This page provides details about Freshdesk (organization,product) which was ranked #7 out of 175 in the list of brands (20 mentions (8.2% share)) in answers from AI models (Perplexity Sonar (with search) (latest), Anthropic Claude Sonnet (latest), OpenAI ChatGPT Latest, Google Gemini Flash (latest), X.AI Grok (latest)) when they were asked the following 3 questions: "What are the best Customer Support options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.", "If I'm looking to get into Customer Support, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.", "What does the Customer Support industry look like right now? Identify the dominant market leaders and brands, best products and services, key companies and providers, influential figures and thought leaders, emerging startups and trends, major conferences and events, active professional communities, and the top publications and media that cover this industry." on Dec 30, 2025 by AI Chat Watch.
What are the best Customer Support options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.
[...] , 23% faster resolutions[What Are the Best Customer Support Tools for Businesses in 2025 ...](https://www.usepylon.com/blog/customer-service-software) | $59/seat/month[What Are the Best Customer Support Tools for Businesses in 2025 ...](https://www.usepylon.com/blog/customer-service-software) |
| **Freshdesk** | Ticket management | Omnichannel ticketing[The best customer service software and support tools in 2025 - Zapier](https://zapier.com/blog/best-customer-support-apps/)[Top 10 Customer Service Software Solutions for 2025 | ProValet](https://www.provalet.io/knowledge-base/top-10-customer-service-so [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] hatbots/).
Official sites: [Zendesk](https://zapier.com/blog/best-customer-support-apps/), [Intercom](https://zapier.com/blog/best-customer-support-apps/), [HubSpot Service Hub](https://zapier.com/blog/best-customer-support-apps/), [Pylon](https://www.usepylon.com/blog/customer-service-software), [Freshdesk](https://zapier.com/blog/best-customer-support-apps/), [Help Scout](https://zapier.com/blog/best-customer-support-apps/), [Zoho Desk](https://zapier.com/blog/best-customer-support-apps/), [ProProfs](https://www.proprofschat.com/blog/best-customer-service-chatbots/), [Salesforce Service Cloud](https [...]
December 30, 2025
What are the best Customer Support options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.
[...] desk.com)
- Industry-leading omnichannel support platform with ticketing, live chat, and knowledge base
2. **Salesforce Service Cloud** - [https://www.salesforce.com/service-cloud/](https://www.salesforce.com/service-cloud/)
- AI-powered customer service platform integrated with CRM
3. **Freshdesk (Freshworks)** - [https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/](https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/)
- Cloud-based helpdesk with automation and multi-channel support
4. **Intercom** - [https://www.intercom.com](https://www.intercom.com)
- Conversational support platform with messaging and chatbot [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] tform with ticketing, live chat, and knowledge base
2. **Salesforce Service Cloud** - [https://www.salesforce.com/service-cloud/](https://www.salesforce.com/service-cloud/)
- AI-powered customer service platform integrated with CRM
3. **Freshdesk (Freshworks)** - [https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/](https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/)
- Cloud-based helpdesk with automation and multi-channel support
4. **Intercom** - [https://www.intercom.com](https://www.intercom.com)
- Conversational support platform with messaging and chatbots
5. **HubSpot Service Hub** - [https://www.hubspot.co [...]
December 30, 2025
If I'm looking to get into Customer Support, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.
[...] rise Customer Support Platforms
- **[Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com/)** - Industry-leading customer service software and support ticketing system
- **[Salesforce Service Cloud](https://www.salesforce.com/products/service-cloud/overview/)** - Comprehensive CRM with robust support capabilities
- **[Freshdesk](https://www.freshdesk.com/)** (by Freshworks) - Popular cloud-based customer support software
- **[Intercom](https://www.intercom.com/)** - Conversational relationship platform combining chat, bots, and support
- **[HubSpot Service Hub](https://www.hubspot.com/products/service)** - Customer servic [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] 0 experts** on LinkedIn and Twitter
5. **Take a free certification course** (like Zendesk's free training)
6. **Read at least one book** from the recommended list
7. **Attend a virtual conference or webinar** to understand industry trends
8. **Experiment with free tiers** of platforms like Zendesk, Freshdesk, or Help Scout
This comprehensive guide should give you a solid foundation for entering the customer support field. The industry is evolving rapidly with AI and automation, so staying connected to these communities and resources will be crucial for your success! [...]
December 30, 2025
What does the Customer Support industry look like right now? Identify the dominant market leaders and brands, best products and services, key companies and providers, influential figures and thought leaders, emerging startups and trends, major conferences and events, active professional communities, and the top publications and media that cover this industry.
[...] ve ticketing systems.
