15 Best Intercom alternatives & competitors for 2025

So, you’re using Intercom. It’s a popular tool for a reason, but maybe you’re starting to notice the bills creeping up. Or perhaps your team is spending more time fighting with the platform than actually helping customers. Whatever the reason, you’re looking for Intercom alternatives, and you’ve come to the right place.

This guide covers 15 of the best competitors out there. We’ll look at everything from complete helpdesk replacements to clever AI tools that give your current setup a major boost without the pain of a full migration. Let’s dig in and find a tool that actually works for you.

What are Intercom alternatives?

Simply put, an Intercom alternative is any customer service or engagement tool that handles the core jobs Intercom does: live chat, helpdesk tickets, knowledge bases, and automated messages.

These tools come in a few different flavors. Some are all-in-one platforms aiming to replace Intercom entirely. Others are specialized, focusing on doing one thing really, really well. A newer and interesting category includes AI layers like eesel AI, which plug into the helpdesk you already use to add powerful automation and intelligence, saving you from a painful switch.

Why look for Intercom alternatives?

While Intercom got a lot right with conversational support, it’s not the perfect fit for everyone. We hear a few common frustrations from teams looking to make a change.

• The ever-growing bill: Intercom’s pricing is famously complex. It’s based on a mix of agent seats and customer interactions, which can lead to surprise costs that spiral out of control for growing businesses. As one Reddit user put it, "the overage fees can rack up fast causing frustration for many business owners."

• Clunky to use and prone to outages: Getting new team members up to speed on the platform can be a real headache. Worse, users have reported a frustrating number of outages that bring support to a standstill. One G2 review complains, "Intercom constantly has outages. In the past month alone I’ve had 4+ outages that lasted over a day."

• The AI isn’t quite smart enough: Modern teams need AI that learns from all their company knowledge, not just what’s inside the helpdesk. This includes internal wikis, past tickets, and other documents. Intercom’s AI can feel walled off, unable to access the full context needed to give great answers.

How we chose the best Intercom alternatives

We didn’t just pull these names out of a hat. We looked at each platform from the perspective of a real team that needs to get work done, focusing on what actually matters.

• Core features: Does the tool handle the basics ,like a shared inbox, live chat, and knowledge base ,without being a pain to use?

• AI and automation: Is the AI actually helpful? We looked for tools that can automate real work, help agents, and give smart answers based on your actual company data.

• Clear pricing: We favored tools with straightforward, predictable pricing. No one likes surprise fees.

• Ease of use and integrations: A clean interface is a must. We also gave extra points to platforms that connect easily with the tools you already use, like Slack, Confluence, and Shopify.

Comparison of the top Intercom alternatives for 2025

Tool	Best For	Starting Price	G2 Rating	Key Differentiator
eesel AI	Enhancing any helpdesk with AI	$239/mo (annual)	N/A	Integrates with existing tools (no migration)
Zendesk	Enterprise-level ticketing	$55/agent/mo	4.3/5	Robust helpdesk & ticketing system
HubSpot Service Hub	All-in-one CRM & support	$20/mo/seat (Starter)	4.4/5	Deep integration with sales & marketing
Freshdesk	SMBs needing a scalable helpdesk	$15/agent/mo (annual)	4.4/5	User-friendly interface & AI features
Help Scout	Simple, human-centric support	$20/user/mo (annual)	4.4/5	Focus on shared inbox collaboration
Drift	B2B sales & lead generation	$2,500/mo	4.4/5	Powerful conversational marketing bots
Crisp	Startups wanting an all-in-one tool	$25/workspace/mo	4.6/5	Transparent pricing & broad feature set
Tidio	E-commerce live chat & chatbots	$29/mo	4.7/5	Strong e-commerce integrations
Gorgias	E-commerce customer service	$60/mo	4.6/5	Deep Shopify & BigCommerce integration
Front	Collaborative team inboxes	$59/seat/mo	4.7/5	Team collaboration on external communication
Missive	Internal & external communication	$14/user/mo (annual)	4.9/5	Combines team chat and shared inbox
HelpCrunch	Affordable all-in-one platform	$12/member/mo (annual)	4.7/5	Strong value for startups
Zoho Desk	Businesses using the Zoho ecosystem	$14/agent/mo (annual)	4.4/5	Native integration with Zoho CRM & tools
LiveAgent	Multi-channel support on a budget	$9/agent/mo	4.5/5	Extensive channel support for the price
Outseta	Membership businesses	$37/mo	N/A	Combines support, billing, and CRM

