Here are the one's I am looking at:

DeskPro
PerlDesk2 RC1
PerlDesk1.8?
InverseFlow Help desk

Thanks

There isn't the best.
But I know many good HelpDesks:

eSupport (Kayako)
Ceberus Helpdesk
Support Logic ...

My preference is for Cerberus (by a mile!), having tried InverseFlow (currently unsupported AFAIK), PerlDesk and EdgePanel.

perldesk is nice and simple, never tried any others

I just got my enterprise desk pro license last month and while I haven't tested it on my clients, what I've seen with it so far is definately amazing. It has so many features it's mind boggling(ok not really).

So far I've used:
perl desk(hated it)
Kayako(Decent)
Desk Pro(Best out of the 3)

I've used PerlDesk for two years now (free version) and I am very happy with it.

Inverseflow is the best in my opinion

Kayako eSupport is very good. There are many companies here on WebHostingTalk who use it, and it has a lot of features - and clients seem to find it very easy to get around and use.

There really isn't one perfect help desk system, as each person wants something different.

It's like everything else in life - Each person has different wants, needs and preferences; meaning nothing can be "best" as for each person there is a different "best".

It'd be best to try them all out, and see which one you find easiest to use. Also try to think of your clients when you choose a help desk.

Good luck with choosing a help desk. :)

Kayako's eSupport gets my vote as well. Very simple, intuitive interface with many features.

Kayako's eSupport, it very easy to use, and looks darn good ;)

I think Perldesk and Kayako are the best.
Perldesk is simple and sweet while Kayako is with much more cool features and attractive looks.

I purchased Perdesk at the begining of the week. I had to abort my installation midway last Wedneday because of NO support. I still have not heard from anyone. I am dissapointed because the product seems to be versatile but it does me no good if it is not installed!

I use osTicket and Help Centre Live. Both are free, Help Centre Live is far superior but osTicket is simple and does not require the user to register.

Overall, id say HCL is the best ive used :)

I wouldn't buy InverseFlow. The site was bought from Dan@dkAds a while back and I don't even think the new guy/company supports the product anymore. Their tech support site isn't up and the site hasn't been updated in ages. I have no clue what product they are selling.

We use a heavily modified version of ExoPHPDesk (Free) Client Exec (Not Free) OD FAQ (Free and semi integrated into the helpdesk ) Netstatus monitor (Free) And magic news ( can be free but we just paid a fee for it more like a donation ) which is integrated into the helpdesk.

I prefer open source scripts , I like the flexibility , and the support is usually better than any paid for scripts.

As others have said there is no one perfect setup , just what works for you.

Most of the people responding seem to be hosts, so I'll give you a user's standpoint. One of my hosts used to use perldesk, one still does, and I hate it. The one who switched uses Kayako now, which is a lot better, since it also is in their billing system, too (modernbill). One of my hosts used RightNow, and that was ok, but it's really expensive. They switched to Kayako, too.

I also used to use a host who was using some homegrown piece of crap that couldn't seem to do anything at all, but you probably wouldn't run across that in your search for software. :)

I personally like PerlDesk. I think its a great solution for the price.

Try Cerberus, great software .

Kayako's eSupport is the best.

We also purchased Perl Desk, but Kayako's eSupport outclassed it!

Another vote for kayako. I love it and it is very versitile, has good support and is constantly being developed.

Great software.

Jeff

Yep, Its a great tool, and expands quite well. In fact, its priced very competitively to Cerberus as well which makes it a better option to it (in my opinion).

There's no best helpdesk, only a helpdesk that's best for you. :D

Deskpro is good, over-featured, and over-priced, but good.

SupportLogic is my favorite, open source, and very good.

PerlDesk and Kayako rank about the same with me..both have their advantages and disadvantages...but in teh end, both are at the bottom of the chain.

Yea, I agree... only the best desk for your needs. Cerberus has an amazing parser/email handling system, but its a tad week on the customer web page submission (although they are working on that). Depends on what your needs are and how your customers contact you.

Originally posted by nickn
There's no best helpdesk, only a helpdesk that's best for you. :D

Deskpro is good, over-featured, and over-priced, but good.

SupportLogic is my favorite, open source, and very good.

PerlDesk and Kayako rank about the same with me..both have their advantages and disadvantages...but in teh end, both are at the bottom of the chain.

this is such a true statement , when I was looking for a helpdesk , I had to think of the Admin/Staff needs and the computer knowledge level of my clients , what we picked with some changes , has blended both admin and user.

I personaly couldnt find one good helpdesk that would match my needs, so what do i do? Code my own :D havent opened it up to our clients yet as I am bug testing it etc, at least whe nyou code your own you can make it exacley how you want it and not how someone else thinks you want it.

