14 alternatives to Intercom to boost your support without blowing your budget
Intercom has established itself as a benchmark platform for customer service. With its direct chat, automation tools, integrated knowledge base and advanced ticket management features, it promises a fluid, responsive and personalized customer experience.
But this promise comes at a price.
Between billing in euros per agent, costs that add up per module, and increasing complexity as you adopt it, Intercom can quickly become an investment that's hard to justify, especially for SMEs, startups or human-sized teams.
Fortunately, there are alternative solutions. More accessible, sometimes free, often simpler tools that offer equally effective or even better customer support, depending on your needs.
📌 In this article, we present the 14 best alternatives to Intercom in 2025: their features, pricing plans, integrations, and what we really think of them. We aim to help you choose the customer support tool that sticks with your team, your issues and your budget.
What is Intercom?
Intercom is all-in-one customer service software, designed to help companies communicate better with their customers at every stage of the user journey.
🎯 Its promise? Centralize messaging, direct chat, emailing, automation and knowledge base on a single platform.
Rather than limiting itself to ticket management or live chat, Intercom relies on a conversational and proactive approach, with :
- intelligent chat powered by AI (notably via its "Fin" tool) ;
- bots to qualify, respond or redirect ;
- real-time or deferred support, according to team preferences;
- advanced integrations with CRMs, analytics tools, SaaS products and much more;
- a strong ability to personalize messages according to user behavior.
While the tool is particularly powerful, it is not always adapted to all structures. This is precisely what drives many teams to explore alternatives to Intercom that are more readable, more agile... or simply better calibrated to their needs.
Intercom
Why consider an alternative to Intercom?
Rapidly escalating costs for SMEs
It's one of the most common complaints: Intercom quickly becomes expensive, especially for small businesses.
Between billing based on the number of agents, optional modules, and adjustments based on contact volume, it's not uncommon to exceed several hundred euros per month for full usage.
☝️ The result: an unpredictable pricing plan that's hard to absorb for teams on a tight budget. In the long term, this can slow down adoption... or lead to a search for a better alternative.
Specific needs not covered
Some of Intercom's advanced features may seem oversized or too technical for companies that want to get straight to the point. Conversely, some key options may be missing, such as :
- fine-grained ticket management,
- more accessible automation rules,
- or specific integrations.
For a support team that wants to focus on self-service, simple ticket management, or native integration with HubSpot Service, for example, Intercom can quickly show its limitations.
Simpler (and sometimes free) options
The market has expanded considerably, with many customer service solutions now lighter in weight, easy to learn, and often free of charge in their basic versions.
Tools like tawk.to, Crisp or Tidio offer efficient direct chat, customizable messaging, an integrated knowledge base... and even bots, all without blowing your budget.
And for teams who simply want a responsive support platform, without complexity or extra cost, these alternatives to Intercom are often far more suitable.
Top 14 alternatives to Intercom : our comparison
Summary table of our selection
1 of 10
| Intercom |  Crisp |  Drift |  Help Scout |  Service Hub |  LiveChat |  Olark |  Tidio |  Trengo |  Zoho Desk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For all companies | For companies with 2 to 250 employees | For all companies | For all companies | For all companies | For all companies | For all companies | For all companies | For all companies | For all companies |
| See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software | See software |
| Learn more about Intercom | Learn more about Crisp | Learn more about Drift | Learn more about Help Scout | Learn more about Service Hub | Learn more about LiveChat | Learn more about Olark | Learn more about Tidio | Learn more about Trengo | Learn more about Zoho Desk |
Chatwoot
Chatwoot is an open-source Intercom alternative that is particularly appealing to technical teams, startups and companies who want to keep a firm grip on their infrastructure. Designed as a unified messaging platform, it centralizes customer exchanges from direct chat, e-mail, social networks, WhatsApp and more.
The interface is clear, well-designed and geared to agent collaboration. It includes all the key functionalities of a good customer support tool:
- ticket management with automatic assignment by agent ;
- real-time chat, pre-filled responses, macros, internal private messages ;
- integrated knowledge base ;
- full messaging customization;
- open API for custom integrations (CRM, automation, product, etc.).
💸 On the budget side, Chatwoot offers a SaaS model starting at €16.31 per month per agent, with a free 14-day trial, but also a completely free open source version to host yourself. This is a real asset for companies looking to cut costs without sacrificing quality.
Robust, accessible and highly customizable, Chatwoot is a better alternative to Intercom for teams looking for a high-performance, scalable customer service software solution, without the limitations of a proprietary model.
