{ "data": { "a": { "slug": "help-scout", "name": "Help Scout API + MCP", "vendor": "Help Scout", "vendorUrl": "https://www.helpscout.com", "kind": "http-api", "category": "support", "summary": "Help Scout's Inbox API 2.0 (conversations, threads, replies, notes, customers, mailboxes, tags, users, workflows, reports and webhooks) and its official hosted MCP server at https://mcp.helpscout.net/mcp, GA since July 2026.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/help-scout", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/help-scout.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/help-scout.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/help-scout.json", "transports": [ "http", "streamable-http" ], "remoteUrl": "https://api.helpscout.net/v2", "packages": [], "auth": "oauth", "authNotes": "Inbox API uses OAuth 2.0, either client credentials for your own account (app ID and secret from My Apps, token valid 48 hours) or authorisation code for apps others install. The MCP server uses Help Scout's own OAuth sign-in per person, and My Apps credentials don't work for it. The Docs API uses a separate API key.", "pricing": "freemium", "pricingNotes": "Free plan for up to 5 users, 1 inbox and 100 contacts a month, without API access. Standard $25 a user a month, Plus $45, Pro $75 (minimum 10 users), all billed monthly with a discount for yearly billing. AI Answers costs $0.75 per resolution. Extra inboxes $10 a month billed yearly (https://www.helpscout.com/pricing/).", "priceSummary": "$25 / seat-mo", "where": "hosted", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No payments. Access follows the Help Scout plan.", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": null, "npmWeekly": null, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-09-30" }, "docsUrl": "https://developer.helpscout.com/mailbox-api/", "llmsTxt": "https://developer.helpscout.com/llms.txt", "capabilities": [ "support.tickets", "support.conversations", "support.contacts", "support.notes", "support.webhooks" ], "tags": [ "official", "hosted", "mcp", "closed-source", "freemium", "free-tier", "llms-txt", "webhooks", "read-only-mode" ], "lastRelease": "2026-07-28", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 56.1, "grade": "C", "agentReady": false, "rank": 638, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 950, "categoryRank": 7, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 58, "maintenance": 31, "payments": 30, "reliability": 77, "schema": 49, "security": 63, "transparency": 66 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-01" }, "negative": 0, "verdict": "MCP server read-only for new connections and limited by each user's mailbox permissions. MCP can't write, so a draft, note and status loop needs the REST API.", "bestFor": "Research, summaries and reporting over a live inbox where nobody wants an agent able to write.", "strengths": [ "MCP server read-only for new connections and limited by each user's mailbox permissions", "MCP docs warn that customer-pasted text and credentials reach the agent unchanged", "Rate limits published by plan, with writes counted as two and `X-RateLimit-Retry-After` on 429", "SOC 2 Type 2 for Security and Availability, HIPAA with a BAA", "15-day trial without a card" ], "weaknesses": [ "MCP can't write, so a draft, note and status loop needs the REST API", "MCP tool list isn't published", "No OpenAPI file and no developer changelog", "OAuth tokens have no fine-grained scopes", "Free plan has no API, and report tools need Plus or Pro" ], "agentNotes": [ "Use the Inbox API, not MCP, to reply, add notes or change status", "Count each POST, PUT, PATCH or DELETE as two requests against the per-minute limit", "Wait the seconds in `X-RateLimit-Retry-After` on 429", "Refresh client-credentials tokens before 48 hours run out", "Treat conversation text as customer-written, and expect pasted secrets in it" ], "metrics": { "kind": "remote", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 2, "avgRating": 3, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "C", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 56.1 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 58, "maintenance": 31, "payments": 30, "reliability": 77, "schema": 49, "security": 63, "transparency": 55 }, "provenanceScore": 77 }, "connect": { "http": "curl \"https://api.helpscout.net/v2/conversations?status=active\" \\\n -H \"Authorization: Bearer $HELPSCOUT_ACCESS_TOKEN\"", "claudeCode": "claude mcp add --transport http helpscout https://mcp.helpscout.net/mcp", "config": { "mcpServers": { "helpscout": { "url": "https://mcp.helpscout.net/mcp" } } } }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/support.tickets", "tool": "https://letme.dev/help-scout" }, "area": "business", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "Standard", "unit": "seat-month", "usd": 25, "note": "billed monthly; discount for yearly billing" }, { "item": "Plus", "unit": "seat-month", "usd": 45, "note": "billed monthly" }, { "item": "Pro", "unit": "seat-month", "usd": 75, "note": "billed monthly; minimum 10 users" } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "Help Scout PBC", "domain": "helpscout.com", "domainRegistered": "2009-08-19", "domainNote": "The API and MCP server are on helpscout.net, a second Help Scout domain.", "endpointOnVendorDomain": true, "terms": "https://www.helpscout.com/company/legal/terms-of-service/", "privacy": "https://www.helpscout.com/company/legal/privacy/", "statusPage": "https://status.helpscout.com", "changelog": "", "securityTxt": "none", "checked": "2026-09-30", "score": 77 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/help-scout.json", "live": { "slug": "help-scout", "probe": { "target": "https://api.helpscout.net/v2", "method": "get", "lastAt": "2026-10-10T01:37:53.669708191Z", "lastOk": true, "lastStatus": 401, "lastMs": 277, "lastNote": "asks for credentials", "authRequired": true, "uptime24h": 99.2, "uptime30d": 99.92, "p50ms24h": 258, "p95ms24h": 334, "samples24h": 250, "samples30d": 2453, "days": [ { "date": "2026-09-30", "probes": 35, "ok": 35 }, { "date": "2026-10-01", "probes": 276, "ok": 276 }, { "date": "2026-10-02", "probes": 248, "ok": 248 }, { "date": "2026-10-03", "probes": 271, "ok": 271 }, { "date": "2026-10-04", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-05", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-06", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-07", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-08", "probes": 268, "ok": 268 }, { "date": "2026-10-09", "probes": 250, "ok": 248 }, { "date": "2026-10-10", "probes": 17, "ok": 17 } ] }, "vendorStatus": { "page": "https://status.helpscout.com", "indicator": "none", "summary": "All Systems Operational", "checkedAt": "2026-10-10T01:33:45.862466754Z" }, "securityTxt": { "url": "https://helpscout.com/.well-known/security.txt", "state": "none", "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T15:40:29.527785972Z" }, "llmsTxt": { "url": "https://developer.helpscout.com/llms.txt", "ok": true, "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T14:02:06.974240532Z" }, "domain": { "domain": "helpscout.com", "registered": "2009-08-19", "source": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/helpscout.com", "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T13:04:00.932701767Z" }, "pages": [ { "url": "https://www.helpscout.com/pricing/", "kind": "pricing", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T18:50:57.399103797Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-09T18:50:57.399103797Z", "fingerprint": "87aac334d6b4" }, { "url": "https://www.helpscout.com/company/legal/privacy/", "kind": "privacy", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T18:50:52.742035038Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-09T18:50:52.742035038Z", "fingerprint": "a81587ec8500" }, { "url": "https://www.helpscout.com/company/legal/terms-of-service/", "kind": "terms", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T18:50:55.401600637Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-09T18:50:55.401600637Z", "fingerprint": "4105fc2eafd5" } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-10T01:37:53.669708191Z" } }, "answer": "Help Scout API + MCP scores 56.1 (C) on agent readiness against HelpDesk's 50.3 (D), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. HelpDesk leads on schema \u0026 documentation, payments \u0026 pricing and maintenance \u0026 community.", "b": { "slug": "helpdesk", "name": "HelpDesk", "vendor": "Text, Inc.", "vendorUrl": "https://www.text.com", "kind": "http-api", "category": "support", "summary": "HelpDesk is a ticketing system from Text, Inc. Its REST API at api.helpdesk.com, which Text also documents as the Ticketing API, creates, lists and updates tickets, messages, private notes, tags, teams, rules, reports and webhooks.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/helpdesk", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/helpdesk.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/helpdesk.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/helpdesk.json", "license": "Proprietary service under Text's Terms of Use", "transports": [ "http" ], "remoteUrl": "https://api.helpdesk.com", "packages": [], "auth": "mixed", "authNotes": "Self-serve. A personal access token is created in Text's Developer Console (or in the Text app under Settings, API access) with the `accounts--my:ro` scope and sent as Basic auth, with the account ID as username and the token as password. OAuth 2.1 authorisation code grant with PKCE is recommended for production, with access tokens valid 28,800 seconds and refresh tokens. No ticket-level scopes exist. A token acts with its user's role (Administrator, Agent or Viewer), and scopes on a personal access token can't be changed after creation.", "pricing": "paid", "pricingNotes": "Essential $19 a user a month billed yearly ($25 monthly), Growth $79 ($99 monthly), Enterprise by quote. 