Delivering quality customer support isn’t just a priority — it’s a necessity. A 2021 study revealed that 59% of customers have switched brands after a single poor support experience. With so much at stake, it’s critical for businesses to choose the right help desk software that can grow with their team and meet evolving customer expectations.
If you’re here, chances are you’re either using Kustomer and wondering if there’s something better out there—or you’re exploring your options before committing to a customer engagement platform.
You’re not alone.
While Kustomer offers a decent suite of tools for customer support—multichannel messaging, automation, knowledge base, and chatbot support—it’s not without its flaws. Think pricey plans, an outdated UI, and no mobile app. For modern teams, those are serious deal-breakers.
So, what do you do?
You explore the best Kustomer alternatives available in 2025—and we’ve done all the heavy lifting for you. This blog walks you through 11 top tools that current and potential Kustomer users frequently compare, based on real reviews, capabilities, pricing, and product experiences.
Let’s dive right in.
Common reasons users explore Kustomer alternatives
While Kustomer offers an innovative “customer timeline” approach to support, many businesses find themselves looking for alternatives due to a few persistent concerns. Based on user feedback from platforms like G2, Capterra, and Reddit, several issues come up repeatedly — from rising costs to reliability hiccups.
- Frequent platform outages and stability issues that disrupt agent productivity
- “Costly”: users often mention Kustomer’s higher price compared to other help desks
- Kustomer’s interface can be confusing and difficult to navigate
- Limited customization options and a steeper learning curve
- The tool is not cost effective compared to alternatives.
10 best Kustomer alternatives for smarter customer support
Whether you’re looking for better support, simpler workflows, deeper integrations, or just more value for your money, there are excellent alternatives available. We’ve rounded up 10 of the best Kustomer alternatives — each with its own strengths — to help you find a solution that matches your support needs, team size, and budget. Let’s dive in.
- Desk365
- DelightChat
- Front
- Gorgias
- Zendesk
- Freshdesk
- Zoho Desk
- HappyFox
- Kayako
- Intercom
1. Desk365
Desk365 is a powerful cloud-based help desk software designed to streamline ticketing and automate customer support workflows. What sets it apart is its native Microsoft Teams integration and AI-powered features that help teams move faster and deliver better service.
Best for: Fast-growing teams who want a modern helpdesk with deep Microsoft 365 integration, help desk functionality, workflow automations, and custom branding.
Price: Starts at $12/agent/month
Free trial: Yes, 21 days
If you’re looking for a clean, intuitive, and budget-friendly Kustomer alternative, Desk365 deserves a spot at the very top of your list.
Unlike Kustomer’s clunky UI and complex workflows, Desk365 is all about simplicity and speed. Whether you’re supporting customers via email, web forms, or Microsoft Teams, Desk365 brings every ticket into one unified, easy-to-navigate dashboard.
Feature set:
- Omnichannel support
- Workflow Automation
- SLA Reminders & Escalations
- Canned Responses
- Knowledge Base
- Custom Ticket Fields, Forms, and Statuses
- Custom Domain, Reports, Email Templates
- Role-Based Access Control
- AI-powered reply drafting, AI Ticket Summarization, AI Knowledge Base Article Generation
- Change/Approval Management
- Round Robin and Load-Based Ticket Assignment
- Ticket Watchers
- ‘Share To’ Tickets
- Time Tracking and Task Management
- Advanced Ticket Fields
- Scheduled Exports
- Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) Sync
- Time-Based Automations
- Multiple Business Hours
- Ticket Closure Rules
- AI Agent Add-On (optional)
It strikes the right balance of flexibility, performance, and pricing. With Microsoft Teams integration, robust automations, and competitive AI features, Desk365 is a standout for growing customer support teams — without breaking the bank.
“For over a year, my team has been utilizing Desk365, which has proven to be a valuable asset for all users. The implementation process was swift and straightforward, allowing us to start using the application within days. As interest from other teams grew, we have now expanded our user base to 25 agents, a significant increase from the initial 4. This expansion has led to sourcing, finance, and vendor support teams adopting the tool to enhance and streamline their processes. Users appreciate the tool’s user-friendly interface, while from an agent’s standpoint, we have successfully leveraged the API and Automations to enhance and broaden our work capabilities in the field.”