Crisp
Crisp is a 100% French alternative to Intercom, designed for startups, SMEs and marketing teams looking for a simple, elegant, customer experience-oriented tool. Highly appreciated for its fast learning curve and modern interface, Crisp combines direct chat, multi-channel messaging, automation and a knowledge base in an all-in-one solution.
One of Crisp's strong points is its ability to centralize conversations from multiple channels (website, e-mail, Messenger, WhatsApp...) into a single collaborative inbox. To this we can add :
- customizable chatbots, with no need for lines of code ;
- an integrated ticket management system
- powerful automation scenarios;
- a co-browsing module (shared navigation in real time);
- an integrated knowledge base for self-service;
- and extensive personalization of customer messaging.
💸 On the pricing side, Crisp remains much more accessible than Intercom, with a pro plan starting at €45/month (fixed price per team, with no cost per agent), and a free offer available for auto-entrepreneurs.
Light, visual and very complete for its price, Crisp is a better alternative to Intercom for companies that want a modern support tool, without unnecessary complexity or budget explosion.
Crisp
Customerly
Customerly is an alternative to Intercom designed for small teams who want a simple, all-in-one tool focused on customer relations. Popular with growing SaaS companies, it combines direct chat, automation, email marketing and ticket management, all in a fluid, intuitive interface.
The aim: to enable support and marketing teams to work hand in hand, without multiplying tools. Customerly features
- real-time chat with bots and conditional messages;
- a clear, integrated ticket management system;
- automated e-mail campaigns (nurturing, onboarding, follow-up);
- a self-access knowledge base for self-service;
- customizable messaging, easy to integrate into your product;
- native integrations with Stripe, Zapier, WordPress, etc.
💸 With a starting plan of €13.74 per month per agent (annual billing), Customerly is one of the most affordable solutions on the market. A 14-day free trial is also available, with no credit card required.
Customerly offers a good compromise for companies looking for a lightweight Intercom alternative that covers both customer support and engagement, without technical complexity or out-of-control budgets.
Drift
Drift (now integrated with Salesloft) is a premium alternative to Intercom, designed for marketing, sales and support teams who rely on real-time conversation to generate leads and convert.
Its positioning is based on transforming every customer exchange into a business opportunity, thanks to a clever mix of direct chat, automation, intelligent routing and large-scale personalization.
Drift offers a proactive, ROI-driven customer support experience, ideal for marketing-aligned teams. With a B2B focus, Drift integrates powerful features such as
- AI-driven conversational chat ;
- automatic lead qualification and routing to the right agent;
- personalized conversational playbooks based on visitor profile;
- advanced integration with HubSpot Service, Salesforce, Marketo, etc. ;
- real-time behavior tracking and targeted messaging;
- ticket management tools and support automation.
💸 On the budget side, Drift doesn 't display its public rates, so to find out more, you'll have to contact the company's Sales department.
Drift is therefore a better alternative to Intercom for B2B companies in the scale-up phase, who want a sophisticated conversational tool to speed up their sales cycles while optimizing their customer support.
Drift
Help Scout
Help Scout is an alternative to Intercom that focuses on simplicity, efficiency and a human approach to customer service. It's a popular tool for startups, NGOs and SMEs looking for a lightweight solution that's quick to deploy and doesn't compromise on quality.
Designed as a collaborative mailbox, Help Scout allows conversations to be managed like conventional e-mails, while offering the advantages of ticket management software. Its minimalist interface makes it easy to learn, even for non-technical teams.
Help Scout offers features such as :
- centralized messaging with automatic ticket assignment ;
- direct chat (Beacon) with context-sensitive self-service articles;
- integrated knowledge base;
- predefined responses, conversation history and internal collaboration;
- integration with over 90 tools, including HubSpot, Salesforce, Slack, etc. ;
- performance reports, response times, customer satisfaction.
💸 Help Scout has a generous free offer with up to 100 contacts per month, and its paid plans start at €21.46/month per agent, with a 15-day free trial, and discounts for associations.
Less "marketing automation", more "human relations", Help Scout is a better alternative to Intercom for teams who want to offer fast, clear and personalized customer support, without getting bogged down with unnecessary functions.
Help Scout
HelpCrunch
HelpCrunch is an all-in-one Intercom alternative, designed for teams who want to combine customer support, marketing and conversion in a unified interface. Lighter than Intercom, but also more flexible in terms of pricing, it is the ideal solution for ambitious start-ups and SMEs.
HelpCrunch offers a modern, intuitive messaging system that centralizes exchanges via direct chat, e-mail or integrated widget, with numerous customization and automation options.
