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HelpDesk vs Apptivo vs Bigin by Zoho CRM Comparison

Last updated:

HelpDesk

4.3(50 reviews)

Starting at $29 /User/Month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

HelpDesk is an online ticketing system suitable for both small businesses and enterprise clients. It provides easy-to-use features and an intuitive user interface designed to simplify a team’s efforts. HelpDesk allows fo…

Apptivo

4.1(145 reviews)

Starting at $8 /User/Month

  • Free Trial
  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

Apptivo is a web-based and mobile app based CRM that allows you to manage all of your contacts, prospects, opportunities, companies and deals in one single place. Apptivo's smart features can be flexibly configured to as…

Bigin by Zoho CRM

4.3(119 reviews)

Starting at $7 /User/Month

  • Free Trial
  • Small Business

Bigin by Zoho CRM is a solution for managing business contacts, creating sales opportunities, monitoring the pipeline and recording activities. The solution integrates email, calendar, tasks and more. It can be accessed…

HelpDesk leads on user satisfaction with a 4.3-star rating across 50 reviews.

HelpDesk vs Apptivo vs Bigin by Zoho CRM — at a glance

FeatureHelpDeskApptivoBigin by Zoho CRM
Rating4.3 / 54.1 / 54.3 / 5
Reviews50145119
Starting price$29 /User/Month$8 /User/Month$7 /User/Month
Free trial Yes Yes Yes
Free version No No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessSmall Business
CategoryHelp Desk SoftwareCRM SoftwareCRM Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - MacSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS
APIAvailableAvailableAvailable
Support modes24/7 (Live rep), Online24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, OnlineBusiness Hours, Online
Certifications
Data residencyUSUSGlobal

Key differences between HelpDesk and Apptivo

  • Pricing: HelpDesk starts at $29 /User/Month, while Apptivo starts at $8 /User/Month.
  • Target audience: HelpDesk is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while Apptivo targets Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises.
  • User satisfaction: HelpDesk scores higher with a 4.3-star average.
  • Deployment: HelpDesk supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Apptivo supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

Compare HelpDesk vs Apptivo vs Bigin by Zoho CRM — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

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.

HelpDesk - Help Desk Software
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert
Apptivo - CRM Software
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

HelpDesk

Best for streamlined, easy-to-use help desk with centralized customer messaging.

Choose if
  • You need a simple, unified inbox to manage all customer communications.
  • Your team values a user-friendly interface that minimizes training time.
  • You prefer transparent, flat-rate pricing without hidden fees.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your organization requires highly customizable or complex workflow automation.
  • You are a very large enterprise needing extensive process management features.

Apptivo

Best for

Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business

Bigin by Zoho CRM

Best for

Small Business

HelpDesk typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Apptivo tends to fit Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

HelpDesk is an online ticketing system suitable for both small businesses and enterprise clients. It provides easy-to-use features and an intuitive user interface designed to simplify a ... Read More about HelpDesk

Apptivo is a web-based and mobile app based CRM that allows you to manage all of your contacts, prospects, opportunities, companies and deals in one single place. Apptivo's smart features ... Read More about Apptivo

Bigin by Zoho CRM is a solution for managing business contacts, creating sales opportunities, monitoring the pipeline and recording activities. The solution integrates email, calendar, ... Read More about Bigin by Zoho CRM

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $29 , Billed Yearly
  • Starts from $8 , Billed Yearly
  • Starts from $7 , Billed Yearly

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

9.4/10

8.8/10

9.0/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.3

(50)

Best Company Size

5-250 employeesMedium to large businesses
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.

Strengths

Key strengths

HelpDesk

  • All-in-One Inbox for Streamlined Support: Centralizes customer messages across channels into a unified dashboard, improving communication flow and team collaboration.
  • User-Friendly and Fast to Deploy: The intuitive design reduces training time, enabling teams to get started quickly and manage tickets efficiently without technical expertise.
  • Transparent, All-Inclusive Pricing: One flat plan includes all major features, eliminating hidden costs and simplifying purchasing decisions for organizations of all sizes.

Apptivo

No key benefits available yet.

Best fit

Best fit

HelpDesk

  • 5 – 250 employees
  • SaaS, E-commerce, Retail, Digital Agencies, Education, Consulting Services
  • Customer Support Agent, Help Desk Representative, Support Team Lead, Operations Manager, CRM Administrator, Client Success Manager

Apptivo

No best-fit guidance available yet.

Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

HelpDesk

  • Advanced customization of workflows and rule-based automation features may be more restricted compared to systems with AI-driven routing and macros.
  • HelpDesk is not designed for IT service management use cases such as incident, change, or asset management, making it less suited for internal IT departments.
  • Its reporting features are sufficient for general support needs but may not offer deep analytics, visual dashboards, or advanced KPI tracking for data-driven organizations.

Apptivo

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.

How do HelpDesk, Apptivo and Bigin by Zoho CRM Compare on Features?

