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
There's a genuinely free plan for up to 5 users, which none of the others offer. 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. If you mostly answer email, you don't run an AI chatbot, and your team is happy, stay. No comparison is worth a migration you don't need.
When to look
- AI Answers is getting expensive. At $0.75 per resolution, the chatbot can pass your seat bill as volume grows.
- You need a higher plan for one feature. Advanced workflows, SLA policies and round-robin routing start on Plus, and inbox counts rise by plan.
- You need more channels. SMS and WhatsApp in one place may point you elsewhere.
- You need heavier customization or a large marketplace. That is where bigger platforms earn their price.
Five agents, 1,000 AI answers a month
- Kerux Growth$275$245 plan + $30 AI · about 3¢ an answer on your own AI key, paid to your provider
- Front Professionalfrom $715$325 plan + $390 AI · from $0.39 per conversation
- Freshdesk Pro$765$275 plan + $490 AI · $49 per 100 sessions, one-time free 500 used
- Help Scout Plus$975$225 plan + $750 AI · $0.75 per AI Answers resolution
- Intercom Advanced$1,415$425 plan + $990 AI · $0.99 per outcome
- Zendesk Suite Team$1,775$275 plan + $1,500 AI · $1.50 per committed resolution, before any included allowance
| Tool, plan | Seats or plan | AI, 1,000 / mo | Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kerux Growthabout 3¢ an answer on your own AI key, paid to your provider | $245 | $30 | $275 |
| Front Professionalfrom $0.39 per conversation | $325 | $390 | from $715 |
| Freshdesk Pro$49 per 100 sessions, one-time free 500 used | $275 | $490 | $765 |
| Help Scout Plus$0.75 per AI Answers resolution | $225 | $750 | $975 |
| Intercom Advanced$0.99 per outcome | $425 | $990 | $1,415 |
| Zendesk Suite Team$1.50 per committed resolution, before any included allowance | $275 | $1,500 | $1,775 |
5 agents on each vendor's middle plan, plus 1,000 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.
The alternatives
Kerux
Best for: keeping it simple while taking the per-answer fee off
The closest in spirit, with email first and a shared inbox, help center, live chat and SLA targets. The difference is the AI: it runs on your own key, with a monthly spend cap, and we charge no per-answer fee. Viewers are free. Import brings your Help Scout conversations, customers, notes and dates, 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).
Freshdesk
Best for: more ticketing structure and a customer portal
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. It can feel busier than Help Scout, so have your team try it.
Front
Best for: teams needing SMS, social and WhatsApp in one workspace
Professional and Enterprise are omnichannel: email, SMS, social and WhatsApp in one workspace. It is built around shared inboxes, so teams that live in email keep a familiar way of working. Omnichannel starts on Professional, so price that plan rather than Starter.
Zendesk
Best for: teams that have really outgrown small-business tools
It's the most established platform in the category, with an app marketplace and integration depth no small tool matches. Expect more setup and more administration than you are used to.
Intercom
Best for: SaaS products that need 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. Its meter is per outcome, so check the figure above at your volume.
Questions to ask your own data first
- How many AI Answers resolutions did you pay for in your busiest month?
- Which single feature would make you upgrade, and is there a cheaper way to get it?
- Who has a paid seat but never replies?
Then compare in detail on Kerux vs Help Scout, or put those numbers in the calculator.
Sources: Help Scout pricing (checked 2026-11-05) · Freshdesk pricing (checked 2026-11-05) · Front pricing (checked 2026-11-05) · Zendesk pricing (checked 2026-11-05) · Intercom pricing (checked 2026-11-05). Kerux figures from our own pricing page. Vendor pricing changes, so confirm on their page before you decide.
More 2027 buying guides
- Best help desk software for 2027: seven tools at published prices
- Best customer support software for small businesses in 2027
- Best AI customer support software for 2027, and what each one meters
- How much does help desk software cost in 2027?
- Customer support in 2027: six shifts already on the pricing pages
- Best Zendesk alternatives for 2027
- Best Intercom alternatives for 2027
- Best Freshdesk alternatives for 2027
Questions people ask
Is Help Scout's AI included in the price?
Partly. AI Assist, Drafts and Summarize are included on paid plans. The AI Answers chatbot is an add-on at $0.75 per resolution.
What's a cheaper alternative to Help Scout?
On seat price alone, Freshdesk and Zendesk's entry plans list lower, billed annually. If you run many AI answers, a bring-your-own-key tool such as Kerux can cost less in total, even with a higher seat price.
Can I import my Help Scout conversations somewhere else?
Yes. Kerux imports Help Scout conversations, customers, notes and original dates, without attachments. Other help desks have their own importers, so check what each one carries.