[Home](https://www.selecthub.com/) \> [Help Desk Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/help-desk/) \> [Help Desk Software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/help-desk-software/) \> [Help Scout](https://www.selecthub.com/p/help-desk-software/help-scout/) \> Help Scout vs FreeScout 

# Help Scout vs FreeScout 

Last Updated: June 22nd, 2026 

Our analysts compared [Help Scout](https://www.selecthub.com/p/help-desk-software/help-scout/) vs [FreeScout](https://www.selecthub.com/p/help-desk-software/freescout/) based on data from our 400+ point analysis of [Help Desk Software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/help-desk-software/), user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our [free software selection platform](https://www.selecthub.com/about/start-free-selection-project-site/?category=Help Desk Software&cta=help-desk-software). 

[Overview](#product-overview) [Pricing](#product-pricing) [Our Review](#product-analyst-summary) [User Ratings](#user-sentiment-section) [Features](#product-benefits-features) [Analyst Ratings](#analyst-rating-section) [Comparison Charts](#product-comparison-charts) [Screenshots](#product-screenshots) 

Remove Add to Compare 

[![Help Scout Software Tool](https://cdn.selecthub.com/products/a9cf46a38a9b05e959f33215e5cdc38a-419964e5efc1413fe826b130192af055/resources/normal/logo.png?1693319148)](https://www.selecthub.com/p/help-desk-software/help-scout/)

[ ![Product Awards](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/awards_badge.svg) ](#awards-section) 

Remove Add to Compare 

[![FreeScout Software Tool](https://cdn.selecthub.com/products/cf9dfba593148297d8d8b0abd1c42612-cc6005aff1beb369500f34628f386380/resources/normal/logo.png?1739630359)](https://www.selecthub.com/p/help-desk-software/freescout/)

[Get Free Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Help+Desk+Software&product%5Fname=Help%2BScout&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fa9cf46a38a9b05e959f33215e5cdc38a-419964e5efc1413fe826b130192af055%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693319148) [Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Help+Desk+Software&product%5Fname=Help%2BScout&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fa9cf46a38a9b05e959f33215e5cdc38a-419964e5efc1413fe826b130192af055%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693319148) [Request Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Help+Desk+Software&product%5Fname=Help%2BScout&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fa9cf46a38a9b05e959f33215e5cdc38a-419964e5efc1413fe826b130192af055%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693319148&price=2) [Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Help+Desk+Software&product%5Fname=Help%2BScout&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fa9cf46a38a9b05e959f33215e5cdc38a-419964e5efc1413fe826b130192af055%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693319148&price=2) 

[Get Free Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Help+Desk+Software&product%5Fname=FreeScout&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fcf9dfba593148297d8d8b0abd1c42612-cc6005aff1beb369500f34628f386380%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1739630359) [Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Help+Desk+Software&product%5Fname=FreeScout&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fcf9dfba593148297d8d8b0abd1c42612-cc6005aff1beb369500f34628f386380%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1739630359) [Request Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Help+Desk+Software&product%5Fname=FreeScout&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fcf9dfba593148297d8d8b0abd1c42612-cc6005aff1beb369500f34628f386380%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1739630359&price=1) [Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Help+Desk+Software&product%5Fname=FreeScout&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fcf9dfba593148297d8d8b0abd1c42612-cc6005aff1beb369500f34628f386380%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1739630359&price=1) 

### Products Insights 

Overall Rating Comparison 

[ Analyst Rating 75 Detailed Analysis ](#analyst-rating-section) [ User Sentiment ![Excellent User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/excellent.svg) (654 Reviews) ](#user-sentiment-section) 

[ Analyst Rating we're gathering data ](#analyst-rating-section) [ User Sentiment ![Great User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/great.svg) (19 Reviews) ](#user-sentiment-section) 

Price Starts From 

$20 Monthly 

[Free Trial is available →](https://pmo.selecthub.com/free-trial/?product%5Fname=Help Scout&category=Help Desk Software&product%5Flogo=https://d3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net/products/a9cf46a38a9b05e959f33215e5cdc38a-419964e5efc1413fe826b130192af055/resources/normal/logo.png?1693319148) 

$0 Free, Open-Source 

Free Trial is unavailable → 

Pros 

What we like about Help Scout and FreeScout: 

* Intuitive interface helps support teams get up to speed quickly without heavy training.
* Shared inbox lets multiple agents manage tickets together with smooth handoffs.
* Users praise responsive, knowledgeable customer support and thorough documentation.

* Open-source, self-hosted setup keeps customer data inside your own infrastructure.
* Modular architecture lets you add or remove features to match your specific needs.
* Users find the clean interface easy to learn and roll out to support teams.

