A whopping 86% of customer service reps believe customer expectations are higher now than they ever used to be, with almost two-thirds saying support cases have become increasingly complex.
Driven by factors like technology and market saturation, consumers now demand instant gratification, omnichannel experiences, and the kind of personalization offered by platforms like Netflix and Spotify.
Keeping up with these shifting needs and expectations is challenging, and that’s why many companies turn to customer service platforms like Front. In fact, over 9,000 businesses reportedly use this AI-powered software tool to streamline their support offerings and elevate the customer experience.
With tools such as a shared inbox, ticketing system, live chat installer, and an AI assistant, Front promises to enable you to offer faster, more personalized service at scale.
But Front’s pricing can be a little restrictive (especially for smaller businesses) and some users feel the platform is missing a few key features. Issues have also been reported with Front’s email management tools.
So, if you’re looking for a scalable customer support platform but want to avoid Front, here are 10 alternatives to Front we’d recommend checking out.
1. Crisp
If you’re seeking the best Front alternative, Crisp is an excellent first stop. It’s an all-in-one customer support suite designed for teams that want live chat, multichannel messaging, a powerful CRM, and automation all under one roof.
Crisp’s features include a website chat widget, a shared inbox, a knowledge base, and a chatbot builder, making it a great fit for startups and growing businesses seeking a modern, real-time communication solution.
However, some of its standout offerings include co-browsing functionality (something few platforms like Front have) which allows you to see in real time what your customers are struggling with, and MagicReply, an AI tool which helps agents craft accurate answers faster.
Integrating with channels like WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram enables seamless conversations across channels, while, unlike Front, Crisp’s pricing is more accessible for smaller teams, offering impressive value without sacrificing quality.
2. Help Scout
Help Scout is built for teams that want customer support to feel personal without adding complexity. Its clutter-free shared inbox, knowledge base, and beacon live chat give you the essential tools to engage with customers efficiently.
Help Scout’s Docs feature lets you build self-service resources, while collision detection prevents multiple agents from replying to the same ticket — saving time and embarrassment.
It’s also renowned for its simplicity, making it easy to train new hires or onboard non-technical staff. Help Scout’s integration ecosystem connects with popular apps like Slack, HubSpot, and Salesforce, extending its functionality.
On the downside, Help Scout’s lack of advanced workflow automation can be limiting for larger teams looking to build complex ticket routing or escalation rules, but if you’re looking for simplicity and ease of use, Help Scout is a winner.
3. Zendesk
In the customer support world, Zendesk is a household name. And that isn’t for no good reason: it’s a flexible, enterprise-grade platform for omnichannel support; so whether you’re offering help via email, phone, chat, or social media, Zendesk keeps everything organized in one place.
Zendesk’s ticketing workflows are among the most customizable in the industry, and its AI-powered bots can handle repetitive queries to free up your team for higher-value conversations.
Arguably the platform’s greatest strength can be its weakness — since the complexity and steep learning curve can overwhelm smaller teams or those new to these types of tools — but Zendesk’s robust analytics and reporting tools help you spot trends and improve performance, making it a favorite of mid-sized to large businesses.
4. Intercom
Intercom is ideal if you want to combine customer support with proactive engagement. Famous for its “Fin” customer service agent, Intercom allows you to reach website visitors with targeted messages, nurturing leads and providing real-time chat support.
Intercom’s Fin is built to deliver fast, accurate, empathetic support across any channel and in any language. It understands complex requests by connecting directly to your systems, responding in your brand’s voice and asking smart clarifying questions.
Intercom’s strength is blending marketing and support into one platform — great for SaaS and ecommerce brands — but its pricing is notoriously unpredictable, with costs often ballooning as your contacts grow, which can make it risky for budget-conscious businesses.
5. Freshdesk
Freshdesk by Freshworks is a versatile platform with features for ticketing, live chat, phone support, and social messaging, all integrated in an easy-to-navigate interface.
Freshdesk’s “Freddy AI” automations can suggest answers, categorize tickets, and predict customer sentiment. You can also create multiple SLA policies and ticket dispatch rules, making it great for businesses with complex support needs.
While Freshdesk is powerful, its UI can feel dated compared to modern-looking platforms like Crisp, and users sometimes report slower response times when dealing with Freshdesk’s own support team. But on the plus side, its free tier is generous for small teams and its gamification features keep agents motivated.
6. Kayako
Kayako is a great choice if you value a unified customer journey. Its SingleView feature links all conversations, activities and orders for each customer across channels, giving agents a holistic understanding of who they’re helping.
Kayako also supports live chat, email and social, and its AI-powered helpdesk integrates seamlessly into your existing workflows, whether you use Zendesk, Freshdesk, or your own custom-built support system.
Some users report that Kayako’s features are quite limited, which could impact long-term scalability, but others praise the platform’s simple interface and ease of use, with quick setup and minimal training needed to get started.
7. Gorgias
If you’re an ecommerce business looking for a customer support platform, Gorgias was purpose-built for this sector — making it a standout alternative to Front if you run an online store.
With deep integrations with platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce and Magento, Gorgias pulls order details into each ticket, enabling agents to edit orders, apply discounts, or process refunds without leaving the dashboard. It also offers macros, rules, and AI-based intent detection to streamline workflows.
Its Shopify app alone has rave reviews for improving response times and customer satisfaction. The biggest downside? Gorgias isn’t the best fit outside ecommerce — if your business isn’t tied to online retail, you might find its specialized features overkill or irrelevant.
8. Hiver
Hiver’s USP is that it transforms Gmail into a powerful helpdesk, allowing teams to manage shared inboxes without leaving their familiar Gmail interface. It’s an excellent choice for teams already entrenched in Google Workspace who don’t want another separate tool.
With collision alerts, tags, SLA tracking, analytics, and an AI assistant, Hiver brings professional-grade support features into Gmail.
It’s particularly well suited for finance, travel, logistics, or operations teams. However, Hiver is quite an email-specific tool; it lacks features like social integrations, so it’s best suited to businesses that rely primarily on email-based support.
9. LiveAgent
LiveAgent is a feature-rich platform that combines helpdesk ticketing with live chat, a call center, and social media integrations. It boasts one of the fastest live chat widgets on the market and gamification features that boost agent engagement.
While LiveAgent’s interface can feel a little cluttered at times, especially if you enable many integrations, the universal inbox keeps every conversation organized, no matter the channel.
And although the mobile app experience is not as polished as some competitors, LiveAgent is known for affordable pricing relative to its broad feature set, and its customer portal helps reduce ticket volume with self-service.
10. Zoho Desk
Zoho Desk is an especially attractive option for businesses looking for an affordable yet powerful alternative to Front. As part of the broader Zoho ecosystem, it integrates seamlessly with Zoho CRM, Books, and other Zoho apps, streamlining sales and support processes.
Zoho Desk’s UI is modern and easy to navigate, and it includes multichannel ticketing, automation capabilities, an AI-powered assistant called Zia, and a self-service portal for “DIY” customers.
Its automation capabilities are sometimes less flexible compared to bigger players like Zendesk, which may frustrate teams needing very fine-grained control over workflow rules, but Zoho’s pricing is very budget-friendly for startups and small businesses.
Choosing the right customer support platform is about matching your unique business needs with a tool that balances powerful features, ease of use, and a justifiable cost. While Front is a strong option, these 10 alternatives — starting with the versatile Crisp — offer a variety of features to help you streamline workflows and stay competitive in today’s demanding customer support landscape.
Founder Dinis Guarda
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