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Head to head · 2026

Crisp vs Help Scout

Pricing, free plans, ratings, features, pros and cons, side by side. Where one comes out ahead, we mark it.

Crisp

A multichannel messaging inbox, not just an enterprise AI agent

4.4$45/mo

Visit Crisp (opens Crisp in a new tab)

Help Scout

A shared inbox designed to feel like email, not enterprise ticketing

4.5$25/mo

Visit Help Scout (opens Help Scout in a new tab)

Who comes out ahead

Based only on the facts in our directory. The right pick still depends on the job you need done.

  • Lower starting price

    Help Scout

    From $25/mo against from $45/mo

  • Free plan

    Tie

    Both have one

  • Higher rating

    Help Scout

    4.4 against 4.5

  • Same job?

    Yes

    Both are Customer Support tools

Side by side

Compared onCrispHelp Scout
Our rating4.44.5Better
Starts at$45/mo$25/moBetter
Free planYesYes
CategoryCustomer SupportCustomer Support
Plans
  • Free$0
  • Mini$45/mo per workspace
  • Essentials$95/mo per workspace
  • Plus$295/mo per workspace
  • EnterpriseQuote only
  • FreeFree
  • Standard$25/user/mo
  • Plus$50/user/mo
Key features
  • Multichannel shared team inbox (chat, email, and more)
  • AI chatbot automation alongside human agent handoff
  • Genuinely published, self-serve pricing
  • Free tier for basic use
  • Built for small and mid-sized business teams
  • Shared inbox designed to feel like personal email
  • No visible ticket numbers shown to customers
  • AI-drafted reply suggestions and conversation summaries
  • Built for small and mid-sized teams
  • Free tier for very small teams
Pros
  • Published, accessible pricing unlike most enterprise-only competitors
  • Combines a full team inbox with AI automation in one tool
  • Free tier available to start immediately
  • Genuinely lighter-weight and easier to adopt than enterprise ticketing platforms
  • Feels more personal and human to customers
  • Free tier available for small teams
Cons
  • Less specialized in pure AI resolution than dedicated enterprise agent platforms
  • Higher-volume enterprise needs may outgrow its feature set
  • AI automation is one part of a broader tool rather than the primary focus
  • Less suited to very high-volume or highly complex enterprise support operations
  • Fewer advanced workflow and automation features than enterprise competitors
  • AI capabilities are a newer addition to an intentionally simpler core platform
CompanyCrisp IM SAS, founded 2015Help Scout, founded 2011

Prices come from each vendor's pricing page, last checked 20260629. Check the vendor before you buy.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is Crisp better than Help Scout?

In our reviews Crisp scores 4.4 and Help Scout scores 4.5. The better pick depends on the job. Crisp: A multichannel messaging inbox, not just an enterprise AI agent. Help Scout: A shared inbox designed to feel like email, not enterprise ticketing.

Which is cheaper, Crisp or Help Scout?

Help Scout has the lower starting price: from $45/mo for Crisp and from $25/mo for Help Scout.

Do Crisp and Help Scout have free plans?

Yes, both have a free plan.

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