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Run date: 2026-10-08

Seat Cost | Run #1

34 helpdesk and AI customer service vendors evaluated: 13 with published seat pricing (ranked), 16 AI-only (not applicable), 2 price on request, 2 conflicting data, 1 regional pricing unconfirmed. Crisp is ranked only at the 5-agent size; extra-seat pricing is not published.

Run date Edition #1 Full run →
Methodology

Sample: 34 helpdesk and AI customer service vendors evaluated: 13 with published seat pricing (ranked), 16 AI-only (not applicable), 2 price on request, 2 conflicting data, 1 regional pricing unconfirmed. Crisp is ranked only at the 5-agent size; extra-seat pricing is not published.

The run read each vendor's public pricing page for per-agent seat pricing. The ranked value is the total yearly cost (annual billing) for the cheapest plan that includes both email and live chat support. Where only monthly billing is published, the yearly cost is monthly rate multiplied by 12 and noted. Three seat-count variants are tracked: 5, 25 and 100 agents. Where a plan caps seats below the variant count, the next qualifying plan is substituted and noted. AI-only vendors with no traditional seat model are recorded as not applicable.

Limitations: List prices are not negotiated rates. Add-on pricing (AI resolutions, voice, SMS) is not included in the seat cost. Monthly-billing vendors show annualized figures; no annual discount applies. Vendors change plans and prices without notice. AI-only vendors with no seat model are excluded from ranking.

Rank Vendor Value (USD/seat/year) Note Source
1 Jira Service Management $5,650/year Standard (Free covers email and chat for up to 3 agents only). Tiered per-age...; annualized from monthly billing (no annual plan published) Pricing page
2= Freshchat $5,700/year Growth for a paid row (Free covers email and chat for up to 10 agents at $0 a...; annualized from monthly billing (no annual plan published) Pricing page
2= Intercom $5,700/year Essential Pricing page
2= LiveChat $5,700/year Essential ($19 annual / $25 monthly per user; Inbox and ticketing system plus...; annualized from monthly billing (no annual plan published) Pricing page
5= Help Scout $7,500/year Standard Pricing page
5= Hiver $7,500/year Hiver Omni Growth Pricing page
7 Freshdesk $8,700/year Freshdesk Omni Growth Pricing page
8 eDesk $11,700/year Essential ($39 annual / $49 monthly per user; Email, Live Chat and Social mes...; annualized from monthly billing (no annual plan published) Pricing page
9 Zendesk $16,500/year Suite Team Pricing page
10 Front $19,500/year Professional Pricing page
11 HubSpot Service Hub $27,000/year Professional Pricing page
Not ranked
N/A Gorgias No seat-based pricing model Source
n/p Zoho Desk Price varies by region Source
Quote Kustomer Quote only Source
Quote Gladly Quote only Source
N/A HappyFox No seat-based pricing model Source
n/p Salesforce Service Cloud Conflicting prices across sources Source
n/p Tidio No published price Source
n/p Crisp No published price Source
n/p Richpanel Conflicting prices across sources Source
N/A Missive No seat-based pricing model Source
N/A Decagon No seat-based pricing model Source
N/A Sierra No seat-based pricing model Source
N/A Ada No seat-based pricing model Source
N/A Forethought No seat-based pricing model Source
N/A Netomi No seat-based pricing model Source
N/A Yuma AI No seat-based pricing model Source
N/A eesel AI No seat-based pricing model Source
N/A Lorikeet No seat-based pricing model Source
N/A Parloa No seat-based pricing model Source
N/A Cognigy No seat-based pricing model Source
N/A PolyAI No seat-based pricing model Source
N/A Maven AGI No seat-based pricing model Source
N/A Siena AI No seat-based pricing model Source

