Intercom vs Help Scout.
Different strengths. Different costs. Here’s what to weigh before you choose.
Compare the plans as well as the brands. These prices may have different billing commitments and capacity limits; they are not equivalent quotes.
| What matters | Intercom | Help Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Customer-service software connecting a shared support inbox, help center and AI-assisted conversations. | Shared customer support inbox and knowledge-base software for teams handling service conversations and customer self-service. |
| Listed plan | Essential plus usage | Free |
| Base price | Contact vendor | $0 / mo |
| Pricing conditions | The pricing page lists Essential from USD29 per seat/month and Fin from USD0.99 per outcome. Seat billing term and actual usage must be confirmed in the vendor calculator. Messaging channels and add-ons may cost extra; no fixed monthly total is modeled. | Free includes up to five users, one inbox, one Docs site, ten articles and 100 assisted contacts per month. Standard and higher tiers add workflows, more channels and higher allowances. AI Answers is separately metered after its trial. |
| Documented capabilities | support | support |
| Free plan | No documented plan | Yes, with limits |
| Trial | 14 days; no credit card required. | 15-day trial of Standard or Plus |
| Integrations | Slack, Salesforce, Jira | Not yet verified |
| Benefits (editorial) | Human agents and Fin can share conversation context. A public help center and ticketing are included in Essential. | Small teams can start with an inbox and help site at no subscription cost. One workspace connects customer conversations with support information. |
| Limitations | Seat fees do not include all AI outcomes and messaging usage. Multiple team inboxes and workflow automation require Advanced or above. | Free is restricted to 100 assisted contacts monthly and ten help articles. Larger support workloads and automated workflows need a paid tier. |
| Typical fit (editorial) | E-commerce, Professional services | Professional services, E-commerce, Real estate |
| AI, support & ease of use | Confirm plan-specific AI limits and support. Ease of use has not been independently tested. | Confirm plan-specific AI limits and support. Ease of use has not been independently tested. |
| Evidence | Sources checked 2026-10-11 → | Sources checked 2026-10-10 → |
| Your next step | Visit IntercomStandard provider link; no commission currently earned. | Visit Help ScoutStandard provider link; no commission currently earned. |
Use-case recommendations
Consider Intercom when…
Human agents and Fin can share conversation context.
Check first: Seat fees do not include all AI outcomes and messaging usage.
Consider Help Scout when…
Small teams can start with an inbox and help site at no subscription cost.
Check first: Free is restricted to 100 assisted contacts monthly and ten help articles.
Make the decision on your terms
Test your real workflow, calculate the full team and usage cost, and confirm export options before migrating. A higher advertised feature count does not necessarily create a better fit.
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