Escape the upgrade trap.
Keep the features.
HelpSpot gives you a complete, powerful help desk without forcing you into expensive enterprise plans for basic automation and AI.
Why teams switch from Zoho Desk
The same frustrations we hear from every Zoho Desk switcher
Feature Gating
Zoho's Standard plan looks cheap but lacks essentials like Round Robin routing and process automation (Blueprints). You are forced to upgrade to get basics.
All-Inclusive Features
HelpSpot includes every feature in one simple price. You never have to upgrade to get the tools your team needs.
AI Paywall
Zoho's 'Zia' AI features are exclusively available in the expensive Enterprise plan ($40/agent/mo), nearly tripling your cost per agent.
AI for Everyone
Modern AI tools like ticket summarization, translation, and writing assistance are standard features in HelpSpot.
Support Costs Extra
Zoho's Standard plan only includes email support. Phone support requires the Professional plan ($23/agent/mo) or higher.
Support Included
We don't charge a 'tax' for help. Expert phone and email support is included free with every subscription.
Zoho Desk vs HelpSpot
See how the two platforms compare on what matters most
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Basic plans are empty shells
The $14 Standard plan restricts you to single-department workflows and lacks essential automation like Round Robin routing, Blueprints (process automation), and Conditional Layouts. You must pay $23-$40/agent to manage complex team structures.
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AI requires Enterprise
Zia, Zoho's AI assistant, is locked behind the $40/agent Enterprise plan. You must upgrade your entire team just to access modern AI tools.
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Cloud-only lock-in
Zoho Desk is strictly a cloud service. If you have compliance needs that require self-hosting or specific database control, you have no options.
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Everything included
One price gets you every feature we build. Round Robin routing, custom reporting, and automation are standard from day one.
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AI included for free
We don't charge a tax on technology. Smart features like triaging, translation, and ticket summarization are included for every user at no extra cost.
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Your data, your choice
Choose US Cloud, EU Cloud, or Self-Hosted. Complete control over where your customer data lives, at no extra cost.
Feature-by-feature comparison
Comparing Zoho Desk Standard ($14/agent/mo) vs HelpSpot
HelpSpot
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Zoho Desk
|
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|---|---|---|
| Feature | All Inclusive | Standard $14/user/mo |
|
Core Ticketing
|
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| Familiar email-inspired workflow | ||
| Email-to-ticket conversion | ||
| Collision detection | ||
| Custom fields | ||
| Conditional field logic | Enterprise ($40) Plan | |
| Rich customer replies (images, files, emoji) | ||
| Unlimited mailboxes | Limit 5 | |
|
Portal & Knowledge Base
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| Customer portal | ||
| Contact form | ||
| Portal theme customization | Pro ($23) Plan | |
| Multi-brand portals | Enterprise ($40) Plan | |
| Knowledge base | ||
| Knowledge base WYSIWYG | ||
|
Automation & Workflow
|
||
| Trigger rules | Limited | |
| Time based automation rules | Limited | |
| Round-robin assignment | Pro ($23) Plan | |
| SLA management | 4 Escalations | |
|
AI Features
|
||
| AI writing assistance | Included | Enterprise ($40) Plan |
| AI ticket summarization | Included | Enterprise ($40) Plan |
| AI translation | Included | Enterprise ($40) Plan |
| Intelligent triage | Included | Enterprise ($40) Plan |
|
Reporting & Analytics
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| Built-in reports | ||
| Custom report builder | ||
| Real-time dashboards | Pro ($23) Plan | |
| Scheduled report exports | Pro ($23) Plan | |
| Export to Excel/CSV | ||
| Direct SQL database access | Self-hosted | Impossible |
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Pricing Model
|
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| Feature tiers | 1 tier | 4 tiers + add-ons |
| Add-on costs | None | Many |
| Unlimited tickets | ||
| Cancel anytime | ||
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Support & Deployment
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| Phone support | All plans | Pro ($23) Plan |
| Self-hosted option | ||
| EU data residency | Included | Included |
| Access logs and redaction | Enterprise ($40) Plan | |
| Data & attachment storage | Unlimited | Capped |
| Implementation help | Free | Paid |
| API access | Unlimited | Daily limits |
Ready to simplify your support?
