{ "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": 574, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 842, "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": "2026-10-09T11:46:30.29156093Z", "lastOk": true, "lastStatus": 401, "lastMs": 250, "lastNote": "asks for credentials", "authRequired": true, "uptime24h": 100, "uptime30d": 100, "p50ms24h": 258, "p95ms24h": 334, "samples24h": 259, "samples30d": 2311, "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": 125, "ok": 125 } ] }, "vendorStatus": { "page": "https://status.helpscout.com", "indicator": "none", "summary": "All Systems Operational", "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T11:39:37.060395844Z" }, "securityTxt": { "url": "https://helpscout.com/.well-known/security.txt", "state": "none", "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T15:38:52.798744441Z" }, "llmsTxt": { "url": "https://developer.helpscout.com/llms.txt", "ok": true, "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T14:00:30.361159197Z" }, "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": "2026-10-08T18:28:16.733972814Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-05T16:03:00.702060144Z", "fingerprint": "173fffcd43b2" }, { "url": "https://www.helpscout.com/company/legal/privacy/", "kind": "privacy", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:28:12.656825232Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-05T16:02:56.383039969Z", "fingerprint": "8486b6162a8f" }, { "url": "https://www.helpscout.com/company/legal/terms-of-service/", "kind": "terms", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:28:14.915802422Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-05T16:02:58.822613464Z", "fingerprint": "36e9e0753f30" } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-09T11:46:30.29156093Z" } }, "answer": "Zoho Desk scores 66.6 (B) on agent readiness against Help Scout API + MCP's 56.1 (C), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories.", "b": { "slug": "zoho-desk", "name": "Zoho Desk", "vendor": "Zoho", "vendorUrl": "https://www.zoho.com/desk/", "kind": "http-api", "category": "support", "summary": "Zoho Desk is a hosted helpdesk from Zoho for tickets, contacts, knowledge base articles and support channels. Agents reach it through the REST API v1 behind OAuth 2.0, described in public OpenAPI 3.1 files.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/zoho-desk", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/zoho-desk.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/zoho-desk.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/zoho-desk.json", "repo": "https://github.com/zoho/zohodesk-oas", "license": "Proprietary service under Zoho's Terms of Service. The OpenAPI repository on GitHub has no licence file", "transports": [ "http" ], "packages": [], "auth": "oauth", "authNotes": "OAuth 2.0 only. A person registers a client in the Zoho API console (a web application, or a self client for one organisation) and approves scopes such as `Desk.tickets.READ`. The access token lasts one hour and goes in `Authorization: Zoho-oauthtoken \u003ctoken\u003e` or `Authorization: Bearer \u003ctoken\u003e`. Each token is bound to one Desk organisation, and each data centre has its own accounts host and API host. Registration is self-serve, with no app review or sales approval found for use inside one's own organisation.", "pricing": "freemium", "pricingNotes": "Free edition for three users with 5,000 API credits a day and no card. Paid editions cost $7 to $40 a user a month billed yearly ($9 to $50 monthly) and have a 15-day trial without a card. API calls draw on a daily credit allowance set by edition and user count. Extra credits start at $4.20 a month per 1,000 daily credits and are ordered by email (https://www.zoho.com/desk/pricing.html, checked 2026-10-08).", "priceSummary": "$7 / seat-mo", "where": "local", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the API document, the OpenAPI files or the pricing page (checked 2026-10-08).", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": null, "npmWeekly": null, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-10-08" }, "docsUrl": "https://desk.zoho.com/DeskAPIDocument", "openapi": "https://github.com/zoho/zohodesk-oas/tree/main/v1.0", "capabilities": [ "support.tickets", "support.conversations", "support.contacts", "support.notes", "support.webhooks" ], "tags": [ "hosted", "closed-source", "oauth", "openapi", "webhooks", "free-tier", "no-card", "java", "status-page", "bug-bounty", "soc2" ], "lastRelease": "2026-09-09", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 66.6, "grade": "B", "agentReady": false, "rank": 262, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 842, "categoryRank": 3, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 67, "maintenance": 63, "payments": 40, "reliability": 75, "schema": 72, "security": 66, "transparency": 79 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-08" }, "negative": 0, "verdict": "Public OpenAPI 3.1 files cover 911 operations, OAuth scopes separate read, create, update and delete per module, and replies can be saved as drafts or sent for review before a customer sees them. No SLA, dated API changelog or