10 Best Simple Help Desk Software Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 24 tools reviewed.
Our one-on-one guidance will help you find the perfect fit.
With so many different help desk software available, finding the right one for you is tough — especially if you're looking for a simple help desk software. You know you want software to help you streamline your customer support and manage queries more efficiently, but you need to figure out which system is best. In this article, I'll help you make your choice easier by sharing my insights on the best simple help desk software to manage, track, and resolve customer queries quickly.
What is Simple Help Desk Software?
Simple help desk software is a hub for handling customer inquiries and providing support services for a company. They use ticket management tools to ensure customer interactions are neatly sorted, enabling service agents to address customer inquiries promptly using automated responses and other communication tools.
This type of software helps companies automate redundant tasks, improve teamwork, and increase customer satisfaction following positive service experiences. These cost-effective solutions also empower businesses to make decisions based on data analysis.
The 10 Best Simple Help Desk Software Systems Comparison Chart
This comparison chart summarizes basic details about my selections for the best simple help desk software. You can view pricing details and the availability of free trials or demos side-by-side to help you find the best software for your budget and business needs.
Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Best for simple, customizable support workflows | Free trial available | From $26/seat/month (3 seat minimum) | Website | |
2 | Best for omnichannel ticket submission | Free trial + free demo available | From $27/user/month | Website | |
3 | Best for providing remote access support | 15-day free trial available | From $12/month | Website | |
4 | Best AI-powered support chatbot | Free trial available | From $9/member/month | Website | |
5 | Best help desk software for businesses of all sizes | 15-day free trial | From $7/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
6 | Best customer support solution for diverse issues | 14-day free trial + free plan available | From $15/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
7 | Best for gamification features | 30-day free trial | From $15/agent/month (billed annually) | Website | |
8 | Best for AI-powered personalization | Free trial + free demo available | From $25/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
9 | Best Gmail-based help desk software | 7-day free trial | From $15/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
10 | Best help desk software for Parent-Child ticketing | 15-day free trial + free plan available | From $19.99/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
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CRM Creatio
This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.7 -
monday Service
This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6 -
Issuetrak
This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.1
Overviews of the 10 Best Simple Help Desk Software Systems
Here are the tools I’ve evaluated that best fulfill the simple help desk software criteria:
monday service offers ticket management, multi-channel support, and AI-powered automations for service teams. It enables teams to organize, track, and resolve customer requests through customizable, no-code workflows.
Why I picked monday service: The software lets you create custom support workflows without needing any coding knowledge. You can customize workflows to match your team’s processes, ensuring smoother operations. Meanwhile, automations help reduce repetitive tasks, so your team can respond faster to customer requests, and visual dashboards make it easy to track service performance and prioritize tickets.
monday service Standout Features and Integrations
Features include no-code customizable workflows, automations for repetitive tasks, visual dashboards to track performance, centralized customer request management, reporting tools for team insights, and task assignment and prioritization.
Integrations include Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, Dropbox, Jira, HubSpot, Salesforce, GitHub, and Gmail.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Scales well with growing teams
- Easy visual tracking of tasks
- Simple customizable workflows
Cons:
- Automations may require fine-tuning
- Setup can be time-consuming
Issuetrak is a ticketing software that provides a platform for help desks and service teams to manage and resolve issues. The software allows users to submit tickets through multiple channels, including email, web forms, or directly within the application.
Why I picked Issuetrak: Issuetrak's help desk software is designed to assist organizations in managing customer support and service requests efficiently. For example, the Issue Hub serves as a centralized location to view, manage, and update tickets with ease. Additionally, the tool's automated round robin issue assignments ensure that tickets are distributed evenly among team members, while task flows provide structured processes for issue resolution.
Issuetrak Standout Features and Integrations:
Standout features include issue tracking, which allows users to report, track, and manage issues from submission to resolution. Issuetrak also offers task management features, a searchable Knowledge Base, and user and organization management controls.
Integrations include Google Analytics, Gmail, Onelogin, Okta, Azure AD, Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and Power BI.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Provides at-a-glance dashboard metrics
- Easy-to-use system
- Excellent tech support
Cons:
- Feature sets can be overwhelming
- Some limitations on search functionality
Zoho Assist is a cloud-based remote support and remote access software. It helps you support customers from a distance through web-based, on-demand remote support sessions, and is compatible with the rest of the Zoho product suite.
Why I picked Zoho Assist: Whether or not you're using other Zoho products, this software works well as a help desk solution for providing remote access support. You can initiate live chats with customers or use voice or video chat. You can also transfer files to facilitate quicker resolutions, and schedule sessions as needed for providing customer support.