Cons 

What we dislike about Help Scout and FreeScout: 

* Customization options are limited, so tailoring the tool to your branding can be tricky.
* Users say reporting isn't detailed enough to pull deeper performance insights.
* The mobile app has fewer capabilities than the desktop version, frustrating on-the-go agents.

* Self-hosting means you handle servers, updates, and security on your own.
* Many advanced features like workflows live behind paid modules that add up over time.
* Users note the mobile experience feels more like a website than a real app.

### Our Review 

**Bottom line:** Help Scout and FreeScout both target small to medium support teams, but they pull in opposite directions. Pick Help Scout if you want a polished, hosted help desk with strong support and minimal setup. Pick FreeScout if you'd rather self-host an open-source tool and trade some convenience for control and lower cost.

Help Scout pricing starts at $20 per user per month, billed monthly, with plans running up to $65 per user per month. You're paying for a managed service, a shared inbox built for collaboration, and a knowledge base tool with Beacon for in-app help.

FreeScout starts at $0 because the core platform is free and open-source. You install it on your own servers, which keeps licensing costs out of the picture. The tradeoff is that several advanced features, like richer workflows and some integrations, sit behind paid modules you buy as you need them.

Help Scout fits you better if email is your main support channel and you want canned replies, collision detection, and proactive messages without managing infrastructure. FreeScout fits you better if you care about data privacy, want to self-host, or need to extend the product through plugins and custom code.

If you have a small team that just wants to answer tickets and move on, Help Scout's hosted setup saves time. If you have technical staff and want to shape the tool around your workflow, FreeScout's open-source approach gives you more room to grow without per-agent fees.

### Analyst Rating Summary 

Overall Scores 

Based on the research and analysis by SelectHub's team of research analysts, Help Scout has an analyst rating of 75\. Our analysts are still gathering data for FreeScout. 

75 

we're gathering data

Features Comparison 

**Agent Productivity**  
Automate repetitive tasks, get pre-written answers for common questions, and track your time spent on tickets so you can focus on solving customer issues faster. 

62 

we're gathering data

**Call Center Management**  
Route customer calls to the right available agent, record conversations for quality, and view key call metrics to keep your phone support running smoothly. 

50 

we're gathering data

**Dashboards and Reporting**  
See real-time performance data and analyze trends in easy-to-read charts, helping you understand where your team is succeeding and where to improve support. 

75 

we're gathering data

[Show More](#) [Show More](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=Help Desk Software) 

### Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements [Customize This Data](#) [Customize This Data](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=Help Desk Software) 

How Help Scout compares against the top 9 functional requirements as defined by SelectHub project data. 

Help Scout FreeScout 

\+ Add Product [\+ Add Product](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=Help Desk Software) 

Agent Productivity Call Center Management Dashboards AndReporting Email Management Live Chat Management Mobile Capabilities Platform Capabilities Team Collaboration Ticket Management 62 50 75 66 74 83 73 85 63 0 25 50 75 100 

Implementation Level of Effort Estimation 

**Tier 1:** Fully/moderately supported out-of-the-box allowing for quick and easy deployment. [Read more](#) 

**Tier 2:** Supported with workarounds or add-ons that may require additional costs. 

**Tier 3:** Requires partner integrations or custom development that is often at an additional cost. 

**Agent Productivity**   
Automate repetitive tasks, get pre-written answers for common questions, and track your time spent on tickets so you can focus on solving customer issues faster. 

50%

17%

33%

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

**Call Center Management**   
Route customer calls to the right available agent, record conversations for quality, and view key call metrics to keep your phone support running smoothly. 

0%

0%

100%

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

**Dashboards And Reporting**   
See real-time performance data and analyze trends in easy-to-read charts, helping you understand where your team is succeeding and where to improve support. 

67%

0%

33%

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

**Email Management**   
Organize all incoming customer emails into easy-to-track tickets, assign them to the best agent, and ensure no request ever falls through the cracks. 

71%

0%

29%

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

**Live Chat Management**   
Quickly engage website visitors with real-time conversations, handle multiple chats at once, and turn chat transcripts into support tickets when follow-up is needed. 

64%

0%

36%

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

**Mobile Capabilities**   
Manage tickets, respond to customers, and access essential tools from your phone or tablet so your team can provide excellent support even when away from their desks. 

80%

0%

20%

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

**Platform Capabilities**   
Integrate your help desk with other business apps like your CRM, allowing you to share customer data and automate workflows across your entire company. 

71%

0%

29%

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

**Team Collaboration**   
Work together on complex issues by looping in experts, adding private notes to tickets, and sharing information so you can solve problems as a unified team. 

67%

0%

33%

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

**Ticket Management**   
Centralize all customer interactions from every channel into a single, easy-to-use list of tickets, making it simple to track, prioritize, and resolve every request efficiently. 

