New AI Help Desks Awards data
What AI help desks really cost in 2026
The seat price is only part of the bill. Here is what 1,000 AI resolutions come to at each company's list price, worked out from its own pricing page.
Updated November 5, 2026
| Product | 1,000 AI resolutions | How it is priced | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zendesk | $2,000 | $2.00 per automated resolution, pay as you go. Suite Team includes 5 per agent a month, Suite Professional 10. | Pricing page |
| Intercom | $990 | Fin from $0.99 per outcome, with no seats required. | Pricing page |
| Gorgias | $900 | $0.90 per interaction on annual plans, $1.00 on monthly. | Pricing page |
| Help Scout | $750 | Envoy add-on at $0.75 per resolution. | Pricing page |
| Freshdesk | $490 | $49 per 100 sessions, after the first 500 sessions included once per account. | Pricing page |
| Front | From $390 | Autopilot from $0.39 per conversation. | Pricing page |
| Crisp | About $56 | $5 of credits covers about 90 automated conversations; plans include credits. | Pricing page |
| Zammad | $0.03 euros a call | Billed per AI call rather than per resolution, and one resolution can take several calls. | Pricing page |
| Chatwoot | $20 per 1,000 credits | Plans include 300 to 800 credits; a credit is not an answer, so the count varies. | Pricing page |
| Zoho Desk | Token based | Your own key or Zoho's model, with up to 30 million free tokens a month. | Pricing page |
| HelpRabbit | Included | Starter includes 3,000 AI answers a month at $29, Pro 15,000 at $99, Unlimited has no limit at $299. | Pricing page |
List prices as shown on November 5, 2026. Definitions differ, so these are for comparing the order of magnitude rather than an exact quote. Volume discounts and annual terms can lower them.
Rankings reflect the editorial judgment of New AI Help Desks Awards; product details come from the linked sources.
How to work out your own bill
- Take your conversations for a normal month, and for your busiest.
- Estimate the share the AI will solve alone. Test it on your own questions rather than trusting a headline rate.
- Multiply by the price per unit, then add the seats the plan needs.
- Check whether the AI is billed when it answers, or only when it resolves.
Common questions
How much does AI customer support cost per resolution?
At list price we read from $0.39 per conversation on Front to $2.00 per automated resolution on Zendesk, with several products in between. Some include AI answers in the plan instead.
Are these numbers directly comparable?
Not exactly. A resolution, an outcome, a session, an interaction, a credit and an answer are each counted differently, and each company decides what counts. Use the table to see the order of magnitude, then test your own conversations.
What is the difference between a resolution and an answer?
A resolution or outcome is usually charged when the AI closes the conversation without a person. An answer or a session may count whether or not it solved anything. Read the definition on the company's page before you estimate your bill.
Are AI answers free on any help desk?
Some plans include a set number. HelpRabbit includes 3,000 a month on Starter, Zendesk Suite Team 5 resolutions per agent a month, and Freshdesk your first 500 sessions once per account.