Best Help Desk Software (2023)

To ensure the best possible help desk software solutions for their readers, they use a rating system ranging from one to five stars. This allows us to objectively compare and contrast each solution against its competitors. Their ratings are not influenced by any third-party relationships. They assign weighted scores to each factor to come up with an overall star rating for each product.

When they rate help desk solutions on their website, they take into account the following factors.

For pricing, they considered several factors, such as how much the software costs, is it a good value for the price and were there any hidden costs or fees. If a provider offered a free trial or a free version of its software, they gave bonus points for that. They also looked at how inexpensive a provider’s lowest-price plan compared to its highest-priced plan and how much benefit a user received by upgrading to a higher plan. This accounted for 10% of their weighted scoring.

We wanted to know what kinds of features the software offers and if it had all of the features that users need. They broke features down into two categories: general features and additional features. For general features, these were features that they expected every software provider to offer, either as part of its regular plan or at least as a paid add-on. These included offering mobile apps―bonus points for offering software for both iOS and Android―plus self-service capabilities, asset management, social media connectivity, access to a knowledge base and community forum for assistance and the ability to work remotely.

For additional, or “nice-to-have” features, they focused on customer support. They were looking for chatbots or live chat options, support widgets, self-service ticketing and reporting dashboards. They wanted to see how responsive each provider’s customer support was and if it was available by phone, email or live chat. They weighted features at 50% of their total score.

Looking at third-party customer reviews on websites that included Capterra, G2 and Trustpilot, they looked at customer responses to using the software. They gave higher ratings to providers that had at least 300 or more reviews on these websites and then again to those providers that had positive reviews of at least 3.5 out of 5 on each site.to provide a complete picture of reality and reduce bias. These accounted for 10% of the total score.

Factors that included ease of use made up the final aspect of their analysis by their panel of experts. When looking at ease of use, they wanted to know how easy it is to set up and use the software, if the interface was intuitive and if the software required any training to get started using it. Besides ease of use, other factors their experts considered were the overall popularity of the software, any stand-out features and the value for the money each provided. Altogether, these criteria make up 30% of the total score.

The best desk pads of 2023, tested and reviewed

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Updated Jul 31, 2023 1:00 PM

If you’re careful, a good desk can last a lifetime—and a good desk pad can help. Sometimes you drop a heavy steel roleplaying die on the surface, or maybe an industrious kid gets curious about what their name would look like permanently etched in it. A desk pad can both add color and organization to your desktop while protecting the surface from scuffs, dents, and chips—prolonging the life of the desk by years for just a few dollars. If you regularly use a computer at your desk—and, honestly, who doesn’t—a desk pad can also play the role of mouse pad, giving you a large scrollable surface. These are the best desk pads we’ve found and tested.

Desk pads come in many sizes and are made from various materials. Realistically, it’s hard to say what’s “best” for any individual because so much of the choice comes down to personal taste. For their list of the best desk pads, they scoured Amazon and other retailers to look for unique desk pads that are well-designed, stylish, and made from quality materials. They can’t predict your taste, but they can offer up pieces that make sense for a wide range of technical and aesthetic sensibilities.

If you’ve invested in a nice desk, it doesn’t hurt to invest just a little more to maintain that desk. From the hobbyist to the office worker to the gamer, there’s a desk pad here for everyone. They went with popular and non-traditional suggestions to ensure everyone can find something interesting and exciting to perfect their desk space.

Why it made the cut: People looking for an upgrade over the feel of their raw desk should stop here first.

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Twelve South is best known for its Apple-focused tech accessories, so they were surprised when the company announced the DeskPad, which can be used with any computer or tablet. Even more surprising was how much they really liked it during their tests. Part of the DeskPads’ appeal is its comfortable feel, courtesy of vegan leather. If you’re used to keeping your arms planted on plastic or wood, you’ll notice the extra padding very quickly. In their experience, the DeskPad’s supple feel was a noticeable improvement.

We had no problem using an optical Bluetooth mouse on the DeskPad, with no hit to performance or hitches. The mouse slid over the surface of this desk pad with ease. They also dropped a little water on the DeskPad to check its “spill resistance” and found that its materials did impede water from soaking in. You’re not going to want to replace your desk pad often, so it’s important that it doesn’t absorb water and get moldy or begin cracking.

There aren’t any major downsides to using Twelve South’s DeskPad, save for the fact that it’s only offered in one size. If you can make it work on your desk, they highly recommend trying it.

