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Last updated: October 29, 2026
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5 Best Intercom Alternatives in 2027 (Cheaper Options)
Intercom's Essential plan starts at $19 per seat (annual), but Advanced jumps to $85 per seat, and its Fin AI agent adds $0.99 per resolved conversation. For a small team, that variable cost is hard to predict. These alternatives cost less, or bill in a way that is easier to budget.
Help Scout is free for up to 5 users and feels like a shared email inbox, so small teams can start support at no cost and pay $25 per user only when they need more.
Try Help Scout free → 15-day trial, no card
Quick answer: the best Intercom alternatives
- Help Scout — best for small teams that want email-style support.
- Crisp — best for small teams that want flat workspace pricing.
- Freshdesk — best for growing teams that want Zendesk-style ticketing for less.
- Zendesk — best for large support teams.
- Gorgias — best for Shopify and ecommerce support.
Intercom alternatives compared
Prices checked on October 29, 2026 on each vendor's pricing page.
| Tool | Free plan | Entry paid plan | Trial | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Help Scout | Free for 5 users, 1 inbox | Standard $25/user/month | 15-day trial, no card | Small teams that want email-style support |
| Crisp | 2 seats, 100 customer profiles | Mini $45/month per workspace (4 seats) | Free plan | Small teams that want flat workspace pricing |
| Freshdesk | No free plan listed | Growth $19/agent/month (annual) | 14-day trial | Growing teams that want zendesk-style ticketing for less |
| Zendesk | No free plan | Support Team $19/agent/month (annual), $25 monthly | 14-day trial | Large support teams |
| Gorgias | No free plan | Starter $10/month for 50 tickets | 7-day trial, no card | Shopify and ecommerce support |
Why people switch from Intercom
- Advanced costs $85 per seat and Expert $132.
- AI resolutions add $0.99 each, a variable bill.
- No free plan, only a 14-day trial.
- Many small teams only need a shared inbox and live chat.
The 5 best Intercom alternatives in detail
1. 
Help Scout — best for small teams that want email-style support
Pricing: Standard $25/user/month. Free option: Free for 5 users, 1 inbox. Official pricing.
- Pros:
- Free plan for 5 users
- Feels like a shared email inbox
- Simple pricing
- Cons:
- AI add-on billed per resolution
- Fewer enterprise features
Choose it if: you want simple, email-style support and a free plan for 5 users.
Try Help Scout free → 15-day trial, no card
2. 
Crisp — best for small teams that want flat workspace pricing
Pricing: Mini $45/month per workspace (4 seats). Free option: 2 seats, 100 customer profiles. Official pricing.
- Pros:
- Priced per workspace, not per seat
- Free plan for 2 seats
- Cons:
- Free plan is very limited
- Fewer integrations than Intercom
Choose it if: you want flat pricing per workspace instead of per seat.
Try Crisp free → Free plan
3. 
Freshdesk — best for growing teams that want Zendesk-style ticketing for less
Pricing: Growth $19/agent/month (annual). Free option: No free plan listed. Official pricing.
- Pros:
- Full ticketing at a lower price
- 14-day trial of all features
- Cons:
- Pro jumps to $55/agent
- No free plan anymore
Choose it if: you need full ticketing at $19 per agent.
Try Freshdesk free → 14-day trial
4. 
Zendesk — best for large support teams
Pricing: Support Team $19/agent/month (annual), $25 monthly. Free option: No free plan. Official pricing.
- Pros:
- Mature ticketing and reporting
- Huge app marketplace
- Cons:
- Suite Professional costs $115/agent
- Complex to configure
Choose it if: you run a large support team and need mature reporting.
Try Zendesk free → 14-day trial
5. 
Gorgias — best for Shopify and ecommerce support
Pricing: Starter $10/month for 50 tickets. Free option: No free plan. Official pricing.
- Pros:
- Built for ecommerce support
- Priced by tickets, not agents
- Cons:
- Basic is $50/month for 300 tickets
- Less suited outside ecommerce
Choose it if: you support a Shopify or ecommerce store.
Try Gorgias free → 7-day trial, no card
Pick in 10 seconds
- Small team, free start → Help Scout
- Flat monthly price → Crisp
- Full ticketing, low price → Freshdesk
- Ecommerce store → Gorgias
FAQ
What is the cheapest Intercom alternative?
Help Scout and Crisp both have free plans. Crisp's paid plans are priced per workspace, from $45/month for 4 seats.
Is Zendesk cheaper than Intercom?
At entry level they are close: Zendesk Support Team is $19 per agent and Intercom Essential $19 per seat, both on annual billing.
Which alternative is best for Shopify?
Gorgias, which is built for ecommerce support and priced by tickets rather than agents.
Related
- Intercom Pricing 2027: Seats, Fin AI Costs & Real Examples
- Help Scout vs Intercom (2027): Prices, AI Costs & Which to Pick
- Intercom vs Zendesk (2027): Prices, AI Costs & Which to Pick