Intercom vs Help Scout
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.
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
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 | Help Scout | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $19/mo | $25/mo |
| Entry plan | Essential | Standard |
| 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.
Intercom vs Help Scout, answered
- Is Intercom cheaper than Help Scout?
- Yes. Intercom starts 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 Intercom or Help Scout have a free plan?
- Neither publishes an ongoing free plan. Check each vendor for a trial.
- What is the difference between Intercom and Help Scout?
- 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. 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.