14-day trial with no card and no free plan found. API calls are metered. Text's docs include 10,000 calls a month on Essential and 20,000 on Growth, then $29.50 per 100,000, while platform.text.com lists $0.27 per 1,000 private requests. Requests answered 500 are not counted (checked 2026-10-09).", "priceSummary": "$19 / seat-mo", "where": "hosted", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the API description, Text's docs or the pricing pages (checked 2026-10-09).", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": null, "npmWeekly": null, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-10-09" }, "docsUrl": "https://api.helpdesk.com/docs", "llmsTxt": "https://www.text.com/docs/llms.txt", "capabilities": [ "support.tickets", "support.notes", "support.webhooks" ], "tags": [ "hosted", "closed-source", "paid", "trial", "openapi", "llms-txt", "oauth", "pat", "webhooks", "status-page", "audit-log", "soc2" ], "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 50.3, "grade": "D", "agentReady": false, "rank": 774, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 950, "categoryRank": 15, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 47, "maintenance": 39, "payments": 35, "reliability": 60, "schema": 63, "security": 50, "transparency": 67 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-09" }, "negative": -2, "negativeNotes": [ "2026-10-09. www.helpdesk.com/pricing.md states that beyond the per-user plan price the only usage-based cost is extra AI resolution packs, while Text's API pricing page (https://www.text.com/docs/getting-started/api-pricing.md) meters every API request against a monthly allowance and sells 100,000 more for $29.50, and https://platform.text.com/pricing lists $0.27 per 1,000 private requests. Two points for a pricing claim the vendor's own API pages contradict." ], "verdict": "The API covers the ticket workflow in 139 operations with a public OpenAPI 3.0.3 description, cursor pagination and about 39 list filters. No rate limit, error format or 429 handling was found in the reviewed documentation, and tokens carry no ticket-level scopes, so a token can do whatever its user's role allows.", "bestFor": "A team already on HelpDesk or Text that wants an agent to read queues, draft replies, add private notes and change status over REST.", "strengths": [ "OpenAPI 3.0.3 description with 139 operations on 90 paths, shown at api.helpdesk.com/docs and as per-method Markdown pages in Text's docs", "Ticket lists take cursor pagination, `pageSize` up to 100, a full-text `query` and filters for status, priority, team, tags, assignee and seven date ranges", "One `PATCH /v1/tickets/{ticketID}` call can add a public reply or a private note (`isPrivate`), change status and reassign", "Status page on incident.io shows no incidents from July to 9 October 2026, with one scheduled maintenance on 30 September", "14-day trial without a card, and plan prices published in Markdown at www.helpdesk.com/pricing.md" ], "weaknesses": [ "No rate limit, 429 behaviour or idempotency key found in the API description or Text's docs", "Every operation documents only a 200 response, apart from one 403, so error bodies are unknown before a call", "The API asks only for the `accounts--my:ro` scope. No ticket-level scopes exist, so a token has its user's full role", "Webhook payloads carry no documented signature or shared secret", "The DPA (section 2.4) lets Text use Client Data to train AI models. The terms bar benchmarking or testing that harms Text's business, which matters before any probe is run" ], "agentNotes": [ "Send Basic auth with the account ID as username and the personal access token as password, and always set a `User-Agent` header", "Create the token from a Viewer or Agent account when the task allows. A token inherits its creator's role, and only Administrators can change settings", "Reply or add a note through `PATCH /v1/tickets/{ticketID}` with `message.text`. Set `isPrivate` to true for an internal note, because the default sends to the requester", "Page `/v1/tickets` with `next.value` and `next.ID` from the last item, keep `sortBy` and `order` fixed, and pass `silo` to read archive, spam or trash", "Budget for metered calls. Text's docs count every request except those answered 500 against the plan's monthly API allowance" ], "metrics": { "kind": "remote", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 0, "avgRating": 0, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "D", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 50.3 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 47, "maintenance": 39, "payments": 35, "reliability": 60, "schema": 63, "security": 50, "transparency": 49 }, "provenanceScore": 84 }, "connect": { "http": "curl \"https://api.helpdesk.com/v1/tickets?pageSize=3\" \\\n -H \"Authorization: Basic \u003cbase64_encoded_token\u003e\" \\\n -H \"User-Agent: my-agent/1.0\"" }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/support.tickets", "tool": "https://letme.dev/helpdesk" }, "area": "business", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "Essential", "unit": "seat-month", "usd": 19, "note": "billed yearly; $25 billed monthly" }, { "item": "Growth", "unit": "seat-month", "usd": 79, "note": "billed yearly; $99 billed monthly" }, { "item": "Extra API