Sources

  1. zendesk: Support Team $19agent/month paid yearly; Monthly subscription (per agent/month) | Suite Team $55agent/month paid yearly; Monthly subscription (per agent/month) $6 — https://www.zendesk.com/pricing/ (read 2026-10-08)
  2. zendesk: Support Team $19agent/month paid yearly; Monthly subscription (per agent/month) | Suite Team $55agent/month paid yearly; Monthly subscription (per agent/month) $6 — https://www.zendesk.com/pricing/ (read 2026-10-08)
  3. zendesk: Support Team $19agent/month paid yearly; Monthly subscription (per agent/month) | Suite Team $55agent/month paid yearly; Monthly subscription (per agent/month) $6 — https://www.zendesk.com/pricing/ (read 2026-10-08)
  4. freshdesk: $23 /agent/month, billed monthly | $19 /agent/month, billed annually; Launch AI- | $35 /agent/month, billed monthly | $29 /agent/month, billed annually; Omnichanne — https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/omni/pricing/ (read 2026-10-08)
  5. freshdesk: $23 /agent/month, billed monthly | $19 /agent/month, billed annually; Launch AI- | $35 /agent/month, billed monthly | $29 /agent/month, billed annually; Omnichanne — https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/omni/pricing/ (read 2026-10-08)
  6. freshdesk: $23 /agent/month, billed monthly | $19 /agent/month, billed annually; Launch AI- | $35 /agent/month, billed monthly | $29 /agent/month, billed annually; Omnichanne — https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/omni/pricing/ (read 2026-10-08)
  7. intercom: Billed annually: Essential $19 per seat/mo | Billed monthly: $29 per seat/mo. Al | Billed annually $85 | billed monthly $99 per seat/mo — https://www.intercom.com/pricing (read 2026-10-08)
  8. intercom: Billed annually: Essential $19 per seat/mo | Billed monthly: $29 per seat/mo. Al | Billed annually $85 | billed monthly $99 per seat/mo — https://www.intercom.com/pricing (read 2026-10-08)
  9. intercom: Billed annually: Essential $19 per seat/mo | Billed monthly: $29 per seat/mo. Al | Billed annually $85 | billed monthly $99 per seat/mo — https://www.intercom.com/pricing (read 2026-10-08)
  10. help-scout: Annual: Standard $25 per user/mo | Monthly: $30; Live chat and SMS; Users: Up to | Annual: $45 per user/mo | Monthly: $54; Users: Up to 50 — https://www.helpscout.com/pricing/ (read 2026-10-08)
  11. help-scout: Annual: Standard $25 per user/mo | Monthly: $30; Live chat and SMS; Users: Up to | Annual: $45 per user/mo | Monthly: $54; Users: Up to 50 — https://www.helpscout.com/pricing/ (read 2026-10-08)
  12. help-scout: Annual: Standard $25 per user/mo | Monthly: $30; Live chat and SMS; Users: Up to | Annual: $45 per user/mo | Monthly: $54; Users: Up to 50 — https://www.helpscout.com/pricing/ (read 2026-10-08)
  13. front: Starter $25 /seat/mo, up to 10 seats (Billed Annually) | $35 (toggle off); 'Mess | Professional $65 /seat/mo, up to 50 seats (Billed Annually) | $85 (toggle off); — https://front.com/pricing (read 2026-10-08)
  14. front: Starter $25 /seat/mo, up to 10 seats (Billed Annually) | $35 (toggle off); 'Mess | Professional $65 /seat/mo, up to 50 seats (Billed Annually) | $85 (toggle off); — https://front.com/pricing (read 2026-10-08)
  15. front: Starter $25 /seat/mo, up to 10 seats (Billed Annually) | $35 (toggle off); 'Mess | Professional $65 /seat/mo, up to 50 seats (Billed Annually) | $85 (toggle off); — https://front.com/pricing (read 2026-10-08)
  16. gorgias: Helpdesk $10/mo; 50 tickets / month; Monthly billing only; User seats 3 — https://www.gorgias.com/pricing (read 2026-10-08)