53%

6%

41%

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

**Customize This Data For Your Unique Needs**and compare feature capabilities head-to-head [CUSTOMIZE NOW](#) [CUSTOMIZE NOW](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=Help Desk Software) 

### Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements [Customize This Data](#) [Customize This Data](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=Help Desk Software) 

Implementation Level of Effort Estimation 

**Tier 1:** Fully/moderately supported out-of-the-box allowing for quick and easy deployment. [Read more](#) 

**Tier 2:** Supported with workarounds or add-ons that may require additional costs. 

**Tier 3:** Requires partner integrations or custom development that is often at an additional cost. 

**Integrations And Extensibility**   
Connect your support platform with hundreds of other apps and services, allowing you to build customized workflows and share customer data effortlessly across your business. 

100%

0%

0%

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

**Platform Security**   
Protect sensitive customer data with top-tier encryption, control who can access information using detailed permission settings, and meet important regulatory compliance standards easily. 

89%

0%

11%

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

we're gathering data

N/A

**Requirements Summary**Of typical requirements, 62.3% are fully supported out of the box by Help Scout including Integrations And Extensibility, Platform Security and Mobile Capabilities. We are still evaluating data for FreeScout at this time. FreeScout has an analyst rating of and a user sentiment rating of 'great' based on 19 reviews, while Help Scout has an analyst rating of 75 and a user sentiment rating of 'excellent' based on 654 reviews. Help Scout is a SelectHub award-winner. 

### User Sentiment Summary 

Help Scout has a user sentiment rating of 90 based on 654 reviews. FreeScout has a user sentiment rating of 86 based on 19 reviews. 

![Excellent User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/excellent.svg) 654 reviews 

![Great User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/great.svg) 19 reviews 

Synopsis 

Evaluating all review platforms, our market analysts have compiled the following user sentiment data. 

90% 

of users recommend this product

Help Scout has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 90% when considering 654 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites. 

86% 

of users recommend this product

FreeScout has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 86% when considering 19 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites. 

User Review Scores 

**G2.com, Inc** 

**4.3** (260) 

n/a 

**Software Advice, Inc** 

**4.67** (183) 

**4.2** (13) 

**Capterra Inc** 

**4.7** (168) 

**4.5** (6) 

**TrustRadius** 

**4.0** (43) 

n/a 

### Awards 

SelectHub awards earned by these products based on a comprehensive analysis by our research analysts. 

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Help Scout and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Integrations and Extensibility. Help Scout stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite. 

![User Favorite Award]()

![Integrations and Extensibility Award]()

No awards.

### Product Assistance 

Training Resources 

Documentation

In Person

Live Online

Videos

Webinars

Documentation

In Person

Live Online

Videos

Webinars

Support 

Email

Phone

Chat

FAQ

Forum

Knowledge Base

24/7 Live Support

Email

Phone

Chat

FAQ

Forum

Knowledge Base

24/7 Live Support

### Product Basics 

Company Size 

i 

Small

Medium

Large

Small

Medium

Large

Platforms Supported 

Windows

Mac

Linux

Android

Chromebook

Windows

Mac

Linux

Android

Chromebook

Deployment Supported 

Cloud

On-Premise

Mobile

Cloud

On-Premise

Mobile

Comparison of Top Alternatives 

[Help Scout Alternatives ](https://www.selecthub.com/help-desk-software/help-scout/alternatives/) 

[FreeScout Alternatives ](https://www.selecthub.com/help-desk-software/freescout/alternatives/) 

### Screenshots 

![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]() 

![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]() 

### Key Features 

* **Shared inbox** – Lets your team manage email, chat, and social messages in one place with notifications, advanced search, and satisfaction ratings built in.
* **Knowledge base** – Includes an article editor with text, images, tables, and videos, plus Beacon to surface answers inside your website or app.
* **Collision detection** – Shows who's replying or viewing a conversation in real time and supports internal notes and @mentions for quick handoffs.
* **Proactive messages** – Sends trigger-based messages to engage leads, onboard customers, or push help content based on the page a visitor is on.
* **Customer profiles** – Pulls customer data, app activity, and past conversations next to each ticket so agents can reply with context.

* **Collaborative inbox** – Gives your team a shared mailbox for email and other channels, with collision detection and private notes for internal coordination.
* **Knowledge base modules** – Available through add-on modules that let you publish help articles and self-service content alongside the core ticketing system.
* **Custom workflows** – Lets you build automation rules to route tickets, trigger actions, and cut down on repetitive manual work.
* **Self-hosted deployment** – Runs on your own cloud or on-premises servers, giving you full control over data location, backups, and compliance.
* **Plugin ecosystem** – Connects to tools like Slack and WhatsApp through community and paid modules, so you can extend the platform without custom builds.

