Updated October 18, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team
BoldDesk vs EngageBay
EngageBay
BoldDesk
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | BoldDeskReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | EngageBayReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $24.80 | $14.99Lower |
| Free plan | No | YesHas it |
| Plan tiers | One plan priced by team size | Free, Basic, Growth, Pro |
| Product | Help desk | CRM, Help deskCovers more |
| Free plan limits | Not confirmed | 250 contacts, up to 15 users |
| Free trial length | 15 days | Not confirmed |
| Integrations | Not confirmed | 250 |
| Compliance certifications | Not confirmed | GDPR, DPF |
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Key differences
- BoldDesk scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.4.
- Price per user from is lower at EngageBay: $14.99 vs $24.80.
- Free plan: only EngageBay.
- Founded is lower at BoldDesk: 2001 vs 2017.
- Audience: only BoldDesk offers Enterprise.
- Audience: only EngageBay offers Beginners.
- Pricing model: only BoldDesk offers Free trial.
- Pricing model: only EngageBay offers Free plan.
- Product: only EngageBay 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.
EngageBay
EngageBay suits small businesses and beginners seeking CRM and help-desk tools with a free entry point. Its free plan allows 250 contacts, up to 15 users, giving a clear starting check on contact and user allowances before reviewing paid tiers for your growing team.
Score breakdown
| Area | BoldDesk | EngageBay |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Per user entry of $24.80 ranks 32 of 61 brands, and no free plan offsets entry. | 9.7HigherEngageBay lists a per-user starting price of $14.99. |
| Offer | 9.9Higher | 9.5EngageBay lists CRM and help-desk coverage as CRM and help desk. |
| Trust | 9.6Higher | 8.3EngageBay lists compliance coverage as GDPR and DPF. |
Choosing between them
Pick BoldDesk if offer matter most.
Pick EngageBay if cost, price per user from, free plan, and product matter most.
Cost in a real example
5 users for a year
BoldDesk
$1,488
60 × $24.80
EngageBay
$899.40
60 × $14.99
EngageBay costs $588.60 less.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 28, 2026.
A third option
SendPulse has price per user from at $8, against $24.80 for BoldDesk and $14.99 for EngageBay.
SendPulse reviewHow they place
| Ranking | BoldDesk | EngageBay |
|---|---|---|
| Help desk software | 15 of 51 | 2 of 51 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BoldDesk | EngageBay |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Small business, Enterprise | Small business, Beginners |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Free plan |
| Legal entity | Syncfusion Inc. | EngageBay Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2001Lower | 2017 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Business tools
| Fact | BoldDesk | EngageBay |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $124 | Not confirmed |
| Usage limits | 500 AI credits per month | Not confirmed |
Email marketing
| Fact | BoldDesk | EngageBay |
|---|---|---|
| Price at 1,000 contacts | Not confirmed | $64.99 |
| Price at 10,000 contacts | Not confirmed | $119.99 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BoldDesk | EngageBay | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $24.80below the median | $14.99lowest quarter | $25 |
| Free trial length | 15 daysabove the median | Not confirmed | 14 days |
| Integrations | Not confirmed | 250above the median | 77 |
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.
EngageBay
Pros
- The listed allowances of 250 contacts, up to 15 users give you a clear free entry point to review contacts and users before paying.
- The listed total of 250 integrations helps you judge how EngageBay might sit alongside tools you already use.
- Contact based pricing at $64.99 and $119.99 gives you separate listed points for larger contact needs.
Cons
- The included allowances are capped at 250 contacts, up to 15 users, so a growing list or a larger team may need to look beyond the entry allowances.
- EngageBay at $14.99 is higher than Nutshell at $13, which matters when you compare per-user starting prices.
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
EngageBay
Who it suits
- Small businesses comparing CRM and help-desk options, with EngageBay listing coverage as CRM and help desk.
- Beginners wanting a free entry point with stated allowances of 250 contacts, up to 15 users and audience focus of small business and beginners.
- Teams that value many connections alongside clear tiers, with 250 integrations and Free, Basic, Growth, Pro.
Who should look elsewhere
- If a lower listed per-user starting price is your main concern, check Nutshell at $13 against EngageBay at $14.99.
- If your contact base already exceeds the free allowances of 250 contacts, up to 15 users, compare Bumpa and Dolisoft before settling on EngageBay.
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.
EngageBay
What is EngageBay's per-user starting price?+
EngageBay lists a per-user starting price of $14.99. That figure describes the entry per-user price and sits alongside separate contact based prices. Check which pricing basis matches the option you are reviewing so you compare matching measures.
What does EngageBay charge at the lower listed contact volume?+
For the lower listed contact volume, EngageBay gives a price of $64.99. This is a contact based price, separate from the per-user starting price of $14.99. Confirm whether you are comparing contact pricing or per-user pricing before deciding.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
EngageBay
BoldDesk