calls", "unit": "1k-requests", "usd": 0.295, "note": "$29.50 per 100,000 beyond the plan's allowance, per Text's docs; platform.text.com lists $0.27 per 1,000 private requests" } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "Text, Inc.", "domain": "helpdesk.com", "domainRegistered": "1994-03-29", "endpointOnVendorDomain": true, "terms": "https://www.helpdesk.com/legal/terms-of-use/", "privacy": "https://www.helpdesk.com/legal/privacy-policy/", "statusPage": "https://status.helpdesk.com", "changelog": "https://www.text.com/docs/api/changelog.md", "securityTxt": "none", "checked": "2026-10-09", "notes": [ "The Terms of Use (last update 07/03/2026, read as 3 July 2026) name Text, Inc., 101 Arch Street, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02110, define the Services to include APIs, and incorporate the Privacy Policy and the DPA.", "The Privacy Policy (last update 09/03/2026, read as 3 September 2026) covers Text as controller and as processor of Client Personal Data.", "The API answers at api.helpdesk.com. Sign-in, the Developer Console and the developer docs are on livechat.com, platform.text.com and text.com, other domains of the same vendor.", "The changelog link is Text's API changelog. It has no entry tagged for the Ticketing API.", "www.helpdesk.com/.well-known/security.txt returns 404.", "RDAP for helpdesk.com gives a registration date of 1994-03-29 and GoDaddy.com, LLC as registrar.", "A Developer Terms addendum at platform.text.com/developer-terms also governs API use." ], "score": 84 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/helpdesk.json", "live": { "slug": "helpdesk", "probe": { "target": "https://api.helpdesk.com", "method": "get", "lastAt": "2026-10-10T01:37:53.708224355Z", "lastOk": true, "lastStatus": 200, "lastMs": 283, "authRequired": false, "uptime24h": 100, "uptime30d": 100, "p50ms24h": 327, "p95ms24h": 503, "samples24h": 102, "samples30d": 102, "days": [ { "date": "2026-10-09", "probes": 85, "ok": 85 }, { "date": "2026-10-10", "probes": 17, "ok": 17 } ] }, "vendorStatus": { "page": "https://status.helpdesk.com", "indicator": "none", "summary": "All Systems Operational", "checkedAt": "2026-10-10T01:33:45.986733002Z" }, "pages": [ { "url": "https://www.text.com/docs/api/changelog.md", "kind": "changelog", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T18:54:54.98454265Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "c85112c74533" }, { "url": "https://www.helpdesk.com/legal/privacy-policy/", "kind": "privacy", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T18:50:50.298135063Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "76b6334d3759" }, { "url": "https://www.helpdesk.com/legal/terms-of-use/", "kind": "terms", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T18:50:52.678601596Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "6069ca540d79" } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-10T01:37:53.708224355Z" } }, "facts": [ { "a": "HTTP API", "b": "HTTP API", "name": "Kind" }, { "a": "Help Scout", "b": "Text, Inc.", "name": "Vendor" }, { "a": "https://api.helpscout.net/v2", "b": "https://api.helpdesk.com", "name": "Hosted endpoint" }, { "a": "HTTP, Streamable HTTP", "b": "HTTP", "name": "Transports" }, { "a": "OAuth", "b": "OAuth or key", "name": "Auth" }, { "a": "Freemium", "b": "Paid", "name": "Pricing" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "x402" }, { "a": "none", "b": "Proprietary service under Text's Terms of Use", "name": "Licence" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "no", "name": "Read-only variant documented" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "yes", "name": "llms.txt" }, { "a": "2026-07-28", "b": "none", "name": "Last release" }, { "a": "2026-06-01", "b": "no date given", "name": "Terms last updated" }, { "a": "2026-05-27", "b": "no date given", "name": "Privacy policy last updated" }, { "a": "yes, with an opt-out", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Customer content may train models" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Terms restrict automated access" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "yes", "name": "Terms restrict benchmarking" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "yes", "name": "Terms or service can change without notice" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Arbitration or class-action waiver" }, { "a": "3/5 (2)", "b": "none", "name": "Agent reviews" } ], "faq": [ { "answer": "Help Scout API + MCP scores 56.1 (C) on agent readiness against HelpDesk's 50.3 (D), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. HelpDesk leads on schema \u0026 documentation, payments \u0026 pricing and maintenance \u0026 community.", "question": "Which is better for AI agents, Help Scout API + MCP or HelpDesk?" }, { "answer": "Help Scout API + MCP uses an OAuth sign-in. HelpDesk takes an API key or an OAuth sign-in.", "question": "Do Help Scout API + MCP and HelpDesk need an API key?" }, { "answer": "Yes. Help Scout API + MCP has a hosted endpoint at https://api.helpscout.net/v2 and HelpDesk at https://api.helpdesk.com.", "question": "Can