Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Crisp · 🛟 customer support
Crisp vs HubSpot Free Help Desk
A hosted shared inbox, live chat, and ticket queue for two users; the knowledge base lives upstairs. Here is how HubSpot Free Help Desk ($0/mo free) stacks up against Crisp ($45/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
HubSpot Free Help Desk
$0.00/mo · proprietary, free
Crisp vs HubSpot Free Help Desk Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-11
| Dimension | Crisp (Paid) | HubSpot Free Help Desk (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $45 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $540 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $540) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $2,700 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $2,700) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $5,400 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $5,400) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | free proprietary, free |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Hosted (their cloud) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | mobilewebthey host it |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ $0 forever |
Deep Dive: Switching from Crisp to HubSpot Free Help Desk
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
Two free users and paywalled knowledge-base and automation depth create a much tighter ceiling than Crisp.
How to deploy HubSpot Free Help Desk
Hosted signup, then connect a team inbox/email and add the website tracking or chat-widget code
What it takes to run
Connecting and verifying the shared email inbox and website domain
Where your data lives
CRM records, tickets and conversation history in HubSpot's cloud; records export to spreadsheet files and conversations are available through its API
Why fork HubSpot Free Help Desk instead of vibe-coding a Crisp clone?
The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For Crisp, combine website chat and a shared inbox for one small support team. The hard boundary is multi-channel inbox, chat delivery, knowledge base, campaigns, and workspace pricing, plus channel integrations and support operations.
Crisp vs HubSpot Free Help Desk FAQ
Is HubSpot Free Help Desk a good free alternative to Crisp?+
Yes. HubSpot Free Help Desk is a verified free replacement for Crisp. A hosted shared inbox, live chat, and ticket queue for two users; the knowledge base lives upstairs.
What is the catch when switching from Crisp to HubSpot Free Help Desk?+
Two free users and paywalled knowledge-base and automation depth create a much tighter ceiling than Crisp.
How much do you save switching from Crisp to HubSpot Free Help Desk?+
Crisp costs $45/mo ($540/yr) per seat, whereas HubSpot Free Help Desk is $0/mo. Switching saves $540/yr for a solo user, $2,700/yr for a 5-person team, and $5,400/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host HubSpot Free Help Desk instead of Crisp?+
Install: Hosted signup, then connect a team inbox/email and add the website tracking or chat-widget code. Setup: Connecting and verifying the shared email inbox and website domain
