Zendesk for Startups vs Help Scout
Choose Zendesk for Startups if you qualify for its offer and want Suite Professional’s routing, automation and AI tools; choose Help Scout if you want a shared inbox with a free plan and published paid prices. This comparison is worth publishing: both vendors currently offer customer support software that a startup can choose between, though their startup offers have different eligibility rules.
Last updated October 31, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | Zendesk for Startups | Help Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Startup eligibility | Application required; new Zendesk customers; employee and funding criteria apply | New customers; incorporated tech startups under two years old and under $1 million ARR |
| Startup offer | Six months of Zendesk Suite; qualifying startups may receive up to two years | Six months of Help Scout Plus |
| Paid plan price | Suite Professional: $115 per agent/month, billed annually | Plus: $45 per user/month |
| Free plan | Not published | Up to 5 users, 1 Inbox and 1 Docs site |
| Phone support channel | Voice excluded during the startup trial | Phone/voice via integration |
| Other support channels | Email, messaging, live chat and social channels | Email, live chat, SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram |
| AI resolution pricing | Usage-based pricing for automated resolutions beyond plan allowances | Envoy add-on: $0.75 per resolution |
| Integrations | 1,000+ prebuilt marketplace apps and integrations | Access to 100+ apps |
| Startup seat limit | Up to 50 agents | Plus plan: up to 50 users |
| Knowledge base allowance | Knowledge base included in Suite Professional | Plus plan: 3 Docs sites, with additional sites available |
| Mobile apps | Support app for iOS and Android | Help Scout app for iOS and Android |
| Vendor support | Startup account executive and Customer Success office hours | Priority email support on Plus |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose Zendesk for Startups if
- Approved startups seeking Suite Professional for an initial no-cost period
- Teams planning skills-based routing and advanced automation
- Teams wanting Zendesk’s larger published integration marketplace
Choose Help Scout if
- Teams wanting a free plan for up to five users
- Teams comparing published per-user prices and inbox limits
- Eligible young startups seeking six months of Help Scout Plus
The verdict
The deciding factors are eligibility and the support setup you want after the introductory offer. Zendesk for Startups fits an approved team that wants to establish more advanced support workflows early; confirm the exact offer length and covered features before applying. Help Scout fits a team that wants to start with a shared inbox, assess its published plan limits and move to a paid tier as needed. Both vendors advertise six-month startup offers, so the length of the initial offer alone does not settle the choice.
Zendesk for Startups vs Help Scout: common questions
- Is this comparison worth publishing?
- Yes. Zendesk for Startups and Help Scout are currently available customer support options with overlapping inbox, chat, knowledge base and automation features. The choice depends on startup eligibility and the support workflows a team needs.
- Do both vendors offer six months free to startups?
- Yes. Zendesk says accepted startups receive six months of Zendesk Suite, with some qualifying for up to two years. Help Scout advertises six months of Plus for startups that meet its separate eligibility rules.
- Who qualifies for Zendesk for Startups?
- Zendesk requires an application from a new customer and publishes employee and funding criteria. Its startup offer page specifies outside funding through Series B and a limit of 50 employees without a partner referral or 250 with one. Zendesk confirms the offer terms after approval.
- Who qualifies for Help Scout’s startup offer?
- Help Scout says applicants must be new customers, incorporated tech startups less than two years old and generating under $1 million in annual recurring revenue.
- What happens when the startup offer ends?
- Both products have paid plans. Zendesk lists Suite Professional at $115 per agent per month when billed annually; Help Scout lists Plus at $45 per user per month. A startup should confirm its post-offer terms and any usage charges with the vendor.
- Does either product have a free plan?
- Help Scout publishes a Free plan for up to five users, one Inbox and one Docs site. Zendesk advertises a time-limited startup offer and a standard free trial, but does not publish an ongoing free plan.
- Can I handle phone calls in either product?
- Zendesk states that Voice is excluded during its startup trial, even though telephony appears in its paid Suite plans. Help Scout lists phone and voice through integrations rather than as a native channel.
- Which product has more published integrations?
- Zendesk advertises more than 1,000 prebuilt marketplace apps and integrations; Help Scout advertises access to more than 100 apps. The counts do not establish whether either vendor supports a particular tool your team uses.