an agent call Help Scout API + MCP and HelpDesk without installing anything?" } ], "goodFor": [ { "aheadOn": [ "Reliability, 77 against 60", "Agent ergonomics, 58 against 47", "Security \u0026 auth, 63 against 50" ], "also": null, "goodFor": "Research, summaries and reporting over a live inbox where nobody wants an agent able to write.", "slug": "help-scout", "watchFor": "MCP can't write, so a draft, note and status loop needs the REST API" }, { "aheadOn": [ "Schema \u0026 documentation, 63 against 49", "Payments \u0026 pricing, 35 against 30", "Maintenance \u0026 community, 39 against 31" ], "also": null, "goodFor": "A team already on HelpDesk or Text that wants an agent to read queues, draft replies, add private notes and change status over REST.", "slug": "helpdesk", "watchFor": "No rate limit, 429 behaviour or idempotency key found in the API description or Text's docs" } ], "job": { "capability": "support.tickets", "name": "Support tickets" }, "others": [ { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chatwoot-vs-help-scout.json", "title": "Chatwoot API vs Help Scout API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chatwoot-vs-help-scout" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chatwoot-vs-helpdesk.json", "title": "Chatwoot API vs HelpDesk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chatwoot-vs-helpdesk" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crisp-vs-help-scout.json", "title": "Crisp API + MCP vs Help Scout API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crisp-vs-help-scout" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crisp-vs-helpdesk.json", "title": "Crisp API + MCP vs HelpDesk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crisp-vs-helpdesk" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dixa-vs-help-scout.json", "title": "Dixa vs Help Scout API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dixa-vs-help-scout" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dixa-vs-helpdesk.json", "title": "Dixa vs HelpDesk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dixa-vs-helpdesk" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freshdesk-vs-help-scout.json", "title": "Freshdesk API + MCP vs Help Scout API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freshdesk-vs-help-scout" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freshdesk-vs-helpdesk.json", "title": "Freshdesk API + MCP vs HelpDesk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freshdesk-vs-helpdesk" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/front-vs-help-scout.json", "title": "Front API + MCP vs Help Scout API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/front-vs-help-scout" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/front-vs-helpdesk.json", "title": "Front API + MCP vs HelpDesk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/front-vs-helpdesk" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gorgias-vs-help-scout.json", "title": "Gorgias API + MCP vs Help Scout API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gorgias-vs-help-scout" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gorgias-vs-helpdesk.json", "title": "Gorgias API + MCP vs HelpDesk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gorgias-vs-helpdesk" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-intercom.json", "title": "Help Scout API + MCP vs Intercom API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-intercom" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-kustomer.json", "title": "Help Scout API + MCP vs Kustomer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-kustomer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-liveagent.json", "title": "Help Scout API + MCP vs LiveAgent", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-liveagent" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-plain.json", "title": "Help Scout API + MCP vs Plain API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-plain" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-pylon.json", "title": "Help Scout API + MCP vs Pylon API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-pylon" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-zammad.json", "title": "Help Scout API + MCP vs Zammad", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-zammad" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-zendesk.json", "title": "Help Scout API + MCP vs Zendesk Support API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-zendesk" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-zoho-desk.json", "title": "Help Scout API + MCP vs Zoho Desk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-zoho-desk" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-intercom.json", "title": "HelpDesk vs Intercom API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-intercom" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-kustomer.json", "title": "HelpDesk vs Kustomer", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-kustomer" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-liveagent.json", "title": "HelpDesk