Source: Real G2 user review
2. DelightChat
DelightChat is built for ecommerce support teams that rely on WhatsApp for customer interactions. It offers unified messaging across email, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, with marketing automation tools baked into the experience.
Best for: Ecommerce stores, especially Shopify users using WhatsApp as a primary support channel.
Price: Starts at $49/month + WhatsApp charges
Free trial: Yes
Feature set:
- WhatsApp Business API integration
- Shopify actions from within tickets
- Multichannel inbox (IG, FB, Email, Web Chat)
- Automation workflows and macros
Pros:
- Easy to use with deep Shopify integration
- Helps convert support into sales through WhatsApp marketing
- Clean, responsive UI
Cons:
- Limited reporting and analytics capabilities
- Not ideal for non-ecommerce companies
- Lacks native voice or SLA features
3. Front
Front is a collaborative inbox and help desk built around email. It merges personal and shared email, making it ideal for teams that manage high email volumes and want collaboration and visibility without traditional ticketing.
Best for: Teams that want an email-first support experience with a human touch.
Price: Starts at $19/user/month
Free trial: Yes
Feature set:
- Shared inbox with collaborative drafting
- Calendar and meeting booking integration
- Internal notes, assignments, and SLAs
- Rule-based automations and workflows
Pros:
- Feels like a traditional email inbox
- Strong collaboration tools
- Great for team transparency
Cons:
- Starter plan lacks essential features like reporting and CSAT
- Expensive as you scale features
- AI tools only available on higher plans
4. Gorgias
Gorgias is an ecommerce-focused help desk platform known for its deep Shopify integration and sales-oriented support tools. It helps agents view, manage, and edit orders directly from the support panel.
Best for: Shopify or ecommerce stores looking to turn support into revenue.
Price: Starts at $10/month (limited tickets)
Free trial: Yes
Feature set:
- Multichannel support: Email, chat, SMS, social
- Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento integrations
- Macros, tagging, and order actions
- AI tools for sentiment detection and deflection
Pros:
- Seamless ecommerce platform integrations
- Enables agents to handle returns, edits, refunds in one place
- Designed to drive revenue through customer support
Cons:
- Ticket-based pricing can get expensive as volume grows
- Basic plan lacks permissions, AI, and reporting
- Limited for non-ecommerce companies
5. Zendesk
Zendesk is an enterprise-grade customer service platform that supports all channels and offers advanced AI, automation, and reporting. With broad industry use, it’s a top pick for large, distributed support teams.
Best for: Large enterprises looking for enterprise-grade AI and robust integrations.
Price: Starts at $19/agent/month (AI add-on is $50/agent)
Free trial: Yes
Feature set:
- AI-powered suggestions and virtual agents
- Sentiment and intent detection
- Custom workflows, SLA tracking
- Native voice, chat, email, social support
Pros:
- Highly scalable and secure
- Powerful automation and routing
- HIPAA available on higher plans
Cons:
- Steep learning curve
- AI features cost extra
- Can be overkill for smaller teams
Recommended reading: Zendesk Reviews 2025: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
6. Freshdesk
Freshdesk by Freshworks is a popular cloud-based support platform that offers a robust set of omnichannel features along with AI-powered tools. It’s one of the most budget-friendly Kustomer alternatives and is widely used by enterprises looking to cut costs without losing core capabilities.
Best for: Enterprise teams looking for a cost-effective, all-in-one support solution with AI tools.
Price: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $15/agent/month
Free trial: Yes
Feature set:
- Omnichannel ticketing (email, voice, chat, social)
- Freddy AI for intent detection and ticket deflection
- SLA management and automated workflows
- Self-service portal and field service tools
Pros:
- Very competitive pricing across plans
- Clean UI and fast onboarding
- Scalable for teams of all sizes
Cons:
- Freddy AI is only included in higher-tier plans
- Reports of slow customer support response
- Some users find customizations limiting
7. Zoho Desk
Zoho Desk often compared with Zendesk is a modern help desk platform with excellent integration across the Zoho ecosystem. It offers ticket management across email, social media, live chat, and voice, with strong reporting and automation features for mid-size teams.
Best for: Businesses already using Zoho CRM or Zoho One looking to consolidate tools.
