Helploom vs Freshdesk: Which tool is better for small businesses and solo founders?
Posted on by Preet Mishra
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When small businesses search for a customer support tool, Freshdesk often comes up first. It has been around for years. The problem is that it is built for larger teams with multiple agents and managers. For small teams, much of its functionality is unnecessary, and the setup and cost can feel overwhelming.
That's why I built Helploom. I wanted something simple, affordable, and human that focuses only on what small teams actually need. Let's take a closer look at how the two tools compare.
A Look at Freshdesk
Freshdesk is a full helpdesk platform. It is best suited for businesses with multiple agents, managers, and complex support operations. It includes:
- Shared inbox and ticketing.
- Knowledge base and FAQ tools.
- Email and social channel support.
- Automation, SLAs, and workflows.
- Advanced reporting and dashboards.
If you run a support team with several people and need detailed workflows or analytics, Freshdesk makes sense. But with that depth comes complexity and higher costs.
What Makes Helploom Different
Helploom was built for solo founders and small businesses. If you just need a clear way to talk to your customers, without a steep learning curve, Helploom gives you that.
- Fast setup with no configuration headaches.
- Simple interface that stays clean.
- Pricing that does not grow with every agent.
Helploom is not trying to replace enterprise helpdesks. It exists for people who want customer support to feel simple and human.
Pricing: A Deep Dive
Freshdesk's pricing starts with a free plan, but as soon as you need more features or more agents, the pricing grows fast. Paid plans start around $19 per agent per month and can go up to $49 or more per agent per month. For a small business, that can add up quickly.
Helploom takes a simpler approach. You do not pay per agent and you do not get locked into tiers with features you will never use. The goal is to make support affordable and predictable, no matter how small your business is.
| Plans | Freshdesk | Helploom |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Base plan (live chat) | $19/month | $13/month |
| Team plan (live chat) | $19/month/agent | $39/month (unlimited agents) |
$13
/mo
Helploom
$19
/mo
Freshdesk
The Good Old Comparison Table
| Feature | Freshdesk | Helploom |
|---|---|---|
| Setup complexity | Takes time to configure, more complex | Low, ready in seconds |
| Pricing | Per agent per month, cost grows quickly | Simple pricing, no per-agent charges. Base plan is cheaper |
| Features | Tickets, workflows, automation, reports | Core support: live chat, human conversations |
| Learning curve | Steep, can take weeks to master | Easy and intuitive |
| Advanced Features | Automations, SLAs, multilingual KB, etc. | Essentials only, focused on small needs |
Why Helploom Exists
As a solo founder, I tried tools like Freshdesk and found them overwhelming. I spent more time configuring than actually talking to customers. I did not need ticket hierarchies, escalations, or complicated reports. I just wanted to stay close to my users without breaking the bank.
Helploom is my way of building the tool I wished I had. Something that is built with care, intention, and simplicity.
The Bottom Line
If you are running a larger team with complex needs, Freshdesk will give you the power and scale you need. But if you are a solo founder or small team, the complexity and per-agent pricing quickly become a burden.
Helploom was built for you. Simple, affordable, and human support that helps you stay connected with your customers without all the overhead.