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Helply (formerly Groove) alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Helply (formerly Groove): credit-based AI pricing is harder to predict, and A big change for teams used to classic Groove. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Helply (formerly Groove), then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Help Scout currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Front logoFrontPaidNoWeb, macOS, Windows +24 of 457.2
  1. Front logo

    1. FrontTop pick

    Best for: Customer-facing teams that collaborate on long email threads as well as support

    PaidWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Helply (formerly Groove)

    Shared inbox with strong collaboration for larger teams.

    Pros

    • Feels like email, so teams adopt it quickly
    • Strong collaboration with comments, mentions and shared drafts
    • Handles email, chat, SMS and WhatsApp in one place

    Cons

    • Lower tiers cap the number of seats
    • Less built for high-volume ticket queues than Zendesk
    • AI copilot is a paid add-on on most plans
    Visit Front Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Front a good Helply (formerly Groove) alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Starting price
    $25 per seat/month, billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026front.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Professional plan
    $65 per seat/month, up to 50 seats
    Checked Oct 25, 2026front.com(opens source in a new tab)
    AI copilot
    $20 per seat/month add-on
    Checked Oct 25, 2026front.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Customers
    9,300+ businesses
    Checked Oct 25, 2026front.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Helply (formerly Groove) alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Help Scout logo

Best Helply (formerly Groove) alternative for most people

Help Scout

Email-style help desk with a free plan and predictable seat pricing.

FreeScout logo

Best Helply (formerly Groove) alternative for a free option

FreeScout

Free, self-hosted shared inbox with no user limits.

Help Scout logo

Best Helply (formerly Groove) alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Help Scout

Email-style help desk with a free plan and predictable seat pricing.

FreeScout logo

Best Helply (formerly Groove) alternative for open source

FreeScout

Free, self-hosted shared inbox with no user limits.

FreeScout logo

Best Helply (formerly Groove) alternative for self-hosting

FreeScout

Free, self-hosted shared inbox with no user limits.

Front logo

Best Helply (formerly Groove) alternative for Mac

Front

Shared inbox with strong collaboration for larger teams.

Front logo

Best Helply (formerly Groove) alternative for Windows

Front

Shared inbox with strong collaboration for larger teams.

Intercom logo

Best Helply (formerly Groove) alternative for iPhone and Android

Intercom

Mature AI agent and help desk, priced per seat plus per resolution.

Hiver logo

Best Helply (formerly Groove) alternative for working in the browser

Hiver

Run shared inboxes directly in Gmail with lighter AI.

Helply (formerly Groove) alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Helply (formerly Groove)?

Help Scout ranks first right now. Email-style help desk with a free plan and predictable seat pricing. Intercom and Hiver follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Helply (formerly Groove)?

Yes. Help Scout (free plan + paid) and FreeScout (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Helply (formerly Groove)?

Yes: FreeScout. FreeScout can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from Helply (formerly Groove)?

The complaints we hear most: credit-based AI pricing is harder to predict; A big change for teams used to classic Groove; younger product with a smaller ecosystem than Zendesk.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Helply (formerly Groove), reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.