Report card · 8 October 2026
Customer service software, graded with the AI switched on
Most help desks now sell an AI agent and an AI assistant on top of the seat price. We grade each one A+ to F on the full bill, how open the pricing is, what the AI really does, the help desk basics, security and what users say.
Intercom
Customer service platform pairing a shared inbox, help center and omnichannel messaging with the Fin AI agent.
B+83/100
Tidio
AI-first customer service platform for small online businesses: live chat, email ticketing and the Lyro AI agent.
B+80/100
Jira Service Management
Atlassian's service desk, sold in Service Collection with a customer-service app, AI agent and assets.
B+80/100
What 10 agents really pay
Monthly bill for 10 agents with the AI agent and agent assist switched on, from list prices, cheapest first. The sticker price is the same plan with the AI off. Bills that leave out an unpublished AI price come last.
| Help desk | Plan used | Sticker price | With AI on | Per agent | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tidio | Growth + Lyro AI Agent | — | $583 | $58 | B+ |
 Help Scout | Standard | $250 | $625 | $63 | B− |
| Jira Service Management | Service Collection Premium | $479 | $979 | $98 | B+ |
| Intercom | Essential | $290 | $1,075 | $108 | B+ |
 Gorgias | Basic, Pro or Advanced with AI Agent (tier set by ticket volume) | $651 | $1,116 | $112 | B |
 HubSpot Service Hub | Service Hub Professional | $900 | $1,120 | $112 | B |
 Front | Professional | $650 | $1,295 | $130 | B |
 Freshdesk | Freshdesk Omni Pro | $790 | $1,325 | $133 | B |
 Zendesk | Suite Professional | $1,150 | $2,250 | $225 | C+ |
 Salesforce Service Cloud | Advanced | $3,950 | $6,200 | $620 | B− |
 LiveAgent | Small business | $150 | $150* | $15 | C+ |
 Zoho Desk | Enterprise | $400 | $400* | $40 | B− |
* Leaves out an AI price the vendor does not publish. Change the team size and volume.
How the grade is made
Six criteria, each with written rules for levels 1 to 5. The weighted total is out of 100 points. Read every rule.
True cost with AI on
What does a 10-agent team pay a month once the AI agent and agent assist are switched on?
Price transparency
Can a buyer work out the full bill, AI included, before talking to sales?
AI agent and assist
What can the AI do for customers and for agents, going by the vendor's own documentation?
Help desk essentials
Does it cover the channels and workflow a support team needs every day?
Security and data
Can you show an auditor how customer data is handled?
What users say
Do independent user reviews back up the vendor's story?