Zoho Assist Standout Features and Integrations:
Standout features include both on-demand and unattended remote support, which means you can help out your customers or team members whether they're at their computer or not. This feature helps you deploy remote updates in bulk and diagnose issues through remote access. You can also record remote sessions for record keeping, training, and auditing purposes.
Integrations include the Zoho product suite, Zendesk, ServiceNow, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Freshdesk, Spiceworks, and the Google Suite, among others.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Ability to deploy bulk updates
- High-level security (SSL, 256-bit AES encryption, 2FA)
- On-demand and unattended remote access
Cons:
- Might not be ideal for non-Zoho users
- Some features may require coding knowledge
SAAS First is an all-in-one help desk platform designed to enhance customer relations through AI-powered tools. It offers a suite of features aimed at improving communication and customer engagement across various support channels.
Why I picked SAAS First: I really like its omnichannel inbox, which consolidates communications from email, live chat, and social media into a single interface. This centralization ensures that your team can efficiently manage all customer inquiries without toggling between different platforms. Another notable feature is the AI-powered chatbot, Milly. Milly learns from your company's help center articles and website content to provide accurate, real-time responses to customer queries 24/7.
SAAS First Standout Features and Integrations:
Standout features include a knowledge base for self-service, campaign scheduling, email campaign management, automated responses, mobile optimization, engagement tracking, ticket management, live chat, and customer feedback collection.
Integrations include WhatsApp, Facebook, and SMS by Twilio.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Facilitates collaboration among team members
- Centralized customer interaction management
- AI-driven features, such as a chatbot
Cons:
- Limited integrations available
- Potential scalability issues
Zoho Desk is a comprehensive help desk solution designed for businesses looking to simplify customer service, improve agent productivity, and foster lasting customer relationships.
Why I picked Zoho Desk: I selected Zoho Desk because it offers a wide range of features that improve customer service operations and help agents work more efficiently. By combining multiple support channels with artificial intelligence tools, Zoho Desk allows for swift and customized responses.
Zoho Desk Standout Features and Integrations:
Standout features include sentiment analysis, which helps agents understand customers' sentiments and identify areas for improvement. Zoho Desk also offers service level agreements (SLAs) to ensure timely issue resolution and contextual support. An advanced response editor ensures consistent and professional communication, while built-in analytics help businesses gain insights and optimize customer service performance.
Zoho Desk integrates with 200+ apps, including Asana, Clearbit, HubSpot, Jira, Mailchimp, Microsoft Teams, Pipedrive, Salesforce, Trello, and 45 native apps like Zoho Analytics.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Mobile app
- Customizable workspace
- Data protection compliance
Cons:
- Limited live chat customizations
- No desktop app
Freshdesk is a powerful help desk that enables support teams to deliver effective and timely customer assistance through various channels. It allows businesses to handle various customer issues, from minor concerns to complex resolutions that require collaboration across multiple teams and timeframes.
Why I picked Freshdesk: I chose Freshdesk because of its exceptional ticket automation feature, which greatly improves response times and simplifies customer support procedures. By automating ticket management and routing, support teams can offer efficient and prompt assistance to customers through different channels.
Freshdesk Standout Features and Integrations:
Standout features include multichannel support where businesses can engage with customers across various channels. The software also provides a customer portal where customers can track their tickets and access helpful resources. Furthermore, Freshdesk can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each business, ensuring consistency and alignment with your brand identity.
Integrations include AI Smart Assist, Attachment Manager, Google Analytics, Mailchimp, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Shopify, Slack, TeamViewer, and WhatsApp. You can also integrate with 1,000+ apps on Freshdesk’s marketplace, spanning different categories like agent productivity, social media, reporting, and analytics.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Omnichannel support
- Comprehensive customization
- Can be scaled
Cons:
- No advanced reporting
- Slight learning curve
LiveAgent helps businesses manage customer service across multiple channels. It offers various communication options like live chat, email, calls, social media, and a knowledge base. It’s ideal for businesses of any size looking to enhance customer engagement and satisfaction.
Why I picked LiveAgent: I was impressed by LiveAgent's gamification feature, which is not commonly found in help desk software. This feature utilizes game principles to motivate and reward agents' performance. Agents can earn badges and levels by accomplishing certain tasks. The system recognizes and displays agents' contributions on leaderboards, enabling them to compare their performance with colleagues. This method promotes productivity and enhances performance by creating a sense of competition among agents.
LiveAgent Standout Features and Integrations:
Standout features for LiveAgent include its universal Inbox, which consolidates all customer communication into one organized space by employing sophisticated automation rules. Also noteworthy is their video call feature, which offers a personalized and interactive customer support experience. Another essential feature is LiveAgent's time-tracking tool, which enables businesses to monitor the time spent on customer queries.