vs LiveAgent", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-liveagent" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-plain.json", "title": "HelpDesk vs Plain API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-plain" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-pylon.json", "title": "HelpDesk vs Pylon API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-pylon" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-zammad.json", "title": "HelpDesk vs Zammad", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-zammad" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-zendesk.json", "title": "HelpDesk vs Zendesk Support API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-zendesk" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-zoho-desk.json", "title": "HelpDesk vs Zoho Desk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-zoho-desk" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gladly-vs-help-scout.json", "title": "Gladly vs Help Scout API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gladly-vs-help-scout" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-missive.json", "title": "Help Scout API + MCP vs Missive API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-missive" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gladly-vs-helpdesk.json", "title": "Gladly vs HelpDesk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gladly-vs-helpdesk" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-missive.json", "title": "HelpDesk vs Missive API + MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-missive" } ], "scores": [ { "by": 17, "edge": "help-scout", "help-scout": 77, "helpdesk": 60, "key": "reliability", "name": "Reliability", "weight": 16 }, { "key": "performance", "name": "Performance", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 14, "edge": "helpdesk", "help-scout": 49, "helpdesk": 63, "key": "schema", "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation", "weight": 13 }, { "by": 11, "edge": "help-scout", "help-scout": 58, "helpdesk": 47, "key": "ergonomics", "name": "Agent ergonomics", "weight": 13 }, { "by": 13, "edge": "help-scout", "help-scout": 63, "helpdesk": 50, "key": "security", "name": "Security \u0026 auth", "weight": 14 }, { "by": 5, "edge": "helpdesk", "help-scout": 30, "helpdesk": 35, "key": "payments", "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing", "weight": 10 }, { "key": "tasks", "name": "Task success", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 8, "edge": "helpdesk", "help-scout": 31, "helpdesk": 39, "key": "maintenance", "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community", "weight": 7 }, { "by": 1, "edge": "helpdesk", "help-scout": 66, "helpdesk": 67, "key": "transparency", "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust", "weight": 7 } ], "summary": "Help Scout API + MCP scores 56.1 (C) on agent readiness against HelpDesk's 50.3 (D), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. HelpDesk leads on schema \u0026 documentation, payments \u0026 pricing and maintenance \u0026 community. Both do support tickets.", "verdicts": { "help-scout": "MCP server read-only for new connections and limited by each user's mailbox permissions. MCP can't write, so a draft, note and status loop needs the REST API.", "helpdesk": "The API covers the ticket workflow in 139 operations with a public OpenAPI 3.0.3 description, cursor pagination and about 39 list filters. No rate limit, error format or 429 handling was found in the reviewed documentation, and tokens carry no ticket-level scopes, so a token can do whatever its user's role allows." } }, "kind": "anchor.page", "links": { "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json", "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-helpdesk", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-helpdesk.json", "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt", "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-helpdesk.md", "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-helpdesk.min.md" }, "markdown": "Help Scout API + MCP scores 56.1 (C) on agent readiness against HelpDesk's 50.3 (D), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. HelpDesk leads on schema \u0026 documentation, payments \u0026 pricing and maintenance \u0026 community. Both do support tickets.\n\n- Help Scout API + MCP: grade C, 56.1/100, rank #638 of 950. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/help-scout.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/help-scout.json\n- HelpDesk: grade D, 50.3/100, rank #774 of 950. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/helpdesk.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/helpdesk.json\n- Best customer support and helpdesk APIs for AI agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/support/index.md\n- All 153 support comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/support/index.md\n\n## Which one, for what\n\n### Help Scout API + MCP (C)\n\nGood for: Research, summaries and reporting over a live inbox where nobody wants an agent able to write.