This page provides details about Help Scout (organization,product) which was ranked #4 out of 175 in the list of brands (28 mentions (8.6% 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.
[...] e 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-software-solutions-for-2025) | Not specified |
| **Help Scout** | Team collaboration | Email integration[The best customer service software and support tools in 2025 - Zapier](https://zapier.com/blog/best-customer-support-apps/) | Not specified |
| **Zoho Desk** | AI features (Zia AI) | Answer Bot, reply assistant, content generator[The best customer service [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] -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://zapier.com/blog/best-customer-support-apps/).
### Top Companies [...]
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.
[...] intercom.com)
- Conversational support platform with messaging and chatbots
5. **HubSpot Service Hub** - [https://www.hubspot.com/products/service](https://www.hubspot.com/products/service)
- Customer service software with ticketing and customer feedback tools
### Mid-Market Solutions
6. **Help Scout** - [https://www.helpscout.com](https://www.helpscout.com)
- Email-based customer support platform focused on simplicity
7. **Zoho Desk** - [https://www.zoho.com/desk/](https://www.zoho.com/desk/)
- Context-aware help desk software with AI assistance
8. **Kayako** - [https://www.kayako.com] [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] Online Publications
57. **Zendesk Blog** - [https://www.zendesk.com/blog/](https://www.zendesk.com/blog/)
- Customer service insights and best practices
58. **Intercom Blog** - [https://www.intercom.com/blog](https://www.intercom.com/blog)
- Customer engagement and support content
59. **Help Scout Blog** - [https://www.helpscout.com/blog/](https://www.helpscout.com/blog/)
- Customer service and experience articles
60. **Customer Think** - [https://customerthink.com](https://customerthink.com)
- Independent community for customer-focused professionals
61. **MyCustomer** - [https://w [...]
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.
[...] .com/)** - Conversational relationship platform combining chat, bots, and support
- **[HubSpot Service Hub](https://www.hubspot.com/products/service)** - Customer service software with ticketing and feedback tools
- **[Zoho Desk](https://www.zoho.com/desk/)** - Context-aware help desk software
- **[Help Scout](https://www.helpscout.com/)** - Email-based customer support platform beloved by small-to-medium businesses
### Live Chat & Messaging Platforms
- **[LiveChat](https://www.livechat.com/)** - Real-time chat support software
- **[Drift](https://www.drift.com/)** - Conversational marketing and sales [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] ipeline](https://www.contactcenterpipeline.com/)** - Contact center industry magazine
### Blogs & Online Resources
- **[The Zendesk Blog](https://www.zendesk.com/blog/)** - Customer service trends and tips
- **[Intercom Blog](https://www.intercom.com/blog/)** - Customer communication insights
- **[Help Scout Blog](https://www.helpscout.com/blog/)** - Customer service content
- **[HubSpot Service Blog](https://blog.hubspot.com/service)** - Customer success and support articles
- **[Forrester CX Blog](https://www.forrester.com/blogs/category/customer-experience/)** - Research-backed insights
### Podcast [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] stomer support jobs
- **[Remote.co](https://remote.co/)** - Remote customer service positions
- **[Customer Success Jobs](https://www.customersuccessjobs.com/)** - CS-specific job listings
### Career Development
- **[The Support Career Path](https://www.helpscout.com/blog/support-career-path/)** - Help Scout guide
- **[Customer Support Career Guide](https://www.zendesk.com/blog/customer-support-career-path/)** - Zendesk resource
## 📱 Social Media & Newsletters
### Twitter Accounts to Follow
- **[@Zendesk](https://twitter.com/Zendesk)** - Customer service insights
- **[@HelpScout](https://twitter.com [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] com/CXAccelerator)** - Customer experience content
### Newsletters
- **[Support Driven Weekly](https://supportdriven.com/)** - Community newsletter
- **[CX Weekly](https://customerthink.com/newsletter/)** - By CustomerThink
- **[The Support Newsletter](https://www.helpscout.com/newsletter/)** - By Help Scout
- **[Intercom on Customer Support](https://www.intercom.com/blog/subscribe/)** - Product and support insights
## 🎓 Books to Read
### Must-Read Books
- **["The Effortless Experience" by Matthew Dixon](https://www.effortlessexperience.com/)** - Reducing customer effort
- **["Hug Your Haters" by Ja [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] 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.
