Front
A shared inbox and customer operations platform for email, SMS and messaging, priced at about $25, $65 and $105 per seat on annual billing.
- Free trial
- Per-seat pricing
- Usage-based elements
- Cloud
- AI features
- Independent sources
What is Front?
Front is a collaborative shared inbox and customer service platform that brings email, SMS, chat and messaging channels into one workspace where teams assign, comment on and draft replies together.
- Best forTeams that run customer communication from shared inboxes
- Team size fitSmall teams, Mid-size teams, Large enterprises
- PricingReported at $25 (Starter), $65 (Professional) and $105 (Enterprise) per seat per month billed annually.
- Main limitationStarter is capped at 10 seats and one channel type, and Professional at 50 seats, which forces upgrades as teams grow.
- AlternativesHelp Scout, Zendesk, Freshdesk, Intercom
Front overview: who it is for and what it does.
Front began as a shared inbox and grew into a customer operations platform. Teams connect support, sales or account inboxes, then assign conversations, leave internal comments, co-draft replies and apply automations and SLAs, so people who live in email can collaborate without forwarding or copying each other.
Pricing changed in 2025. Independent sources checking Front's pricing page report three seat-based plans: Starter at $25, Professional at $65 and Enterprise at $105 per seat per month on annual billing, with monthly billing at about $35 on Starter and $85 on Professional. Older guides still quote a four-plan model at $19, $59, $99 and $229, which one reviewer says was replaced by August 2025, so use only recent figures.
Buyers should watch seat caps and add-ons. Starter is reported to be capped at 10 seats and one channel type, Professional at 50 seats, and AI features such as Copilot and Smart QA are reported as paid per-seat add-ons, with Autopilot priced from $0.05 per conversation. WhatsApp is reported as a paid inbox add-on.
Scope: This profile covers Front, the customer operations and shared inbox platform at front.com. Older articles describe a four-plan model (Starter, Growth, Scale, Premier) that independent sources say has been replaced.
Main problem it solves
Lets teams manage customer email and messaging collaboratively without forwarding, CCing or losing track of who owns a conversation.
Typical customer segment
Support, success and operations teams that handle customer communication by email, from small teams on Starter to large organisations on Enterprise.
Target users
- Support and customer success teams that work from shared inboxes
- Operations and logistics teams that handle high-volume email
- Teams that want helpdesk features without a ticket-queue feel
Primary use cases
- Shared support and sales inboxes
- Collaborative reply drafting
- Omnichannel email, SMS and chat
- Automations, SLAs and routing
- Self-service knowledge base
What makes it distinct
- Collaboration features such as shared drafts and internal comments inside the inbox.
- Individual inboxes and calendars next to shared inboxes.
- Seat-based plans with optional per-seat and usage-based AI add-ons.
Front features explained.
Shared inbox and collaboration
- Shared inboxes with assignment
- Conversations can be assigned to teammates, with ownership visible to everyone.
- Internal comments and shared drafts
- Teammates can discuss a conversation privately and co-edit a reply before sending.
- Individual inbox and calendar
- Reviewers list personal inboxes and calendar alongside team inboxes.
Channels and knowledge
- Email, SMS, chat and messaging
- Front consolidates email, SMS and messaging channels. WhatsApp is reported as a paid inbox add-on.
- Public knowledge base
- Reported on Starter as a no-code public knowledge base, with more on higher plans.
- Ticketing
- Shared inbox and ticketing are listed on every plan.
Automation, AI and analytics
- Rules and automations
- Reported as about 10 rules on Starter and 50 rules on higher plans, with more advanced workflows above.
- AI add-ons
- Copilot (suggested replies), Smart QA and Smart CSAT are reported as per-seat add-ons, and Autopilot is reported from $0.05 per conversation.
- Analytics and SLAs
- Basic analytics on Starter, with advanced analytics, SLAs and CRM sync reported on higher plans.
Front pricing and plans.
Figures reported consistently by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly. Checked 17 Oct 2026 against Chatarmin · Macha · Carly.