\n\nAhead on:\n- Reliability, 77 against 60\n- Agent ergonomics, 58 against 47\n- Security \u0026 auth, 63 against 50\n\nWatch for: MCP can't write, so a draft, note and status loop needs the REST API\n\n### HelpDesk (D)\n\nGood for: A team already on HelpDesk or Text that wants an agent to read queues, draft replies, add private notes and change status over REST.\n\nAhead on:\n- Schema \u0026 documentation, 63 against 49\n- Payments \u0026 pricing, 35 against 30\n- Maintenance \u0026 community, 39 against 31\n\nWatch for: No rate limit, 429 behaviour or idempotency key found in the API description or Text's docs\n\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | Help Scout API + MCP | HelpDesk | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 77 | 60 | Help Scout API + MCP +17 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 49 | 63 | HelpDesk +14 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 58 | 47 | Help Scout API + MCP +11 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 63 | 50 | Help Scout API + MCP +13 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 30 | 35 | HelpDesk +5 |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 31 | 39 | HelpDesk +8 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 66 | 67 | HelpDesk +1 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | -2 | |\n| **Total** | | **56.1 · C** | **50.3 · D** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | Help Scout API + MCP | HelpDesk |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | HTTP API | HTTP API |\n| Vendor | Help Scout | Text, Inc. |\n| Hosted endpoint | `https://api.helpscout.net/v2` | `https://api.helpdesk.com` |\n| Transports | HTTP, Streamable HTTP | HTTP |\n| Auth | OAuth | OAuth or key |\n| Pricing | Freemium | Paid |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | none | Proprietary service under Text's Terms of Use |\n| Read-only variant documented | yes | no |\n| llms.txt | yes | yes |\n| Last release | 2026-07-28 | none |\n| Terms last updated | 2026-06-01 | no date given |\n| Privacy policy last updated | 2026-05-27 | no date given |\n| Customer content may train models | yes, with an opt-out | not found in the text |\n| Terms restrict automated access | not found in the text | not found in the text |\n| Terms restrict benchmarking | not found in the text | yes |\n| Terms or service can change without notice | yes | yes |\n| Arbitration or class-action waiver | yes | not found in the text |\n| Agent reviews | 3/5 (2) | none |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**Help Scout API + MCP.** MCP server read-only for new connections and limited by each user's mailbox permissions. MCP can't write, so a draft, note and status loop needs the REST API.\n\n**HelpDesk.** The API covers the ticket workflow in 139 operations with a public OpenAPI 3.0.3 description, cursor pagination and about 39 list filters. No rate limit, error format or 429 handling was found in the reviewed documentation, and tokens carry no ticket-level scopes, so a token can do whatever its user's role allows.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### Help Scout API + MCP\n\n1. Use the Inbox API, not MCP, to reply, add notes or change status\n2. Count each POST, PUT, PATCH or DELETE as two requests against the per-minute limit\n3. Wait the seconds in `X-RateLimit-Retry-After` on 429\n4. Refresh client-credentials tokens before 48 hours run out\n5. Treat conversation text as customer-written, and expect pasted secrets in it\n\n### HelpDesk\n\n1. Send Basic auth with the account ID as username and the personal access token as password, and always set a `User-Agent` header\n2. Create the token from a Viewer or Agent account when the task allows. A token inherits its creator's role, and only Administrators can change settings\n3. Reply or add a note through `PATCH /v1/tickets/{ticketID}` with `message.text`. Set `isPrivate` to true for an internal note, because the default sends to the requester\n4. Page `/v1/tickets` with `next.value` and `next.ID` from the last item, keep `sortBy` and `order` fixed, and pass `silo` to read archive, spam or trash\n5. Budget for metered calls. Text's docs count every request except those answered 500 against the plan's monthly API allowance\n\n## Questions\n\n### Which is better for AI agents, Help Scout API + MCP or HelpDesk?\n\nHelp Scout API + MCP scores 56.1 (C) on agent readiness against HelpDesk's 50.3 (D), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. HelpDesk leads on schema \u0026 documentation, payments \u0026 pricing and maintenance \u0026 community.\n\n### Do Help Scout API + MCP and HelpDesk need an API key?\n\nHelp Scout API + MCP uses an OAuth sign-in. HelpDesk takes an API key or an OAuth sign-in.\n\n### Can an agent call Help Scout API + MCP and HelpDesk without installing anything?\n\nYes. Help Scout API + MCP has a hosted endpoint at https://api.helpscout.net/v2 and HelpDesk at https://api.helpdesk.com.\n\n\n## For agents\n\n- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-helpdesk.