[...] AI for support teams
### **Help Desk & Ticketing**
- **Front** - [https://front.com](https://front.com) - Collaborative inbox, raised $200M+ in funding
- **Kustomer** - [https://www.kustomer.com](https://www.kustomer.com) - CRM-focused support platform (acquired by Meta, then sold to Emplifi)
- **Help Scout** - [https://www.helpscout.com](https://www.helpscout.com) - Simple, customer-focused help desk
### **Live Chat & Messaging**
- **Drift** - [https://www.drift.com](https://www.drift.com) - Conversational marketing and sales
- **LiveChat** - [https://www.livechat.com](https://www.livechat.com) - De [...]
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.
[...] g if you already use HubSpot’s suite
- [Zoho Desk](https://www.zoho.com/desk/) – cost-effective suite with broad Zoho integrations
- [Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Service](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics-365/products/customer-service) – Microsoft-centric enterprise environments
- [Help Scout](https://www.helpscout.com) – email-first support + KB, popular with SMBs and SaaS
- [Front](https://front.com) – shared inbox + workflows for support/success teams
- [Kustomer](https://www.kustomer.com) – CRM-style customer timeline oriented support
- [Gladly](https://www.gladly.com) – conve [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] - [CustomerThink](https://customerthink.com)
- [CX Network](https://www.cxnetwork.com)
- Research + practitioner content from vendors (useful but biased; 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 [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] og](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)
- **Ecommerce with heavy order inquiries:** [Gorgias](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.
[...] //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/products/service)
- [Zoho Desk](https://www.zoho.com/desk/)
- [Front](ht [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] .io/)
- [RingCentral](https://www.ringcentral.com/)
- [Dialpad](https://www.dialpad.com/)
### Knowledge base / help center (deflection + self-serve)
- [Zendesk Help Center](https://www.zendesk.com/service/help-center/)
- [Intercom Help Center](https://www.intercom.com/help-center)
- [Help Scout Docs](https://www.helpscout.com/knowledge-base/)
- Standalone options:
- [Document360](https://document360.com/)
- [Atlassian Confluence](https://www.atlassian.com/software/confluence)
- [Notion](https://www.notion.so/)
### Customer messaging, status, and incident comms
- Customer me [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] ty; useful as you move into CX/VoC leadership)
- [HDI](https://www.thinkhdi.com/) (support/service management community)
- Hands-on playbooks & blogs (tactical and widely referenced):
- [Zendesk Blog](https://www.zendesk.com/blog/)
- [Intercom Blog](https://www.intercom.com/blog)
- [Help Scout Blog](https://www.helpscout.com/blog/)
- [Freshworks Blog](https://www.freshworks.com/blog/)
- [Atlassian – Jira Service Management resources](https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/service-management/resources)
## 7) Important events & conferences (networking + trends)
- [Customer Cont [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] elevant for service leadership):
- [Harvard Business Review](https://hbr.org/)
---
## 10) A simple “what to learn first” path (if you’re entering the field)
1) Learn ticketing fundamentals + writing skills using one mainstream platform’s free materials: [Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com/) or [Help Scout](https://www.helpscout.com/).
2) Get comfortable with core KPIs (CSAT/NPS/CES) and SLAs using the primers above: [Zendesk CSAT](https://www.zendesk.com/blog/customer-satisfaction-score-csat/), [Bain NPS](https://www.bain.com/consulting-services/customer-strategy-marketing/net-promoter-system/), [ [...]
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.
[...] ducts/service) (part of [HubSpot](https://www.hubspot.com/))
- [Atlassian Jira Service Management](https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/service-management) (part of [Atlassian](https://www.atlassian.com/))
- [Zoho Desk](https://www.zoho.com/desk/) (part of [Zoho](https://www.zoho.com/))
- [Help Scout](https://www.helpscout.com/)
- [Front](https://front.com/)
- [Gladly](https://www.gladly.com/)
- [Kustomer](https://www.kustomer.com/) (part of [Meta](https://about.meta.com/))
- [Gorgias](https://www.gorgias.com/) (especially ecommerce)
### 2) Contact Center platforms (CCaaS: voice + digi [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] )
---
## “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 + CRM + field/service processes:** [Salesforce Service 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.
[...] [Intercom](https://www.intercom.com):** Leading the shift toward "AI-first" support with integrated chatbots and messenger-based service.
* **[HubSpot Service Hub](https://www.hubspot.com/products/service):** Popular for businesses wanting to align support closely with sales and marketing.
* **[Help Scout](https://www.helpscout.com):** A minimalist tool focused on making support feel like a personal email.
### 2. Top Service Providers (BPO & Outsourcing)
Many companies hire third-party Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firms to manage their support operations.
* **[Teleperformance](https://www. [...]
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.