Pricing model
Per seat per month by plan, billed annually or monthly. Enterprise is reported as annual only. AI features are sold as per-seat or per-conversation add-ons.
Free plan
No
Free trial
Yes A 7-day free trial is reported by one directory.
Front plans and prices (USD)
Starter
$25 per seat per month billed annually; about $35 billed monthly
Annual or monthly
Reported cap of 10 seats and one channel type, about 10 rules and basic analytics.
Professional
$65 per seat per month billed annually; about $85 billed monthly
Annual or monthly
Reported cap of 50 seats, more automation, analytics and multiple channels.
Enterprise
$105 per seat per month billed annually
Annual only
Advanced permissions, higher limits and enterprise support (reported).
The three-plan figures come from recent independent guides, including one that checked Front's pricing page on 29 September 2026. A previous four-plan model (Starter $19, Growth $59, Scale $99, Premier $229) is outdated but still appears in older guides. AI add-on prices are third-party estimates. Confirm current prices on front.com.
Prices change. Confirm current plans and terms on the vendor's site before you decide.
Visit official website (external) ↗See alternativesFront integrations, API and platforms.
Important integrations
- SMS
- WhatsApp (add-on)
- Live chat
- CRM sync (higher plans)
- API
Supported platforms
- Web
- Desktop
- iOS
- Android
API
Capterra reports API rate limits of 100, 200 and 500 requests per minute on the older Growth, Scale and Premier plans. Current limits were not confirmed.
Data import and export
Not reviewed for this profile.
Integration coverage was assessed from reviews only. Check Front's integration directory for your tools.
Balanced and sourced.
Each point cites a source. Editorial summaries are not customer reviews.
Strengths
- Collaboration features such as shared drafts and internal comments keep conversations inside one system. [3]
- Every plan includes shared inbox and ticketing, and the structure is now three clear tiers. [1]
- Front handles an omnichannel inbox well, according to independent reviewers. [1]
- Clear per-seat prices are published for each plan on annual billing. [2]
Limitations
- Starter is capped at 10 seats and one channel type, and Professional at 50 seats, which forces upgrades as teams grow. [1]
- AI features, WhatsApp and other extras are paid add-ons on top of seat prices. [1]
- Per-seat pricing is higher than many helpdesk tools, and higher tiers may carry seat minimums. [4]
- Mobile apps are rated lower than the web product in app stores. [3]
- Older pricing from before 2025 is still widely quoted, which can mislead buyers. [3]
Best for
- Teams that run customer communication from shared inboxes
- Operations and support teams that collaborate on replies
- Organisations that want helpdesk features without a ticket-queue feel
May be less suited to
- Very small budgets, where free or lower-cost helpdesks fit better
- Teams that mainly want a self-service help centre
- Buyers who want AI included in the seat price
Alternatives to Front.
Help Scout
An email-style shared inbox for customer support with Docs and Beacon chat, per-user plans from a free tier…
Explore →Related productZendesk
A customer service platform with ticketing and omnichannel Suite plans priced per agent, and AI agents…
Explore →Related productFreshdesk
A cloud customer support platform from Freshworks with Growth, Pro and Enterprise plans per agent, a limited…
Explore →Related productIntercom
A customer service platform with a shared inbox, Messenger and help center, plus the Fin AI Agent billed per…
Explore →Front compared with similar customer support software.
Summaries come from each profile. This is a side-by-side aid, not a ranking.
