Freshdesk vs. Helpscout: Helpdesk Comparison Guide [2024]

Choosing the right helpdesk software can feel like picking the perfect pair of shoes for your ecommerce business. It has to fit well, look good, and most importantly, support you as you walk down the path of growth. Freshdesk and Help Scout are two popular contenders in this space, each offering unique features that cater to different business needs.

In this comparison, we'll break down these two helpdesk solutions, focusing on their strengths and potential drawbacks. Whether you're a founder or a CX leader of a fast-growing DTC brand, understanding these tools can help you improve customer support, boost loyalty, and drive repeat purchases. Let's take a closer look!

Understanding Your Business Needs

Before diving into the specifics of Freshdesk and Help Scout, it's crucial to understand what your business really needs from a helpdesk solution. Are you looking for a simple interface that your team can master quickly? Or do you require advanced features that can scale as your business grows?

Here are a few questions to consider:

• What is the size of your support team?
• How many customer interactions do you handle daily?
• Do you need integration with other tools like Shopify?
• What is your budget for customer support tools?

Answering these questions will give you a clearer idea of which platform might be the better fit for your business.

Freshdesk: An Overview

Freshdesk is a comprehensive helpdesk software designed to streamline customer support for businesses of all sizes. With a focus on simplicity and functionality, it offers a wide range of features that make managing customer interactions a breeze.

Some of the key features of Freshdesk include:

• Ticketing System: Convert customer queries from multiple channels into tickets for easy tracking and management.
• Automations: Save time with workflow automations that handle repetitive tasks.
• Analytics: Gain insights into your support operations with detailed reports and dashboards.
• Collaboration: Utilize team huddles and shared inboxes to improve internal communication.

Freshdesk is known for its user-friendly interface and excellent scalability, making it a popular choice for growing ecommerce brands.

Help Scout: An Overview

Help Scout, on the other hand, focuses on providing a human-centered support experience. It's designed to feel more like a personal email interface than a traditional helpdesk, making it ideal for companies that prioritize meaningful customer interactions.

Key features of Help Scout include:

• Shared Inbox: Manage customer emails collaboratively without losing the personal touch.
• Knowledge Base: Create a self-service portal with articles and FAQs to empower customers.
• Beacon: Offer real-time support and proactive messaging through their live chat feature.
• Customer Profiles: Keep track of customer history and interactions for more personalized support.

Help Scout's emphasis on personalization and customer-centricity makes it a favorite among brands that want to maintain a strong connection with their audience.

Ease of Use

When it comes to ease of use, both Freshdesk and Help Scout offer intuitive interfaces, but they cater to slightly different user preferences.

Freshdesk's interface is designed with a traditional helpdesk style, which can be comforting for teams used to structured workflows. The dashboard is clean, with tickets neatly organized by priority and status, making it easy for agents to stay on top of their tasks. The onboarding process is straightforward, with plenty of resources to help new users get up to speed.

Help Scout, in contrast, feels like a familiar email client. This design choice is intentional, aiming to reduce the learning curve and make customer interactions feel more personal. For teams who prefer a less formal approach to customer support, Help Scout offers a refreshing change. The simplicity of its interface can be particularly appealing to smaller teams or those just starting out.

Pricing and Value

Pricing is a critical factor for any business decision, and helpdesk software is no exception. Both Freshdesk and Help Scout offer tiered pricing plans, but their value propositions differ.

Freshdesk offers a free tier that includes basic features like email ticketing and a knowledge base, which is great for startups on a tight budget. As you move up the pricing tiers, you gain access to more advanced features such as automations and analytics. The Enterprise plan offers the full suite of features, ideal for large teams requiring extensive customization and integration.

Help Scout's pricing starts at a slightly higher point, but it offers all the core features like the shared inbox and knowledge base in its basic plan. As you upgrade, you unlock additional features like Beacon live chat and advanced reporting. While Help Scout doesn't have a free plan, it offers a 15-day free trial for businesses to test the waters before committing.

Integration Capabilities

integration capabilities can make or break your choice of helpdesk software. Seamlessly connecting your helpdesk with other tools you use daily can significantly enhance productivity and customer experience.

Freshdesk boasts an extensive range of integrations, including popular ecommerce platforms like Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce. It also pairs well with CRM tools like Salesforce and HubSpot, ensuring your customer data flows smoothly across your tech stack.

Help Scout also offers robust integration options, though it places a stronger emphasis on simplicity. It integrates with Shopify, Slack, and Mailchimp, among others, allowing businesses to maintain streamlined operations without getting bogged down by complex setups. The focus is on providing essential integrations that enhance customer service without overwhelming your team with too many options.

Scalability for Growing Brands

Scalability is a crucial factor for fast-growing DTC brands. As your business expands, your helpdesk needs to keep pace with increasing customer demands and a larger support team.

Freshdesk shines in scalability, offering a wide range of features that grow with your business. Its Enterprise plan caters to large teams, providing advanced tools like IP whitelisting and audit logs for security-conscious organizations. With Freshdesk, you can easily add new agents and scale your support operations without missing a beat.

Help Scout, while slightly more limited in terms of high-end features, is designed to grow alongside your brand. Its focus on customer-centricity and ease of use ensures that even as your team expands, the quality of your customer interactions remains high. Help Scout's structure encourages businesses to stay personal and connected, even at scale.

Customer Support and Community

A helpdesk is only as good as the support it provides. Freshdesk and Help Scout both offer excellent customer support, but their approaches differ slightly.

Freshdesk offers a 24/7 support team available via email, phone, and chat. The platform also provides a robust knowledge base and community forums where users can seek answers and share experiences. Freshdesk's support team is known for its responsiveness and helpfulness, ensuring that any issues are resolved quickly.

Help Scout takes a slightly different approach, focusing on building a strong community of users who can help each other out. While their support team is available via email and live chat, Help Scout places a strong emphasis on creating a collaborative environment where users can share tips and solutions. Their Help Scout University is a treasure trove of resources, from webinars to best practice guides, designed to empower users to get the most out of the platform.

Customization and Flexibility

Customization is key when choosing a helpdesk solution, as it allows you to tailor the software to fit your unique business needs. Freshdesk and Help Scout both offer customization options, but their approaches vary.

Freshdesk provides extensive customization features, from custom ticket views and workflows to personalized customer portals. You can also customize your support processes with custom fields and statuses, ensuring that Freshdesk fits seamlessly into your existing operations. This flexibility makes it a strong choice for businesses with complex support needs.

Help Scout, while offering fewer customization options, focuses on flexibility through its integrations and API. The platform encourages businesses to connect Help Scout with other tools to create a tailored support experience. While not as customizable as Freshdesk, Help Scout's emphasis on simplicity and integration allows for a streamlined, efficient support operation.

Final Thoughts

Choosing between Freshdesk and Help Scout ultimately boils down to your business's unique needs and priorities. Freshdesk offers a robust feature set and extensive customization options, making it ideal for larger teams and businesses with complex support requirements. Help Scout, on the other hand, provides a more personal touch, focusing on simplicity and customer-centricity, which can be perfect for brands prioritizing meaningful customer interactions.

For businesses seeking a lightweight, affordable alternative, Fullcourt offers an intuitive platform designed specifically for fast-growing Shopify brands. With features like a shared team inbox, self-service live chat portal, and AI customer support assistant, Fullcourt helps you deliver exceptional customer experiences without the bloat and cost of more extensive helpdesk solutions.