Best Kayako alternatives in 2026

Looking for an alternative to Kayako? Whether you've outgrown it, find the pricing steep, or just want to weigh your options, these are the strongest help desk alternatives in 2026 — ranked on pricing, features, and who each one fits best. Kayako itself starts at from $30/agent/mo, so we've flagged where each option is cheaper, simpler, or more specialized.

1
Hiver
Best for: smb
Help desk inside Gmail. A popular helpdesk alternative to Kayako with a genuinely usable free tier — free – $19/user/mo. Particularly strong for smb.
4.6Free – $19/user/moVisit
2
Re:amaze
Best for: ecommerce
If Kayako feels like overkill or over-budget, Re:amaze is a leaner option. Helpdesk and live chat for ecommerce. Pricing: from $29/mo.
4.6From $29/moVisit
3
LiveAgent
Best for: smb
LiveAgent goes head-to-head with Kayako on features with a genuinely usable free tier. Help desk with universal inbox. Best suited to smb. Free – $15/agent/mo.
4.5Free – $15/agent/moVisit
4
Front
Best for: smb
A well-rated helpdesk pick. Shared inbox and customer communication. Front starts at from $19/seat/mo, making it a credible Kayako replacement.
4.5From $19/seat/moVisit
5
Jitbit Helpdesk
Best for: smb
Ticketing help desk, cloud or on-prem. A popular helpdesk alternative to Kayako — from $39/mo. Particularly strong for smb.
4.5From $39/moVisit
6
HappyFox
Best for: mid-market
If Kayako feels like overkill or over-budget, HappyFox is a leaner option. Cloud-based help desk and ticketing. Pricing: from $29/agent/mo.
4.5From $29/agent/moVisit
7
Groove
Best for: smb
Groove goes head-to-head with Kayako on features. Simple help desk for growing teams. Best suited to smb. From $16/user/mo.
4.5From $16/user/moVisit
8
Deskpro
Best for: mid-market
A well-rated helpdesk pick. Flexible helpdesk software. Deskpro starts at from $29/agent/mo, making it a credible Kayako replacement.
4.5From $29/agent/moVisit

Still considering Kayako itself? Read our Kayako review →

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Kayako alternative?

Hiver is our top-rated Kayako alternative for 2026. Help desk inside Gmail. Free – $19/user/mo.

Is there a free Kayako alternative?

Yes — Hiver, LiveAgent all offer a free tier you can start on without a credit card.

Why switch from Kayako?

Common reasons are price, a simpler feature set, better fit for a specific use case, or platform support. Each tool above notes where it has an edge over Kayako.