### Top Alternatives in Help Desk Software 

[  Freshdesk ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/help-desk-software/freshdesk/) [  Front ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/customer-service-software/front/) [  Gorgias ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/conversational-ai-platforms/gorgias/) [  HappyFox ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/help-desk-software/happyfox/) [  HubSpot Service Hub ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/customer-service-software/hubspot-service-hub/) [  Intercom ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/live-chat-software/intercom/) [  Jira ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/project-management-software/jira/) [  Jitbit ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/help-desk-software/jitbit/) [  Kayako ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/help-desk-software/kayako/) [  LiveAgent ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/help-desk-software/liveagent/) [  LiveChat ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/live-chat-software/livechat/) [  Salesforce Service Cloud ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/customer-service-software/salesforce-service-cloud/) [  ServiceNow ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/help-desk-software/servicenow/) [  TeamSupport ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/help-desk-software/teamsupport/) [  Teamwork Desk ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/help-desk-software/teamwork-desk/) 

### Head-to-Head Comparison 

![Help Scout Software Tool]() 

![Freshdesk Software Tool]() 

[Help Scout VS Freshdesk](https://www.selecthub.com/help-desk-software/freshdesk-vs-help-scout/) 

![Help Scout Software Tool]() 

![HappyFox Software Tool]() 

[Help Scout VS HappyFox](https://www.selecthub.com/help-desk-software/help-scout-vs-happyfox/) 

![Help Scout Software Tool]() 

![Jitbit Software Tool]() 

[Help Scout VS Jitbit](https://www.selecthub.com/help-desk-software/help-scout-vs-jitbit/) 

![Help Scout Software Tool]() 

![Kayako Software Tool]() 

[Help Scout VS Kayako](https://www.selecthub.com/help-desk-software/help-scout-vs-kayako/) 

![Help Scout Software Tool]() 

![LiveAgent Software Tool]() 

[Help Scout VS LiveAgent](https://www.selecthub.com/help-desk-software/help-scout-vs-liveagent/) 

![Help Scout Software Tool]() 

![ServiceNow Software Tool]() 

[Help Scout VS ServiceNow](https://www.selecthub.com/help-desk-software/servicenow-vs-help-scout/) 

![Help Scout Software Tool]() 

![Spiceworks Software Tool]() 

[Help Scout VS Spiceworks](https://www.selecthub.com/help-desk-software/spiceworks-vs-help-scout/) 

![Help Scout Software Tool]() 

![TeamSupport Software Tool]() 

[Help Scout VS TeamSupport](https://www.selecthub.com/help-desk-software/help-scout-vs-teamsupport/) 

![Help Scout Software Tool]() 

![Teamwork Desk Software Tool]() 

[Help Scout VS Teamwork Desk](https://www.selecthub.com/help-desk-software/help-scout-vs-teamwork-desk/) 

![Help Scout Software Tool]() 

![Vision Helpdesk Software Tool]() 

[Help Scout VS Vision Helpdesk](https://www.selecthub.com/help-desk-software/help-scout-vs-vision-helpdesk/) 

![Help Scout Software Tool]() 

![Zendesk Software Tool]() 

[Help Scout VS Zendesk](https://www.selecthub.com/help-desk-software/zendesk-vs-help-scout/) 

![Help Scout Software Tool]() 

![Zoho Desk Software Tool]() 

[Help Scout VS Zoho Desk](https://www.selecthub.com/help-desk-software/zoho-desk-vs-help-scout/) 

**About SelectHub (and our data)** 

We’re the employee-owned Austin-based startup democratizing software data so you can make your decisions in an influence-free zone. Our market data is crowdsourced from our user-base of 100,000+ companies.

WE DISTILL IT INTO REAL REQUIREMENTS, COMPARISON REPORTS, PRICE GUIDES and more...

![SelectHub Products Reporting and Analytics]() 

[Build Your Requirements](https://pmo.selecthub.com/help-desk-software-requirements-onsite/)

![SelectHub Products Cost and Pricing Guide]() 

[Get Your Free Comparison Report](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-scorecard/?category=Help%20Desk%20Software)

**Tier 1:**  
Fully/moderately supported out-of-the-box allowing for quick and easy deployment.  
Fully or moderately supported out-of-the-box with industry-leading capabilities and is immediately available after installation without needing any add-ons, integrations, or custom development. 

**Tier 2:**  
Supported with workarounds or add-ons that may require additional costs.  
Not directly available in the software, but can be accomplished using other built-in features, workarounds, or add-ons/products from the vendor with or without any additional cost. 

**Tier 3:**  
Requires partner integrations or custom development that is often at an additional cost.  
Requires additional integrations, plugins, marketplace applications from a third-party vendor, or custom development using the APIs, libraries, extensions, and development framework supported by the software, with or without any additional cost. 

[Close](#)

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