New AI Help Desks Awards guide
Best Intercom alternatives in 2026
Intercom charges per seat, from $29 a month on Essential, and Fin from $0.99 per outcome. If your volume is high that outcome price is the number to watch. These five offer a different mix of seats and AI costs.
Updated November 5, 2026
HelpRabbit
Business Messenger of the Year
A messenger with an AI agent, at a flat price with AI answers included and no fee per outcome.
Rankings reflect the editorial judgment of New AI Help Desks Awards; product details come from the linked sources.
From $29 a month, any number of agents
Included: 3,000 AI answers a month on Starter
HelpRabbit pricing page
Free for 3 users, paid plans priced by region
AI agents included from Express, token based
Zoho Desk pricing page
Freshdesk
Best AI allowance to start on
Per-agent pricing with AI paid by the session after a first 500 sessions.
Help Scout
Best free plan for small teams
A shared inbox with live chat, free for 5 users, and an AI add-on at $0.75 per resolution.
Free for 5 users, paid from $25 per user a month
Envoy add-on $0.75 per resolution
Help Scout pricing page
Side by side
| Product | Starts at | Free plan | Trial | AI pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HelpRabbit | From $29 a month, any number of agents | No free plan | 14 days, no card | Included: 3,000 AI answers a month on Starter | Teams that want one thread and a flat price |
| Zoho Desk | Free for 3 users, paid plans priced by region | Yes, 3 users | 15 days | AI agents included from Express, token based | Small teams starting on a free plan |
| Freshdesk | From $19 per agent a month, billed annually | No free plan | 14 days | Then $49 per 100 AI sessions | Teams that want to try AI before paying for it |
| Crisp | Free for 2 seats, then $45 a month for 4 | Yes, 2 seats | 14 days | AI credits included on paid plans | Small teams that prefer one price per workspace |
| Help Scout | Free for 5 users, paid from $25 per user a month | Yes, 5 users | 15 days | Envoy add-on $0.75 per resolution | Small teams that live in a shared inbox |
Prices are list prices in US dollars as shown on November 5, 2026, unless a page says otherwise. They change often, so check the company's page before you decide.
How to choose
- Multiply your monthly conversations by the share AI resolves, then by the price per outcome.
- List the Intercom features you use. Product tours and outbound are not in every alternative.
- Test how each hands a conversation to a person.
Common questions
What is the best alternative to Intercom?
Our pick is HelpRabbit, a messenger with AI answers included in a flat price. Crisp is the closest on live chat at one price per workspace.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Intercom?
It depends on your seats and how many conversations AI resolves. Our AI help desk pricing page sets out what 1,000 AI resolutions cost at list price on each product.