Price: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $14/user/month
Free trial: Yes
Feature set:
- Multichannel support with live chat and voice
- Zia AI assistant for ticket suggestions and sentiment analysis
- Knowledge base and SLAs
- Tight CRM and sales integration
Pros:
- Great value for price
- Seamless connection to Zoho suite
- Automation and AI tools included in mid-tier plans
Cons:
- Interface can feel cluttered or complex
- Limited third-party integrations
- Support documentation isn’t always up to date
8. HappyFox
HappyFox compared to Zendesk is a customizable ticketing platform aimed at internal IT support teams and customer service teams who need structure, task tracking, and asset management in one place. It offers add-ons for chat, AI, and chatbot support.
Best for: IT support teams that need asset management, kanban views, and internal ticket handling.
Price: Starts at $24/agent/month
Free trial: Yes
Feature set:
- Shared inbox, ticket automation, and SLAs
- IT asset management
- Kanban ticket view and internal knowledge base
- Optional AI, chatbot, and voice add-ons
Pros:
- Built-in asset tracking for IT support
- Clean and customizable agent interface
- Strong internal ticketing and task management
Cons:
- Voice/chat/AI features are all separate subscriptions
- More expensive than competitors at entry level
- Few ecommerce or sales integrations
9. Kayako
Kayako is a multichannel support platform that organizes conversations around a customer timeline, just like Kustomer. It offers email, live chat, and self-service support with the added option of on-premise hosting.
Best for: Teams looking for a self-hosted help desk or strong chronological customer context.
Price: Contact for pricing
Free trial: Yes
Feature set:
- SingleView customer timeline
- Live chat and email support
- Custom performance reporting
- On-premise hosting available
Pros:
- Offers on-premise deployment
- Strong unified customer history across channels
- Simple to set up and navigate
Cons:
- On-prem setup adds technical complexity
- Limited AI and automation features
- Fewer third-party integrations compared to competitors
10. Intercom
Intercom often compared with Zendesk is a customer service platform built around proactive, conversational support. Known for its sleek messenger widget and AI-first approach, Intercom blends human and automated support using bots, workflows, and help center tools — all in one unified platform.
Best for: Product-led SaaS companies and startups that prioritize customer engagement and real-time support.
Price: Custom pricing (based on usage and modules)
Free trial: Yes
Feature set:
- AI chatbot (“Fin”) for self-service support
- Proactive messages triggered by behavior or events
- Shared inbox with tagging, SLAs, and routing
- Customizable messenger with apps, help articles, and live chat
Pros:
- Best-in-class user interface
- Highly customizable messenger experience
- Strong AI chatbot with real-time handoffs to agents
Cons:
- Complex pricing model — can get expensive quickly
- Pay-per-contact model may not suit high-volume teams
- Reporting and analytics not as advanced as some enterprise tools
Recommended reading: Top 10 Intercom Alternatives for 2025
Desk365 vs. Kustomer and top alternatives
Desk365 leads the pack when it comes to modern, efficient, and cost-effective customer support platforms. Designed from the ground up with simplicity, speed, and Microsoft 365 integration in mind, Desk365 delivers powerful help desk functionality without the enterprise bloat or steep learning curve. With native Microsoft Teams support, robust workflow automations, and AI tools for ticket summarization, reply drafting, and knowledge base generation, it empowers teams to work smarter — not harder.
One real-world example is Concurrent Technologies, a leading supplier of high-performance computing systems, which made the switch from a legacy ITSM tool to Desk365. Their global support team of over 25 agents now handles internal and vendor support entirely within Microsoft Teams — without needing external portals. By automating common workflows and leveraging Desk365’s clean UI and flexible APIs, they’ve significantly reduced response times and boosted efficiency across sourcing, finance, and vendor operations.
You can read the full case study here.
No two help desks are built alike — and that’s a good thing. Whether you need deep ecommerce integrations, HIPAA compliance, powerful AI tools, or tight Microsoft Teams support, there’s a platform that fits.
Take advantage of free trials to get hands-on experience before committing. If you’re looking for a clean UI, strong automations, and budget-friendly AI — give Desk365 a try. With flexible pricing and powerful features, it’s a compelling Kustomer alternative for growing support teams.
Start your free trial today and experience everything Desk365 has to offer — no strings attached. Prefer a tailored walkthrough? Book a live demo with our team to see how Desk365 can seamlessly fit into your support workflow.
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