Brandwave

Help Scout vs Zendesk:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Zendesk had more branded searches than Help Scout among customer knowledge base platforms worldwide. Zendesk had about 301,000 branded searches, while Help Scout had 19,100. Zendesk made up 65.6% of all customer knowledge base platform searches we track, and Help Scout accounted for 4.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about customer knowledge base platforms, Zendesk appeared in all five answers and Help Scout in three. Zendesk was mentioned before Help Scout in four out of five answers.

Among customer knowledge base platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Zendesk, about 16 searches for every 1 for Help Scout

Zendesk 301K searchesHelp Scout 19.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Zendesk, mentioned in every answer we collected

Zendesk in 5 of 5Help Scout in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Zendesk, named ahead of Help Scout in 4 of 5 answers

Zendesk first in 4Help Scout first in 1

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Top customer knowledge base platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Zendesk appeared in all five answers. Help Scout was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Zendesk was listed before Help Scout in four out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Zendesk1st
  2. Document3602nd
  3. Help Scout3rd
  4. Intercom4th
  5. Helpjuice5th
  6. Freshdesk6th
  7. KnowledgeOwl7th
  8. ProProfs Knowledge Base7th
  9. GitBook–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Zendesk5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Document3604 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Freshdesk3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Help Scout3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Helpjuice3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Intercom3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • KnowledgeOwl1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • ProProfs Knowledge Base1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • GitBook0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about customer knowledge base platforms

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is Help Scout or Zendesk more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Help Scout and Zendesk by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine customer knowledge base platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Help Scout and Zendesk among customer knowledge base platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Zendesk, Help Scout. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthZendeskFreshdeskGitBookHelp ScoutDocument360HelpjuiceIntercomKnowledgeOwlProProfs Knowledge Base
Oct 202560.9%18.4%10.9%6.8%1.4%1.1%0.12%0.26%0.08%
Nov 202561%18.6%11.2%5.7%1.7%1.3%0.26%0.26%0.08%
Dec 202562%18.9%11.1%4.7%1.4%1.4%0.21%0.21%0.06%
Jan 202665.2%16.3%11.7%4.1%1.2%1.2%0.13%0.23%0.05%
Feb 202667.2%16.8%8.4%4.2%1.5%1.3%0.2%0.29%0.05%
Mar 202670.2%16%7.4%3.6%1.3%1.1%0.19%0.25%0.04%
Apr 202664.3%16.2%9.9%6%1.8%1.2%0.34%0.34%0.06%
May 202671.5%14.7%7.5%3.7%1.1%0.87%0.24%0.24%0.06%
Jun 202666.1%16.6%9.9%5.1%0.99%0.81%0.28%0.22%0.03%
Jul 202665.7%16.5%10.1%5.1%1.2%0.82%0.27%0.27%0.05%
Aug 202665%16.4%10%6.1%1.2%0.77%0.34%0.26%0.04%
Sep 202665.6%20%8.1%4.2%0.97%0.63%0.35%0.22%0.03%

How has the Help Scout and Zendesk comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for customer knowledge base platforms worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Zendesk gained share of searches among customer knowledge base platforms worldwide, from 65% to 65.6%.

  2. In September 2026, Help Scout lost share of searches among customer knowledge base platforms worldwide, from 6.1% to 4.2%.

How are branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Help Scout’s and Zendesk’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Help Scout

2 branded search terms

  • help scout beacon
  • helpscout

Zendesk

2 branded search terms

  • zendesk
  • zendesk suite

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among customer knowledge base platforms

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