Frugal innovation is a concept that has gained significant attention in recent years, particularly in emerging markets where resources are often limited. Even if many studies have been published in the last decades, literature still lacks a framework that considers different approaches and provides a common understanding of the field. The goal of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing literature on frugal innovation in the service industry and identify key trends and research gaps. To that end, a bibliometric analysis was used. Bibliometrics approach contrasts with literature reviews by providing objective and reliable results due to its lesser subjective nature. After applying restrictions such as language, publication type, and relevance to frugal innovation, we refined our dataset to 79 pertinent publications, from 2011 onwards, including journal articles, conference papers, and book chapters. Our research identified 5 different clusters in the academic conversation on frugal innovation in the service industry: the intersection of ICT and frugal service innovation, the role of Knowledge Management in frugal service innovation, considerations of cost within the context of frugal service innovation, innovation management strategies relevant to frugal service innovation, and organizational practices conducive to frugal service innovation.