Why it made the cut: Organization-minded design elements like a secret paper compartment and a cord organizer make the Orbitkey desk mat a useful choice.

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While the Orbitkey desk mat seems a bit expensive at a glance, its smart design stands out compared to other pads, with features that make it worth a look. A long pen holder runs along the far edge of the pad, which also creates a path to hide cables that need to run under it. Beneath its vegan leather top and felt bottom, the pad has a compartment for storing papers, whether you just need to keep a receipt handy until you can expense it or need to stash a secret treasure map that you need to keep safe. It looks basic but delivers much more functionality than most similarly simple desk pads.

Why it made the cut: You can cut it without ruining it!

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Most of the desk pads on this list are pretty stylish. This one, however, is purely practical. Adir’s self-healing cutting mat is made for tinkerers and craftsmen–anyone whose desk serves as both a computing workstation and a workbench. The self-healing vinyl surface closes up as a blade cuts through it, protecting your desk and keeping the workspace smooth. It serves the most basic need of a desk pad, protecting your desk surface, better than any other pad on this list.

Why it made the cut: This gigantic cloth mouse pad was designed for precision gaming performance.

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Razer is one of the biggest names in PC gaming hardware, with its own take on just about every peripheral. With the Goliathus Extended Chroma, Razer gives you an extremely wide mouse pad that gives you plenty of surface space made specifically for great mouse response. If you plug it into your PC, it also adds a bit of flash to your setup with customizable RGB lighting to match your gaming gear.

Why it made the cut: Grovemade’s Matte Desk Mat is a beautiful addition to any home office.

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Let’s be honest; everybody who’s interested in a desk pad cares at least a little bit about aesthetics. If you care a lot about the look of your workspace, Grovemade’s Matte Desk Mat is the one to get. In their experience, the desk pad looks gorgeous on a desktop, which gave their desk a colorful pop. The company offers 10 color options—including more neutral colors like Black and Light Grey, in case you’d like to go with a more traditional look. Likewise, this desk pad is available in five sizes, so you’ll definitely find one that matches your desk—be mindful that the largest size costs $140.

Grovemade says its desk pad was designed to work with optical mice, which was true in their experience. They had no performance hiccups during their tests and liked how the vegan leather felt under their arms. You’ll pay a little more for Grovemade gear, but its quality—and the fact that it’s manufactured in the U.S.—easily justifies it. If you want to make your workspace more comfortable, functional, and better looking, don’t skip Grovemade’s Matte Desk Pad.

Why it made the cut: Most desks are much dirtier than you realize. If that bothers you, an antimicrobial desk pad may help.

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The Artistic Krystal View antimicrobial desk pad offers something a little different: It’s infused with Microban, an antimicrobial additive that helps it resist bacterial and fungal build-up. Most antimicrobial products are coated with it, so the protection wears off eventually. The Artistic pad has that protection built in so that you can wash the mat without worry. A clear mat also offers a nice opportunity for you to put the desk surface to use. You can slide notes, pictures, calendars, and things like that underneath to keep them in view without having them sliding around and getting in the way.

Why it made the cut: With so many wireless charging devices out there, having a charger built into your desk pad makes life easier.

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The KeySmart TaskPad is a bit pricey but offers some very convenient features. The PU Leather desk pad features a Qi wireless charging station on the left-hand side, which can charge up your iPhone 14, Pixel 7 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, or just about any other mid-range or premium smartphone, as well as any number of Qi-enabled earbuds, mice, watches, and other devices. Having a standard spot for your phone helps keep it from getting out of eyesight, and while the charger is slow, it’ll help keep you topped off throughout the day.

Why it made the cut: Oakywood’s wool and cork desk pad is perfect for glass and steel desktops and is especially eco-friendly.

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Our desks are often cold, hard surfaces that can leave us with icy hands, and anything that can warm up your office environment is a good thing. One solution, besides bundling up or using a space heater, is Oakywood’s wool desk mat, which does provide some warmth. It feels especially well-suited to metal and glass desks, as well as cooler climates, which is true of the basement office I sometimes work from. The wool and cork pad puts a warm, soft barrier between me and my cold, hard desktop.

