FreeScout vs Freshdesk

FreeScout is a free, open-source help desk and shared inbox built with PHP and Laravel. It centralizes conversations from email, WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Slack, and Live Chat, with email support for SMTP, IMAP, and POP3 and OAuth for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. The product includes saved replies, internal notes, auto replies, conversation merging and forwarding, collision detection, and search, alongside SLA management, ticket automation, a help center, and a customer portal. Its free plan lists unlimited support agents, tickets, and mailboxes. FreeScout is self-hosted, and the maker presents this model as a way for organizations to retain control of their service and privacy. The listed platforms include Android, iOS, web, API, and self-hosted use. The maker says mobile apps support the same functionality and modules as the web installation. Zapier and Make integrations are listed, as is an API and webhooks module. FreeScout says it is translated into 33 languages.

Freshdesk is customer service software for organizing support requests across email, web forms, chat, social networks, and messaging channels. Its shared inbox brings conversations together, while ticket automation, case management, SLA management, and workflow actions support service teams. Customers can use a help center and portal, and service analytics can be customized. Freshdesk supports multiple languages, and Freddy AI Copilot translates conversations and replies in 60+ languages. Teams can set role-based permissions; the Enterprise plan adds audit logs, allowed domains, and IP whitelisting. Authentication includes SAML single sign-on and JWT, with API access available. The Free program covers 1–2 agents for six months. Paid plans start at $19 per agent per month, billed annually, and a 14-day trial is offered. The first 500 Freddy AI Agent sessions are included; additional sessions cost $49 per 100.