Help desk · Ranked 9 of 9 in Best help desks
What is Intercom?
Short answer
Intercom is a help desk from Intercom, best for AI-first support with chat messenger. It has a 14-day free trial; paid plans start at $29 / seat / mo.
| Fact | Intercom | Help desk median (7 tools) |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No, 14-day trial | 3 of 9 have one |
| Entry price | $29 / seat / mo | $25 / seat / mo |
| Top plan | $132 / seat / mo | $115 / seat / mo |
| 1st year, 5 users | $1,740 | $1,500 |
| Paid plans | 3 | 3 |
| Platforms | Web | — |
What does Intercom do?
Intercom covers these jobs, as listed on Intercom's pricing and feature pages.
- Messenger live chat
- Shared inbox and ticketing
- Fin AI Agent
- Public help center
How much does Intercom cost?
$29 / seat / mo to $132 / seat / mo.
| Plan | Price | Billed monthly | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $29 / seat / mo | — | — |
| Advanced | $85 / seat / mo | — | — |
| Expert | $132 / seat / mo | — | — |
What are the best Intercom alternatives?
Closest on first-year cost: Help Scout, Front, Salesforce Service Cloud.
| Alternative | Free plan | From |
|---|---|---|
| Help Scout | Yes | $25 / seat / mo |
| Front | No | $25 / seat / mo |
| Salesforce Service Cloud | No | $25 / seat / mo |
Is Intercom better than Tidio?
Intercom is best for AI-first support with chat messenger; Tidio for live chat plus AI bot for small shops. First year: $1,740 vs $290.04.
Sources
| Vendor page | URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Intercom pricing | intercom.com/pricing | 27 Oct 2026 |
Prices in USD as published by each vendor, billed yearly where offered. How we compare