### **Salesforce Service Cloud** - [https://www.salesforce.com/service-cloud/](https://www.salesforce.com/service-cloud/)
Part of Salesforce's ecosystem, dominant in enterprise customer service with deep CRM integration and AI capabilities through Einstein.
### **Freshworks (Freshdesk)** - [https://www.freshworks.com](https://www.freshworks.com)
A major player, publicly traded (NASDAQ: FRSH), known for user-friendly interface and competitive pricing. Serves 60,000+ customers.
### **Intercom** - [https://www.intercom.com](https://www.intercom.com)
Leader in conversational suppor [...]
December 30, 2025
What are the best Customer Support options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.
[...] oud](https://www.salesforce.com/products/service-cloud/overview/) – enterprise service platform tightly tied to Salesforce
- [ServiceNow Customer Service Management](https://www.servicenow.com/products/customer-service-management.html) – strong for enterprise workflows and service operations
- [Freshdesk (Freshworks)](https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/) – popular SMB/mid-market help desk suite
- [HubSpot Service Hub](https://www.hubspot.com/products/service) – strong if you already use HubSpot’s suite
- [Zoho Desk](https://www.zoho.com/desk/) – cost-effective suite with broad Zoho integratio [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] sed; still high-signal for tactics):
- [Zendesk Blog](https://www.zendesk.com/blog/)
- [Intercom Blog](https://www.intercom.com/blog)
- [Help Scout Blog](https://www.helpscout.com/blog/)
---
## Picking the “best” option for your situation (fast heuristic)
- **SMB wanting quick setup:** [Freshdesk](https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/), [Help Scout](https://www.helpscout.com), [Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com)
- **SaaS with strong in-app support needs:** [Intercom](https://www.intercom.com), plus a KB like [Document360](https://document360.com) or [Notion](https://www.notion.com)
- **E [...]
December 30, 2025
If I'm looking to get into Customer Support, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.
[...] tomer service platforms (ticketing + omnichannel)
- [Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com/)
- [Salesforce Service Cloud](https://www.salesforce.com/products/service-cloud/overview/)
- [ServiceNow Customer Service Management](https://www.servicenow.com/products/customer-service-management.html)
- [Freshdesk (Freshworks)](https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/)
- [Help Scout](https://www.helpscout.com/)
- [Intercom](https://www.intercom.com/)
- [Jira Service Management (Atlassian)](https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/service-management)
- [HubSpot Service Hub](https://www.hubspot.com/product [...]
December 30, 2025
What does the Customer Support industry look like right now? Identify the dominant market leaders and brands, best products and services, key companies and providers, influential figures and thought leaders, emerging startups and trends, major conferences and events, active professional communities, and the top publications and media that cover this industry.
[...] SM)](https://www.servicenow.com/products/customer-service-management.html) (part of [ServiceNow](https://www.servicenow.com/))
- [Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Service](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics-365/products/customer-service) (part of [Microsoft](https://www.microsoft.com/))
- [Freshdesk](https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/) (part of [Freshworks](https://www.freshworks.com/))
- [Intercom](https://www.intercom.com/)
- [HubSpot Service Hub](https://www.hubspot.com/products/service) (part of [HubSpot](https://www.hubspot.com/))
- [Atlassian Jira Service Management](https://www [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] s://www.genpact.com/)
- [WNS](https://www.wns.com/)
---
## “Best” products & services (what they’re best *for*)
Because “best” depends heavily on channel mix, scale, and systems, here’s how buyers commonly shortlist:
- **Mid‑market helpdesk + fast setup:** [Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com/), [Freshdesk](https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/), [Help Scout](https://www.helpscout.com/)
- **B2B SaaS messaging + automation workflows:** [Intercom](https://www.intercom.com/)
- **Ecommerce support tied to Shopify-type workflows:** [Gorgias](https://www.gorgias.com/)
- **Enterprise service suite + C [...]
December 30, 2025
What are the best Customer Support options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.
[...] wledge management.
* **[Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com):** The industry standard for enterprise-grade omnichannel support.
* **[Salesforce Service Cloud](https://www.salesforce.com/products/service-cloud/overview/):** A powerful CRM-integrated support platform for large organizations.
* **[Freshdesk](https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/):** An intuitive, feature-rich alternative known for ease of use and affordability.
* **[Intercom](https://www.intercom.com):** Leading the shift toward "AI-first" support with integrated chatbots and messenger-based service.
* **[HubSpot Service Hub](http [...]
December 30, 2025
If I'm looking to get into Customer Support, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.
[...] e specialized software to track conversations across email, chat, and phone.
* **[Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com/)**: The industry standard for enterprise-level ticketing systems.
* **[Intercom](https://www.intercom.com/)**: A leader in AI-driven chat and proactive customer engagement.