idempotency key was found, and the only official SDK is for Java.", "bestFor": "Teams already on Zoho who want an agent to read tickets, draft replies for review, add private comments and change status with narrow scopes, and small teams that want a free edition with API access.", "strengths": [ "OpenAPI 3.1 files for 185 resources and 911 operations are public on GitHub, last changed on 9 September 2026", "OAuth scopes split tickets, contacts, tasks, articles and events into READ, CREATE, UPDATE and DELETE", "`draftReply`, `sendDraft` and `sendForReview` let an agent stage a reply for a person before it is sent", "A 429 at the daily credit limit carries Retry-After, and every response reports credits used and remaining", "Free edition for three users with 5,000 API credits a day, and a 15-day trial of paid editions without a card" ], "weaknesses": [ "No SLA found, and the Terms of Service disclaim uninterrupted service", "No dated API changelog. Changes are announced in a community forum that loads by script", "No idempotency key on writes, and Retry-After is absent on concurrency 429s", "The only official SDK is for Java, version 1.3.0, with no release date or source repository found", "Webhooks need Professional or higher. Free and Standard have none", "Zoho's OAuth guide documents a refresh call with the client secret in the URL query string" ], "agentNotes": [ "Use the `api_domain` returned with the token. Each data centre has its own host, such as desk.zoho.com, desk.zoho.eu and desk.zoho.in", "Send `Authorization: Zoho-oauthtoken \u003ctoken\u003e` and refresh hourly. Put refresh parameters in the POST body, not the URL", "Create replies with `POST /api/v1/tickets/{id}/draftReply`, then `sendDraft` or `sendForReview`. `sendReply` emails the customer", "Add internal notes with `POST /api/v1/tickets/{id}/comments` and `isPublic` false", "Page with `from` and `limit` (50 at most). Deep offsets cost more credits, from 3 a call under 2,000 records to 100 above 100,000" ], "metrics": { "kind": "remote", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 0, "avgRating": 0, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "B", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 66.6 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 67, "maintenance": 63, "payments": 40, "reliability": 75, "schema": 72, "security": 66, "transparency": 62 }, "provenanceScore": 95 }, "connect": { "http": "curl -X GET \"https://desk.zoho.com/api/v1/tickets?limit=5\" \\\n -H \"orgId: $ZOHO_DESK_ORG_ID\" \\\n -H \"Authorization: Zoho-oauthtoken $ZOHO_ACCESS_TOKEN\"" }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/support.tickets", "tool": "https://letme.dev/zoho-desk" }, "sameCompany": [ "zoho-books", "zoho-zeptomail", "zoho-crm", "zoho-recruit", "zoho-people", "zoho-mail" ], "area": "business", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "Express", "unit": "seat-month", "usd": 7, "note": "billed yearly; $9 billed monthly" }, { "item": "Standard", "unit": "seat-month", "usd": 14, "note": "billed yearly; $20 billed monthly" }, { "item": "Professional", "unit": "seat-month", "usd": 23, "note": "billed yearly; $35 billed monthly" }, { "item": "Enterprise", "unit": "seat-month", "usd": 40, "note": "billed yearly; $50 billed monthly" }, { "item": "Add-on API credits, first 25,000 a day", "unit": "credit", "usd": 0.0042, "note": "$4.20 a month per 1,000 daily credits, falling to $0.75 above 250,000; ordered by email to support" } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "Zoho Corporation Private Limited", "domain": "zoho.com", "domainRegistered": "2004-01-16", "domainNote": "The US API answers at desk.zoho.com. Other data centres use Zoho domains such as desk.zoho.eu, desk.zoho.in and desk.zohocloud.ca.", "endpointOnVendorDomain": true, "terms": "https://www.zoho.com/terms.html", "privacy": "https://www.zoho.com/privacy.html", "statusPage": "https://status.zoho.com", "changelog": "https://help.zoho.com/portal/community/zoho-desk/zoho-desk-developer-apis", "securityTxt": "valid", "checked": "2026-10-08", "notes": [ "The Terms of Service (last updated 2 March 2022) are the service agreement for Zoho's online services. They name the applicable Zoho contracting entity by region (https://www.zoho.com/legal/zoho-contracting-entities.html), which we did not re-read today.", "The privacy policy was last updated on 22 December 2025. Its Part II covers service data held in Zoho products.", "security.txt at www.zoho.com gives a bug bounty contact, security@zohocorp.com, a policy link and an expiry of 30 June 2028.", "The API document says changes are announced in the Zoho Desk Developer APIs forum. The forum loads by script and no dated entry could be read. No other API changelog was found.", "status.zoho.com redirects to us.zohostatus.com, which lists a Zoho Desk component.", "RDAP for zoho.com gives a registration date of 2004-01-16." ], "score": 95 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/zoho-desk.json", "live": { "slug": "zoho-desk", "vendorStatus": { "page": "https://status.zoho.com", "indicator": "unknown", "summary": "no machine-readable status found", "checkedAt": "2026-10-09T07:58:42.65135167Z" }, "updatedAt": "2026-10-09T07:58:42.65135167Z" } }, "facts": [ { "a": "HTTP API", "b": "HTTP API", "name": "Kind" }, { "a": "Help Scout", "b": "Zoho", "name": "Vendor" }, { "a": "https://api.helpscout.net/v2", "b": "no (local only)", "name": "Hosted endpoint" }, { "a": "HTTP, Streamable HTTP", "b": "HTTP", "name": "Transports" }, { "a": "OAuth", "b": "OAuth", "name": "Auth" }, { "a": "Freemium", "b": "Freemium", "name": "Pricing" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "x402" }, { "a": "none", "b": "Proprietary service under Zoho's Terms of Service. The OpenAPI repository on GitHub has no licence file", "name": "Licence" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "no", "name": "Read-only variant documented" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "no", "name": "llms.txt" }, { "a": "2026-07-28", "b": "2026-09-09", "name": "Last release" }, { "a": "2026-06-01", "b": "2022-03-02", "name": "Terms last updated" }, { "a": "2026-05-27", "b": "2025-12-22", "name": "Privacy policy last updated" }, { "a": "yes, with an opt-out", "b": "yes", "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": "not found in the text", "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": "Zoho Desk scores 66.6 (B) on agent readiness against Help Scout API + MCP's 56.1 (C), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories.", "question": "Which is better for AI agents, Help Scout API + MCP or Zoho Desk?" }, { "answer": "Both use an OAuth sign-in.", "question": "Do Help Scout API + MCP and Zoho Desk need an API key?" }, { "answer": "Help Scout API + MCP has a hosted endpoint at https://api.helpscout.net/v2. No hosted endpoint is listed for Zoho Desk.", "question": "Can an agent call Help Scout API + MCP and Zoho Desk without installing anything?" } ], "goodFor": [ { "aheadOn": null, "also": [ "A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install" ], "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, 72 against 49", "Agent ergonomics, 67 against 58", "Payments \u0026 pricing, 40 against 30", "Maintenance \u0026 community, 63 against 31", "Transparency \u0026 trust, 79 against 66" ], "also": [ "Free to start without a card" ], "goodFor": "Teams already on Zoho who want an agent to read tickets, draft replies for review, add private comments and change status with narrow scopes, and small teams that want a free edition with API access.", "slug": "zoho-desk", "watchFor": "No SLA found, and the Terms of Service disclaim uninterrupted service" } ], "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-zoho-desk.json", "title": "Chatwoot API vs Zoho Desk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chatwoot-vs-zoho-desk" }, { "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-zoho-desk.json", "title": "Crisp API + MCP vs Zoho Desk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crisp-vs-zoho-desk" }, { "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-zoho-desk.json", "title": "Dixa vs Zoho Desk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dixa-vs-zoho-desk" }, { "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-zoho-desk.json", "title": "Freshdesk API + MCP vs Zoho Desk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freshdesk-vs-zoho-desk" }, { "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-zoho-desk.json", "title": "Front API + MCP vs Zoho Desk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/front-vs-zoho-desk" }, { "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-zoho-desk.json", "title": "Gorgias API + MCP vs Zoho Desk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gorgias-vs-zoho-desk" }, { "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-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/intercom-vs-zoho-desk.json", "title": "Intercom API + MCP vs Zoho Desk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/intercom-vs-zoho-desk" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kustomer-vs-zoho-desk.json", "title": "Kustomer vs Zoho Desk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kustomer-vs-zoho-desk" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/plain-vs-zoho-desk.json", "title": "Plain API + MCP vs Zoho Desk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/plain-vs-zoho-desk" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pylon-vs-zoho-desk.json", "title": "Pylon API + MCP vs Zoho Desk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pylon-vs-zoho-desk" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/zammad-vs-zoho-desk.json", "title": "Zammad vs Zoho Desk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/zammad-vs-zoho-desk" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/zendesk-vs-zoho-desk.json", "title": "Zendesk Support API vs Zoho Desk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/zendesk-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/gladly-vs-zoho-desk.json", "title": "Gladly vs Zoho Desk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gladly-vs-zoho-desk" }, { "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/missive-vs-zoho-desk.json", "title": "Missive API + MCP vs Zoho Desk", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/missive-vs-zoho-desk" } ], "scores": [ { "by": 2, "edge": "help-scout", "help-scout": 