Intercom Essential vs Tidio: Pricing Comparison (2026)
Intercom Essential starts at $39/mo. Tidio starts at $29/mo. Tidio is $10/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Intercom Essential.
See price history: Intercom Essential · Tidio
AI-first customer messaging platform pioneering outcome-based pricing with its Fin AI Agent at $0.99 per resolution. Positioned against Zendesk's per-seat model as the AI-native alternative. Distinctive for how aggressively founder Eoghan McCabe returned in 2023 to bet the company on AI — the resolution-based pricing move led the industry. Priced per seat for human agents ($29-$139/user/mo) plus outcome pricing for AI. Popular with SaaS and e-commerce companies.
Live chat + chatbot + ticketing platform positioned as the alternative to Intercom and Zendesk for SMBs and e-commerce. Distinctive for its Lyro AI (built-in resolution bot) at lower tiers than competitors' AI add-ons. Priced $29-$749/mo across four tiers based on conversations. Owned by Polish company Tidio Sp. z o.o. Popular with Shopify e-commerce sellers and small B2B SaaS looking for an Intercom alternative without the price shock.
All plans compared
| # | Plan | Intercom Essential monthly | Intercom Essential annual | Tidio monthly | Tidio annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Essential / Free | 39 | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Advanced / Starter | 99 | 85 | 39 | 29 |
| 3 | Expert / Growth | 139 | 132 | 59 | 49 |
| 4 | Fin AI Agent / Plus | 0.99 per resolution | 0.99 per resolution | 749 | 622 |
What each is best for
AI-first customer messaging platform pioneering outcome-based pricing with its Fin AI Agent at $0.99 per resolution. Positioned against Zendesk's per-seat model as the AI-native alternative. Distinctive for how aggressively founder Eoghan McCabe returned in 2023 to bet the company on AI — the resolution-based pricing move led the industry. Priced per seat for human agents ($29-$139/user/mo) plus outcome pricing for AI. Popular with SaaS and e-commerce companies.
Live chat + chatbot + ticketing platform positioned as the alternative to Intercom and Zendesk for SMBs and e-commerce. Distinctive for its Lyro AI (built-in resolution bot) at lower tiers than competitors' AI add-ons. Priced $29-$749/mo across four tiers based on conversations. Owned by Polish company Tidio Sp. z o.o. Popular with Shopify e-commerce sellers and small B2B SaaS looking for an Intercom alternative without the price shock.
At a glance
| Intercom Essential | Tidio | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Entry price | $39/mo | $29/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Seat | Per Usage |
| Last verified | July 25, 2026 | July 28, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified July 28, 2026. Tracked daily.