Micro businesses — operations with 1-3 people — have unique constraints. You don't have an IT department. You don't have time for complex setup. And you definitely don't have budget for enterprise software.
These 5 helpdesk options work for truly tiny teams. They offer free or low-cost plans that don't require technical expertise to implement.
Quick Picks
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Free Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshdesk | Best free option | $0-$15/agent | Unlimited agents, real features |
| Tidio | Flat pricing simplicity | $29/month flat | Chat free |
| Zendesk | Room to grow | $19/agent | Limited but functional |
| HubSpot | CRM integration | Free-$45/agent | Generous free tier |
| Gorgias | Ecommerce micro shops | $10/month | None, but cheap entry |
1. Freshdesk — Best Free Option for Micro Business
Freshdesk's free plan is uniquely suited for micro businesses. Unlimited agents at zero cost means you and your co-founder can both handle support without paying a cent.
The free tier includes email ticketing, a knowledge base, and basic reporting. That's enough for a 2-3 person operation handling 10-50 tickets weekly. You get real functionality, not a stripped-down trial.
What works: You can run on free for 6-12 months easily. When you hire your first employee, just add them — still free. The upgrade path is clear when you need automations or SLA tracking.
The catch: No phone support on free. But as a micro business, you probably don't need phone support yet anyway.
Pick Freshdesk if: You want maximum functionality at zero cost and don't mind upgrading later when you grow.
2. Tidio — Best Flat Pricing for Micro Business
Tidio's flat pricing ($29/month) becomes a bargain as soon as you have 2+ people. Two agents on Zendesk costs $38; on Tidio it's $29. Three agents: $57 vs $29.
For micro businesses planning to add staff, this predictability matters. You know exactly what you'll pay regardless of headcount.
What works: The free chat tier handles basic needs. When you need email ticketing and chatbots, the paid plan is reasonable.
The catch: Email ticketing is basic. If you're email-heavy, Freshdesk handles it better.
Pick Tidio if: You're a 1-2 person shop planning to grow. Flat pricing saves money as you add agents.
3. Zendesk — Best if You Want Room to Grow
Zendesk starts at $19/agent with no free tier for micro businesses. But starting here means you won't need to migrate later.
If you're a solo founder planning to scale to 10+ people within a year, Zendesk's Foundation plan gives you enterprise-grade infrastructure from day one.
What works: The same platform scales from 1 to 1,000 agents. No painful migration when you hit growth.
The catch: $19/month for one person is steep when Freshdesk offers similar functionality free.
Pick Zendesk if: You're planning rapid growth and want to avoid a future platform switch.
4. HubSpot — Best for CRM-Connected Micro Business
If you're already using HubSpot's free CRM, adding Service Hub creates a unified view. Support tickets link to contact records automatically.
The free Service Hub includes ticketing, live chat, and a knowledge base. That's enough for most micro businesses to start.
What works: When a customer emails support, you see their deal history, website activity, and email engagement — all in one place.
The catch: The free plan is generous but you hit limits quickly. Paid plans jump to $45/agent.
Pick HubSpot if: You're already in the HubSpot ecosystem and want unified customer data.
5. Gorgias — Best for Ecommerce Micro Shops
Gorgias at $10/month (50 tickets) is perfect for micro shops just starting with organized support. If you're doing 5-15 orders daily and getting a few support emails, this covers you.
The Shopify integration shows order data in tickets. You can see what customers bought without switching to Shopify admin.
What works: Purpose-built for ecommerce. The order context saves time on every ticket.
The catch: No free plan. But $10/month is reasonable for shops making sales.
Pick Gorgias if: You run a micro Shopify store and want support integrated with order data.
What Real Users Say About Freshdesk
Overall sentiment: Freshdesk averages 4.1/5 on G2 with an 89 Net Emotional Footprint score on SoftwareReviews, with users praising value at $19-$69/agent while criticizing support responsiveness and recent UX changes.
What users consistently praise:
PCMag and Research.com reviews highlight real-time analytics and CRM integration as standout features, with managers specifically citing live call monitoring and performance metrics for coaching. The Pro plan at $69/agent (annually) unlocks capabilities like custom fields and round-robin assignment that users compare favorably to Zendesk's higher pricing. Freddy AI's automated ticket summarization receives consistent praise for handling long conversation threads efficiently, saving agents from reading "novel-length" tickets.
