---
title: Help Scout vs Zendesk
canonical: https://helpdeskbattles.com/help-scout-vs-zendesk
result: Zendesk wins 3–2
updated: 2026-10-08
---

# Help Scout vs Zendesk

**Zendesk wins 3–2 (close call) at 10 agents**

Zendesk wins 3–2 at 10 agents (close call). Help Scout takes the bill and user verdict; Zendesk takes AI, desk basics and security; one round is even.

## The judges' card
| Round | Winner | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| The bill | Help Scout | At 10 agents with AI on: Help Scout $625, Zendesk $2,250 a month. Help Scout is 72% cheaper and takes the round. |
| Price tags | Even | Both offer AI prices in public, but with a minimum, annual-only terms or vague limits. Even. |
| AI | Zendesk | Zendesk offers an action-taking AI agent on chat, email and phone, with test runs and reporting; Help Scout offers an AI agent that answers from the help center. Zendesk takes the round. |
| Desk basics | Zendesk | Zendesk offers every channel natively, skills-based routing and 300+ integrations; Help Scout offers all that plus phone and messaging apps. Zendesk takes the round. |
| Security | Zendesk | Zendesk offers SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001, plus EU hosting, a HIPAA BAA or a no-training promise; Help Scout offers one audit report (SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001). Zendesk takes the round. |
| User verdict | Help Scout | On G2: Help Scout 4.4 from 431 reviews, Zendesk 4.3 from 7,095 reviews. Help Scout takes the round. |

## Monthly bill with AI on
| Team | Help Scout | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| 3 agents, 750 conversations a month | $188 | $675 |
| 10 agents, 2,500 conversations a month | $625 | $2,250 |
| 25 agents, 6,250 conversations a month | $1,563 | $5,625 |

## Sources
- Help Scout: [Help Scout pricing](https://www.helpscout.com/pricing/) — Help Scout, accessed 2026-10-08
- Help Scout: [Agent (Compass)](https://www.helpscout.com/agent/) — Help Scout, accessed 2026-10-08
- Help Scout: [AI Resolutions Pricing](https://docs.helpscout.com/article/1746-ai-resolutions-pricing) — Help Scout, accessed 2026-10-08
- Help Scout: [Copilot](https://www.helpscout.com/copilot/) — Help Scout, accessed 2026-10-08
- Help Scout: [Help Scout reviews](https://www.g2.com/products/help-scout/reviews) — G2, accessed 2026-10-08
- Help Scout: [Help Scout reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/136909/Help-Scout/reviews/) — Capterra, accessed 2026-10-08
- Zendesk: [Zendesk pricing](https://www.zendesk.com/pricing/) — Zendesk, accessed 2026-10-08
- Zendesk: [About automated resolution tiers](https://support.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/9570369117338) — Zendesk, accessed 2026-10-08
- Zendesk: [Zendesk reviews](https://www.g2.com/products/zendesk-for-customer-service/reviews) — G2, accessed 2026-10-08
- Zendesk: [Zendesk Suite reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/164283/Zendesk/reviews/) — Capterra, accessed 2026-10-08
- Zendesk: [Zendesk for Customer Service reviews](https://www.gartner.com/reviews/product/zendesk-for-customer-service) — Gartner Peer Insights, accessed 2026-10-08