Independent: paid links never change the order. Every fact checked with the vendor.

How we review
stackwijsSearch software…Search
Submit a tool

What should you look for in customer service software?

You usually pay for a helpdesk or chat tool per agent, and what is included varies widely by plan. Check which channels you really need, especially WhatsApp, what an AI chatbot costs per conversation and where your customers' conversations end up.

  1. Price per agent and what is included

    Helpdesks charge per agent per month, and the cheapest plan is often email only. Live chat, WhatsApp or a knowledge base then only come with a more expensive plan.

    Ask the vendor

    Which channels are included in the plan I am considering, and what does an extra agent cost per month?

    Sort by lowest price5 of 8 tools have a public price

  2. WhatsApp and other channels

    Many Dutch customers prefer sending a WhatsApp message to an email. With most tools you pay per message to Meta on top of the subscription, sometimes with a mark-up from the vendor.

    Ask the vendor

    Do you use the official WhatsApp Business API, which plan includes it, and what do you charge per message on top of Meta's costs?

    Sort by most integrations7 of 8 tools list integrations

  3. What an AI chatbot costs per conversation

    AI agents that answer questions themselves often cost per resolved conversation or per message. With many questions, that can be more than the subscription itself.

    Ask the vendor

    What do I pay per conversation the AI agent handles, and can I set a maximum so the bill does not run up?

    We do not have a filter for this yet. Ask the vendor.

  4. Starting free or trying first

    Whether a chat window on your site really brings in questions, you only notice after a few weeks. A free plan or free trial lets you test that without being locked in.

    Ask the vendor

    How many conversations and agents do I get on the free plan or trial, and are my conversations kept if I do not move to a paid plan?

    Show tools with a free plan3 of 8 tools meet this

  5. An inbox in Dutch

    People who handle tickets all day work more comfortably in their own language. The AI chatbot also has to write good Dutch to your customers.

    Ask the vendor

    Is the inbox for my staff in Dutch, and does the chatbot answer in correct Dutch?

    Show tools with an app in Dutch2 of 8 tools meet this

  6. Where the conversations are stored

    Customer conversations contain names, addresses and orders. With some American helpdesks you can choose a data centre in the EU, but only on a more expensive plan or when signing up.

    Ask the vendor

    In which country are my customers' conversations stored on my plan, and can I choose a data centre in the EU without a more expensive plan?

    Show tools with data in the EU4 of 8 tools meet thisMore about data in the EU

  7. Data processing agreement and AI sub-processors

    An AI chatbot often forwards your customers' questions to a language model from another company. That party belongs in the data processing agreement as a sub-processor.

    Ask the vendor

    Do you offer a data processing agreement, and which AI vendors read along with my customers' conversations?

    Show tools with data in the EU and a data processing agreement4 of 8 tools meet thisMore about the data processing agreement

  8. A vendor from the Netherlands

    There are also Dutch providers of a shared inbox. They work with prices in euros and know the way Dutch customers get in touch.

    Ask the vendor

    Where is your company based, and in which language and at what times does your support help me?

    Show tools with a Dutch company2 of 8 tools meet this

Frequently asked questions about choosing customer service tools

What should you look for in customer service software?

Look mainly at price per agent and what is included, WhatsApp and other channels, what an AI chatbot costs per conversation, starting free or trying first, an inbox in Dutch, where the conversations are stored, data processing agreement and AI sub-processors and a vendor from the Netherlands. For each point we explain why it matters and which question to ask the vendor.

Which questions should you ask a vendor of customer service tools?

Which channels are included in the plan I am considering, and what does an extra agent cost per month? Do you use the official WhatsApp Business API, which plan includes it, and what do you charge per message on top of Meta's costs? What do I pay per conversation the AI agent handles, and can I set a maximum so the bill does not run up? How many conversations and agents do I get on the free plan or trial, and are my conversations kept if I do not move to a paid plan?

How many customer service tools in the guide can you use or try for free?

Of the 8 customer service tools in our guide, 3 have a free plan and 5 can be tried for free, according to the vendor's site.

Sources

  1. Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens: Transferring personal data outside the EEA (in Dutch)
  2. Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens: Data processing agreement (in Dutch)

Texts and sources checked on . The counts follow from the facts in the guide. Rules can change; the source prevails. This is an explanation, not legal or tax advice.

We get a fee if you take out a subscription through us. That does not change our verdict.