Freshdesk vs HubSpot Service Hub
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Freshdesk | HubSpot Service Hub |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $79/seat/mo | From $90/seat/mo |
| Best For | Mid-sized businesses needing traditional helpdesk with automation | Mid to large enterprises already using HubSpot's ecosystem who need comprehensive customer service management with deep CRM integration |
| Standout Feature | Freddy AI for automated ticket classification and responses | Deep integration with HubSpot's full marketing, sales, and service ecosystem provides unmatched customer lifecycle visibility |
| Free Plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| G2 Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.4/5 |
Freshdesk and HubSpot Service Hub are both highly-rated customer support platforms (both 4.4/5 on G2), but they serve different market segments. Freshdesk is a traditional helpdesk solution, while HubSpot Service Hub integrates deeply with the broader HubSpot ecosystem.
This comparison examines their pricing, features, and ideal use cases to help you choose the right platform for your team.
Feature Comparison
Freshdesk excels at core ticketing functionality with a generous free tier, making it accessible for small teams. However, its interface feels dated compared to modern alternatives.
HubSpot Service Hub shines with its deep CRM integration and powerful automation capabilities, but this comes with significant complexity that can overwhelm smaller teams.
Both platforms offer multi-channel support, but HubSpot's unified customer view across sales, marketing, and service gives it an edge for businesses already in the HubSpot ecosystem.
Pricing Comparison
Freshdesk ranges from $0-$79 per agent per month, with a robust free tier that includes basic ticketing for up to 10 agents. This makes it highly cost-effective for smaller teams.
HubSpot Service Hub costs $0-$130 per agent per month, with the free tier being more limited. The per-agent pricing can become expensive quickly as teams grow, especially when combined with other HubSpot products.
For larger teams, the per-agent model of both platforms can result in significant monthly costs that scale linearly with team size.
Freshdesk
Pros
- ✓ Mature platform with proven reliability
- ✓ Strong automation and workflow capabilities
- ✓ Good integration ecosystem
Cons
- ✗ Messaging channels require add-ons
- ✗ Interface can feel dated
- ✗ Complex setup for multi-channel
HubSpot Service Hub
Pros
- ✓ Seamless integration with HubSpot CRM and marketing tools
- ✓ Comprehensive automation and workflow capabilities
- ✓ Robust reporting and analytics features
Cons
- ✗ Expensive per-agent pricing model can become costly
- ✗ Complex setup and learning curve for new users
- ✗ Many advanced features locked behind higher-tier plans
Verdict
Choose Freshdesk if you need a straightforward helpdesk with a free tier and don't mind a dated UI. Choose HubSpot Service Hub if you want advanced CRM integration and automation, and can handle the complexity and cost.
Choose Freshdesk if: You need a simple, cost-effective helpdesk solution with strong ticketing capabilities and can work with a traditional interface.
Choose HubSpot Service Hub if: You're already using HubSpot's CRM or marketing tools and need deep integration, or require advanced automation features.
Consider Converge as an alternative: At $49/month flat rate with up to 15 agents, it eliminates per-agent pricing concerns while providing modern customer communication tools.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Freshdesk comparisons and all HubSpot Service Hub comparisons.