[...] com](https://hyken.com)
* **Jeanne Bliss:** Pioneer of the "Chief Customer Officer" role. [Customer Bliss](https://www.customerbliss.com)
* **Jay Baer:** Expert on customer experience and word-of-mouth marketing. [JayBaer.com](https://www.jaybaer.com)
* **Mathew Patterson:** Knowledge lead at Help Scout and prolific CX writer. [Mathew Patterson on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathewpatterson/)
### 5. Major Conferences and Events
* **Customer Contact Week (CCW):** The world’s largest customer contact event series. [CCW Digital](https://www.customercontactweek.com)
* **Zendesk Relate:* [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] lications and Media
* **CX Network:** A leading source for reports and webinars on the state of the industry. [CX Network](https://www.cxnetwork.com)
* **Customer Contact Strategies:** In-depth analysis of contact center technology. [ContactCenterWorld](https://www.contactcenterworld.com)
* **Help Scout Blog:** Widely regarded as the best educational resource for support writing and empathy. [Help Scout Blog](https://www.helpscout.com/blog/)
* **Customer Think:** A global online community for business leaders. [CustomerThink](https://customerthink.com)
* **G2 Rankings:** The primary source for [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] industry. [CX Network](https://www.cxnetwork.com)
* **Customer Contact Strategies:** In-depth analysis of contact center technology. [ContactCenterWorld](https://www.contactcenterworld.com)
* **Help Scout Blog:** Widely regarded as the best educational resource for support writing and empathy. [Help Scout Blog](https://www.helpscout.com/blog/)
* **Customer Think:** A global online community for business leaders. [CustomerThink](https://customerthink.com)
* **G2 Rankings:** The primary source for peer reviews and comparisons of support software. [G2 Help Desk Category](https://www.g2.com/categori [...]
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.
[...] rvice).
- **[Salesforce Service Cloud](https://www.salesforce.com/products/service-cloud/overview/)**: Enterprise-grade with Einstein AI; Gartner leader.
- **[HubSpot Service Hub](https://www.hubspot.com/products/service)**: Free tier available, integrates with CRM; strong for inbound support.
- **[Help Scout](https://www.helpscout.com/)**: Email-first shared inbox with Beacon live chat; praised for simplicity.
- **[LiveAgent](https://www.liveagent.com/)**: All-in-one with call center features; high G2 ratings.
- **[Gorgias](https://www.gorgias.com/)**: Ecommerce-focused with Shopify integration and aut [...]
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.
[...] : Enterprise-grade with CRM integration and AI (Einstein). [Salesforce Service Cloud](https://www.salesforce.com/products/service-cloud/overview/)
- **HubSpot Service Hub**: Free tier available, integrates with marketing/sales CRM. [HubSpot Service Hub](https://www.hubspot.com/products/service)
- **Help Scout**: Email-first support with shared inbox and knowledge base tools. [Help Scout](https://www.helpscout.com/)
- **LiveChat**: Real-time chat software with analytics. [LiveChat](https://www.livechat.com/)
For comparisons: [G2 Customer Service Grid Report](https://www.g2.com/categories/customer-servic [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] Cloud](https://www.salesforce.com/products/service-cloud/overview/)
- **HubSpot Service Hub**: Free tier available, integrates with marketing/sales CRM. [HubSpot Service Hub](https://www.hubspot.com/products/service)
- **Help Scout**: Email-first support with shared inbox and knowledge base tools. [Help Scout](https://www.helpscout.com/)
- **LiveChat**: Real-time chat software with analytics. [LiveChat](https://www.livechat.com/)
For comparisons: [G2 Customer Service Grid Report](https://www.g2.com/categories/customer-service) and [Gartner Magic Quadrant for CRM Customer Engagement Center](https://www. [...]
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.
[...] ://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**:
- [G2 Best Customer Service Software 2024](https://www.g2.com/categories/custome [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] e.com/).
- **CustomerThink**: Blogs/articles from leaders. [CustomerThink](https://customerthink.com/).
- **The CX Lead**: Podcasts and trends. [The CX Lead](https://thecxlead.com/).
- **Vendor Blogs**: [Zendesk Blog](https://www.zendesk.com/blog/), [Intercom Blog](https://www.intercom.com/blog/), [Help Scout Blog](https://www.helpscout.com/blog/).
- **Analyst Sites**: [Gartner Customer Service](https://www.gartner.com/en/customer-service-support), [Forrester CX](https://www.forrester.com/customer-experience/).
This snapshot is based on 2024 data from the linked sources; the industry evolves rapidly wi [...]