ChannelDesk or Freshdesk?
It depends which channels matter most. Freshdesk Omni brings email, chat, phone and messaging together, priced per agent. ChannelDesk puts WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, email and website chat in one inbox, with an AI agent, for one price per workspace.
ChannelDesk is free to start. No card needed.
A team of three for a year, in US dollars
ChannelDesk Pro
$390a year
For the whole workspace, with 3 team members
- 500 AI replies a month, never charged per resolution
- WhatsApp at Meta’s own price
- Up to 3,000 people writing to you a month
Freshdesk Omni Growth
$1,044a year
3 agents at $29 a month each
- 500 Freddy AI Agent sessions, then $49 per 100
- Email, chat, phone and messaging
- WhatsApp at Meta’s price plus 20%
The short version. Where ChannelDesk is different.
01
One price for your team
Freshdesk Omni charges each agent, from $348 a year. ChannelDesk charges each workspace: Pro is $390 a year with 3 team members.
02
WhatsApp at Meta’s price
Freshworks adds 20% to what Meta charges for WhatsApp. On ChannelDesk you pay Meta directly, and we add nothing.
03
Free for as long as you like
ChannelDesk’s free plan has every channel, Dot and a help centre, with no time limit. Freshdesk starts with a 14-day trial.
Side by side
ChannelDesk
Pro, unless it says
Freshdesk
Omni Growth, unless it says
Price
Priced by
A team of three
A year
Cheapest paid plan
A year
Try it
AI agent
The AI agent
What its answers cost
Channels
Email and website chat
WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger
What WhatsApp messages cost
Phone calls
Help centre and tickets
Help centre
Tickets
Their prices and features as listed on their websites in September 2026. Check their sites for the latest. All prices are in US dollars, billed yearly. Freshworks’ are per agent.
Sources
Common questions
What people ask when choosing between ChannelDesk and Freshdesk. If yours isn’t here, the free plan is the quickest way to find out.
01Freshdesk or Freshdesk Omni?
Freshdesk is Freshworks’ helpdesk for tickets, from $19 an agent a month billed yearly. Freshdesk Omni adds chat, phone and messaging, from $29. We compare ChannelDesk with Omni, as it covers the same channels.
02Is ChannelDesk cheaper than Freshdesk?
For a small team, usually. Three agents on Freshdesk Omni Growth cost $1,044 a year. ChannelDesk Pro is $390 a year for the whole workspace, with 3 team members and 500 AI replies, for up to 3,000 people writing in a month. Growth and Scale cover more.
03How do Freddy’s sessions compare with AI replies?
Freddy AI Agent includes 500 sessions, then costs $49 for each 100 more. A session is one customer’s exchange with Freddy, over up to 24 hours on chat or 72 on email. An AI reply is one of Dot’s answers, so the two don’t compare one for one. ChannelDesk never charges more: if the month’s AI replies run out, Dot hands conversations to your team.
04What does WhatsApp cost on ChannelDesk?
You pay Meta directly, at its own prices, and we add nothing. Meta gives every number 1,000 free replies a month. Freshworks adds 20% to what Meta charges.
05Does ChannelDesk do phone calls?
No. ChannelDesk covers WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, email, website chat and comments on your posts and ads. If you need phone support, Freshdesk Omni includes it.
06Can I try both?
Yes. ChannelDesk has a free plan with no time limit, and no card needed. Freshdesk has a 14-day trial of its Enterprise plan.
Try ChannelDesk free
Set up your inbox on the free plan. No card needed, and no time limit.