Help Scout vs Intercom
Help Scout
helpscout.comIntercom
intercom.comSide by side
| Figure | Help Scout | Intercom |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $25/mo | $0.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 5 | 11 |
| Spec score · Customer Self-Service Software | 8.8 (#5) | 8.7 (#7) |
| Spec score · Help desk software | 9.0 (#11) | 9.0 (#10) |
| Spec score · Customer Messaging Platforms | 8.7 (#4) | 8.6 (#5) |
| Spec score · Knowledge base software | 8.6 (#32) | 8.8 (#18) |
| Spec score · Customer Service - Midmarket Software | 8.8 (#7) | 8.7 (#8) |
| Spec score · Customer Support Software | 8.7 (#7) | 8.6 (#8) |
| Spec score · Self Service Software | 8.8 (#7) | 8.7 (#9) |
| Spec score · Digital Customer Service Platforms | 8.7 (#7) | 8.6 (#8) |
| Founded | 2011 | 2011 |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Paid from | 25 | 29 |
Plans
Help Scout
- FreeFree
- Standard$25 a month
- Plus$45 a month
- Pro$75 a month
- AI Answers Add-on$0.75, paid once
Intercom
- Essential$19 a month
- Advanced$85 a month
- Expert$132 a month
- Fin AI Agent$0.99 a month
- Fin AI Agent$0.99, paid once
- Fin AI Agent with existing helpdesk$0.99, paid once
- Fin Voice$1.99, paid once
- Copilot$29 a month
- Copilot monthly$35 a month
- Pro$99 a month
In their own words
Help Scout
Help Scout is customer support software that brings email, SMS, social, chat, and voice into a shared Inbox. It also provides ticket automation, SLA management, a customer portal, and Docs sites for searchable, branded help centers or knowledge bases. Teams can manage visibility and access with permissions at company, team, or user level, and connect the service to more than 100 tools or apps. Help Scout offers API access and a mobile app. Its Free plan costs nothing and includes five users, one Inbox, and one Docs site, with 100 contacts per month, 10 saved replies, and 10 tags. Paid plans start at $25 per user per month; annual pricing is shown as 16% lower than monthly pricing. Standard and Plus plans offer 15-day trials without a credit card. New accounts receive three months of unlimited AI Answers resolutions. Help Scout states that it is HIPAA and SOC 2 Type II compliant. Support options include email, onboarding, customer success management, and priority support on paid plans.
Intercom
Intercom is a customer messaging and support platform for businesses serving people through a website, app, or product. It combines a website chatbot and live-agent chat with a shared inbox, ticketing, a help center, and omnichannel conversations. Teams can use its visual flow builder and AI bot generation, track visitors, and connect 450 listed integrations. Fin answers free-form questions from approved knowledge and cites sources. When a conversation needs an agent, it passes along the conversation and customer history. Teams can customize Messenger’s tone, style, and design, and Fin can work with existing helpdesks including Salesforce, HubSpot, and Freshdesk. The platform and Messenger support web, iOS, and Android. Essential is $19 a month per seat when billed annually; Advanced is $85 a month per seat and includes 20 free Lite seats; Expert is $132 a month per seat and includes 50 free Lite seats. Fin AI Agent is billed from $0.99 per outcome. A 14-day trial is listed; payment begins only after choosing a plan and adding payment details. Intercom was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in San Francisco.