Help Scout vs Zendesk: which is better? Comparison 2026
By our public methodology Help Scout and Zendesk score the same — 71 out of 100. Below: where they differ by factor and by fact.
Score breakdown
| Help Scout | Zendesk | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 50 | 54 |
| Features | 100 | 71 |
| Security and privacy | 60 | 100 |
| Track record | 76 | 58 |
Pros and cons
Help Scout
- SOC 2 audit
- Has a permanent free plan
- Live chat for customers
- Knowledge base or help center
Zendesk
- SOC 2 audit
- ISO 27001 certified
- Live chat for customers
- Knowledge base or help center
- No permanent free plan
- AI costs extra or starts on a higher plan
Facts side by side
| Fact | Help Scout | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| Price per agent per month | Not verified | $25.00 zendesk.com |
| Free plan | Yes helpscout.com | No zendesk.com |
| Free trial | Yes helpscout.com | Yes zendesk.com |
| Live chat | Yes helpscout.com | Yes zendesk.com |
| Knowledge base | Yes helpscout.com | Yes zendesk.com |
| AI in the cheapest paid plan | Yes helpscout.com | No zendesk.com |
| Public API | Yes helpscout.com | Yes developer.zendesk.com |
| SOC 2 report | Yes helpscout.com | Yes zendesk.com |
| ISO 27001 | Not verified | Yes zendesk.com |
| GDPR data processing agreement | Yes helpscout.com | Yes zendesk.com |
| Public status page | Yes status.helpscout.com | Yes status.zendesk.com |
| App Store rating | 4.2★ itunes.apple.com | 4.5★ itunes.apple.com |
| App Store ratings | 332 itunes.apple.com | 4,228 itunes.apple.com |
| Founded | 2011 helpscout.com | Not verified |
| Company headquarters | Not verified | United States zendesk.com |
| Company | Not verified | Zendesk, Inc. zendesk.com |
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