Total Features

15 Features

10 Features

10 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare HelpDesk, Apptivo 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

        • $29 , Billed Yearly
        • $8 , Billed Yearly
        • $7 , Billed Yearly

        Pricing Plans

        • Team

          • Multiple mailboxes

          • Reply address assigned to Team

          • Multiple email templates

          Show more +

        • Enterprise

          • Includes features of Team plan, plus

          • Security Audit log Security assistance

          • Audit log

          Show more +

        • Free

          • Single Pipeline

          • 500 Records

          • Instant Workflows (3)

          Show more +

        • Express

          • Includes features of Free plan, plus

          • Team Pipelines (3)

          • 50,000 Records

          Show more +

        • Premier

          • Includes features of Express Edition plan. plus

          • Team Pipelines (5)

          • 100,000 Records

          Show more +

        Pricing Page

        HelpDesk pricing
        Apptivo pricing
        Bigin by Zoho CRM pricing

        Other Details

        Organization Types supported

        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals
        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals
        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals

        Platforms Supported

        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Browser Based (Cloud)

        Modes of support

        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online

        API Support

        • Available
        • Available
        • Available
        Get help choosing
        Get help choosing

        Security & Compliance

        Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

        HIPAA

        ✗ No

        Data Residency

        🇺🇸 US
        🇺🇸 US

        HelpDesk vs Apptivo User Reviews & Rating Comparison

        User Ratings

        Rating Distribution

        23

        2

        0

        0

        0

        112

        40

        5

        3

        4

        204

        66

        7

        1

        1

        Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

        Buyer sentiment

        Users appreciate HelpDesk for its ease of use, centralized communication, and transparent pricing, though some desire more advanced customization.

        What buyers like

        • Ease of use
        • Centralized inbox
        • Transparent pricing

        Common complaints

        • Limited customization
        • Pricing opacity

        Buyer sentiment

        Buyer sentiment is positive across 164 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

        What buyers like

        • Responsive and highly professional customer support team, consistently praised for their patience, knowledge, and availability at all times.
        • Highly customizable software that adapts to varying business needs, offering flexibility and scalability for both small and large enterprises.
        • Comprehensive set of CRM tools, including lead management, sales pipeline tracking, email syncing, and calendar integration, streamlining business operations.

        Common complaints

        • Overwhelming customization options and features may be complex for new users or non-technical individuals without adequate guidance.
        • Regular updates and changes can be difficult to follow, with insufficient notifications or clear documentation on updates.
        • Occasional sluggishness in the application, such as delays when switching pages or saving data, which can hinder productivity.

        Buyer sentiment

        Buyer sentiment is positive across 279 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

        What buyers like

        • Simple, intuitive design with a short learning curve, making it easy to use and implement, even for non-technical users.
        • Affordable pricing tailored for startups and small businesses, offering great value for core CRM functionalities.
        • Effective pipeline management and workflow automation, enabling businesses to streamline sales processes.

        Common complaints

        • Limited integrations with third-party tools (e.g., social media apps, direct LinkedIn or Facebook ad imports), making data syncing challenging.
        • Lack of advanced features and scalability, restricting use for larger enterprises or complex workflows.
        • Inconsistent customer support with restricted availability, affecting issue resolution during critical times.

        Pros and Cons

        • Centralized all-in-one inbox for managing customer messages across channels

        • User-friendly interface that reduces training time and accelerates deployment

        • Transparent, all-inclusive pricing with no hidden costs

        • Limited information on advanced customization capabilities

        • Potentially less suitable for very large enterprises with complex needs

        • Web and mobile access ensures flexibility for users.

        • Customizable features cater to diverse business needs.

        • User-friendly interface promotes quick adoption.

        • May lack advanced CRM functionalities.

        • Customization can be challenging for some users.

        • Real-time updates keep teams informed.

        • Integration with email and calendar enhances productivity.

        • User-friendly interface simplifies navigation.

        • Customization options may not meet all needs.

        • New users may find the interface complex.

        Positive Reviews

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        List of Customers

        Customers

        achieveCE

        achieveCE

        Bungalow.Net

        Bungalow.Net

        Rategenius

        Rategenius

        No Customers information available.

        Antech Microsystem Pvt.Ltd

        Antech Microsystem Pvt.Ltd

        Investacc

        Investacc

        Hire

        Hire

        Media and Screenshots

        Screenshots

        Ticket Detail

        3 Screenshots

        Create Approval flow

        2 Screenshots

        Videos

        video-0

        3 Videos

        video-0

        2 Videos

        Expand your shortlist

        Add another option to compare side by side

        Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.

        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, HelpDesk or Apptivo?
        HelpDesk edges out the other on user ratings (4.3 vs 4.1). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
        Do HelpDesk and Apptivo offer a free trial?
        Yes, both HelpDesk and Apptivo offer a free trial.
        What is the starting price of HelpDesk vs Apptivo?
        HelpDesk starts at $29 /User/Month. Apptivo starts at $8 /User/Month.
        What are the top alternatives to HelpDesk?
        Top alternatives to HelpDesk include Zoho Desk, Freshservice, Freshdesk, SupportBee, Teamwork Desk.
        What are the top alternatives to Apptivo?
        Top alternatives to Apptivo include Bigin by Zoho CRM, ClickUp, Zoho CRM, Freshsales, Salesforce.

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