Who wrote this: we make Kerux, one of the tools on this page, so weigh our view of it accordingly. Prices come from each vendor's own pricing page. We did not run hands-on benchmarks of every product, so we won't pretend to rank them on quality. We sort by fit instead.
When to stay
Growth starts at $19/agent/mo billed annually, among the lowest listed seat prices. A session is a 72-hour window, not a single message. Several exchanges with one customer count once. If your AI volume is modest and the portal and ticketing structure suit you, the numbers below may well say keep it.
What changes after the free sessions
Every plan comes with 500 free AI sessions to try it, a one-time allowance per account rather than a monthly one. So a trial month can look free when a normal month won't be. Budget from the first month after the 500 are gone, and remember Freddy AI Copilot is its own add-on on Pro and Enterprise. Here is a normal month with five agents and 1,500 sessions:
- Kerux Growth$290$245 plan + $45 AI · about 3¢ an answer on your own AI key, paid to your provider
- Front Professionalfrom $910$325 plan + $585 AI · from $0.39 per conversation
- Freshdesk Pro$1,010$275 plan + $735 AI · $49 per 100 sessions, one-time free 500 used
- Help Scout Plus$1,350$225 plan + $1,125 AI · $0.75 per AI Answers resolution
- Intercom Advanced$1,910$425 plan + $1,485 AI · $0.99 per outcome
- Zendesk Suite Team$2,525$275 plan + $2,250 AI · $1.50 per committed resolution, before any included allowance
| Tool, plan | Seats or plan | AI, 1,500 / mo | Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kerux Growthabout 3¢ an answer on your own AI key, paid to your provider | $245 | $45 | $290 |
| Front Professionalfrom $0.39 per conversation | $325 | $585 | from $910 |
| Freshdesk Pro$49 per 100 sessions, one-time free 500 used | $275 | $735 | $1,010 |
| Help Scout Plus$0.75 per AI Answers resolution | $225 | $1,125 | $1,350 |
| Intercom Advanced$0.99 per outcome | $425 | $1,485 | $1,910 |
| Zendesk Suite Team$1.50 per committed resolution, before any included allowance | $275 | $2,250 | $2,525 |
5 agents on each vendor's middle plan, plus 1,500 AI answers at the published rate, cheapest first. Annual-billing prices where the vendor lists them. Gorgias prices by ticket volume rather than seats. Kerux's AI line goes to your AI provider, runs 1 to 5¢ an answer by model and ticket length, and is an estimate. Taxes not included. A plan your AI feature requires may differ, so check before you trust a total.
One session can include several messages, so compare by conversations, not replies. If your threads run long, Freshdesk's unit may work in your favor.
Find your reason
Help Scout
Best for: teams that find Freshdesk busier than they need
The everyday AI features, drafting, summarising, tone editing, are included in the seat price, not metered. Only the AI Answers chatbot is metered, so a team that just wants AI help composing replies pays nothing extra.
Kerux
Best for: teams who want a steady bill once the free sessions end
One flat price per agent, with the AI on your own key at a few cents an answer and no session fee from us. There is a monthly spend cap and live chat on every plan. Import from Freshdesk carries conversations, customers, notes and dates, capped at 7,500 tickets and without attachments.
Where it falls short: it is a newer product with no review-site track record or public case studies yet. Channels are email, live chat and forms, so no phone, SMS, WhatsApp or social. SSO is still coming, there is no SOC 2 report of its own, and you have to create an AI key with a provider (the setup guide has the steps).
Zendesk
Best for: teams growing past what Freshdesk comfortably handles
It's the most established platform in the category, with an app marketplace and integration depth no small tool matches. Zendesk only bills an automated resolution when the AI actually resolves the request without escalating to a human. Expect a higher AI rate per unit.
Intercom
Best for: teams that want a stronger AI agent and in-app messaging
Fin is a genuinely strong AI agent with years of tuning behind it, and Intercom's messenger and product-tour tooling go well beyond what Kerux does. Intercom states you're never charged for an outcome that didn't happen. A failed procedure or a handoff to a human isn't billed as a resolution.
Front
Best for: teams working across email and messaging
Professional and Enterprise are omnichannel: email, SMS, social and WhatsApp in one workspace. Its AI agent starts at a lower published rate than the per-outcome and per-resolution meters at Intercom, Zendesk and Help Scout.
Before you decide
- Look at how many sessions you used during the free allowance, and how quickly.
- Multiply by the rate for a normal month, then for your busiest month.
- Check whether you use the portal and the automation you are paying for.
- Trial one alternative on a single inbox for two weeks.
More detail: Freshdesk Freddy AI pricing and Kerux vs Freshdesk.
Sources: Freshdesk pricing (checked 2026-11-05) · Help Scout pricing (checked 2026-11-05) · Zendesk pricing (checked 2026-11-05) · Intercom pricing (checked 2026-11-05) · Front pricing (checked 2026-11-05). Kerux figures from our own pricing page. Vendor pricing changes, so confirm on their page before you decide.
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Questions people ask
Are Freshdesk's 500 free Freddy sessions monthly?
No. Freshworks says the 500 free AI Agent sessions are limited to once per account. After that, you buy more at the published rate.
How much does Freddy AI Agent cost?
Freshworks lists $49 per 100 sessions after the one-time free allowance. On email, a session is a 72-hour window from the customer's first message.
What's the best Freshdesk alternative for simple email support?
Help Scout is the common pick for a simple email-first workflow. Kerux also suits small teams that want AI answers on their own key without a per-session fee.