Recurring complaints:
Trustpilot reviews (1-2 star ratings from December 2025) express frustration with customer service responsiveness and recent interface updates removing functionality like WhatsApp reply capabilities without warning. Reddit users in r/CRM and r/msp report steep learning curves and continuous "challenges" during implementation. Enterprise users note the $79-$119/agent Enterprise plan pricing creates sticker shock despite competitive positioning against Zendesk.
The non-obvious takeaway:
Trustpilot data reveals a correlation between negative reviews and recent pricing changes, with multiple users citing refund policy disputes and billing surprises — suggesting Freshdesk's transition from startup-friendly pricing to enterprise tiers created a cohort of disillusioned early adopters who feel abandoned as the platform matured and moved upmarket.
Sources: PCMag, Research.com, SoftwareReviews, Trustpilot, Reddit, G2. Data aggregated February 2026.
What Real Users Say About Tidio
Overall sentiment: Tidio receives positive reviews for its user-friendly interface and AI chatbot Lyro at competitive pricing, though users criticize automatic plan upgrades and limited widget customization.
What users consistently praise:
Capterra and SoftwareAdvice reviews highlight Tidio's intuitive dashboard that new agents learn quickly, with one user noting "options of free plans as well, AI chatbot automation, real time visitor monitoring." SoftwareReviews validates praise for reliability and unique features. The Lyro AI bot receives specific mention for automating responses, though users note its learning remains limited to websites and FAQs rather than broader knowledge bases. Ecommerce store owners on Reddit report setup taking "minutes" with easy backend navigation.
Recurring complaints:
Trustpilot reviews document concerns with unresponsiveness from support teams and lack of clear explanations for account issues. Voiceflow notes add-ons and branding removal "can be expensive for AI agencies and small businesses." Reddit r/WordpressPlugins users criticize limited widget customization — "you can only change simple things like fonts and background color" — and mobile app logout issues requiring frequent re-authentication. The separation between Lyro AI and rule-based chatbots creates confusion about which automation to use.
The non-obvious takeaway:
Trustpilot data reveals a pattern where long-term Tidio users ("from the very beginning") express disappointment with recent changes, describing the company as evolving from "a promising new startup with smooth, user-friendly, and reliable software" to a more corporate entity with support quality decline — suggesting growth-stage struggles that affected core user experience for early adopters.
Sources: Capterra, SoftwareAdvice, SoftwareReviews, Trustpilot, Voiceflow, Reddit. Data aggregated February 2026.
What Real Users Say About Zendesk
Overall sentiment: Zendesk maintains a 4.2/5 rating on G2 but only 3.8/5 on Trustpilot, with enterprise users praising scalability while small teams criticize hidden costs and complexity starting at $19/agent/month.
What users consistently praise:
TechRadar and Hiver reviews emphasize multi-channel support capabilities and robust ticketing management as primary strengths. Enterprise users on Reddit (midsized software companies) specifically value the employee service portal for IT requests and incident management features. The automation tools and omnichannel integration receive consistent positive mentions across review platforms for handling complex support workflows at scale.
Recurring complaints:
Trustpilot reviews (December 2025) reveal frustration with Zendesk's own customer support responsiveness, creating irony given the platform's purpose. Multiple users cite "hidden costs" and complex setup as barriers, with pricing concerns particularly acute for teams under 10 agents. Reddit discussions in r/Zendesk highlight limitations as an ITSM tool, with users noting restricted views and poor CSV export functionality for technical support use cases.
The non-obvious takeaway:
A pattern emerging across Reddit and Trustpilot shows that Zendesk's enterprise-focused pricing (plans exceeding $100/agent with add-ons) creates a "mid-market gap" — growing companies between 15-50 agents frequently seek alternatives not for missing features, but because they're paying enterprise prices without receiving enterprise-grade support responsiveness from Zendesk itself.
Sources: TechRadar, Hiver, Trustpilot, Reddit, G2. Data aggregated February 2026.
What Real Users Say About HubSpot Service Hub
Overall sentiment: HubSpot Service Hub holds a 4.3/5 rating on G2 with 313 mentions praising ease of use, but faces criticism for pricing starting at $90/agent/month and slow customer support response times.
What users consistently praise:
G2 reviews emphasize the platform's user-friendly interface with "exceptional" ease of use streamlining customer support workflows. The all-in-one CRM integration — connecting marketing, sales, and service data — receives consistent praise from teams wanting unified customer views. Lagrowthmachine notes the free CRM tier includes unlimited users, providing genuine value for startups testing the platform. Automation capabilities and comprehensive reporting tools satisfy teams needing sophisticated workflow management without technical complexity.