| Product | Pricing model | Free plan | Channels | Automation | AI features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front | Per seat per month; AI add-ons per seat or per conversation | No free plan reported | Email, SMS, chat and messaging; WhatsApp as add-on | Rules and workflows by plan (about 10 on Starter) | Copilot, Smart QA and Autopilot as paid add-ons (reported) |
| Freshdesk | Per agent per month; AI sessions extra | Free Program: 1-2 agents for 6 months | Email-first; multichannel via Omni | Automation and SLAs from Growth | Freddy AI Copilot and AI Agent add-ons |
| Gorgias | Ticket-volume buckets; unlimited users | No free plan; trial reported | Email, chat, SMS, social, WhatsApp and voice | Macros and rules with Shopify order actions | AI Agent billed per resolution |
| Help Scout | Per user per month; AI Answers per resolution | Yes, up to 5 users | Email, live chat (Beacon), social | Workflows; advanced on Plus and above | AI assist in inbox; AI Answers $0.75 per resolution |
| Intercom | Per seat plus Fin AI per resolution | No permanent free plan identified | Messenger chat, inbox, email; SMS and WhatsApp per message | Workflows; advanced on Advanced and Expert | Fin AI Agent ($0.99 per resolution), Copilot add-on |
| Kustomer | Quote-based seats or per conversation; AI per engagement | No free tier reported | Omnichannel including voice | Workflows and SLAs; advanced on Ultimate | AI Agents for customers ($0.60 per engaged conversation) and reps ($40 per user) |
Front head-to-head.
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Join the discussion.
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Front questions and answers
What is Front used for?
Front is a shared inbox and customer operations platform used to manage customer email, SMS and messaging as a team. It supports assignment, internal comments, shared drafts, automations and SLAs.
How much does Front cost?
Recent independent guides report Starter at $25, Professional at $65 and Enterprise at $105 per seat per month billed annually, with monthly billing of about $35 and $85 on the first two. AI features are extra.
Did Front change its pricing?
Yes. Independent sources report that the four-plan model of Starter $19, Growth $59, Scale $99 and Premier $229 was replaced in 2025 by three plans. Older articles still quote the previous prices.
Does Front have a free plan?
No free plan is reported. A 7-day free trial is reported by one directory.
Is Front a helpdesk?
Front is a shared inbox that has grown into a customer service platform, with ticketing, automation and SLAs. It feels different from queue-based helpdesks such as Zendesk.
What are the alternatives to Front?
Help Scout, Zendesk, Freshdesk and Intercom are common alternatives. See the customer support software category for details.
What integrations does Front support?
Documented integrations and ecosystem items include Email, SMS, WhatsApp (add-on), Live chat, CRM sync (higher plans), API. API details: Capterra reports API rate limits of 100, 200 and 500 requests per minute on the older Growth, Scale and Premier plans. Current limits were not confirmed.
What are the limitations of Front?
Starter is capped at 10 seats and one channel type, and Professional at 50 seats, which forces upgrades as teams grow. AI features, WhatsApp and other extras are paid add-ons on top of seat prices. Per-seat pricing is higher than many helpdesk tools, and higher tiers may carry seat minimums.
Which platforms does Front run on?
Front is documented as available on: Web, Desktop, iOS, Android.
When was the Front profile last verified?
Sources for this profile were last reviewed on 17 Oct 2026. 5 sources are listed under Sources, and prices and plans can change, so confirm with the vendor.
Where this information comes from.
- Front Pricing 2026: What Does the Shared Inbox Cost for E-Commerce? Chatarmin Third-party Accessed 17 Oct 2026
- Front Pricing Explained (2026): Plans and Real Costs Macha Third-party Accessed 17 Oct 2026
- Front Review (2026): Is the Shared Inbox Worth It? Carly Third-party Accessed 17 Oct 2026 States that Front's pricing page was checked on 29 September 2026 and that older pricing was replaced by August 2025.
- A comprehensive Front review: Features, pricing, and alternatives in 2026 eesel AI Third-party Accessed 17 Oct 2026
- Front Pricing Guide (older four-plan model) Capterra Third-party Accessed 17 Oct 2026 Documents the outdated four-plan structure; not used for current prices.
Secondary-source profile. Vendor pages were not reviewed directly for this profile. Facts and prices are corroborated across independent third-party sources and may differ from the vendor's current pages. Confirm with the vendor before buying.
Current plan names and prices are corroborated by three independent third-party sources, one of which checked Front's pricing page in September 2026. Add-on prices are third-party estimates. Front's own pages were not reviewed and capabilities were not tested.
Stack18 has not tested this product or received anything from the vendor for this profile. Editorial summaries of vendor information are not endorsements. Confirm details with the vendor before buying.
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