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Free Help Scout alternatives
Every pick starts with a genuine free tier, which makes it the easiest way to test a full workflow for zero dollars. Start free and upgrade only when it earns it.
What is the best free alternative to Help Scout?
Intercom is the free Help Scout alternative we recommend first. Unlike Help Scout, Intercom ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it. It scores 4.5 in our testing, and at $29/mo it keeps the monthly bill reasonable. See the full ranked list below to compare every pick.
3 free alternatives worth your time
Intercom
4.5 out of 54.5Comprehensive review, pricing, and analysis.
Unlike Help Scout, Intercom ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.
- The most modern, intuitive user interface for support agents and customers alike.
- Fin AI genuinely reduces human ticket volume by up to 50 percent in our testing.
Crisp
4.3 out of 54.3Affordable live chat and shared inbox.
Unlike Help Scout, Crisp ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.
- Well established product with an active user base
- Regular updates and clear roadmap
Freshdesk
4.2 out of 54.2Help desk software with a generous free tier.
Unlike Help Scout, Freshdesk ships a genuine free tier, so you can start without a card and only pay once it earns it.
- Well established product with an active user base
- Regular updates and clear roadmap
Help Scout vs the free alternatives
| Tool | Our score | From | Free tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Help Scout | 4.6 | $20/user/mo | No | Growing customer support teams that want a human shared inbox without corporate ticket complexity. |
| Intercom | 4.5 | $29/mo | Yes | Growing SaaS companies requiring advanced live chat, proactive messaging, and powerful AI ticket resolution. |
| Crisp | 4.3 | $25/mo | Yes | Affordable live chat and shared inbox. |
| Freshdesk | 4.2 | $15/mo | Yes | Help desk software with a generous free tier. |
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