Key features include :
- customizable real-time chat, with behaviorally-targeted messages ;
- automated e-mail campaigns for onboarding or retention;
- a ticket management tool with agent assignment;
- a native knowledge base for self-service;
- automations (tags, auto-responses, triggers);
- integrations with Zapier, HubSpot Service, Shopify, etc.
💸 HelpCrunch offers a starting plan at €12.30/month per agent, with a 14-day free trial. All with no hidden fees or mandatory add-ons.
Solid, simple to deploy, and designed to deliver a seamless customer experience, HelpCrunch ticks all the boxes for a better alternative to Intercom, especially for teams looking for efficiency, speed... and billing clarity.
HubSpot Service Hub
HubSpot Service Hub is a particularly powerful alternative to Intercom for companies wishing to align customer support, marketing and sales on a single CRM platform. Ideal for teams looking for a centralized view of the customer and seamless management of exchanges at every stage of the lifecycle.
Service Hub focuses on efficiency and automation, while remaining accessible to non-technical teams. It integrates seamlessly with the HubSpot ecosystem (Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, etc.) to offer a unified experience.
Key features include
- CRM-integrated live chat, with segment-based personalization;
- ticket management with prioritization, pipelines and automation ;
- intelligent knowledge base with reporting ;
- automated routing of conversations according to conditional rules;
- self-service customer portal;
- native integrations with Slack, Gmail, Outlook, Shopify, Zapier, etc. ;
- detailed reports on customer satisfaction, response times and agent load.
💸 On the pricing side, HubSpot offers a highly functional free plan, and a paid version from €9/month per agent, scalable according to activated modules.
HubSpot Service is a better alternative to Intercom for companies that want a robust, scalable solution, perfectly connected to their customer management system, without multiplying tools or losing efficiency.
Service Hub
LiveChat
LiveChat is a historic direct chat solution for companies wishing to offer fluid, professional, real-time customer support. More specialized than Intercom, LiveChat focuses on what it does best: connecting support teams and visitors with responsiveness, personalization... and performance.
Widely used in the e-commerce, SaaS and services sectors, LiveChat relies on a streamlined interface, an impeccable user experience, and well-thought-out tools to improve conversation management.
Key features include
- customizable live chat (visuals, triggers, automated messages) ;
- conversation transfer, file sharing, internal notes ;
- automatic routing of requests by agent, according to availability or skills;
- real-time visitor tracking;
- integrations with over 200 tools (HubSpot Service, Salesforce, Mailchimp...);
- open API for customized workflows;
- support analysis tools (response time, satisfaction, resolution).
💸 LiveChat starts at €17.17/month per agent, with a free 14-day trial. No hidden fees, simple, straightforward billing.
Solid, fast, and focused on customer support efficiency, LiveChat stands out as a better alternative to Intercom for companies that want a professional messaging tool, without the hassle of unnecessary modules.
LiveChat
Olark
Olark is a simple, transparent alternative to Intercom. Designed primarily for small and medium-sized businesses, Olark offers direct chat that's easy to integrate, easy to use and clearly priced. No complexity, no marketing overlay: just a solid, customizable and efficient customer support tool.
Ideal for teams who want to stay in control without drowning in dozens of features.
Here's what Olark has to offer:
- real-time chat, with automatic messages and pre-recorded responses;
- conversation transcription and complete history by customer;
- out-of-hours contact forms;
- customer data visible in real time during chat;
- simple but effective reports (response time, satisfaction, volume);
- chat widget customization with no line of code required;
- integrations with CRM and help desks (HubSpot, Zendesk, Salesforce...).
💸 On the pricing side, Olark offers an entry price of €24.90/month per agent, with no surprises, and a limited free trial to test the tool.
Minimalist, reliable and designed to get straight to the point, Olark is a better alternative to Intercom for companies that want to offer quality customer support, without getting lost in a gas factory.
Olark
tawk.to
tawk.to is without doubt the best free alternative to Intercom for companies who want to set up direct chat without touching their budget. Yes, 100% free, with no limit on agents, messages or volume - a rarity in the customer support market.
This radical positioning makes tawk the ideal choice for VSEs, freelancers and early-stage startups who want to offer responsive customer service without weighing down their stack.
Despite the fact that it's free, tawk.to offers solid functionalities:
- real-time chat with automated messages and rapid responses;
- mobile application for answering anywhere, anytime;
- live visitor tracking and personalized triggers;
- unlimited conversation history ;
- agent-based message attribution;
- integration with WordPress, Wix, Shopify, Zapier...
💸 The business model? tawk.to offers additional paid services (such as external agent recruitment from €0.86/hour), but the software itself remains free for life.