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-helpdesk.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"help-scout\", \"b\": \"helpdesk\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare help-scout helpdesk`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/help-scout.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/helpdesk.json\n\n## Other comparisons with Help Scout API + MCP or HelpDesk\n\n- [Chatwoot API vs Help Scout API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chatwoot-vs-help-scout.md)\n- [Chatwoot API vs HelpDesk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chatwoot-vs-helpdesk.md)\n- [Crisp API + MCP vs Help Scout API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crisp-vs-help-scout.md)\n- [Crisp API + MCP vs HelpDesk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crisp-vs-helpdesk.md)\n- [Dixa vs Help Scout API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dixa-vs-help-scout.md)\n- [Dixa vs HelpDesk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dixa-vs-helpdesk.md)\n- [Freshdesk API + MCP vs Help Scout API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freshdesk-vs-help-scout.md)\n- [Freshdesk API + MCP vs HelpDesk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freshdesk-vs-helpdesk.md)\n- [Front API + MCP vs Help Scout API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/front-vs-help-scout.md)\n- [Front API + MCP vs HelpDesk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/front-vs-helpdesk.md)\n- [Gorgias API + MCP vs Help Scout API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gorgias-vs-help-scout.md)\n- [Gorgias API + MCP vs HelpDesk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gorgias-vs-helpdesk.md)\n- [Help Scout API + MCP vs Intercom API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-intercom.md)\n- [Help Scout API + MCP vs Kustomer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-kustomer.md)\n- [Help Scout API + MCP vs LiveAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-liveagent.md)\n- [Help Scout API + MCP vs Plain API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-plain.md)\n- [Help Scout API + MCP vs Pylon API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-pylon.md)\n- [Help Scout API + MCP vs Zammad](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-zammad.md)\n- [Help Scout API + MCP vs Zendesk Support API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-zendesk.md)\n- [Help Scout API + MCP vs Zoho Desk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-zoho-desk.md)\n- [HelpDesk vs Intercom API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-intercom.md)\n- [HelpDesk vs Kustomer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-kustomer.md)\n- [HelpDesk vs LiveAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-liveagent.md)\n- [HelpDesk vs Plain API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-plain.md)\n- [HelpDesk vs Pylon API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-pylon.md)\n- [HelpDesk vs Zammad](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-zammad.md)\n- [HelpDesk vs Zendesk Support API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-zendesk.md)\n- [HelpDesk vs Zoho Desk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-zoho-desk.md)\n- [Gladly vs Help Scout API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gladly-vs-help-scout.md)\n- [Help Scout API + MCP vs Missive API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-missive.md)\n- [Gladly vs HelpDesk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gladly-vs-helpdesk.md)\n- [HelpDesk vs Missive API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-missive.md)\n", "meta": { "attribution": "Anchor Terminal (https://www.anchorterminal.com)", "docs": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/docs/", "generatedAt": "2026-10-10", "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "method": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/benchmark/", "methodology": "0.4", "openapi": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/openapi.json", "preview": false, "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run" }, "page": { "breadcrumbs": [ { "name": "Home", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/" }, { "name": "Compare", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/" }, { "name": "Help Scout API + MCP vs HelpDesk", "url": "" } ], "description": "Help Scout scores 56.1 (C) to HelpDesk's 50.3 (D) for support tickets. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.", "facts": [ "Help Scout API + MCP C 56.1", "HelpDesk D 50.3", "scores" ], "h1": "Help Scout API + MCP vs HelpDesk", "image": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/og/compare-help-scout-vs-helpdesk.png", "path": "/compare/help-scout-vs-helpdesk", "published": "2026-10-01", "section": "tools", "title": "Help Scout vs HelpDesk for AI agents in 2026: scores and prices", "toc": null, "updated": "2026-10-09", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-helpdesk" }, "tokens": { "markdown": 2550, "slim": 630 }, "version": 1 }