LiveAgent integrates with over 200+ popular applications, including CRMs like Highrise and Pipedrive, ecommerce platforms like Bigcommerce and Shopify, email marketing platforms like ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp, and social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Fast live chat widget
- Built-in call center
- Extensive integrations
Cons:
- No built-in VoIP
- No Whatsapp integration
Salesforce Service Cloud is a helpdesk software designed to help businesses deliver superior customer service experiences leveraging AI. It allows companies to manage customer support across various channels efficiently, using automation and AI to streamline processes.
Why I picked Salesforce Service Cloud: This software stands out for its AI and automation capabilities, which support a more streamlined workflow and alleviate repetitive tasks for agents. Its AI chatbots and automatic triaging not only save time but also ensure that customer queries are directed to the most qualified agents, enhancing both efficiency and support quality. The drag-and-drop editor for creating a self-service center empowers customers to find solutions independently, further easing the workload on support teams.
Salesforce Service Cloud Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features include a unified service console, giving agents a 360-degree view of customer data and interactions. This holistic view enables more personalized and context-aware support. The platform also integrates seamlessly with other Salesforce products, creating a cohesive ecosystem that improves overall business operations. Its mobile app ensures that agents can provide support from anywhere, maintaining high service standards even on the go.
Integrations include Freshdesk, CloudTalk, Twilio, Brandwatch, Paligo, Mailchimp, HubSpot CRM, Trello, TeamViewer, Smartsheet, Klaviyo, Aircall, Gainsight, and Conversocial.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Multiple pricing tiers to support various stages of growth
- Customizable and adaptable to user needs
- Effectively simplifies support procedures
Cons:
- Some usability features are locked to higher-tier plans
- Implementation can be time-consuming
Hiver is a platform that integrates with Gmail and helps businesses manage their customer support and communication across various channels like email, live chat, and WhatsApp. With its easy-to-use interface, it provides real-time tracking and assigns dedicated owners to queries, making it an ideal choice for businesses of any size.
Why I picked Hiver: Hiver stands out for its remarkable capability to turn Gmail into an all-encompassing communication and teamwork tool. Its effortless Gmail integration and easy-to-use interface remove the need to use numerous applications, and create a centralized hub to manage different customer support elements.
Hiver Standout Features and Integrations:
Standout features include an email management system that assigns emails to team members and keeps track of their progress to ensure that customer inquiries have clear ownership. Hiver offers advanced automation features such as rule-based email routing and email templates to simplify processes. It also promotes accountability by assigning specific team members as query owners and allowing for real-time tracking of query status.
Integrations include Aircall, Asana, Jira, Okta, QuickBooks, Salesforce, Slack, and WhatsApp. You can also connect Hiver to a paid Zapier account to unlock additional integrations.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Includes reporting and analytics
- Comprehensive communications hub
Cons:
- Limited integrations
- Rules automation only available in higher-priced plans
Best help desk software for Parent-Child ticketing
ProProfs Help Desk Software is a comprehensive customer support solution that streamlines communication and ticket management. It is suitable for businesses of all sizes.
Why I picked ProProfs Help Desk: I included their software for its high level of customization. Users can include their company branding, such as logos, and create custom fields to improve help desk ticketing.
ProProfs Help Desk Standout Features and Integrations:
Standout features include a robust ticket management system designed to efficiently handle all support tickets by routing them to the appropriate agents and prioritizing them accordingly. Unique to this tool is the Parent-Child Ticketing feature, which simplifies complex issues into manageable tasks for different teams to address.
Integrations include Microsoft Dynamics CRM, ProProfs Chat, ProProfs Knowledge Base, and Salesforce.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Mobile app
- Customizable interface
- Includes reporting and analytics
Cons:
- No single user plan
- Limited integrations
Other Options
Here are some more simple help desk tools that didn’t make the top list, but are still worth checking out:
- Intercom
Multilingual help desk software
- Help Scout
For intuitive customer service management
- Zendesk
AI-powered help desk software
- SysAid
Help desk software for automated IT services
- LiveAgent
For gamification features
- Gorgias
Help desk software for ecommerce
- HappyFox Help Desk
For automated customer support
- Front
For personalized customer support
- HubSpot Service Hub
For deepening customer relationships
- Jira Service Management
For high-velocity service management
- SolarWinds Web Help Desk
Ticketing help desk software
- ManageEngine
For IT help desk management
- Spiceworks Cloud Help Desk
Free help desk solution
- Vivantio
Centralized help desk software
Selection Criteria for Simple Help Desk Software
Here’s a short summary of the main selection and evaluation criteria I used to develop my list of the best simple help desk software for this article:
Core Functionalities
To start my assessment of help desk software, I used recent market data to research various systems that can help teams handle customer inquiries and provide support services. To be considered for my review, the software needed to include the following capabilities:
- Features that make it simple for you to track, manage, and resolve any customer issues that may arise
- Capabilities to automate repetitive tasks
- A design that promotes collaboration among support staff
After making an initial list of potential candidates, I used the criteria below to narrow my choices. This helped me make accurate comparisons between each software system.
