Salesforce Service Cloud alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Salesforce Service Cloud: expensive full editions and add-ons, and needs admins or partners to implement well. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Salesforce Service Cloud, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Zendesk currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	HubSpot Service Hub	Free plan + paid	No	Web, iOS, Android	3 of 3	57.2

1. HubSpot Service HubTop pick
Best for: Companies on HubSpot that want support on the same CRM as sales and marketing
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android
57.2
score / 100
Why switch from Salesforce Service Cloud
Support on a simpler CRM shared with marketing and sales.
Pros
Shares one CRM with HubSpot sales and marketing
Free ticketing and live chat to start
Knowledge base, surveys and portal in the same product
Cons
Professional and Enterprise tiers get expensive
Less depth than dedicated help desks for complex routing
Best value only if you already use HubSpot
Visit HubSpot Service Hub 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 HubSpot Service Hub a good Salesforce Service Cloud alternative?
Verified facts
3 of 3 verified
Free ticketing
Yes
Checked Oct 25, 2026hubspot.com(opens source in a new tab)
Free live chat
Yes
Checked Oct 25, 2026hubspot.com(opens source in a new tab)
Free trial
14 days of paid service tools
Checked Oct 25, 2026hubspot.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Salesforce Service Cloud alternative for…

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

Best Salesforce Service Cloud alternative for most people

Zendesk

Faster to deploy and easier to run without a Salesforce admin.

Best Salesforce Service Cloud alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

HubSpot Service Hub

Support on a simpler CRM shared with marketing and sales.

Best Salesforce Service Cloud alternative for iPhone and Android

Freshdesk

Much cheaper help desk for teams that don't need Salesforce's depth.

Best Salesforce Service Cloud alternative for working in the browser

Kustomer

CRM-style, customer-centred service platform with less implementation effort.

Salesforce Service Cloud alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Salesforce Service Cloud?

Zendesk ranks first right now. Faster to deploy and easier to run without a Salesforce admin. Kustomer and Freshdesk follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Salesforce Service Cloud?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Salesforce Service Cloud?

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

Why do people switch from Salesforce Service Cloud?

The complaints we hear most: expensive full editions and add-ons; needs admins or partners to implement well; overkill for small support teams.

How is this list ranked?

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