Freshdesk vs Zendesk Sunshine vs Bigin by Zoho CRM Comparison
Freshdesk
Starting at $15 /User/Month
- Free Trial
- Freelancers / Consultants
- Large Enterprises
Freshdesk is a cloud-based help desk software designed to make customer support easier, more efficient and more effective. Freshdesk answers all customer support needs by making it easy for users to communicate with cust…
Zendesk Sunshine
Starting at $19 /User/Month
- Free Trial
- Individuals
- Large Enterprises
Zendesk Sunshine features a sleek, modern design and is built for Zendesk's secure multi-tenant architecture. It offers new homepage layouts and an easy-to-use Customization tool for your sales teams. And, with the abili…
Bigin by Zoho CRM
Starting at $7 /User/Month
- Free Trial
- Small Business
Bigin is Zoho's lightweight CRM designed for small teams under 50 people running straightforward sales cycles. Its drag-and-drop pipeline and email sync with Gmail and Outlook allow reps to get productive within a day wi…
Freshdesk leads on user satisfaction with a 4.5-star rating across 752 reviews.
Freshdesk vs Zendesk Sunshine vs Bigin by Zoho CRM — at a glance
| Feature | Freshdesk | Zendesk Sunshine | Bigin by Zoho CRM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Reviews | 752 | 22 | 294 |
| Starting price | $15 /User/Month | $19 /User/Month | $7 /User/Month |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free version | No | No | No |
| Best for | Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business | Individuals, Large Enterprises, Medium Business | Small Business |
| Category | Help Desk Software | CRM Software | CRM Software |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS | SaaS/Web/Cloud | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS |
| API | Available | Available | Available |
| Support modes | 24/7 (Live rep), Online | 24/7 (Live rep), Online | Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001 | SOC 2 | — |
| Data residency | Global | Global | Global |
Key differences between Freshdesk and Zendesk Sunshine
- Pricing: Freshdesk starts at $15 /User/Month, while Zendesk Sunshine starts at $19 /User/Month.
- Target audience: Freshdesk is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises, while Zendesk Sunshine targets Individuals and Large Enterprises.
- User satisfaction: Freshdesk scores higher with a 4.5-star average.
- Deployment: Freshdesk supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Zendesk Sunshine supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.
Compare Freshdesk vs Zendesk Sunshine vs Bigin by Zoho CRM — and walk away knowing which one fits.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
Where each product wins, per real buyers
Most Help Desk Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
Talk to an expert Talk to an expert |
Free PDF comparison
Download this Freshdesk vs Zendesk Sunshine vs Bigin by Zoho CRM comparison
Get the full side-by-side as a PDF — these picks plus the top Help Desk Software tools, with verified ratings, pricing and features.
- Side-by-side on pricing, features & ratings
- Plus the category top 10, scored & ranked
- Emailed to you — no on-screen download
No file downloads on screen — we email it to you. One-click unsubscribe anytime.
Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best for streamlined omnichannel customer support in small to mid-sized teams.
- You need unified support across email, social media, and phone channels.
- Your team values real-time collaboration with internal notes and task splitting.
- You operate a small to mid-sized company (10-1,000 employees) seeking easy setup.
- Your organization requires highly customized or complex enterprise workflows.
- You do not need omnichannel support or prefer transparent, flexible pricing.
Individuals, Large Enterprises, Medium Business
Small Business
Freshdesk typically suits Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises. Zendesk Sunshine tends to fit Individuals and Large Enterprises better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.
Description | Freshdesk is a cloud-based help desk software designed to make customer support easier, more efficient and more effective. Freshdesk answers all customer support needs by making it easy for ... Read More about Freshdesk | Zendesk Sunshine features a sleek, modern design and is built for Zendesk's secure multi-tenant architecture. It offers new homepage layouts and an easy-to-use Customization tool for your ... Read More about Zendesk Sunshine | Bigin is Zoho's lightweight CRM designed for small teams under 50 people running straightforward sales cycles. Its drag-and-drop pipeline and email sync with Gmail and Outlook allow reps to ... Read More about Bigin by Zoho CRM |
|---|---|---|---|
Entry Level Pricing |
|
|
|
Free Trial Availability |
| ||
SpotScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 9.5/10 | 7.9/10 | 9.0/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | |||
Best Company Size | 10-50 employees51-1,000 employees | — | — |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Where each option fits best
See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.
Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.
Key strengths
- Omnichannel Support: Freshdesk allows teams to manage conversations across email, social media (Twitter, Facebook), phone, and more, all from a single platform.
- Collaborative Ticketing System: Agents can share notes, tag teammates, and split tasks within a ticket, promoting internal collaboration for faster resolutions.
- Context-Rich Customer Communication: Tickets include customer history and context, letting agents personalize responses and resolve issues more effectively.
No key benefits available yet.
No key benefits available yet.
Best fit
- 10 – 1,000 Employee
- SaaS, E-commerce, Education, Retail, Healthcare, Logistics
- Customer Support Specialist, IT Helpdesk Technician, Support Manager, Operations Manager, Service Desk Analyst, CRM Administrator
No best-fit guidance available yet.
No best-fit guidance available yet.
Reasons buyers look elsewhere
- While Freshdesk offers a free plan, essential features like advanced automation, reporting, or multi-language support are gated behind higher-tier subscriptions, which may become expensive for large or growing teams.
- Users looking to implement complex workflows or automation may face a steeper learning curve and require additional configuration time or support.
- Some users report slower load times or occasional system lags during peak usage, which can impact support efficiency.
No alternatives guidance available yet.
No alternatives guidance available yet.
Software Demo
Demo |
|---|
Need a second opinion?
Get shortlist help from a software advisor
Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.
- Independent advice — matched to your business
- Understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors
- Free 15-min call with a software advisor.
Step 1 of 4
How big is your team?
We tailor recommendations to companies your size.
How do Freshdesk, Zendesk Sunshine and Bigin by Zoho CRM Compare on Features?
Total Features | 16 Features | 4 Features | 10 Features |
|---|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Freshdesk, Zendesk Sunshine and Bigin by Zoho CRM on pricing
Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.
Pricing Option | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Starting From |
|
|
|
Pricing Plans |
|
|
|
Pricing Page |  |  |  |
Other Details
Organization Types supported |
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
Platforms Supported |
|
|
|
Modes of support |
|
|
|
API Support |
|
|
|
Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
|---|---|---|
HIPAA | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
GDPR | ✓ Yes | — |
ISO 27001 | ✓ Yes | — |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | ✓ Yes | — |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | ✓ Yes | — |
Data Encryption | ✓ Yes | — |
Audit Logs | ✓ Yes | — |
Data Residency | 🌐 Global | 🌐 Global |
Freshdesk vs Zendesk Sunshine User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Rating Distribution | |||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Buyers generally appreciate Freshdesk for its ease of use and omnichannel support but note limitations in advanced customization and pricing transparency. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Buyer sentiment is positive across 53 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Buyer sentiment is very strong across 279 reviews, with consistently positive feedback. What buyers like
Common complaints
|
Pros and Cons |
|
|
|
Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
List of Customers
Customers |  Pearson  Bridgestone  Kern High School District |  MCM  ASG Technologies  MakeSpace |  Antech Microsystem Pvt.Ltd  Investacc  Hire |
|---|
Media and Screenshots
Screenshots |  6 Screenshots |  2 Screenshots |
|---|---|---|
Videos |  3 Videos |  3 Videos |
Alternatives
Alternatives |
|---|
Add another option to compare side by side
Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.Compare similar software options
Related Blogs and Articles for Crm Software
Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, Freshdesk or Zendesk Sunshine?
- Freshdesk edges out the other on user ratings (4.5 vs 4.2). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Freshdesk and Zendesk Sunshine offer a free trial?
- Yes, both Freshdesk and Zendesk Sunshine offer a free trial.
- What is the starting price of Freshdesk vs Zendesk Sunshine?
- Freshdesk starts at $15 /User/Month. Zendesk Sunshine starts at $19 /User/Month.
- What are the top alternatives to Freshdesk?
- Top alternatives to Freshdesk include Zoho Desk, SeamlessDesk, LiveAgent, HelpDesk, SysAid.
- What are the top alternatives to Zendesk Sunshine?
- Top alternatives to Zendesk Sunshine include Bigin by Zoho CRM, ClickUp, Zoho CRM, Freshsales, Salesforce.