Key Features
In addition to the basic functionalities above, I also assessed the following key help desk features when selecting the best software for this list:
- Ticketing capabilities: The help desk ticketing system should enable users to create, assign, and track customer support tickets, ensuring that all customer inquiries are systematically organized and resolved promptly.
- Collaboration tools: This includes features like shared inboxes, internal notes, and simultaneous access to tickets, which can improve team coordination and speed up problem-solving.
- Knowledge management: Having a comprehensive knowledge base is crucial for your team to have easy access to information. It helps resolve issues quickly and encourages customers to use self-service options, which reduces the number of support tickets.
- Reports and analytics: The capability to examine data and produce reports is vital in making informed decisions. With this feature, businesses can keep tabs on team performance, gauge customer satisfaction, and pinpoint areas that require enhancement.
Usability
The software should be user-friendly and intuitive. It should require minimal training, offer easy navigation, answer FAQs, and provide a clean interface that enables agents to use it efficiently. The easier it is for your team to use the software, the quicker they can resolve customer inquiries.
Automation
Efficient support processes rely on automation. The software should be able to automate repetitive tasks like ticket categorization, assignment, and scheduling routine responses. This saves time and reduces human error, allowing support agents to handle more complex customer inquiries.
Customer Support
The help desk software provider should offer reliable customer support for all end-users. I looked for providers that offer 24/7 assistance, a thorough knowledge base, video tutorials, and live chat options.
Software Integrations
To ensure a smooth support process, it's important that the software can work well with other tools your company uses, like CRM systems, project management tools, email platforms, social media channels, and more. This is achieved through native integrations or strong API capabilities, which enable seamless integration and efficient sharing of data between platforms. By integrating these tools, you can simplify your support process, minimize manual work, and improve overall workflow efficiency.
Pricing
When selecting help desk software solutions, it's important to consider pricing that is competitive and can grow with your business. Some vendors even offer a free plan, which can be a great starting point, especially for smaller businesses or those on a tight budget. I tried to choose software with pricing models that are transparent and clearly outline what features are included at each level. It's important to strike a good balance between cost and functionality.
People Also Ask
Here are some answers to common questions you may have about help desk software:
How can help desk software help my business?
Using help desk software can improve customer service and communication. It centralizes inquiries and support tickets, streamlines communication channels, and offers team coordination and reporting capabilities. Ultimately, it leads to higher customer satisfaction, better team collaboration, and loyalty.
What are the main benefits of using help desk software?
The main benefits of using help desk software are:
- Workflow automation: Help desk software streamlines call routing and resolution for improved efficiency.
- An all-in-one view: You can access a single dashboard that displays all customer communications from different channels, service level agreements, customer history, and satisfaction data.
- Know your history: Help desk software keeps records of customer queries, facilitating smoother transfers and improving resolution times by storing relevant information in a central location.
- Delegation and prioritization: Help desk software automates repetitive requests.
How can I choose the right help desk software for my organization?
When choosing help desk software, consider your organization’s size, support volume, budget, and integration needs. Look for essential and advanced features like ticketing, a knowledge base, automation, chatbots, and reporting tools. Ensure the software is scalable, user-friendly, and integrates with your existing tools. Check for robust customer support and data privacy measures. Read reviews and try free trials to find the best fit for your needs.
If you’re ready to jump start your selection process, I recommend reviewing these tips to help you choose help desk software next.
What are the most important elements of a help ticketing system and why?
A helpful ticketing system should have several key features, including various ticket categories, support across multiple channels, support for multiple languages, effective management of the knowledge base, and informative data reporting dashboards.
Other Help Desk Software Reviews
Need help choosing a help desk solution for your business? Take a look at our related articles below to find the perfect fit for your business needs:
- 25 Best Help Desk Software
- 20 Best Online Help Desk Software
- 20 Best Help Desk Software for Small Business
- 10 Best Free Help Desk Software for CX Teams
- 10 Best Email Help Desk Software
- 19 Best AI Help Desk Software
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right help desk software is crucial for optimizing support processes and empowering your team to provide exceptional customer service. It's a strategic asset that can set your organization apart from the competition.
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