Industry Verdict · Help Desk · Ecommerce

The best help desk software for ecommerce

An ecommerce desk lives or dies on how well it pulls order data into the ticket. We ranked six on Shopify and store integrations, AI automation and price, weighting real plan limits over feature checklists.

Reviewed by M. HALLORAN·Updated MAY 2026·How we vet
Tools compared 6
Criteria weighted 5
Last reviewed June 2026
Paid placements 0
How we ranked the field

Every help desk is scored against the same five weighted criteria, then judged on real plan limits and published pricing rather than a sales demo. See the full rubric →

Ease of use 25%
Features and depth 25%
Value for money 20%
Integrations 15%
Support and onboarding 15%
01
RANK
★ Editor’s Choice

Gorgias

Best for Shopify stores

Purpose built for ecommerce. It pulls full order history into each ticket and lets agents refund, edit or track orders without leaving the desk. Ticket based pricing rewards automation; Basic is $60 a month and most growing stores land on Pro.

  • Deep Shopify ties
  • Order actions in ticket
  • Ecommerce AI
Read the Gorgias verdict → From $10/mo · ticket based
90
OUT OF 100
02
RANK

Zendesk

Best for scaling omnichannel

When a store outgrows a Shopify first tool, Zendesk brings routing, SLAs and reporting across every channel. It is pricier and less ecommerce native than Gorgias, but it scales further. Suite Team starts at $55 a seat.

Read the Zendesk verdict → From $55/agent/mo
86
OUT OF 100
03
RANK

Freshdesk

Best value omnichannel

A well priced way to run email, chat and social for a store without Gorgias style per ticket costs. Order data needs an integration rather than living natively in the desk, but the value is hard to beat at $19 a seat.

Read the Freshdesk verdict → From $19/agent/mo · free trial
85
OUT OF 100
04
RANK

Help Scout

Best for small DTC brands

An email first desk that keeps replies personal, ideal for a small direct to consumer brand that values tone over heavy automation. Connect Shopify for order context; the free plan covers a first hire.

Read the Help Scout verdict → From $25/user/mo · free plan
83
OUT OF 100
05
RANK

Tidio

Best for chat and a free start

Live chat and bots with a genuinely free tier for 50 conversations a month, good for a small store testing chat. The jump from Growth at $29 to the higher plans is steep, so plan your ceiling early.

Read the Tidio verdict → From $29/mo · free plan
82
OUT OF 100
06
RANK

Gladly

Best for high touch retail

Built around the customer rather than the ticket, so an agent sees one lifelong conversation across channels. Suited to premium retail brands with high order values; pricing is sales led and lands well above the others.

Read the Gladly verdict → Custom pricing · sales led
81
OUT OF 100

Pricing verified as of June 2026. Vendors change plans often · check the vendor for current pricing.

At a glance

✓ full  ·  ∼ partial  ·  — none
CapabilityGorgiasZendeskFreshdeskHelp ScoutTidioGladly
Native Shopify integration
Order actions in ticket
Free plan
Built in live chat
Native AI agent
Omnichannel

Feature support verified as of June 2026 · check the vendor for current details.