Updated October 18, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team
BoldDesk vs ClearCRM
BoldDesk
ClearCRM
Higher score in this comparison
BoldDesk vs ClearCRM: the differences
| Compare | BoldDeskReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | ClearCRMReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $24.80 | $3.80Lower |
| Free plan | No | YesHas it |
| Plan tiers | One plan priced by team size | Starter Team, Growth Team, Scale Team |
| Product | Help desk | CRM, Help deskCovers more |
| Free trial length | 15 days | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- ClearCRM scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.5.
- Price per user from is lower at ClearCRM: $3.80 vs $24.80.
- Free plan: only ClearCRM.
- Support channels: only BoldDesk offers Phone.
- Audience: only ClearCRM offers Beginners.
- Pricing model: only ClearCRM offers Free plan.
- Product: only ClearCRM offers CRM.
Our verdict on each
BoldDesk
BoldDesk suits small businesses wanting a single help desk priced by team size, with a free trial rather than a free plan as the way in. The trade-off is cost: the plan starts at $124, well above the help desk median of €17.54.
ClearCRM
ClearCRM suits small businesses that want a CRM and a help desk in one place and would rather start cheap than shop a long feature list. Entry price per user is $3.80 and a free plan exists, though renewal pricing is not published.
Score breakdown
| Area | BoldDesk | ClearCRM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Per user entry of $24.80 ranks 32 of 61 brands, and no free plan offsets entry. | 9.8HigherEntry price per user is $3.80, under the CRM median of €24.07, and a free plan is available. |
| Offer | 9.9Higher | 9.4One account covers both CRM and help desk for beginners, small business and enterprise teams, supported through email, chat and help centre. |
| Trust | 9.6 | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | BoldDesk | ClearCRM |
|---|---|---|
| Help desk software | 15 of 51 | 14 of 51 |
If neither fits
Humaneti has price per user from at $2, against $24.80 for BoldDesk and $3.80 for ClearCRM.
Humaneti reviewWhat we checked
BoldDesk
- bolddesk.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- comparisons.financesonline.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- prweb.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- slashdot.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
ClearCRM
- clearcrm.com: 9 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BoldDesk | ClearCRM |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Small business, Enterprise | Beginners, Small business, EnterpriseCovers more |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Free plan, Free trialCovers more |
| Legal entity | Syncfusion Inc. | ClearCRM LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2001 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Business tools
| Fact | BoldDesk | ClearCRM |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $124 | Not confirmed |
| Usage limits | 500 AI credits per month | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BoldDesk | ClearCRM | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $24.80below the median | $3.80lowest quarter | $25 |
| Free trial length | 15 daysabove the median | Not confirmed | 14 days |
Median across 81 listed software products.
Pros and cons
BoldDesk
Pros
- Pricing stays simple as the team grows: One plan priced by team size, so agents are added rather than bought by moving between tiers.
- The free trial runs 15 days, a shade above the help desk median of 14.
- Support is wide for the category, reaching email, chat and phone, which pairs phone with a help centre.
Cons
- There is no free plan, which places BoldDesk in the larger group where 76.5%, unlike HubSpot.
- The per user price of $24.80 runs above LiveAgent at $19 and Zendesk at $19.
- Usage is capped at 500 AI credits per month, so teams that lean on AI answers have to watch the allowance.
ClearCRM
Pros
- Entry price per user of $3.80 sits below the CRM median of €24.07.
- A free plan is available, alongside the tiers Starter Team, Growth Team, Scale Team.
- One product covers both CRM and help desk, so teams can run sales and support in the same place.
Cons
- Renewal pricing is not published, so the Starter Team, Growth Team, Scale Team cost after the first term is unknown.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line for urgent issues.
- A free trial is offered in place of deeper tier detail, so the difference between Starter Team, Growth Team, Scale Team features is set by sales contact rather than the page.
Who each suits
BoldDesk
Who it suits
- Small businesses that want a dedicated help desk rather than a general business platform
- Support teams that prefer pricing by headcount over a tier ladder
- Teams willing to test on a free trial before committing to a paid plan
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone starting with no budget at all, since there is no free plan to lean on while HubSpot has one
- Per seat cost watchers, given LiveAgent and Zendesk both start lower at $19 and $19
- Teams wanting a longer operating track record, with the product dating from 2001
ClearCRM
Who it suits
- Small businesses that want CRM and help-desk tools under one vendor
- Beginners who want a free plan to test before paying
- Enterprise teams consolidating several tools into one account
Who should look elsewhere
- Teams that want published renewal prices before signing, where Nutshell is a fairer comparison
- Support-heavy operations needing phone help, since ClearCRM covers email, chat and help centre only
- Buyers who need a locally registered company, given the US entity ClearCRM LLC
Current offers
ClearCRM
Current offer
First period offer
50% off first yearly plan period: 50% off yearly plans (Extra 50% off yearly plans)
Applies to the yearly billing option of the Starter, Growth and Scale Team plans; no credit card required; 30-day money-back guarantee; no end date stated
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Questions about each
BoldDesk
Does BoldDesk have a free plan?+
No. BoldDesk has no free plan, and that matches the larger group in this category, where 76.5% of help desks charge from the first payment. The only route in is the free trial of 15 days. Teams that want a permanent starting point at no cost should look at HubSpot, which does have a free plan.
How much does BoldDesk cost to start?+
The single plan, priced by team size, starts at $124, and the per user figure runs $24.80. That entry price sits above the help desk median of €17.54 and above the per user median of €17.10, so buyers enter at the dearer end of the field rather than the middle.
ClearCRM
How much does ClearCRM cost per user?+
Entry pricing is $3.80 per user, sold as Starter Team, Growth Team, Scale Team. The entry figure sits below the CRM median of €24.07 and the help-desk median of €17.54. A free plan is also listed for teams testing the product first.
What does ClearCRM cost when a plan renews?+
Renewal pricing is not published, so the ongoing cost of Starter Team, Growth Team, Scale Team is not stated. The per-user figure of $3.80 is given as a starting price only. Buyers budgeting past the first term need that renewal rate confirmed before signing.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
BoldDesk
ClearCRM