Helmdesk vs Zendesk A simpler Zendesk alternative for teams with several apps.
Zendesk prices per agent: $55 to $115 a month on Suite, billed annually, and more than one brand starts at Suite Professional. Helmdesk is priced by apps and tickets: three apps, a help centre each, unlimited seats and AI drafting on one plan.
Through Nov 30: 30% off Starter or Growth for 3 months with code SHIP30 at checkout.
Side by side
Feature comparison
| Feature | Helmdesk | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing unit | Per plan, sized by apps and tickets | Per agent, per month |
| Paid plans from | $39/mo, or $31 billed annually (Starter) | $19 per agent billed annually (Support Team); Suite from $55 |
| AI pricing | Included on paid plans, no per-resolution fee | 5–10 automated resolutions per agent included, then $1.50 each committed or $2.00 pay-as-you-go |
| Several apps or brands | 3 apps on Starter, 10 on Growth, each with its own help centre | Up to 5 brands on Suite Professional ($115 per agent); 300 on Enterprise |
| Help centre | Yes | Yes |
| MCP server for AI agents | 73 tools across tickets, customers, email, docs, feedback and logs; read and write | Announced, in early access (May 2026) |
| Error logs from your app, grouped into issues | Yes | No |
Zendesk list prices as published on zendesk.com, October 2026. Check their page for current pricing.
The arithmetic
What it costs for a small team with several apps
Two common set-ups, priced on each product's published list prices. The sums are shown so you can redo them for your own team.
Solo developer with 3 apps
One person answering for three products, under 1,000 tickets a month in total. Both billed annually.
- 1 × Suite Professional agent, up to 5 brands ($115)$115
Like for like: a help centre per app in one account, which Zendesk lists from Suite Professional. Three separate Suite Team accounts would be 3 × $55.
Plus automated resolutions past the included 10 per agent
Starter: 3 apps, a help centre each, unlimited seats, AI drafting included.
$115 − $31 = $84/mo less with Helmdesk, before usage charges
Team of 5 with 3 apps
Five people across three products, about 3,000 tickets a month. Both billed annually.
- 5 × Suite Professional agents ($115)$575
Suite Professional includes up to five brands.
Plus $1.50–$2.00 per automated resolution past the included ones
Growth: 10 apps, 7,500 tickets a month, unlimited seats, AI included.
$575 − $119 = $456/mo less with Helmdesk, before usage charges
Zendesk list prices as published on zendesk.com, October 2026. Check their page for current pricing.
Choose Helmdesk if…
- You have a few apps and a small team, not a support department
- You want a separate help centre per app without paying for a higher tier
- You want AI drafting included instead of paying per automated resolution
- You want transactional email, error logs and an MCP server in the same product
- You want setup measured in minutes, from the dashboard or your coding agent
Choose Zendesk if…
- You need phone, messaging and social channels in one agent workspace
- You run a large support team where per-agent pricing is the norm
- You need hundreds of brands (Suite Enterprise supports up to 300)
- You depend on Zendesk’s large marketplace of apps and integrations
Pricing
Priced by apps and tickets, not by people.
Free for your first app. Starter $39/mo for 3 apps, unlimited seats.
Annual billing saves 20%. No per-seat fees on paid plans, no per-resolution AI fees.
Through Nov 30: 30% off Starter or Growth for 3 months with code SHIP30 at checkout.
- Free1 app$0
- Starter3 apps$39/mo
- Growth10 apps$149/mo
- Enterprise: more apps and volume, quoted. Talk to us
FAQ
Helmdesk and Zendesk
How is Zendesk priced?
Per agent per month. Support Team is $19 and Suite Team $55, Suite Professional $115, billed annually ($25, $69 and $149 monthly). Suite Enterprise is quoted. Automated resolutions beyond those included cost $1.50 committed or $2.00 pay-as-you-go.
Can I run several brands or apps in one Zendesk account?
Yes, from Suite Professional, which includes up to five brands; Suite Enterprise includes up to 300. Suite Team includes one help centre.
Is Helmdesk a full Zendesk replacement?
For email-based support across a few apps, with a help centre, customer records and AI drafting, yes. If you need phone support, social channels or workforce management, Zendesk covers ground Helmdesk does not.
One desk for every app, at one price.
Free for your first app. Starter $39/mo for 3 apps, unlimited seats. No card.