Hiver alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Hiver: built around Google Workspace, and less routing depth than full help desks. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Hiver, 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

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Help Scout	Free plan + paid	No	Web, iOS, Android	4 of 4	77.6

1. Help ScoutTop pick
Best for: Small and mid-sized teams that want email-style support that feels personal
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android
77.6
score / 100
Why switch from Hiver
Email-style help desk with a free plan, not tied to Gmail.
Pros
Clean, email-like interface that's quick to learn
Free plan for up to five users
Knowledge base and chat widget built in
Cons
No native phone channel
Less routing and reporting depth than Zendesk
Free plan limited to one inbox and one Docs site
Visit Help Scout Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Help Scout a good Hiver alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Free plan
5 users, 1 inbox, 1 Docs site
Checked Oct 25, 2026helpscout.com(opens source in a new tab)
Standard plan
$25 per user/month
Checked Oct 25, 2026helpscout.com(opens source in a new tab)
Plus plan
$45 per user/month
Checked Oct 25, 2026helpscout.com(opens source in a new tab)
Integrations
100+ tools
Checked Oct 25, 2026helpscout.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Hiver alternative for…

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

Best Hiver alternative for most people

Help Scout

Email-style help desk with a free plan, not tied to Gmail.

Best Hiver alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Help Scout

Email-style help desk with a free plan, not tied to Gmail.

Best Hiver alternative for Mac

Front

Standalone shared inbox that works with any email provider.

Best Hiver alternative for Windows

Front

Standalone shared inbox that works with any email provider.

Best Hiver alternative for iPhone and Android

Zendesk

Full help desk for when support outgrows a shared inbox.

Best Hiver alternative for working in the browser

Helpwise

Cheaper shared inbox for small teams.

Hiver alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Hiver?

Help Scout ranks first right now. Email-style help desk with a free plan, not tied to Gmail. Front and Helpwise follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Hiver?

Yes. Help Scout (free plan + paid) has a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Hiver?

None of the 5 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Hiver?

The complaints we hear most: built around Google Workspace; less routing depth than full help desks; per-user pricing adds up for large teams.

How is this list ranked?

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