  17. hubspot: Annual view: Starter $7/mo/seat, Limited-time 65% off | Monthly view: $10/mo/sea | Annual view: Professional $90/mo/seat | Monthly view: $100/mo/seat; Customer age — https://www.hubspot.com/pricing/ (read 2026-10-08)
  18. hubspot: Annual view: Starter $7/mo/seat, Limited-time 65% off | Monthly view: $10/mo/sea | Annual view: Professional $90/mo/seat | Monthly view: $100/mo/seat; Customer age — https://www.hubspot.com/pricing/ (read 2026-10-08)
  19. hubspot: Annual view: Starter $7/mo/seat, Limited-time 65% off | Monthly view: $10/mo/sea | Annual view: Professional $90/mo/seat | Monthly view: $100/mo/seat; Customer age — https://www.hubspot.com/pricing/ (read 2026-10-08)
  20. zoho-desk: US$7 per user per month billed annually | US$9 billed monthly — https://www.zoho.com/he/desk/pricing.html (read 2026-10-08)
  21. kustomer: No pricing published — https://www.kustomer.com/ (read 2026-10-08)
  22. gladly: No pricing published — https://www.gladly.com/ (read 2026-10-08)
  23. hiver: Annual $25 | Monthly $35 /user/month; Omnichannel; FAQ: manage email, live chat, | Annual $55 | Monthly $65 /user/month — https://hiverhq.com/pricing/hiver-omni (read 2026-10-08)
  24. hiver: Annual $25 | Monthly $35 /user/month; Omnichannel; FAQ: manage email, live chat, | Annual $55 | Monthly $65 /user/month — https://hiverhq.com/pricing/hiver-omni (read 2026-10-08)
  25. hiver: Annual $25 | Monthly $35 /user/month; Omnichannel; FAQ: manage email, live chat, | Annual $55 | Monthly $65 /user/month — https://hiverhq.com/pricing/hiver-omni (read 2026-10-08)
  26. happyfox: Basic $24 annual, $29 monthly, $21 every 2 years; number of agents capped at 5 — https://www.happyfox.com/help-desk-price/ (read 2026-10-08)
  27. salesforce-service-cloud: Starter Suite ... $ 25 USD/User/Month (Starting price. Transaction fees apply. Billed monthly or annually.) — https://www.salesforce.com/service/pricing/ (read 2026-10-07)
  28. tidio: Free | $0/mo. | Monthly view: Starter $29 /mo. Annual view: $24.17 /mo. (100 Billable conversati — https://www.tidio.com/pricing/ (read 2026-10-07)
  29. tidio: Free | $0/mo. | Monthly view: Starter $29 /mo. Annual view: $24.17 /mo. (100 Billable conversati — https://www.tidio.com/pricing/ (read 2026-10-07)
  30. tidio: Free | $0/mo. | Monthly view: Starter $29 /mo. Annual view: $24.17 /mo. (100 Billable conversati — https://www.tidio.com/pricing/ (read 2026-10-07)
  31. livechat: Essential $19 per user / month billed annually; $25 billed monthly | Growth $79 per user / month billed annually; $99 billed monthly — https://www.livechat.com/pricing/ (read 2026-10-07)
  32. livechat: Essential $19 per user / month billed annually; $25 billed monthly | Growth $79 per user / month billed annually; $99 billed monthly — https://www.livechat.com/pricing/ (read 2026-10-07)
  33. livechat: Essential $19 per user / month billed annually; $25 billed monthly | Growth $79 per user / month billed annually; $99 billed monthly — https://www.livechat.com/pricing/ (read 2026-10-07)
  34. crisp: Essentials $95 per month, per workspace | 10 seats included — https://crisp.chat/en/pricing/ (read 2026-10-08)
  35. crisp: Free | forever | 2 seats included | No AI credits included | Mini $45 per month, per workspace | 4 seats included | $ 5 included AI credits — https://crisp.chat/en/pricing/ (read 2026-10-07)