The hidden costs of 'affordable'
Zoho advertises $14/agent. But essential features like AI, multi-brand support, and round-robin routing require expensive upgrades. Here's what a real team actually pays.
Zoho Desk
Enterprise required for AI, Multi-brand, & advanced SLAs
+ Other add-ons not included
HelpSpot
Simple pricing, everything included
Save over $3,000 in year one
Migration made easy
We'll help you every step of the way
Export Your Data
Use Zoho Desk's export tools to download your tickets and customer data.
Import to HelpSpot
Our team works with you to import your historical data and get everything configured.
Go Live
Connect your email accounts to HelpSpot. Your team picks up right where they left off.
Deploy Your Way
Same price, same features. Choose the deployment that works for you.
Same powerful features and pricing across all hosting options.
US Cloud
CloudUS-East Region
Dedicated AWS infrastructure with 99.9% uptime. Managed updates and automated backups.
EU Cloud
CloudFrankfurt Region
GDPR-compliant hosting. Full data sovereignty with all information isolated within the EU.
Self-Hosted
EnterpriseOn-Premise Infrastructure
Complete control on your own hardware. Ideal for air-gapped networks or strict compliance.
Maximum Control & Data ResidencyWhat we believe
We've been building help desk software since 2005. Along the way, we've developed strong opinions about how support should work.
Single Assignment
Every ticket has one owner. Clear accountability means faster resolution and better outcomes.
Read moreHuman-First Support
Support is human-to-human communication. Technology should enhance it, not replace it.
Read moreSimple Pricing
One price. All features. No add-ons, no surprises. Budget with confidence.
Read moreBeyond Shared Mailbox
Email chaos ends here. Get collision detection, automation, and the visibility you need.
Read moreCompare other platforms
See how HelpSpot stacks up against other help desk solutions.
"Of the number of helpdesk systems we looked into, ranging from the off-the-shelf expensive systems to completely 'free', your product was the best looking, simplest for both the customer and the staff, the quickest to set-up and configure and reasonably priced."
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about switching from Zoho Desk
No. Round Robin ticket assignment is only available in the Professional ($23/agent) and Enterprise plans. In the Standard plan, tickets must be assigned manually or via basic rules, creating bottlenecks as your team grows.
No. Zia, Zoho's AI assistant, is exclusively locked to the Enterprise plan ($40/agent/mo). You cannot add AI features to the Standard or Professional plans without upgrading every single agent on your team. HelpSpot includes AI features for every user at no extra cost.
No. Zoho Desk is a strictly cloud-only platform. If your organization requires self-hosting for compliance, security, or complete data ownership, HelpSpot's On-Premise option is the better choice.
HelpSpot is the best Zoho Desk alternative for teams tired of feature gating. Zoho Desk locks round-robin routing, AI, and workflow automation behind its Professional and Enterprise tiers. HelpSpot includes all features in every plan: routing, automation, custom reporting, AI, SLAs, and unlimited mailboxes. It also offers self-hosted deployment, which Zoho Desk does not.
Zoho Desk Standard ($14/agent/month) appears cheaper but lacks round-robin routing, workflow Blueprints, and AI features. A 10-agent team pays $1,680/year and still misses key features. Upgrading to Professional for routing costs $2,760/year. HelpSpot costs $1,699/year for 10 agents with all features included: round-robin, automation, custom reporting, AI, and SLAs.
Yes. Zoho Desk Standard ($14/agent/month) only includes email support from Zoho. Phone support requires the Professional plan ($23/agent/month) or higher. Premium support with faster response times costs an additional 20-30% of your license fee. HelpSpot includes phone and email support at no extra cost for every customer.
Trusted by teams who made the switch
Trusted by industry leaders
Ready to switch?
We'll help you move.
Start your free trial and our team will help migrate your data, train your agents, and get you up and running. No risk, no commitment.