77, "key": "reliability", "name": "Reliability", "weight": 16, "zoho-desk": 75 }, { "key": "performance", "name": "Performance", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 23, "edge": "zoho-desk", "help-scout": 49, "key": "schema", "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation", "weight": 13, "zoho-desk": 72 }, { "by": 9, "edge": "zoho-desk", "help-scout": 58, "key": "ergonomics", "name": "Agent ergonomics", "weight": 13, "zoho-desk": 67 }, { "by": 3, "edge": "zoho-desk", "help-scout": 63, "key": "security", "name": "Security \u0026 auth", "weight": 14, "zoho-desk": 66 }, { "by": 10, "edge": "zoho-desk", "help-scout": 30, "key": "payments", "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing", "weight": 10, "zoho-desk": 40 }, { "key": "tasks", "name": "Task success", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 32, "edge": "zoho-desk", "help-scout": 31, "key": "maintenance", "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community", "weight": 7, "zoho-desk": 63 }, { "by": 13, "edge": "zoho-desk", "help-scout": 66, "key": "transparency", "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust", "weight": 7, "zoho-desk": 79 } ], "summary": "Zoho Desk scores 66.6 (B) on agent readiness against Help Scout API + MCP's 56.1 (C), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. 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.", "zoho-desk": "Public OpenAPI 3.1 files cover 911 operations, OAuth scopes separate read, create, update and delete per module, and replies can be saved as drafts or sent for review before a customer sees them. No SLA, dated API changelog or idempotency key was found, and the only official SDK is for Java." } }, "kind": "anchor.page", "links": { "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json", "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-zoho-desk", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-zoho-desk.json", "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt", "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-zoho-desk.md", "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-zoho-desk.min.md" }, "markdown": "Zoho Desk scores 66.6 (B) on agent readiness against Help Scout API + MCP's 56.1 (C), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Both do support tickets.\n\n- Help Scout API + MCP: grade C, 56.1/100, rank #574 of 842. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/help-scout.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/help-scout.json\n- Zoho Desk: grade B, 66.6/100, rank #262 of 842. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/zoho-desk.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/zoho-desk.json\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\nAlso in its favour:\n- A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install\n\nWatch for: MCP can't write, so a draft, note and status loop needs the REST API\n\n### Zoho Desk (B)\n\nGood for: Teams already on Zoho who want an agent to read tickets, draft replies for review, add private comments and change status with narrow scopes, and small teams that want a free edition with API access.\n\nAhead on:\n- Schema \u0026 documentation, 72 against 49\n- Agent ergonomics, 67 against 58\n- Payments \u0026 pricing, 40 against 30\n- Maintenance \u0026 community, 63 against 31\n- Transparency \u0026 trust, 79 against 66\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- Free to start without a card\n\nWatch for: No SLA found, and the Terms of Service disclaim uninterrupted service\n\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | Help Scout API + MCP | Zoho Desk | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 77 | 75 | Help Scout API + MCP +2 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 49 | 72 | Zoho Desk +23 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 58 | 67 | Zoho Desk +9 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 63 | 66 | Zoho Desk +3 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 30 | 40 | Zoho Desk +10 |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 31 | 63 | Zoho Desk +32 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 66 | 79 | Zoho Desk +13 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |\n| **Total** | | **56.1 · C** | **66.6 · B** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | Help Scout API + MCP | Zoho Desk |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | HTTP API | HTTP API |\n| Vendor | Help Scout | Zoho |\n| Hosted endpoint | `https://api.helpscout.net/v2` | no (local only) |\n| Transports | HTTP, Streamable HTTP | HTTP |\n| Auth | OAuth | OAuth |\n| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | none | Proprietary service under Zoho's Terms of Service. The OpenAPI repository on GitHub has no licence file |\n| Read-only variant documented | yes | no |\n| llms.txt | yes | no |\n| Last release | 2026-07-28 | 2026-09-09 |\n| Terms last updated | 2026-06-01 | 2022-03-02 |\n| Privacy policy last updated | 2026-05-27 | 2025-12-22 |\n| Customer content may train models | yes, with an opt-out | yes |\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 | not found in the text |\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**Zoho Desk.