Crisp vs Help Scout — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Crisp starts at $48.6/mo. Help Scout starts at $25/mo. Help Scout is $23.6/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Crisp.
See price history: Crisp · Help Scout
French all-in-one customer messaging platform (live chat + shared inbox + knowledge base). Positioned as the alternative to Intercom at roughly 1/10th the price. Distinctive for its "lifetime deal" mentality — flat pricing per workspace, not per contact or per seat, which lets fast-growing SMBs avoid the Intercom scaling trap. Priced $0-$95/mo per workspace. Popular with SMBs and European e-commerce.
Customer support platform positioned as the alternative to Zendesk for teams that want email-first support (not ticket-first). Distinctive for its shared inbox UX — customer conversations look like Gmail threads, not tickets. Priced $22-$65/user/mo. Bootstrapped by Nick Francis (still founder-led after 15 years). Popular with SMBs and mid-market SaaS whose support volume is manageable in an inbox format.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Crisp monthly | Crisp annual | Help Scout monthly | Help Scout annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Entry paid | Mini / Standard | $48.6 | $48.6 | $25 | $21 |
| Mid tier | Essentials / Plus | $102.6 | $102.6 | $45 | $38 |
| Pro / power | Plus / Pro | $318.6 | $318.6 | $75 | $63 |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Crisp is worth it if… small businesses and startups (1-30 people) that want live chat + shared inbox + chatbot in one tool — particularly if you're EU-based and value the French-native UX polish. Free tier is usable; Mini covers solo/small; Essentials adds shared inbox and automations; Plus adds AI and MagicReply.
Help Scout is worth it if… small support teams (3-30 agents) that want customer-facing simplicity — emails don't look like tickets — with strong knowledge base and light AI. Standard covers small teams; Plus adds custom fields and reporting; Pro adds concurrent chats and advanced features.
Bottom line: Choose based on how you want to pay — Crisp is flat rate, Help Scout is per seat.
Choose Crisp over Help Scout if…
Choose Crisp if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (flat rate, from $48.6/mo).
- You match the profile Crisp is built for: small businesses and startups (1-30 people) that want live chat + shared inbox + chatbot in one tool — particularly if you're EU-based and value the French-native UX polish.
- You need a general-purpose customer support option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose Help Scout if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $25/mo).
- You match the profile Help Scout is built for: small support teams (3-30 agents) that want customer-facing simplicity — emails don't look like tickets — with strong knowledge base and light AI.
- You need a general-purpose customer support option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Crisp | Help Scout | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Entry price | $48.6/mo | $25/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Flat Rate | Per Seat |
| Last verified | September 18, 2026 | September 12, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 18, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about Crisp and Help Scout
- How much does Crisp cost in 2026?
- Does Crisp have a free plan?
- How often does Crisp change prices?
- What are the best Crisp alternatives in 2026?
- How much does Help Scout cost in 2026?
- Does Help Scout have a free plan?
- How often does Help Scout change prices?
- What are the best Help Scout alternatives in 2026?