  36. crisp: Free | forever | 2 seats included | No AI credits included | Mini $45 per month, per workspace | 4 seats included | $ 5 included AI credits — https://crisp.chat/en/pricing/ (read 2026-10-07)
  37. richpanel: Variant B only: '$99 per seat per month' with a Monthly/Annual toggle; FAQ 'Monthly commitment is $119 per helpdesk seat — https://www.richpanel.com/pricing (read 2026-10-07)
  38. edesk: Essential $39 billed annually, $49 billed monthly per user/month | Growth $89 / $115 per user/month — https://www.edesk.com/pricing/ (read 2026-10-07)
  39. edesk: Essential $39 billed annually, $49 billed monthly per user/month | Growth $89 / $115 per user/month — https://www.edesk.com/pricing/ (read 2026-10-07)
  40. edesk: Essential $39 billed annually, $49 billed monthly per user/month | Growth $89 / $115 per user/month — https://www.edesk.com/pricing/ (read 2026-10-07)
  41. missive: Starter: $14 per user/month billed yearly, $18 billed monthly (rendered toggle) — https://missiveapp.com/pricing (read 2026-10-07)
  42. jira-service-management: Free $0 forever for 3 agents; multi-channel support incl. customer portal, email | Tier selector, Standard: 5 agents $1,250 per year (tier 4-5), 25 agents $5,650 ( — https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/service-management/pricing (read 2026-10-07)
  43. jira-service-management: Free $0 forever for 3 agents; multi-channel support incl. customer portal, email | Tier selector, Standard: 5 agents $1,250 per year (tier 4-5), 25 agents $5,650 ( — https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/service-management/pricing (read 2026-10-07)
  44. jira-service-management: Free $0 forever for 3 agents; multi-channel support incl. customer portal, email | Tier selector, Standard: 5 agents $1,250 per year (tier 4-5), 25 agents $5,650 ( — https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/service-management/pricing (read 2026-10-07)
  45. freshchat: Free $0 For up to 10 agents (chat widget, shared inbox, Connect email) | Growth $19 /agent/month billed annually; $23 billed monthly — https://www.freshworks.com/live-chat-software/pricing/ (read 2026-10-08)
  46. freshchat: Free $0 For up to 10 agents (chat widget, shared inbox, Connect email) | Growth $19 /agent/month billed annually; $23 billed monthly — https://www.freshworks.com/live-chat-software/pricing/ (read 2026-10-08)
  47. freshchat: Free $0 For up to 10 agents (chat widget, shared inbox, Connect email) | Growth $19 /agent/month billed annually; $23 billed monthly — https://www.freshworks.com/live-chat-software/pricing/ (read 2026-10-08)
  48. decagon: No pricing published — https://decagon.ai (read 2026-10-08)
  49. sierra: No pricing published — https://sierra.ai (read 2026-10-08)
  50. ada: No pricing published — https://www.ada.cx (read 2026-10-08)
  51. forethought: No pricing published — https://forethought.ai (read 2026-10-08)
  52. netomi: No pricing published — https://www.netomi.com (read 2026-10-08)
  53. yuma: No pricing published — https://www.yuma.ai (read 2026-10-08)
  54. eesel-ai: No pricing published — https://www.eesel.ai (read 2026-10-08)
  55. lorikeet: No pricing published — https://www.lorikeetcx.ai (read 2026-10-08)
  56. parloa: No pricing published — https://www.parloa.com (read 2026-10-08)
  57. cognigy: No pricing published — https://www.cognigy.com (read 2026-10-08)
  58. polyai: No pricing published — https://poly.ai (read 2026-10-08)
  59. maven-agi: No pricing published — https://www.mavenagi.com (read 2026-10-08)
  60. siena-ai: No pricing published — https://www.siena.cx (read 2026-10-08)