** Public OpenAPI 3.1 files cover 911 operations, OAuth scopes separate read, create, update and delete per module, and replies can be saved as drafts or sent for review before a customer sees them. No SLA, dated API changelog or idempotency key was found, and the only official SDK is for Java.\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### Zoho Desk\n\n1. Use the `api_domain` returned with the token. Each data centre has its own host, such as desk.zoho.com, desk.zoho.eu and desk.zoho.in\n2. Send `Authorization: Zoho-oauthtoken \u003ctoken\u003e` and refresh hourly. Put refresh parameters in the POST body, not the URL\n3. Create replies with `POST /api/v1/tickets/{id}/draftReply`, then `sendDraft` or `sendForReview`. `sendReply` emails the customer\n4. Add internal notes with `POST /api/v1/tickets/{id}/comments` and `isPublic` false\n5. Page with `from` and `limit` (50 at most). Deep offsets cost more credits, from 3 a call under 2,000 records to 100 above 100,000\n\n## Questions\n\n### Which is better for AI agents, Help Scout API + MCP or Zoho Desk?\n\nZoho Desk scores 66.6 (B) on agent readiness against Help Scout API + MCP's 56.1 (C), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories.\n\n### Do Help Scout API + MCP and Zoho Desk need an API key?\n\nBoth use an OAuth sign-in.\n\n### Can an agent call Help Scout API + MCP and Zoho Desk without installing anything?\n\nHelp Scout API + MCP has a hosted endpoint at https://api.helpscout.net/v2. No hosted endpoint is listed for Zoho Desk.\n\n\n## For agents\n\n- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-zoho-desk.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-zoho-desk.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"help-scout\", \"b\": \"zoho-desk\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare help-scout zoho-desk`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/help-scout.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/zoho-desk.json\n\n## Other comparisons with Help Scout API + MCP or Zoho Desk\n\n- [Chatwoot API vs Help Scout API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chatwoot-vs-help-scout.md)\n- [Chatwoot API vs Zoho Desk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chatwoot-vs-zoho-desk.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 Zoho Desk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crisp-vs-zoho-desk.md)\n- [Dixa vs Help Scout API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dixa-vs-help-scout.md)\n- [Dixa vs Zoho Desk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dixa-vs-zoho-desk.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 Zoho Desk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freshdesk-vs-zoho-desk.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 Zoho Desk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/front-vs-zoho-desk.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 Zoho Desk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gorgias-vs-zoho-desk.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 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- [Intercom API + MCP vs Zoho Desk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/intercom-vs-zoho-desk.md)\n- [Kustomer vs Zoho Desk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kustomer-vs-zoho-desk.md)\n- [Plain API + MCP vs Zoho Desk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/plain-vs-zoho-desk.md)\n- [Pylon API + MCP vs Zoho Desk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/pylon-vs-zoho-desk.md)\n- [Zammad vs Zoho Desk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/zammad-vs-zoho-desk.md)\n- [Zendesk Support API vs Zoho Desk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/zendesk-vs-zoho-desk.md)\n- [Gladly vs Help Scout API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gladly-vs-help-scout.md)\n- [Gladly vs Zoho Desk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gladly-vs-zoho-desk.md)\n- [Help Scout API + MCP vs Missive API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-missive.md)\n- [Missive API + MCP vs Zoho Desk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/missive-vs-zoho-desk.md)\n", "meta": { "attribution": "Anchor Terminal (https://www.anchorterminal.com)", "docs": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/docs/", "generatedAt": "2026-10-09", "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 Zoho Desk", "url": "" } ], "description": "Zoho Desk scores 66.6 (B) on agent readiness against Help Scout API + MCP's 56.1 (C), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Both do support tickets. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent notes side by side.", "facts": [ "Help Scout API + MCP C 56.1", "Zoho Desk B 66.6", "scores" ], "h1": "Help Scout API + MCP vs Zoho Desk", "image": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/og/compare-help-scout-vs-zoho-desk.png", "path": "/compare/help-scout-vs-zoho-desk", "published": "2026-10-01", "section": "tools", "title": "Help Scout API + MCP vs Zoho Desk for AI agents, C 56.1 vs B 66.6", "toc": null, "updated": "2026-10-09", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-zoho-desk" }, "tokens": { "markdown": 2350, "slim": 680 }, "version": 1 }