 per workspace is the lowest helpdesk price for 5 agents. Helply (formerly Groove) also starts at $49, but that buys AI credits. Zoho Desk Express (€7 per user, max 5) and the free plans of Zoho Desk and HubSpot are cheaper if you can live with their limits.