Help Scout: pricing, plans and alternatives
Help Scout is a shared inbox and help center tool that keeps support feeling like email for both the team and the customer. Paid plans include unlimited contacts, live chat and social messaging, and there is a free plan for very small teams.
Per user per month. The pricing page has a monthly/annual toggle (annual saves 16%) but the captured prices did not say which billing basis they reflect. Extra inboxes $12/month monthly; AI Answers $0.75 per resolution.
Best for
Small support teams that want an email-style shared inbox and help center that is quick to set up.
Watch out for
The free plan stops at 100 contacts a month and one inbox, and AI Answers is a separate $0.75 per resolution after the 3-month free trial.
What Help Scout does
- Shared inboxes with saved replies, tags and workflows
- Live chat, SMS, WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger on paid plans
- Docs knowledge base sites
- AI Answers add-on billed per resolution with a monthly spending cap
- SLA policies and round-robin routing on higher plans
Help Scout pricing
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Up to 5 users, 1 inbox, 100 contacts per month. |
| Standard | $25/mo | Per user; up to 25 users, unlimited contacts. |
| Plus | $45/mo | Per user; up to 50 users, advanced workflows, Salesforce/HubSpot/Jira integrations. |
| Pro | $75/mo | Per user; minimum 10 users, SSO, HIPAA; talk to sales. |
Help Scout alternatives
Other support tools Scout tracks, with the same facts side by side.
| Tool | Paid from | Free plan | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Help Scout | $25/mo | ||
| eDeskeDeskSupporteDesk is a helpdesk for online sellers that pulls messages from web stores and marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay and TikTok Shop into one workspace. Paid from $55/mo, 14-day trial.Click for Scout's full analysis | $55/mo | ||
| FreshdeskFreshdeskSupportFreshdesk, from Freshworks, is a ticketing helpdesk with a shared inbox, customer portal and knowledge base. Paid from $19/mo, 14-day trial.Click for Scout's full analysis | $19/mo | ||
| GorgiasGorgiasSupportGorgias is a customer support helpdesk built for Shopify stores, bringing support tickets into one place with order data. Paid from $10/mo, 7-day trial.Click for Scout's full analysis | $10/mo | ||
| IntercomIntercomSupportIntercom is a customer service platform built around its Fin AI agent, a Messenger chat widget, a shared inbox and a help center. Paid from $39/mo, 14-day trial.Click for Scout's full analysis | $39/mo | ||
| Re:amazeRe:amazeSupportRe:amaze is a helpdesk and live chat tool for online stores, priced mainly per team member, with an AI Agent included up to a set number of resolutions. Paid from $29/mo, 14-day trial.Click for Scout's full analysis | $29/mo | ||
| RichpanelRichpanelSupportRichpanel is a helpdesk built for ecommerce brands where AI agents and human agents work in one inbox. Paid from $119/mo, 14-day trial.Click for Scout's full analysis | $119/mo | ||
| ZendeskZendeskSupportZendesk is a customer service platform that puts email tickets, chat, messaging and phone support in one place. Paid from $25/mo, 14-day trial.Click for Scout's full analysis | $25/mo |
Where Scout covers Help Scout
- Best Helpdesk for Shopify Stores in 2026
- Gorgias Alternatives: 5 Helpdesks Worth a Look for Shopify Stores
How we checked
Every fact on this page comes from Help Scout's own website, help center or Shopify App Store listing. We list what we read below. Prices and plans change often, so confirm on Help Scout's pricing page before you buy.