* **[Freshdesk](https://freshworks.com/freshdesk/)**: A popular, user-friendly alternative to Zendesk for small-to-medium businesses.
* **[Salesforce Service Cloud](https://www.salesforce.com/products/service/)**: The go-to for massive corporations requiring deep CRM integration.
* **[Gorgias](https://www.gor [...]
December 30, 2025
What does the Customer Support industry look like right now? Identify the dominant market leaders and brands, best products and services, key companies and providers, influential figures and thought leaders, emerging startups and trends, major conferences and events, active professional communities, and the top publications and media that cover this industry.
[...] et and enterprise helpdesk solutions. [Zendesk Official Site](https://www.zendesk.com)
* **Salesforce Service Cloud**: The dominant force for large enterprises requiring deep CRM integration. [Salesforce Service Cloud](https://www.salesforce.com/products/service-cloud/overview/)
* **Freshworks (Freshdesk)**: A primary competitor to Zendesk, known for ease of use. [Freshdesk](https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/)
* **Intercom**: Pioneered the use of messenger-based support and AI bots. [Intercom](https://www.intercom.com)
* **HubSpot Service Hub**: Best for companies already using HubSpot for m [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] ww.zendesk.com)
* **Salesforce Service Cloud**: The dominant force for large enterprises requiring deep CRM integration. [Salesforce Service Cloud](https://www.salesforce.com/products/service-cloud/overview/)
* **Freshworks (Freshdesk)**: A primary competitor to Zendesk, known for ease of use. [Freshdesk](https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/)
* **Intercom**: Pioneered the use of messenger-based support and AI bots. [Intercom](https://www.intercom.com)
* **HubSpot Service Hub**: Best for companies already using HubSpot for marketing and sales. [HubSpot Service Hub](https://www.hubspot.com/produ [...]
December 30, 2025
What are the best Customer Support options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.
[...] k](https://www.zendesk.com/)**: Comprehensive suite with AI-powered bots (Answer Bot), ticketing, and analytics; leader in G2 and Gartner.
- **[Intercom](https://www.intercom.com/)**: Focuses on conversational support, Fin AI agent, and product tours; excels in proactive engagement.
- **[Freshworks Freshdesk](https://www.freshworks.com/customer-service-software/)**: Affordable omnichannel ticketing with Freddy AI; top-rated for SMBs on [TrustRadius](https://www.trustradius.com/customer-service).
- **[Salesforce Service Cloud](https://www.salesforce.com/products/service-cloud/overview/)**: Enterprise-gr [...]
December 30, 2025
If I'm looking to get into Customer Support, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.
[...] ws on sites like G2 [G2 Crowd](https://www.g2.com/categories/customer-service) and Capterra [Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/customer-service-software/):
- **Zendesk**: A leader in omnichannel support with ticketing, AI bots, and self-service. [Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com/)
- **Freshworks (Freshdesk)**: Affordable, user-friendly ticketing and automation for SMBs. [Freshworks Customer Service](https://www.freshworks.com/customer-service-software/)
- **Intercom**: Focuses on conversational support with chatbots and targeted messaging. [Intercom](https://www.intercom.com/)
- **Salesforce Service [...]
December 30, 2025
What does the Customer Support industry look like right now? Identify the dominant market leaders and brands, best products and services, key companies and providers, influential figures and thought leaders, emerging startups and trends, major conferences and events, active professional communities, and the top publications and media that cover this industry.
[...] is led by established SaaS platforms offering ticketing, CRM integration, analytics, and AI features. Leaders dominate based on market share, user adoption, and analyst quadrants:
- **Zendesk**: Market leader in helpdesk and omnichannel support. [Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com/).
- **Freshworks (Freshdesk)**: Strong in SMBs with affordable ticketing and AI bots. [Freshworks Customer Service](https://www.freshworks.com/customer-service/).
- **Salesforce Service Cloud**: Enterprise-grade CRM with AI (Einstein) for case management. [Salesforce Service Cloud](https://www.salesforce.com/products/service- [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] s/customer-service-management#grid), [Capterra Customer Service Software](https://www.capterra.com/customer-service-software/).
### Best Products and Services
Top-rated based on user reviews (G2/Capterra 2024 scores >4.5/5):
- **Zendesk Suite**: Best overall (G2 Leader). Excels in scalability.
- **Freshdesk**: Best value for SMBs.
- **Intercom**: Best for messaging/chat.
- **Help Scout**: Best email-first support with shared inbox.
- **Gorgias**: Best for ecommerce (Shopify integration).
Self-service tools: **Stonly** for guides/knowledge bases [Stonly](https://stonly.com/).
**Comparisons/Reviews**: [...]