Updated September 28, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team
BoldDesk vs SparrowDesk
SparrowDesk
BoldDesk
Higher score in this comparison
BoldDesk vs SparrowDesk: the differences
| Compare | BoldDeskReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | SparrowDeskReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $24.80 | $16Lower |
| Free plan | No | YesHas it |
| Free trial length | 15 daysHigher | 14 days |
| Plan tiers | One plan priced by team size | Free, Starter, Professional, Enterprise |
| Free plan limits | Not confirmed | Up to 3 users |
Same on both: Product (Help desk).
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Key differences
- BoldDesk scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.9.
- Price per user from is lower at SparrowDesk: $16 vs $24.80.
- Free plan: only SparrowDesk.
- Free trial length is higher at BoldDesk: 15 days vs 14 days.
- Support channels: only BoldDesk offers Chat, Phone, Help centre.
- Pricing model: only SparrowDesk offers Free plan.
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.
SparrowDesk
SparrowDesk suits small support teams that want a real free tier before they commit to a paid plan. Paid entry sits at $16 per user, under LiveAgent and Zendesk, the free plan covers Up to 3 users, and the trial runs 14 days, though support runs on email only.
Score breakdown
| Area | BoldDesk | SparrowDesk |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Per user entry of $24.80 ranks 32 of 61 brands, and no free plan offsets entry. | 9.4HigherEntry price of $16 per user. The help desk median sits at €17.10, with LiveAgent and Zendesk higher and HansaWorld lower. |
| Offer | 9.9Higher | 8.4 |
| Trust | 9.6 | Not confirmed |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | BoldDesk | SparrowDesk |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
Cost in a real example
5 users for a year
BoldDesk
$1,488
60 × $24.80
SparrowDesk
$960
60 × $16
SparrowDesk costs $528 less.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
The numbers side by side
| Fact | BoldDesk | SparrowDesk |
|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $24.80 | $16 |
| Free trial length | 15 days | 14 days |
If neither fits
EngageBay has price per user from at $14.99, against $24.80 for BoldDesk and $16 for SparrowDesk.
EngageBay reviewHow they place
| Ranking | BoldDesk | SparrowDesk |
|---|---|---|
| Help desk software | 15 of 51 | 3 of 51 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BoldDesk | SparrowDesk |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Small business, Enterprise | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Free plan, Free trialCovers more |
| Legal entity | Syncfusion Inc. | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2001 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Business tools
| Fact | BoldDesk | SparrowDesk |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $124 | Not confirmed |
| Usage limits | 500 AI credits per month | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BoldDesk | SparrowDesk | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $24.80below the median | $16lowest quarter | $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.
SparrowDesk
Pros
- A free plan that keeps Up to 3 users covered at no cost, with no end date attached.
- Paid entry of $16 per user, under LiveAgent at $19 and Zendesk at $19 per user.
- A 14 day trial on top of the free plan, so the pricing model reads free plan and free trial and a team can test before it spends.
Cons
- Support runs on email only, so anyone wanting live chat or a phone line has to look at LiveAgent.
- The free plan tops out at Up to 3 users, so a support team that outgrows it moves to a paid tier.
- $16 per user is not the floor: HansaWorld lists $10 per user.
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
SparrowDesk
Who it suits
- Small support teams that fit inside a free plan covering Up to 3 users.
- Budget conscious teams weighing entry price, since a paid seat starts at $16 per user.
- Teams that answer questions in writing and are happy with email support.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who need live chat or a phone line, since support runs on email only, so weigh Zendesk instead.
- Price first shoppers, because HansaWorld lists $10 per user, under $16.
Current offers
SparrowDesk
Current offer
Free trial
14 day free trial: 14 days
No credit card required
Source, checked September 26, 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.
SparrowDesk
How much does SparrowDesk cost per user?+
Paid entry is $16 per user. LiveAgent and Zendesk both start at $19 per user, so the difference at the entry point is small, while HansaWorld sits lower again at $10 per user. Budget from the entry figure and treat anything above it as a tier upgrade.
Does SparrowDesk have a free plan?+
Yes, and it is permanent rather than a trial. The free plan limits are Up to 3 users, and that is the figure that decides whether a small team can stay on it. Teams that fit inside the ceiling pay nothing, while teams that outgrow it move to a paid tier.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
SparrowDesk
BoldDesk