Helploom vs Zendesk: Which tool is better for small businesses and solo founders?
Posted on by Preet Mishra
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Zendesk is one of the most recognized names in customer support. It’s been trusted by big companies for years, but it was never designed with small businesses in mind.
If you run a small business or work as a solo founder, Zendesk can feel overwhelming and extremely expensive. That’s why I created Helploom to make support simple again. Let’s dive in.
Who Zendesk Serves
Zendesk is an enterprise-grade solution. It comes with ticketing, automation, reporting, workflows, call center tools, and integrations for just about everything. If you’re running a support team with managers, agents, and multiple departments, Zendesk can cover it all.
But with that power comes complexity. The interface is cluttered, the learning curve is steep, and the pricing is designed for larger teams with deep budgets.
What Makes Helploom Different
Helploom takes a different approach. Helploom is built specifically for solo founders and small businesses. It skips the enterprise baggage and gives you just what you need to stay close to your customers.
- Simple setup in minutes.
- A live chat with a shared inbox for customer conversations.
- Affordable, flat pricing.
- Focus on human, personal support.
I wanted a tool I could use every day without wasting hours learning or paying for features I’d never touch. That’s why Helploom exists.
Pricing: A Huge Difference
Zendesk’s pricing starts higher than many small businesses can afford, and the costs keep rising as you add agents or features. It is easy to get stuck paying hundreds or even thousands per year, even if you are only handling a few customer conversations a day. The live chat starts at $69/month, which is a lot!
Helploom keeps pricing flat, simple, and affordable. Whether you are just starting out or running a lean small business, you will know exactly what you are paying.
| Plans | Zendesk | Helploom |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Base plan (live chat) | $69/month | $13/month |
| Team plan (live chat) | $69/month/agent | $39/month (unlimited agents) |
$13
/mo
Helploom
$69
/mo
Zendesk
The Good Old Comparison Table
| Feature | Zendesk | Helploom |
|---|---|---|
| Target audience | Enterprises and large teams | Solo founders and small businesses |
| Setup complexity | High, requires onboarding and training | Low, ready in seconds |
| Pricing | Expensive, scales quickly with usage | Simple, affordable flat pricing |
| Features | Tickets, workflows, automation, reports | Core support: live chat, human conversations |
| Learning curve | Steep, can take weeks to master | Easy and intuitive |
| Customer focus | Enterprise efficiency | Human, personal support |
The Bottom Line
Zendesk is a powerhouse for enterprises, but for solo founders and small businesses it is too complex, too expensive, and too overwhelming.
Helploom was built to be the opposite: a simple and affordable customer support tool that helps you talk to your customers without distraction.