AppBreakup

LiveAgent alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave LiveAgent: busy interface with lots of settings, and feels less modern than newer tools. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces LiveAgent, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Freshdesk currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Freshdesk logoFreshdeskPaidNoWeb, iOS, Android4 of 466.5
2Zoho Desk logoZoho DeskFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 362.6
3HappyFox logoHappyFoxPaidNoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 359.6
4LiveChat logoLiveChatPaidNoWeb, iOS, Android +23 of 357.2
5Zendesk logoZendeskPaidNoWeb, iOS, Android4 of 455.3
  1. Freshdesk logo

    1. FreshdeskTop pick

    Best for: SMB and mid-market support teams wanting full help desk features at a moderate price

    PaidWeb, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from LiveAgent

    Better-known help desk with a cleaner interface and phone in omnichannel plans.

    Pros

    • Full ticketing, automation and knowledge base features
    • Usually cheaper than comparable Zendesk plans
    • Connects with Freshsales and other Freshworks products

    Cons

    • AI agent sessions are billed as add-ons
    • Interface can feel cluttered
    • Key features such as advanced routing sit on higher tiers
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    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 Freshdesk a good LiveAgent alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Starting price
    $19 per agent/month, billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026freshworks.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro plan
    $55 per agent/month, billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026freshworks.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026freshworks.com(opens source in a new tab)
    AI add-on
    $49 per 100 AI agent sessions
    Checked Oct 25, 2026freshworks.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Zoho Desk logo

    2. Zoho Desk

    Best for: Cost-conscious support teams, especially those already using Zoho CRM or Zoho One

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from LiveAgent

    Low-cost help desk with a free plan.

    Pros

    • Free edition for small teams
    • Lower per-user prices than most big-name help desks
    • Tight integration with Zoho CRM and other Zoho apps

    Cons

    • Dense interface with a learning curve
    • Fewer third-party integrations than Zendesk
    • Free edition is limited to basic email ticketing
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    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 Zoho Desk a good LiveAgent alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, 3 users
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    15 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    After trial
    Downgrades to the free plan
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. HappyFox logo

    3. HappyFox

    Best for: Mid-sized support and IT teams that want a full help desk with unlimited-agent options

    PaidWeb, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from LiveAgent

    Full help desk with unlimited-agent pricing options.

    Pros

    • Unlimited-agent pricing option
    • Covers customer support and IT service desk
    • Smart rules, SLAs and a knowledge base built in

    Cons

    • Less widely known, with a smaller ecosystem
    • Interface feels more traditional
    • Pricing details are spread across pages
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    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 HappyFox a good LiveAgent alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Starting price
    $24 per agent/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026happyfox.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Unlimited agents
    Available
    Checked Oct 25, 2026happyfox.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Contact Center Suite
    From $99 per agent/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026happyfox.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. LiveChat logo

    4. LiveChat

    Best for: Sales and support teams where live website chat is the primary channel

    PaidWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from LiveAgent

    More polished chat experience if chat is the main channel.

    Pros

    • Fast, polished agent app built for chat
    • Strong ecommerce and sales integrations
    • Ticketing included for follow-ups

    Cons

    • No free plan, only a trial
    • Per-seat pricing adds up for large teams
    • Less suited to email-heavy support
    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 LiveChat a good LiveAgent alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Starting price
    $19 per user/month, billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026livechat.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Growth plan
    $79 per user/month, billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026livechat.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Customers
    30,000+ companies
    Checked Oct 25, 2026livechat.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Zendesk logo

    5. Zendesk

    Best for: Mid-sized and large support teams that need a configurable, proven help desk

    PaidWeb, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from LiveAgent

    Larger ecosystem and enterprise depth.

    Pros

    • Mature ticket routing, SLAs, macros and triggers
    • Very large marketplace of apps and integrations
    • Covers email, chat, voice, help centre and AI in one suite

    Cons

    • Costs climb quickly with Suite tiers and AI add-ons
    • Admin setup and upkeep take real effort
    • Entry plan is thin compared with the Suite
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    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 Zendesk a good LiveAgent alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Starting price
    $19 per agent/month, billed yearly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zendesk.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Suite Team
    $55 per agent/month, billed yearly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zendesk.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days, no card required
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zendesk.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Marketplace
    1,800+ apps, partners and integrations
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zendesk.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best LiveAgent alternative for…

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

Freshdesk logo

Best LiveAgent alternative for most people

Freshdesk

Better-known help desk with a cleaner interface and phone in omnichannel plans.

Zoho Desk logo

Best LiveAgent alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Zoho Desk

Low-cost help desk with a free plan.

LiveChat logo

Best LiveAgent alternative for Mac

LiveChat

More polished chat experience if chat is the main channel.

LiveChat logo

Best LiveAgent alternative for Windows

LiveChat

More polished chat experience if chat is the main channel.

HappyFox logo

Best LiveAgent alternative for iPhone and Android

HappyFox

Full help desk with unlimited-agent pricing options.

Zendesk logo

Best LiveAgent alternative for working in the browser

Zendesk

Larger ecosystem and enterprise depth.

LiveAgent alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to LiveAgent?

Freshdesk ranks first right now. Better-known help desk with a cleaner interface and phone in omnichannel plans. Zoho Desk and HappyFox follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to LiveAgent?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to LiveAgent?

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

Why do people switch from LiveAgent?

The complaints we hear most: busy interface with lots of settings; feels less modern than newer tools; lower tiers cap team size.

How is this list ranked?

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