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 LiveChat if support teams who will start on Essential at $19/user/month billed
hosted Search conversation list
Best for
Help Scout A conversation table you start at a public $
LiveChat An agent inbox 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)
LiveChat No free plan
Lowest paid
Help Scout Extra Inboxes $10/mo
LiveChat Essential $19/user/mo yearly
Next step up
Help Scout Extra Docs sites $20/mo
LiveChat Extra AI resolutions (50) $49.50
Coding agent
Help Scout
LiveChat Chats / My chats
Runs where
Help Scout Hosted
LiveChat Hosted
Watch out
Help Scout Free is 1 Inbox and 100 contacts/month
LiveChat There is no printed $0 agent seat
Last checked
Help Scout 2026-10-23 · helpscout.com/pricing
LiveChat 2026-10-23 · livechat.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/user/month billed annually ($25 monthly) while they open a first Chats desk, then Growth at $79/user/month annually ($99 monthly) when they need the next printed seat — not the $49.50 AI package unless they need 50 extra resolutions.
Read the LiveChat page