Hesk
Hesk is a lightweight help desk software that allows you to manage customer support tickets, organize inquiries, and build a self-service knowledge base to reduce your support volume.
LiveAgent
LiveAgent is a comprehensive help desk software that combines email, live chat, ticketing, and call center capabilities into a single unified platform to streamline your customer support interactions.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Hesk | LiveAgent |
|---|---|---|
| Website | hesk.com | liveagent.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 30 days free trial | ✓ 14 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2005 | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Ljubljana, Slovenia | Bratislava, Slovakia |
Overview
Hesk
Hesk is a streamlined help desk solution designed to help you manage customer support without the complexity of enterprise tools. You can track, organize, and resolve tickets efficiently through a clean interface that prioritizes speed. By setting up a customized knowledge base, you empower your customers to find answers themselves, which significantly cuts down the number of repetitive support requests your team receives daily.
The software is particularly flexible, offering both a free self-hosted version for complete control and a managed cloud-based service for instant setup. Whether you are a small business owner or an IT manager, you can customize fields, categories, and workflows to match your specific support process. It focuses on the essential features you need to keep customers happy without overwhelming your staff with unnecessary bells and whistles.
LiveAgent
LiveAgent helps you provide faster, more personalized customer support by centralizing every communication channel into one shared inbox. Instead of jumping between tabs, you can manage emails, live chats, phone calls, and social media messages from a single interface. This ensures no customer query falls through the cracks and allows your team to collaborate efficiently on complex tickets.
You can automate your workflow with predefined rules, set up a comprehensive knowledge base for self-service, and track agent performance with detailed analytics. Whether you are a small startup or a growing enterprise, the platform scales to meet your needs with various pricing tiers and over 200 integrations to connect your existing business tools.
Overview
Hesk Features
- Ticket Management Organize incoming requests into categories, assign urgency levels, and track every conversation from start to finish in one place.
- Integrated Knowledge Base Create articles and FAQs so your customers can solve common problems instantly without needing to open a support ticket.
- Canned Responses Save time by creating pre-written replies for common questions, allowing you to respond to customers with just two clicks.
- Custom Data Fields Tailor your submission forms by adding custom fields to collect the exact information you need from your users.
- Email-to-Ticket Pipe Convert incoming customer emails directly into support tickets automatically so you never miss a message from your inbox.
- Staff Collaboration Assign tickets to specific team members and use internal notes to collaborate on complex issues behind the scenes.
LiveAgent Features
- Universal Inbox. View and respond to emails, chats, calls, and social media mentions from one centralized dashboard for maximum efficiency.
- Real-Time Live Chat. Connect with website visitors instantly using customizable chat widgets that show you what customers are typing in real-time.
- Cloud Call Center. Make and receive phone calls directly through your browser with built-in VoIP, call routing, and unlimited call recording.
- Self-Service Portal. Build a custom knowledge base and community forums so your customers can find answers 24/7 without contacting support.
- Automated Ticket Routing. Ensure every inquiry reaches the right person automatically based on priority, department, or specific agent skill sets.
- Social Media Integration. Monitor and respond to comments or messages from Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram without leaving your support desk.
Pricing Comparison
Hesk Pricing
- Unlimited tickets and users
- Knowledge base included
- Community support access
- Full source code access
- Requires your own web server
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Fully managed cloud hosting
- Daily automated backups
- Free technical support
- Automatic software updates
- SSL certificate included
LiveAgent Pricing
- 7-day ticket history
- 1 incoming email account
- 1 chat button
- Basic reporting
- Customer portal & knowledge base
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Unlimited ticket history
- 10 departments
- 1 incoming email account
- 3 outgoing email accounts
- API + Integrations
Pros & Cons
Hesk
Pros
- Extremely lightweight and fast performance
- Free version offers unlimited tickets and staff
- Simple setup process for non-technical users
- Knowledge base helps reduce support ticket volume
Cons
- Interface feels dated compared to modern SaaS
- Limited advanced automation and reporting features
- Self-hosted version requires manual maintenance
LiveAgent
Pros
- Excellent value for money compared to competitors
- Fastest live chat widget on the market
- Consolidates many communication channels into one view
- Highly customizable interface and automation rules
Cons
- User interface feels slightly dated to some
- Mobile app has fewer features than desktop
- Initial setup can be complex for beginners