Simple, quick to deploy, and surprisingly complete for a free tool, tawk.to is an ultra-accessible alternative to Intercom for those who want to get started fast, well... and without spending a single euro a month.
Tidio
Tidio is an alternative to Intercom that combines direct chat, intelligent automation and AI chatbots, all in an accessible, modern interface designed for small teams who want to move fast.
Very popular in e-commerce and services, Tidio enables you to manage customer conversations in real time, qualify leads automatically, and offer a fluid customer experience, without functional overload.
Tidio offers :
- customizable live chat, with behavioral triggers ;
- no-code chatbots to automatically qualify, redirect or resolve leads;
- a ticket management system for asynchronous requests;
- marketing automation (reminders, abandoned shopping carts, targeted messages);
- an integrated knowledge base;
- integration with Shopify, WordPress, HubSpot Service, Zapier, Messenger...
💸 Tidio offers paid packages from €24.17/month, depending on the number of features, agents and automated conversations.
Accessible, visual and very quick to set up, Tidio stands out as a better alternative to Intercom for small structures that want intelligent customer support, without investing hundreds of euros a month.
Tidio
Trengo
Trengo is a unified messaging and team collaboration alternative to Intercom, ideal for companies managing multiple communication channels and wanting to centralize their customer support in one fluid, well-structured tool.
Its great strength: enabling your agents to respond from a shared inbox, to messages from all your channels. A true conversation management hub, designed to improve support team productivity.
Key Trengo features include
- collaborative multi-channel inbox ;
- site-integrated direct chat, with simple automation;
- intelligent routing of messages by agent ;
- predefined responses, internal notes and clear ticket assignment;
- integrated knowledge base for self-service;
- integrations with HubSpot Service, Shopify, Zapier, and others.
💸 On the pricing side, Trengo positions itself at the top end of the market, with a starting plan at €299/month. The interface is clear, well thought-out, and requires no special technical skills to deploy.
Trengo stands out as a better alternative to Intercom for international or multilingual companies that need to juggle several channels and wish to maintain a consistent customer experience, without multiplying tools.
Trengo
Zendesk
Zendesk is probably the best-known alternative to Intercom, and for good reason: it's one of the world's leading customer service solutions. Designed for companies that want to industrialize their ticket management and offer large-scale omnichannel support, Zendesk stands out for its robustness, rich functionality and ability to adapt to complex teams.
It's a true support management system, cut out for organizations that need structure, advanced reporting, and automated workflows.
Key features :
- complete ticket management (SLAs, priorities, automations, rules) ;
- live chat (Zendesk Messaging) with integrated bots;
- advanced knowledge base for self-service;
- personalized customer portal;
- highly personalized messaging and help center;
- integrations with over 1,000 apps (including HubSpot, Slack, Salesforce);
- detailed analysis tools (response time, satisfaction, backlog...).
💸 Zendesk offers a starting plan at €19/agent/month, but the bill can climb quickly depending on the modules activated (chat, talk, analytics, etc.). A free trial is available.
This is a better alternative to Intercom for companies with high support volumes, large or multi-level teams. A powerful platform, but one that requires a little more configuration and rigorous implementation.
Zoho Desk
Zoho Desk is an alternative to Intercom from the Zoho ecosystem, designed for companies that want a complete, integrated customer support solution focused on productivity. It's an excellent choice for organizations already using Zoho tools (CRM, campaigns, projects) or looking for a coherent, cost-effective suite.
Zoho Desk stands out for its ability to automate ticket management, track performance in real time, and deliver an omnichannel customer experience, while remaining affordable for SMEs.
Key features :
- intelligent ticket management system, with assignment rules, priorities and escalations ;
- direct chat with customizable widget;
- integrated knowledge base for self-service;
- automated routing according to agent skills;
- advanced reporting tools for day-to-day customer service monitoring;
- native integrations with other Zoho apps + Zapier, HubSpot, Slack, etc. ;
- customer portal and post-resolution feedback.
💸 On the pricing side, Zoho Desk offers a free plan for small teams, followed by paid offers starting at €7/month per agent, with a free trial at the end.
Reliable, modular, and particularly well suited to teams who want to structure their support without blowing their budget, Zoho Desk stands out as a better alternative to Intercom, especially for those looking for a solution connected to their CRM.