Oakywood suggests cleaning the pad with a vacuum from time to time, but I haven’t and never noticed any noticeable gunk buildup in months of testing. I have been mindful not to spill liquid on it, though, as the wool wouldn’t repel it. The only downside to using this desk pad is that wool is far more abrasive than leather—vegan or otherwise. I didn’t mind, and it didn’t hinder the performance of my mouse, but this is something to keep in mind if you have sensitive skin.

Why it made the cut: YSAGi offers tons of different color and size options for a bargain-bin price.

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With so many YouTubers out there showing off their desk setups, creating a coordinated and stylish look for your office is more popular than ever. YSAGi’s dual-sided desk pad is a perfect way to add both color and aesthetic structure to your desk space. You can find a YSAGi desk pad to fit any style or desk arrangement: It comes in four different sizes and as many as 14 color combinations. (Not every color is available in every size, though.) There are a variety of options with a cork side, as well. No matter what you pick, it costs less than $15. That’s far less than we’d expect to pay for a good desk pad.

Every desk is a little bit different, so picking the perfect desk pad may require a little bit of forethought. If you’re using a small desk, you don’t want to get an XXXL pad that will cover the whole surface. An overly thick pad can mess with your desk’s ergonomics. Wool and felt desk pads look great, but you don’t want one if you have a habit of knocking over drinks or eating at your desk. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you look for a surface that speaks to you.

This should go without saying, but your desk pad should fit on your desk with room to spare. Like a pair of pants, technically getting the desk on the pad is not good enough. You want it to “fit” well and look good.

Measure the space you want the pad to cover carefully, then pick one that’s a little smaller, if you can, to keep it from completely dominating your desk. An oversized desk pad creates more problems than it solves, taking up room you need for other things. It won’t matter if the mat has wireless charging, RGB lighting, or cable organizers if the desk pad gets in your way. If it’s too small, well, then you won’t have room for writing and typing and whatever else you plan to do in that space.

There are tons of different materials available for desk pads. Manufacturers use all kinds of stuff to make them, including linoleum, vinyl, leather, Polyurethane (PU) leather, merino wool, cork, cloth, and more. Some materials, like vinyl and PU leather, are chosen for durability, while merino wool, cork, and leather look and feel more luxurious.

Consider your habits before picking a specific desk pad material, especially with more niche and/or expensive options like wool, leather, or cloth. Do you want your desk pad to double as a mouse pad? If so, you should probably want to avoid materials that aren’t smooth, like wool. Be really honest with yourself: How often do you spill coffee on your desk? If the answer is more than “never,” then avoid pads made out of cloth or fiber. Gamers will specifically want to look for a low-friction surface with a very grippy base so they can mouse around freely during heated Fortnite sessions.

While they don’t spend as much time penning missives as they did half a century ago, most of us still pick up a pen from time to time to sign documents, write diaries, or jot down grocery lists and other daily notes. If your pad is thick and relatively squishy–think of the classic mouse pads that used to come with their computers—you may find it challenging to write sharp, legible lines. Consider how often you use your desk for handwriting, and whether you’d prefer to put papers on the pad, or directly on your desk.

This depends on its size and materials. Their recommendations range from under $20 to $140, but most cost well under $100.

A wool desk pad can be a great way to keep your wrists from sticking to a glass desktop or cold steel surface. On the other hand, wool requires more work to clean and is easily ruined if it soaks up spilled liquids. If you go with a wool or felt pad, stick to drinking water at your desk.

Generally speaking, you don’t want an overly thick desk pad. They’re usually just 2-4 mm thick. That’s enough to protect the desk, but not so much that it props up your wrists in an uncomfortable way.

Using a desk pad should make a huge difference in how most keyboards sound. Your Macbook, for example, won’t sound much different on your desk surface versus a pad. If you’re using a mechanical keyboard on a hollow desk, though, it may reduce the resonance between the desk and keyboard at least a little bit.

There’s no hard and fast rule about this, but most desk pads fall between 3mm and 4.5mm, enough to provide ample padding.

No, a desk pad will not Improve the audio quality of your keyboard. It’ll still be as clicky as it ever was. A desk pad may prevent your keyboard from sliding around.

It’s easier than ever to coordinate, warm up, class up, and protect your workspace, thanks to the wide selection of desk pads. You can find various sizes and materials to fit just about every workspace, and this list provides options that’ll suit any home office. If you’re curious about extra-large desk pads, they have an entire guide dedicated to them.

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when they published their first issue in 1872, but if there was, their mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means they would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. They each have their own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of their immediate wheelhouses, they do their best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. They know they don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.