Bouts / Freshdesk vs Zoho Desk
Freshdesk vs Zoho Desk
Red cornerFreshdesk
$19 per agent a month, billed annually (Freshdesk Growth)
Blue cornerZoho Desk
$7 per user a month, billed annually (Express)
Freshdesk: Plain Freshdesk no longer offers WhatsApp to accounts created from December 2025; live chat, WhatsApp, Instagram and the chat AI agent now come with Freshdesk Omni.
Freshdesk wins 3–1 at 10 agents (clear win). Freshdesk takes the bill, price tags and AI; Zoho Desk takes security; 2 rounds are even.
The judges' card
| Round | Freshdesk | What happened | Zoho Desk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1The bill | W | At 10 agents with AI on: Freshdesk $1,325, Zoho Desk $400 (an AI price is not public) a month. Freshdesk's bill is complete and the other is not, so Freshdesk takes the round. | |
| Round 2Price tags | W | Freshdesk offers every price in public, monthly billing and no minimum; Zoho Desk offers seat prices, with the AI priced by quote or not at all. Freshdesk takes the round. | |
| Round 3AI | W | Freshdesk offers an AI agent that also takes actions in other systems; Zoho Desk offers an AI agent that answers from the help center. Freshdesk takes the round. | |
| Round 4Desk basics | = | Both offer all that plus phone and messaging apps. Even. | = |
| Round 5Security | Zoho Desk offers SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, EU hosting, a HIPAA BAA and a no-training promise; Freshdesk offers SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001, plus EU hosting, a HIPAA BAA or a no-training promise. Zoho Desk takes the round. | W | |
| Round 6User verdict | = | On G2: Freshdesk 4.4 from 3,779 reviews, Zoho Desk 4.4 from 7,988 reviews. Too close to call. Even. | = |
| Rounds won | 3 | Freshdesk wins, 2 even | 1 |
Does team size change it?
Only the bill round depends on team size. Here is the full result in each weight class.
Small team
- Freshdesk
- $422
- Zoho Desk
- $120
3 agents, 750 conversations a month. Freshdesk wins 3–1.
Mid-size team
- Freshdesk
- $1,325
- Zoho Desk
- $400
10 agents, 2,500 conversations a month. Freshdesk wins 3–1.
Large team
- Freshdesk
- $3,337
- Zoho Desk
- $1,000
25 agents, 6,250 conversations a month. Freshdesk wins 3–1.
Monthly bills from USD list prices, annual billing where offered, with the AI agent resolving 20% of conversations and agent assist for every agent. Plans: Freshdesk Freshdesk Omni Pro; Zoho Desk Enterprise.
Tale of the tape
| Freshworks | Made by | Zoho Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| per agent | Pricing | per agent |
| $19 per agent a month, billed annually (Freshdesk Growth) | Paid plans from | $7 per user a month, billed annually (Express) |
| Freshdesk Omni Pro | Plan we priced | Enterprise |
| $422 | 3 agents, AI on | $120 |
| $1,325 | 10 agents, AI on | $400 |
| $3,337 | 25 agents, AI on | $1,000 |
| $49 per 100 sessions | AI agent price | Not published; uses Zia Agent credits with no published rate per reply; Included in Standard, Professional and Enterprise |
| Email, Live chat, WhatsApp, Social | Channels | Email, Live chat, WhatsApp, Social |
| No | Free plan | Up to 3 users with email ticketing |
| 14 days | Free trial | 15 days |
| Yes | Monthly billing | Yes |
| SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, ISO 27701, SOC 1 Type II, CSA STAR Level 1 | Audit reports | SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, ISO 27701, SOC 2 + HIPAA Type 2 |
| US, EU, Australia, India and Middle East regions on AWS | Data hosting | Choice of US, EU (Amsterdam and Dublin), India, Australia, Japan, Canada, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Singapore and China data centers |
| 4.4 (3,779) | G2 rating | 4.4 (7,988) |
| 4.5 (3,486) | Capterra rating | 4.5 (2,216) |
Questions
Which is better, Freshdesk or Zoho Desk?
Freshdesk wins 3–1 at 10 agents (clear win). Freshdesk takes the bill, price tags and AI; Zoho Desk takes security; 2 rounds are even.
Is Freshdesk cheaper than Zoho Desk?
At 10 agents with the AI agent and agent assist on, Freshdesk comes to $1,325 a month and Zoho Desk to $400, from list prices. Freshdesk takes the bill round.
Which has the better AI, Freshdesk or Zoho Desk?
Freshdesk offers an AI agent that also takes actions in other systems; Zoho Desk offers an AI agent that answers from the help center. Freshdesk takes the round.
