Our take
Pick Help Scout if support teams who will stay on Free at $0 (5 users, 1 Inbox, 1 Docs site) while they open a first Search list, then Standard at $25/user/month yearly when they need multiple Inboxes and live chat — not Plus $45 unless they need advanced workflows / a customer portal, and not Pro $75 unless they need SSO / HIPAA. Pick Intercom if support teams who will start on Essential at $19/seat/month
hosted Search conversation list
hosted Inbox table
Best for
Help Scout A conversation table you start at a public $
Intercom A conversation table you start at a public $
Free plan
Help Scout $0 · 5 users. 1 Inbox. 1 Docs site. 100 contacts/month. 10 saved replies. 10 tags. 10 Docs articles. 1 Beacon. Integrations limited to 1. No card (FAQ)
Intercom No free plan
Lowest paid
Help Scout Extra Inboxes $10/mo
Intercom Fin AI Agent (standalone) $0.99
Next step up
Help Scout Extra Docs sites $20/mo
Intercom Essential from $19/user/mo
Runs where
Help Scout Hosted
Intercom Hosted
Watch out
Help Scout Free is 1 Inbox and 100 contacts/month
Intercom Essential is a paid seat
Last checked
Help Scout 2026-10-23 · helpscout.com/pricing
Intercom 2026-10-23 · intercom.com/pricing
support teams who will stay on Free at $0 (5 users, 1 Inbox, 1 Docs site) while they open a first Search list, then Standard at $25/user/month yearly when they need multiple Inboxes and live chat — not Plus $45 unless they need advanced workflows / a customer portal, and not Pro $75 unless they need SSO / HIPAA.
Read the Help Scout pagesupport teams who will start on Essential at $19/seat/month (strikethrough $29, new-customer 35% off) while they open a first Inbox table, then Advanced at $85/seat/month when they need workflows and multiple team Inboxes — not Expert $132 unless they need SSO / HIPAA.
Read the Intercom page