8x8
Freshdesk
| Feature | 8x8 | Freshdesk |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $28/mo | Free / from $15/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best For | international-businesses, contact-centers, healthcare, financial-services | small-businesses, growing-teams, e-commerce, startups |
| Founded | 1987 | 2010 |
| Unlimited Calling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Video Conferencing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Team Chat | ✓ | ✗ |
| Contact Center | ✓ | ✗ |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Call Recording | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ticketing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Knowledge Base | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ai Automation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Sla Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Team Collaboration | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multichannel | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 8x8 Pros
- Unlimited international calling
- Strong contact center features
- Good uptime and reliability
- Compliant for healthcare and finance
✗ 8x8 Cons
- Interface feels dated
- Support can be slow
- Pricing not transparent
✓ Freshdesk Pros
- Free tier with up to 2 agents
- Intuitive and easy to set up
- Freddy AI for ticket classification
- Gamification for support teams
✗ Freshdesk Cons
- Advanced features only on expensive plans
- Less customizable than Zendesk
- Reporting depth limited on lower tiers
The Verdict
8x8 is built for international businesses and contact centers, with a focus on unlimited-calling and video-conferencing. Freshdesk targets small businesses and growing teams and leads with ticketing and knowledge-base.
On pricing, Freshdesk is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $15/mo compared to $28/mo for 8x8. That $13/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Freshdesk has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. 8x8 requires a paid subscription from day one.
Freshdesk edges out on user ratings (4.4 vs 4). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Feature-wise, Freshdesk offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while 8x8 takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Freshdesk has a slight overall edge — but if unlimited international calling matters most to you, 8x8 may still be the right call.