Help Scout vs Intercom2026
Help Scout
Customer Support
Simple, human customer support software for growing businesses — shared inbox, live chat, and knowledge base.
Intercom
Customer Support
The AI-first customer service platform combining chatbots, live chat, and helpdesk in one.
Our Verdict
Help Scout has the pricing advantage ($22/mo vs $39/mo).
Choose Help Scout if…
teams at the small to mid-sized businesses stage
Choose Intercom if…
teams at the startups and small teams stage
Side-by-Side Comparison
Green highlight = advantage on that metric.
| Feature | Help Scout | Intercom |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting price | $22/mo | $39/mo |
| Free tier | ||
| Free trial | 15 days | 14 days |
| Ratings & Reviews | ||
| User rating | No reviews yet | No reviews yet |
| Features & Capabilities | ||
| Best for | small to mid-sized businesses | startups and small teams |
| Tracked features | 6 | 9 |
| Company | ||
| Founded | 2011 | 2011 |
| Verified listing | ||
Pricing
Help Scout
SubscriptionIntercom
SubscriptionHelp Scout
$22/moIntercom
$39/moHelp Scout
Intercom
Help Scout
15 daysIntercom
14 daysRatings & Reviews
Help Scout
No reviews yetIntercom
No reviews yetFeatures & Capabilities
Help Scout
small to mid-sized businessesIntercom
startups and small teamsHelp Scout
6Intercom
9Company
Help Scout
2011Intercom
2011Help Scout
Intercom
Key Differences
Help Scout
$22/mo✓
Intercom
$39/mo
Help Scout
6 tracked features
Intercom
✓9 tracked features
Help Scout is best for…
Strengths
- Feels human — not like a ticket system
- Shared inbox easy to adopt
- Live chat and knowledge base included
- Good for relationship-driven support
Intercom is best for…
Strengths
- Fin AI resolves majority of queries automatically
- Best-in-class product tours and onboarding
- Proactive messaging and in-app chat
- 350+ integrations
Pricing Comparison
Help Scout
From $22/mo
Standard plan from $22/user/month billed annually.
Intercom
From $39/mo
Essential plan from $39/month per seat.
Pricing information is verified periodically. Visit each vendor's pricing page for current rates and plan details.
Feature Comparison
Only in Help Scout
- Shared Inbox
Both tools
- Live Chat
- Knowledge Base
- CSAT Surveys
- API Access
- Workflow Automation
Only in Intercom
- Chatbot / AI Agent
- Omnichannel Support
- Marketing Automation
- Email Marketing
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the main difference between Help Scout and Intercom?
- Help Scout has the pricing advantage ($22/mo vs $39/mo). Choose Help Scout if you need it for teams at the small to mid-sized businesses stage. Choose Intercom if you need it for teams at the startups and small teams stage.
- Is Help Scout cheaper than Intercom?
- Help Scout is cheaper at From $22/mo vs From $39/mo. Note that pricing tiers vary — check each vendor's current pricing page for up-to-date details.
- Can I switch from Help Scout to Intercom?
- Yes — most teams can migrate from Help Scout to Intercom with a data export/import process. Check whether both tools support CSV or API data export before starting. Intercom offers a free trial, so you can test it before cancelling Help Scout.
- Does Help Scout or Intercom offer a free trial?
- Both Help Scout (15 days) and Intercom (14 days) offer free trials. Try both before committing.