Creating a startup can be a fun and challenging endeavor. Much effort and thought goes into the creativity behind the product or service you are offering. You may find that you need some assistance on the customer servicer end of things. Maintaining relationships with customers is impossible today without a proper online platform to help facilitate such relationships in an organized manner. With so many different help desk software available on the market, it can be tough to know which one will best fit your business. To make your decision as easy as possible, we have compiled a short list of the best help desk software available today.

8 Best Help Desk Software for Startups

  1. Salesforce – Best Startup Help Desk Software for Full-Service-Application
  2. Zoho Desk – Best Startup Help Desk Software for Customization
  3. SysAid – Best Startup Help Desk Software for Automation
  4. Atera – Best Startup Help Desk Software for Tech Companies
  5. SummitAI – Best Startup Help Desk Software for Artificial Intelligence
  6. Front – Best Startup Help Desk Software for Team Collaboration
  7. Kustomer – Best Startup Help Desk Software for Real-Time Communication
  8. Vivantio – Best Startup Help Desk Software for Scalability

1. Salesforce – Best Startup Help Desk Software for Full-Service-Application

PRICING: Essential Plan – $25/user/month, Pro Plan – $75/user/month

Salesforce is one of the most captivating software companies for a reason. They are multifaceted, offering far more than just a single software service. Utilizing Salesforce will allow you to manage the customer service end of your business in one unified experience. Salesforce’s Help Desk capabilities include integrated online communities, multi-channel applications, social services, and agent collaboration through their own communication channels.

KEY FEATURURES:

  • Chatter (agent communication)
  • Salesforce 1 Platform (mobile)
  • Knowledgeable Database Capabilities

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Increased Customer Satisfaction
  • Reputability and Comfort with trusted brand
  • Multi-channel Communication

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Can be difficult to setup for individuals without tech experience

2. Zoho Desk – Best Startup Help Desk Software for Customization

PRICING: Free Plan – Up to 3 users, Standard Plan – $14/user/month, Pro Plan – $23/user/month

Zoho is one of the most popular and comprehensive help desk software providers in the world. Along with their Help Desk service, they offer a number of other products under the Zoho Suite. If your startup already uses Zoho in one form or another, it would be advantages of you to add Zoho Desk to your plan, as the transfer of data becomes incredibly easy if you are already under the Zoho Cloud. They offer support through all forms of communication: help desk chat, text, phone, email, social media, and customer portal. Zoho’s unique attribute is the ability it gives its customers to change and modify tabs, templates, folders, notifications, and all other aspects of its software.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Customer Support Tickets
  • Customer Support Portal
  • Graphical Dashboard

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Full-scale Customer Service in one place
  • Personalize your service
  • Workflow Automation

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Lower pricing tiers have less customizable options

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3. SysAid – Best Startup Help Desk Software for Automation

PRICING: By quote only – Free Trial Available

If you don’t have time to hire an entire IT team and are looking for a program that will automate a large part of the help desk process, than SysAid is a fantastic option. SysAid’s software has the ability to cross-reference all income data and patch/relate them to help automate future customer relation issues. The interface on the customer side of things is simple and described as a ‘one-touch customer experience’.

KEY FEATURES:

  • 360-Degree Service
  • Codeless Configuration
  • BI Analytics
  • Hotkey Capabilities

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Less repetitive manual work
  • Omni-channel customer service
  • Professional Support

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Setting up automation aspects of software can be challenging and time consuming

4. Atera – Best Startup Help Desk Software for Tech Companies

PRICING: Pay Per Technician Plan, Pro Plan – $79/user/month, Growth – $119/user/month

For the tech lovers, programmers, and coders, Atera provides a platform made for intuitive designer experience and rapid onboarding. They have a unique pricing model catered for the advancement of each specific business or user. Atera is one of the only software companies that combines Remote Monitoring and Management with Professional Services Automation in a cloud-based platforms.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Cloud Integration Services
  • PSA (Professions Services Automation)
  • RMM (Remote Monitoring and Management)

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Technician Based Pricing
  • No limit on Servers
  • IT management design

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Although time saving for IT specialists, setup can be difficult for the average person

5. SummitAI – Best Startup Help Desk Software for Artificial Intelligence

PRICING: By quote only – pricing based on number of analysts/users

Those startups looking to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence within their help desk software should look no further than SummitAI. This help desk software company prides themselves on being the future of IT management with AI. SummitAI’s service portal connects consumers and employees needs with data-driven and algorithmic answers. The company offers both a cloud-based and web-based program.

KEY FEATURES:

  • AI-Driven Digital Agent
  • ITSM (IT Service Management)
  • Service Automation

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Vendor is constantly updating program
  • Advanced AI to enhance business processing
  • Improved efficiency of service

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • No chat bots with service

6. Front – Best Startup Help Desk Software for Team Collaboration

PRICING: Starter Plan – $19/user/month, Prime Plan – $49/user/month
Front offers a help desk software that builds quick, accurate, and personalized responses to customers through team collaboration and an innovative communication hub. The software provides custom analytics that power contextual automation, helping to speed the response process. The help desk software is highly advanced in email communication, as their automation allows them to share emails without forwarding them.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Simple Interface
  • Communication Hub
  • Advanced Email Functions (Snooze and more)

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Fantastic application for email-based communication
  • Automation for external communication
  • Simultaneously interact with team and utilize support tools

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Missing some 3rd Party Integrations

7. Kustomer – Best Startup Help Desk Software for Real-Time Communication

PRICING: Enterprise Plan – $89/user/month, Ultimate Plan – $139/user/month
For the startups looking to communicate with their customers or clients in real time, Kustomer’s help desk software will provide all you need. Sometimes the service is better administered through real time and real person help, rather than AI or automation powered responses. Kustomer is built for conversations, providing help agents with all customer info on one screen. Their single timeline view will provide both parties with customer data, order history, and past conversations.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Unified Communication
  • Real Time Data
  • API & CRM

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Easily navigate between different communication channels
  • Outstanding customer support
  • See all customer touchpoints in single timeline

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Dated iOS software development kit

8. Vivantio – Best Startup Help Desk Software for Scalability

PRICING: Value Plan – $42/user/month, Vital Plan – $52/user/month, Free Quotes Available

Vivantio is a company who can provide help desk software for any sized enterprise. However, they pride themselves on the scalability of service within their software. Their unique model combines contemporary cloud-based solutions with the flexibility of enterprise-level software. Vivantio’s goal is to optimize the workflows of not only Help Desk Services, but also HR and IT Operations.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Flexible Licensing
  • CMDB
  • Widgets for functionality
  • ITIL based Service Desks

REASONS TO BUY:

  • B2B Focused Solutions
  • Growth-based pricing
  • Discounted Pricing for non-profit, charity, and education

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Sizing/Customization Issues with text and chat features

References and Links:

  • https://www.salesforce.com/
  • https://www.zoho.com/desk/
  • https://www.sysaid.com/
  • https://www.atera.com/
  • https://www.symphonysummit.com/
  • https://front.com/
  • https://www.kustomer.com/
  • https://www.vivantio.com/

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