Freshchat vs Groove HQ
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Freshchat | Groove HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $49/seat/mo | From $20/seat/mo |
| Best For | Large enterprises already using Freshworks products | Small businesses needing simple email-based customer support |
| Standout Feature | Deep integration with Freshworks CRM and helpdesk | Collision detection to prevent duplicate responses |
| Free Plan | ✓ | ✗ |
| G2 Rating | 4.2 | 4.5 |
Freshchat and Groove HQ represent different generations of customer support tools. Freshchat emphasizes modern messaging and chat-first experiences, while Groove HQ provides traditional helpdesk functionality with email ticketing at its core.
With Freshchat scoring 4.2 and Groove HQ earning 4.5 on G2, both platforms have their advocates, but they excel in different areas of customer communication.
Feature Comparison
Freshchat excels in live chat with proactive messaging, chatbots, and mobile SDK integration. Its modern interface supports rich media, quick replies, and seamless handoffs between bots and human agents.
Groove HQ focuses on email ticketing with advanced automation rules, collision detection, and comprehensive reporting. Its knowledge base integration and SLA management cater to traditional support workflows.
While Freshchat offers basic ticketing, its strength lies in real-time messaging across web, mobile, and social channels. Groove HQ provides superior email management but limited chat capabilities.
Pricing Comparison
Freshchat pricing spans $15-$69/agent/month, with chat-focused features in lower tiers and advanced automation in higher plans. The wide pricing range reflects feature complexity.
Groove HQ costs $16-$56/agent/month, with more predictable feature distribution across tiers. Their pricing focuses on email support capabilities rather than chat functionality.
For chat-heavy workflows, Freshchat's mid-tier at $39/agent offers better value. For email-centric support, Groove HQ's $36/agent tier provides superior automation and reporting.
Freshchat
Pros
- ✓ Part of Freshworks ecosystem
- ✓ Strong mobile app
- ✓ Good WhatsApp integration
Cons
- ✗ Per-agent pricing gets expensive
- ✗ Limited customization options
- ✗ Steep learning curve
Groove HQ
Pros
- ✓ Simple, clean interface
- ✓ Good for small teams
- ✓ Affordable entry-level pricing
Cons
- ✗ Limited advanced features
- ✗ No modern messaging integrations
- ✗ Basic automation capabilities
Verdict
Choose Freshchat if you prioritize modern messaging experiences and omnichannel chat capabilities. Choose Groove HQ if you need robust email-based ticketing with comprehensive automation.
Choose Freshchat if: Your customers prefer chat interactions and you need modern messaging capabilities with bot integration and mobile support.
Choose Groove HQ if: Email remains your primary support channel and you need sophisticated ticketing with automation and knowledge base integration.
For teams seeking balanced communication tools without complex pricing tiers, Converge provides essential customer support features at a flat $49/month rate.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Freshchat comparisons and all Groove HQ comparisons.