Help desk · Ranked 3 of 9 in Best help desks
What is Help Scout?
Short answer
Help Scout is a help desk from Help Scout, best for shared inbox for small support teams. It has a free plan (5 users); paid plans start at $25 / seat / mo.
| Fact | Help Scout | Help desk median (7 tools) |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, 5 users | 3 of 9 have one |
| Entry price | $25 / seat / mo | $25 / seat / mo |
| Top plan | $75 / seat / mo | $115 / seat / mo |
| 1st year, 5 users | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Paid plans | 3 | 3 |
| Platforms | Web | — |
What does Help Scout do?
Help Scout covers these jobs, as listed on Help Scout's pricing and feature pages.
- Shared inbox
- Live chat and SMS
- Knowledge bases
- Workflows and SLAs
How much does Help Scout cost?
Free, then $25 / seat / mo to $75 / seat / mo.
| Plan | Price | Billed monthly | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free | — |
| Standard | $25 / seat / mo | — | — |
| Plus | $45 / seat / mo | — | — |
| Pro | $75 / seat / mo | — | — |
What are the best Help Scout alternatives?
Closest on first-year cost: Front, Salesforce Service Cloud, Intercom.
| Alternative | Free plan | From |
|---|---|---|
| Front | No | $25 / seat / mo |
| Salesforce Service Cloud | No | $25 / seat / mo |
| Intercom | No | $29 / seat / mo |
Is Help Scout better than Tidio?
Help Scout is best for shared inbox for small support teams; Tidio for live chat plus AI bot for small shops. First year: $1,500 vs $290.04.
Sources
| Vendor page | URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Help Scout pricing | helpscout.com/pricing/ | 27 Oct 2026 |
Prices in USD as published by each vendor, billed yearly where offered. How we compare