Updated October 17, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team
BoldDesk vs Freshworks
Freshworks
BoldDesk
Higher score in this comparison
Where BoldDesk and Freshworks differ
| Compare | BoldDeskReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | FreshworksReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | YesHas it |
| Free trial length | 15 daysHigher | 14 days |
| Plan tiers | One plan priced by team size | Growth, Pro, Enterprise |
| Product | Help desk | CRM, Help deskCovers more |
| Price per user from | $24.80 | Not confirmed |
| Compliance certifications | Not confirmed | SOC 2 Type 2, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, ISO/IEC 27701:2019, SOC 1 Type 2, SOC 3 |
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Key differences
- BoldDesk scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.4.
- Free plan: only Freshworks.
- Free trial length is higher at BoldDesk: 15 days vs 14 days.
- Support channels: only BoldDesk offers Chat.
- Founded is lower at BoldDesk: 2001 vs 2010.
- Pricing model: only Freshworks offers Free plan.
- Product: only Freshworks 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.
Freshworks
Freshworks focuses on AI powered customer support and employee service software built around automated workflows. It is a software provider for agile enterprises and growing teams that want employee and customer requests handled on one shared platform across IT and business functions with less friction.
Score breakdown
| Area | BoldDesk | Freshworks |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Per user entry of $24.80 ranks 32 of 61 brands, and no free plan offsets entry. | 9.3Higher |
| Offer | 9.9Higher | 9.4 |
| Trust | 9.6 | 9.7Higher |
Availability and regulation
| Country | BoldDesk | Freshworks |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Choosing between them
Pick BoldDesk if offer and free trial length matter most.
Pick Freshworks if cost, free plan, and product matter most.
Where these facts come from
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
Freshworks
- freshworks.com: 10 facts, checked September 29, 2026
- trust.freshworks.com: 1 fact, checked September 29, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | BoldDesk | Freshworks |
|---|---|---|
| Help desk software | 15 of 51 | 5 of 51 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BoldDesk | Freshworks |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Small business, Enterprise | Small business, Enterprise |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Free plan, Free trialCovers more |
| Legal entity | Syncfusion Inc. | Freshworks Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2001Lower | 2010 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Business tools
| Fact | BoldDesk | Freshworks |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $124 | Not confirmed |
| Usage limits | 500 AI credits per month | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BoldDesk | Freshworks | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $24.80below the median | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Free trial length | 15 daysabove the median | 14 daysat the median | 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.
Freshworks
Pros
- Combines customer support and employee service on shared AI workflows
- Covers email, chat, messaging and voice with unified customer context
- Extends the same platform to HR, Finance and Legal teams
Cons
- Narrow focus on service operations rather than broad business software
- Built for agile enterprises at scale, less simple for tiny teams
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
Freshworks
Who it suits
- Agile enterprises coordinating IT and customer support
- Business teams sharing one employee service platform
- Support leaders seeking round the clock automated assistance
Who should look elsewhere
- Teams needing tools outside service and support operations
Country by country
| Country | BoldDesk | Freshworks |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| France | No | Yes |
| Germany | No | Yes |
| India | No | Yes |
| Netherlands | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
| United States | No | Yes |
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.
Freshworks
What does Freshworks provide?+
Freshworks provides AI powered software for customer service and employee service. It supports scalable experiences intended to boost productivity, streamline operations and drive growth. The focus is coordinated support across customer and employee requests.
How does Freshworks support customer conversations?+
Freshworks supports conversations across email, chat, messaging and voice. Agents work from a unified view of customer history and context. The workspace is designed to help teams resolve questions faster and prioritize important work.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Freshworks
BoldDesk