Help Scout vs Intercom
Both sit in customer support. Here is how they differ on the things you can actually check.
On price: Intercom starts $6 a month cheaper than Help Scout ($19 against $25, 24% less) on its Essential tier. Both figures were read from the vendors' own pricing pages on the dates shown below.
Help Scout
helpscout.com
Shared inbox with no ticket numbers exposed to customers, plus docs and in-app messaging. Long favoured by teams who want support to feel personal.
Intercom
intercom.com
Live chat, help centre, product tours and Fin — an AI agent that resolves a large share of conversations before a human sees them. Priced per seat plus per resolution.
| Help Scout | Intercom | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $25/mo | $19/mo |
| Entry plan | Standard | Essential |
| Paid annually | — | $19/mo |
| Price checked | 21 Sept 2026 | 21 Sept 2026 |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Free trial |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Category | Customer Support | Customer Support |
| Around since | 2011 | 2011 |
Every price here was read from the vendor's own pricing page, most recently on 21 Sept 2026. Entry tier only — vendors change pricing without notice.
Help Scout vs Intercom, answered
- Is Help Scout cheaper than Intercom?
- No — Intercom is the cheaper entry point, at $19 a month against Help Scout's $25, 24% less. Intercom's figure is its annual rate — the vendor publishes no month-to-month price we could read.
- Do Help Scout or Intercom have a free plan?
- Neither publishes an ongoing free plan. Check each vendor for a trial.
- What is the difference between Help Scout and Intercom?
- Help Scout: Shared inbox with no ticket numbers exposed to customers, plus docs and in-app messaging. Long favoured by teams who want support to feel personal. Intercom: Live chat, help centre, product tours and Fin — an AI agent that resolves a large share of conversations before a human sees them. Priced per seat plus per resolution.