I use Help Center Live. Its does all that you need it to do, plus more. Gives you the ability to do support tickets, live support/chat with visitors to particular pages. It even gives you whats called "hot spots" so when a particular page is visited, you receive a notice. Definately worth the investigation and trial. Best of all, its free.

I am thinking about getting kayako esupport leased, though for the people that have it can you change the knowlege base links to Vito's http://demodemo.com/democenter.html. Is the pages customizable?

Thanks
-jb

JasonBD, You will have to purchase those from him, I think only then you can use it..

... and the pages just come in 4 skins, i dont think they are customizable.

Oh no! maybe i wrote my post wrong. I want to have kayako and they have a knowledge base link on there product when you go to the kayako support. I was asking am I am to customize kayako so instead of going to a kayako knowledge base I make can I link it to the democenter i purchased from vito?

-jb

Yep, thats possible and quite easy to do right from the admin control panel.

I use Cerberus Helpdesk too
It's easy to use, and featureful..

Cerberus Helpdesk hands down. Been using it for over a year now.

We have used Wonderdesk, Perldesk, and Kayako. Of those, Kayako has been the clear winner for us.

InverseFlow and AceHelpDesk are the same with one difference, about $150.

I don't support osTicket and I took down the latest 1.3 version.

I personally like PerlDesk. Clean, Simple, and professional. I wish it was in PHP or had atleast a PHP frontend though.

Cerberus seems to be good, but I don't like the interface at the moment.

DeskPro has alot of features, but I don't think I would know what to do with half of them.

I also really like Kayako, seems to be really good and clean. I never tried it though.

Interesting note about acehelpdesk,
does anybody know the complete story of why acehelpdesk and inverseflow are the same but with different price?

www.deskpro.com is the best helpdesk ever produced.

Recently found this one... (based on windows+asp)
but looks very good

http://www.expinion.net/software/app_helpdesk.asp?tab=2

Originally posted by HBN
www.deskpro.com is the best helpdesk ever produced. What makes you feel so strongly about this?

I am currently looking to replace my InverseFlow as it is no longer supported by its original developer, and would love any input as to what makes deskpro so good?

I was leaning toward Cerberus, but it looked a bit confusing. Kayako I dont like because you cant customize its appearance/lose the branding.

Kayako I dont like because you cant customize its appearance/lose the branding.
You can *completely* customize the client UI including the header and banner using the Templates feature of eSupport to match your existing site layout.

Regards,

Hiren Mehta

Originally posted by albatroz
Interesting note about acehelpdesk,
does anybody know the complete story of why acehelpdesk and inverseflow are the same but with different price?

Check this (http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=334722&highlight=h2desk) thread out

Summed up, both InverseFlow and Ace Help Desk are being operated by the same guy, and he's selling the software illegally (I'm the original author). I sell h2desk now, which is somewhat similar to the original InverseFlow.

You know what you could do Heath. You could offer the script on your site. Admit you wrote the script for resell on InverseFlow which is now being sold illegally on InverseFlow and AceHelpdesk and that it is no longer supported. Resell the unsupported script for less and put them in their place. I can't see why you haven't done this already.

The only problem I have with IonCube or Zend is that developers encrypt everything, because it's easier for them. It's more of a nescient for customers than a convenient for developers. There should be at one point a fair compromise allowing customers (the people buying the script and paying your bills) the ability to either themselves or have their web developer implement the user end into the design of their site while keeping the backend/staff/admin part encrypted.

This adds flexibilty with security. Many scripts I work with I have to change the user end URL string to use my template and allow the script to function with it. I can't do this if they encrypt it and would look for another similar script that atleast does not encrypt the user part which is now much more easily available than before. Thank you open source and people who don't think about themselves.

Honestly at the moment I'm loving Support-Logic from http://www.support-logic.com/

osTicket is very good too for a basic helpdesk but, if you need more features definately go for Support-Logic.

Originally posted by tpetersen
Cerberus Helpdesk hands down. Been using it for over a year now.
I've got to agree with you here. :agree:

I like Cerberus, but it's too expensive!
Now using free version with one e-mail. And I'll think twice before pay such a big price for it.

I like Cerberus, but it's too expensive!
Now using free version with one e-mail. And I'll think twice before pay such a big price for it.

Hey there,

Glad you like it! :)

You're more than welcome to share your pricing concerns with us. Hop on our site for a live chat or drop us an e-mail.

Thanks!

Jeff and the guys are great about flexibility... one option you do have is thier hosted version. That'll cut pricing for you and you don't have to worry about upgrades and what not.

You guys have to try ComDev Help Desk
( Comdevweb .com )


Its so easy to use, works perfectly, has all the features and is only 59 bucks one time fee for a license. I had a little trouble instaling it, but their tech support helped me out and actually finished installing it for me. its probably my fault tho, installation is very straightforward.
i have been using it for 2 months now, and absolutely love it..
Check it out!