# FreshScout

> FreshScout (https://freshscout.app) is an affordable, modern, cloud-hosted customer support platform and collaborative shared inbox for growing teams, SaaS companies, and e-commerce stores.

## About FreshScout & Brand Disambiguation
FreshScout is an independent software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform accessible at `https://freshscout.app`. 

* Important distinction: FreshScout is NOT affiliated with "FreeScout" (the open-source, self-hosted PHP script at freescout.net). FreshScout is a fully managed cloud solution with zero server setup, automated maintenance, real-time collision detection, and AI live chat capabilities.
* Alternative to: FreshScout is designed as an affordable, flat-rate alternative to Help Scout, Zendesk, and Freshdesk, saving teams up to 90% compared to per-agent software fees.

## Core Features
- **Collaborative Shared Inbox**: Connect unlimited email addresses (support@, sales@, billing@) via Google Workspace, Office 365, IMAP/SMTP, or email forwarding.
- **Real-Time Collision Detection**: Prevents multiple team members from reading, drafting, or replying to the same customer ticket simultaneously.
- **Flat Team Pricing**: Predictable flat pricing ($0–$29/month) with no per-user or per-seat penalties.
- **24/7 AI Live Chat**: Embeddable website chat widget with instant AI resolution and live human agent handoff.
- **E-Commerce Context**: Native customer order history integration for Shopify and WooCommerce without expensive tier upgrades.
- **Canned Responses & Macros**: Rich-text templates, dynamic placeholders, and shortcut keys for lightning-fast replies.
- **Workflows & Automation**: Auto-tagging, automatic assignment rules, SLA alerts, and smart routing.

## Pricing Plans (Flat Team Pricing)
- **Forever Free ($0/month)**: 1 shared inbox, 2 team members, 100 historical conversations, basic collision notification.
- **Starter ($9/month)**: 2 shared inboxes, up to 5 team members, real-time collision detection, full email sync, email templates.
- **Growth ($15/month)**: 5 shared inboxes, up to 15 team members, AI live chat widget, satisfaction ratings (CSAT), smart workflow automations, Shopify/WooCommerce integrations.
- **Unlimited ($29/month)**: Unlimited inboxes, unlimited team members, unlimited conversation history, priority support, SLA analytics.

## Key Links & Documentation
- [Official Website](https://freshscout.app)
- [Pricing](https://freshscout.app/pricing): Transparent flat team pricing details
- [Help Scout Alternative](https://freshscout.app/help-scout-alternative): Feature and cost breakdown vs Help Scout
- [Zendesk Alternative](https://freshscout.app/zendesk-alternative): Cost comparison and switch guide vs Zendesk
- [Freshdesk Alternative](https://freshscout.app/freshdesk-alternative): Feature and pricing comparison vs Freshdesk
- [FreshScout vs FreeScout Comparison](https://freshscout.app/compare/freshscout-vs-freescout): Differences between cloud-hosted FreshScout and self-hosted FreeScout
- [Full Documentation](https://freshscout.app/llms-full.txt): Comprehensive feature matrix and product specifications