Softwr

Software · head to head

Freshdesk vs LiveAgent

Freshdesk logo

Freshdesk

Software

Delight your customers, effortlessly

From
$19/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LiveAgent logo

LiveAgent

Software

All-in-one help desk software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only LiveAgent 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; LiveAgent social and messaging channels are separately priced add ons rather than plan features, at $19 to $39 a month each on top of the seat price
  • They diverge on capability: Freshdesk covers Ticketing, LiveAgent covers Ticketing system.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Freshdesk and LiveAgent actually diverge.

Attributes where Freshdesk and LiveAgent differ
AttributeFreshdeskLiveAgent
Starting price$19/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20102004

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 LiveAgent

  • Ticketing system
  • Live chat
  • Call center
  • Social media
  • Knowledge base
  • Customer portal
  • Magento
  • Zapier

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Shopify
  • WordPress
  • GDPR

What people use each for

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

Freshdesk

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

LiveAgent

  • Multichannel help desk covering email, chat, calls and social messagesnot Freshdesk
  • Ticketing and shared inbox for customer support teamsnot 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)

LiveAgent

  • Social and messaging channels are separately priced add ons rather than plan features, at $19 to $39 a month each on top of the seat price
  • The entry plan is limited to 3 email accounts, 2 live chat buttons and 3 contact forms
  • WhatsApp numbers are rationed by plan, at 5 on Large Business and 20 on Enterprise
  • The advertised prices require annual billing, and monthly billing raises the entry plan from $10 to $13 per agent
  • Every published price is a discounted rate against a higher regular price

Pricing, plan by plan

Freshdesk

$19/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Freshdesk review.

LiveAgent

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 7-day ticket history
    • 1 chat button
    • 1 email account
  • Small$9/month
    • Unlimited ticket history
    • 3 email accounts
    • Customer portal
  • Medium$29/month
    • Call center
    • 10 email accounts
    • Advanced reporting
  • Large$49/month
    • Everything unlimited
    • Senior account manager
    • White glove setup

Which should you pick?

Choose Freshdesk if

  • You need ticketing.
  • You also want automation.
Freshdesk review

Choose LiveAgent if

  • You need ticketing system.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want live chat.
LiveAgent review

Questions people ask

Is Freshdesk or LiveAgent better?
Neither clearly leads. Freshdesk starts at $19/month and LiveAgent at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Freshdesk or LiveAgent?
LiveAgent has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $19/month for Freshdesk and Free for LiveAgent.
Does Freshdesk or LiveAgent run on more platforms?
Freshdesk runs on Web. LiveAgent runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use LiveAgent for free?
Yes. LiveAgent 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 LiveAgent is typically brought in for.
What can Freshdesk do that LiveAgent cannot?
Freshdesk covers Ticketing, Automation, Self-service, Team collaboration. LiveAgent covers Ticketing system, Live chat, Call center, Social media. Both handle Slack, Shopify, WordPress, GDPR.
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