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Software · head to head

Freshdesk vs HubSpot Live Chat

Freshdesk logo

Freshdesk

Software

Delight your customers, effortlessly

From
$19/month
Rated
-
HubSpot Live Chat logo

HubSpot Live Chat

Software

Live chat integrated with HubSpot CRM platform

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only HubSpot Live Chat has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Freshdesk growth tier lacks multilingual helpdesk and custom reporting dashboards; HubSpot Live Chat the Internet Archive's capture of HubSpot's live chat page on 4 January 2022 confirmed live chat is offered free as part of Service Hub, which the page states also has separate premium plans, though no premium figure appeared on the page itself.
  • They diverge on capability: Freshdesk covers Ticketing, HubSpot Live Chat covers Live chat messaging.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Freshdesk and HubSpot Live Chat actually diverge.

Attributes where Freshdesk and HubSpot Live Chat differ
AttributeFreshdeskHubSpot Live Chat
Starting price$19/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Mobile app, IOS, Android
Founded20102006

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Freshdesk

  • Ticketing
  • Automation
  • Self-service
  • Team collaboration
  • Multi-channel support
  • SLA management
  • Reporting
  • Mobile apps

Only in HubSpot Live Chat

  • Live chat messaging
  • CRM integration
  • Visitor identification
  • Chatbot builder
  • Gmail
  • Outlook
  • Web support
  • Mobile app support

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Salesforce

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Freshdesk

  • Help desk and ticketing systemnot HubSpot Live Chat
  • Customer support portal and knowledge basenot HubSpot Live Chat
  • Multi-channel support coordinationnot HubSpot Live Chat
  • AI-assisted support agent interactionnot HubSpot Live Chat

HubSpot Live Chat

  • Customer engagementnot Freshdesk
  • Lead generationnot Freshdesk
  • Customer supportnot Freshdesk
  • Sales automationnot Freshdesk

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Freshdesk

  • Growth tier lacks multilingual helpdesk and custom reporting dashboards
  • Skill-based routing available only on Enterprise tier
  • Freddy AI Copilot requires separate £29/agent/month add-on on Pro and Enterprise plans
  • AI agent sessions charged beyond initial 500 sessions: £49 per additional 100 sessions
  • Day passes for non-agents vary by tier: £2 (Growth), £7 (Pro), £12 (Enterprise)

HubSpot Live Chat

  • The Internet Archive's capture of HubSpot's live chat page on 4 January 2022 confirmed live chat is offered free as part of Service Hub, which the page states also has separate premium plans, though no premium figure appeared on the page itself.

Pricing, plan by plan

Freshdesk

$19/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Freshdesk review.

HubSpot Live Chat

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Live chat
    • CRM
    • Basic features
  • Starter$50/month
    • Marketing automation
    • Enhanced features
  • Professional$320/month
    • Advanced workflows
    • Custom reporting

Which should you pick?

Choose Freshdesk if

  • You need ticketing.
  • You also want automation.

Choose HubSpot Live Chat if

  • You need live chat messaging.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app, IOS, Android.
  • You also want crm integration.

Questions people ask

Is Freshdesk or HubSpot Live Chat better?
Neither clearly leads. Freshdesk starts at $19/month and HubSpot Live Chat at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Freshdesk or HubSpot Live Chat?
HubSpot Live Chat has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $19/month for Freshdesk and Free for HubSpot Live Chat.
Does Freshdesk or HubSpot Live Chat run on more platforms?
Freshdesk runs on Web. HubSpot Live Chat runs on Web, Mobile app, IOS, Android.
Can I use HubSpot Live Chat for free?
Yes. HubSpot Live Chat has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Freshdesk starts at $19/month.
What is Freshdesk best used for?
Freshdesk is most often used for help desk and ticketing system, customer support portal and knowledge base, multi-channel support coordination, ai-assisted support agent interaction. Of those, help desk and ticketing system and customer support portal and knowledge base are not what HubSpot Live Chat is typically brought in for.
What can Freshdesk do that HubSpot Live Chat cannot?
Freshdesk covers Ticketing, Automation, Self-service, Team collaboration. HubSpot Live Chat covers Live chat messaging, CRM integration, Visitor identification, Chatbot builder. Both handle Slack, Salesforce.

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