Zoho Desk
Comparison table: focus on the features of Intercom's alternatives
| Software | Type of user | Business needs covered | Key features | Entry price |
| Chatwoot | Tech teams, startups | Multi-channel support, hosting control | Direct chat, ticket management, knowledge base, open source, API | Free offer |
| Crisp | SMB, SaaS, marketing | Real-time customer relations, user engagement | Real-time chat, automated campaigns, knowledge base, co-browsing | Free offer |
| Customerly | Growing startups | Integrated support + automated marketing | Direct chat, ticket management, e-mail campaigns, integrated CRM | From €13.74 / month |
| Drift | B2B, sales & marketing | Conversion, lead qualification, conversational sales | AI chatbot, intelligent routing, personalized playbooks, advanced CRM integrations | On request |
| Help Scout | SMEs, NGOs, human support | Simple customer service, conversational approach | Collaborative mailbox, light chat, knowledge base, reports | Free offer |
| HelpCrunch | Startups, agile SaaS | All-in-one support + marketing | Live chat, email campaigns, knowledge base, automations | From €12.30 / month |
| HubSpot Service | SMEs to large enterprises | CRM-connected support, customer lifecycle tracking | Tickets, chat, knowledge base, automations, customer portal, HubSpot CRM integration | Free offer |
| LiveChat | E-commerce, services | Fast responses, live tracking, conversion | Real-time chat, visitor tracking, integrations, automatic routing | From €17.17 / month |
| Olark | SMALL BUSINESSES | Simple, effective customer support | Direct chat, transcriptions, offline forms, basic integrations | From €24.90/month |
| tawk.to | Freelancers, VSEs, early-stage companies | Free chat, basic support with no budget constraints | Unlimited chat, mobile app, triggers, paid external agents (optional) | Free |
| Tidio | E-commerce, small teams | Support automation, marketing reminders | AI chat, chatbots, tickets, knowledge base, marketing automation | From €24.17/month |
| Trengo | Multi-channel teams | Message centralization, collaboration across all channels | Unified inbox (WhatsApp, e-mail, chat), routing, knowledge base | From €299/month |
| Zendesk | Medium and large enterprises | Structured support, complex ticket management | Omnichannel, advanced ticket management, knowledge base, reporting, automation | From €19/month |
| Zoho Desk | Zoho users, SMEs | CRM-connected support, simple to intermediate workflows | Tickets, chat, knowledge base, automations, Zoho & third-party integrations | Free offer |
How do you choose the right customer support tool for your needs? Our 5 tips
1. Define your priority use cases
Start by identifying what your team really needs:
- Do you manage a high volume of e-mails? Choose a tool focused on ticket management;
- Are you looking to automate the first contact? Choose a solution with chatbot and intelligent routing;
- are you in the SaaS business? Choose a platform that can be integrated with your product and CRM.
Every company has different needs: a good tool isn't necessarily a complete tool, but one that's adapted.
2. Evaluate your medium-term budget
Some tools seem affordable... until you add additional modules, integrations or agents.
Take a close look at :
- the real cost per month and per agent ;
- the impact of a change of scale (10 → 30 agents) ;
- the predictability of expenses (hidden costs, extra costs, scalability).
💡 Tip: favor clearly priced tools (Crisp type, Zoho Desk), or with open source versions (Chatwoot) if you have the technical resources.
3. Prioritize the user experience
Feature-rich software is good. Software your teams want to use is better.
Take a look at :
- the simplicity of the interface ;
- time to learn ;
- the quality of documentation and customer support.
A good tool is also one that enables your agents to respond quickly, well and without friction.
4. Check essential integrations
An isolated tool is a tool that slows down. Check that the platform integrates easily with your environment:
- CRM (HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho...) ;
- e-commerce (Shopify, WooCommerce) ;
- automation / reporting (Zapier, Make, Google Analytics) ;
- extended support (knowledge base, FAQ, feedback...).
The right integration can save you precious time on a daily basis.
5. Test before you commit
A free trial is more than a bonus: it's essential. It's the best way to see if the tool lives up to its promises... or not.
Involving future users directly in the test validates functional relevance and ease of adoption.
What alternative to Intercom is there for your team?
Intercom remains a powerful reference, but it's clearly not the only option, nor the most suitable for all contexts. Whether we're talking budget, simplicity, specific features or product philosophy, today's alternatives are numerous, solid, and often much better calibrated.
👉 For a modern customer experience without breaking the bank, we think of Crisp, HelpCrunch or Tidio.
👉 For structured, scalable support, Zendesk, Zoho Desk or Freshdesk are safe bet.
👉 To keep your hands on the techno, Chatwoot (open source) is an excellent choice.
👉 And for those who want unified CRM and support, HubSpot Service Hub ticks all the boxes.
The most important thing? Choose a platform that marries your uses: number of agents, ticket volume, integrations, level of customization, etc.
Take the time to test, compare, involve your team... and choose the customer support tool that will enable you to accelerate your growth without slowing down your processes.
Article translated from French