Methodology

Last updated: 7 October 2026

What we check

We read each vendor's own pricing page and help documentation. Every claim links to the page it came from, shows the vendor's wording in quotation marks where we can quote it, and shows the date we checked it. Where a pricing table uses ticks, the result says it is our own reading of the table, not a quote.

How plans are matched

A product is on Your shortlist only when one named plan documents all of your must-haves together. We never assume a higher plan includes something unless the vendor says so. Paid add-ons are shown as conditions, not as part of a plan.

Prices

Prices are copied from each vendor's pricing page in US dollars, before tax, as listed on the check date. They can vary by region, billing term and add-ons. We do not calculate totals for your team and never rank products by price.

What "couldn't verify" means

"Couldn't verify all your must-haves" means we could not confirm every must-have on one plan, and we name the gap. A page we could not read, or a feature we did not find, is never treated as a "no". "Doesn't meet a must-have" appears only when the vendor's own pages say a capability is unavailable.

Who is included

We cover helpdesks small support teams commonly shortlist.

Current coverage

4 helpdesks (Freshdesk (standalone), Help Scout, Zendesk (Suite line), Zoho Desk) and 6 must-haves you can choose. Latest check: 6 October 2026. This is early coverage, not the whole market.

Keeping it current

We aim to recheck about every 90 days; dates are shown on every claim. Vendors can change plans at any time, so check the vendor's page before you buy.

What we don't cover

Reviews, ease of use, support quality, total cost for your team, or every plan and region.

Report an error

If something looks wrong, email hello@clearcisive.com with the page and the claim. We will check it against the vendor's page.