Recurring complaints:
Trustpilot reviews (January 2026) document significant customer service issues, with one user describing "unprofessional, disrespectful" support interactions when trying to resolve plan issues. Pricing escalates quickly — Tldv.io and Featurebase note the steep costs when scaling, with Marketing + Service Hub Professional reaching $3,500-$4,500/month compared to best-of-breed alternatives at $900-$1,400. The learning curve for beginners remains substantial despite the intuitive interface. Integration troubleshooting with third-party tools creates frustration according to SmartBugMedia reviews.
The non-obvious takeaway:
Reddit r/hubspot discussions reveal a common pattern where companies adopt Service Hub for its CRM integration but later face "suite lock-in" — the convenience of unified data makes migrating individual components (service, marketing, sales) prohibitively expensive and complex, effectively trapping growing companies in pricing tiers that outpace their budget.
Sources: G2, Lagrowthmachine, Trustpilot, Tldv.io, Featurebase, Reddit. Data aggregated February 2026.
What Real Users Say About Gorgias
Overall sentiment: Gorgias receives mixed reviews for its ecommerce-focused helpdesk with ticket-based pricing starting at $10/month, praised for Shopify integration but criticized for aggressive sales tactics and unpredictable costs at scale.
What users consistently praise:
PCMag and Hiver reviews emphasize Gorgias's deep Shopify integration as its primary differentiator, enabling agents to view order details, process refunds, and trigger upsell emails directly from tickets. The centralized inbox combining email, chat, SMS, and social media receives consistent praise from ecommerce store owners. Research.com notes the Advanced plan at $750/month for 5,000 tickets includes dedicated account management that enterprise users value. Mobile app functionality allows store owners to manage customer inquiries on-the-go during high-traffic sales periods.
Recurring complaints:
Trustpilot reviews (May 2025) document aggressive sales outreach that multiple users describe as "harassment," with one reviewer noting they "told them multiple times we're not interested" yet outreach continued. The ticket-based pricing model creates unpredictability — Hiver notes "ticket-based pricing can be unpredictable" with volume spikes causing unexpected billing. Analytics receive criticism for being "too technical for frontline teams" according to Hiver reviews. Performance reportedly slows at high volumes during flash sales and holiday periods.
The non-obvious takeaway:
Trustpilot data reveals a correlation between negative reviews and Gorgias's expansion beyond Shopify — users who adopted the platform for its Shopify-native features express frustration when support quality declined as the company pursued broader ecommerce platform support, suggesting growing pains from platform expansion that affected core customer experience.
Sources: PCMag, Hiver, Research.com, Trustpilot, Featurebase. Data aggregated February 2026.
The Bottom Line for Micro Businesses
Start with Freshdesk if you want zero cost and maximum functionality. Choose Tidio if you're planning to add staff and want predictable pricing. Go with Zendesk if rapid growth is imminent and you want to avoid migration. Use HubSpot if you're already CRM-committed. Try Gorgias for micro ecommerce shops.
At 1-3 people, any of these beats managing support in a shared Gmail inbox.
Related Articles
- How to Choose Helpdesk Software — Selection framework
- Best Helpdesk for Small Business — Top picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need helpdesk software as a solo founder?
At 5+ customer conversations weekly, yes. You'll lose track of who's handling what in email. A proper helpdesk keeps everything organized even if it's just you.
What's the best free helpdesk for 1 person?
Freshdesk. Unlimited agents (even if it's just you), real features, and a clear upgrade path when you grow.
Should I pay for helpdesk software as a micro business?
Not necessarily. Start with Freshdesk free or HubSpot free. Pay when you hit feature limits or need more than 1-2 agents.
Can I use Gmail as a helpdesk for my micro business?
Technically yes, practically painful. You lose ticket tracking, assignment, and reporting. At 10+ tickets weekly, the friction costs more than $15/month software.
Which integrates best with Shopify?
Gorgias for deep integration, Tidio for flat pricing. Both show order data in tickets.
Bob B.
Senior SaaS AnalystBob covers helpdesk tools, CRM platforms, and live chat software at AgentWhispers. He focuses on in-depth reviews, industry-specific recommendations, and feature analysis to help teams find the right support stack.