The 15 best Intercom alternatives for 2025

Here’s a closer look at the platforms that give Intercom a run for its money, each with its own unique spin.

1. eesel AI: An "enhance, don’t replace" choice among Intercom alternatives

What if you could get smarter AI without the massive headache of switching helpdesks? That’s the idea behind eesel AI. Instead of being another platform to migrate to, it’s a smart layer that works on top of your current tools ,even Intercom itself. It connects to your helpdesk , and even past tickets to automate support, draft replies, and run your chatbot. It’s a way to get next-level AI without turning your company upside down.

Pros:

• No migration needed; it works with the tools you already have.

• Learns from all your company knowledge, not just what’s in one app.

• Clear pricing based on usage, so you don’t get punished for adding team members.

• Its AI can perform "Actions" like looking up order details or tagging tickets for you.

Cons:

• It’s an AI layer, not a standalone helpdesk. You need an existing platform for it to connect to.

Pricing: Starts at $239/month (billed annually) for up to 1,000 AI interactions.

2. Zendesk: A classic choice for Intercom alternatives

You can’t talk about customer support without mentioning Zendesk. It’s one of the biggest names in the game, especially for larger teams that need a serious, old-school ticketing system. If your team manages a huge volume of requests and lives by structured tickets and detailed reports, Zendesk is built for that world.

Pros:

• A true workhorse that scales with large support teams.

• Connects with just about everything, with over 1,200 apps in its marketplace.

• Deep reporting and analytics features for slicing and dicing your data.

Cons:

• Can get expensive and complicated to configure.

• Ironically, many users complain about Zendesk’s own customer support.

• Its built-in AI is trapped in the Zendesk ecosystem, so it can’t see the helpful info you have in other places like Confluence.

Pricing: Starts at $55/agent/month for the Suite Team plan.

Pro tip: You can make Zendesk much smarter by adding the eesel AI Zendesk integration. This lets you train an AI on knowledge sources that Zendesk can’t reach on its own.

3. HubSpot Service Hub: An all-in-one choice for Intercom alternatives

If your company already runs on HubSpot for sales or marketing, their Service Hub is a no-brainer. It connects your support desk directly to a customer’s entire history with your company, giving your team the full picture without having to juggle a bunch of different tools. It includes a shared inbox, tickets, a knowledge base, and live chat.

Pros:

• Plugs right into HubSpot’s CRM, Sales, and Marketing Hubs for a complete customer view.

• Has a generous free plan to get you started.

• Solid tools for automation and reporting.

Cons:

• The price can jump up fast once you move to the more advanced plans.

• It might be overkill if you don’t plan on using the rest of the HubSpot suite.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $20/seat/month for the Starter pack.

4. Freshdesk: A user-friendly choice for Intercom alternatives

Freshdesk is a go-to choice for small and medium-sized businesses because it’s so easy to get started with. It offers a solid mix of omnichannel support, AI-powered automation, a self-service portal, and tools for team collaboration. Its clean design means your team can get up and running without a ton of training.

Pros:

• Clean, intuitive, and easy for new teams to learn.

• Affordable plans, including a free option for small teams.

• Useful automation for routing tickets and sending canned responses.

Cons:

• The reporting tools on the cheaper plans are pretty basic.

• Its chat tool, Freshchat, is technically a separate product you have to manage.

• Like other all-in-one tools, its AI can only learn from information within the Freshworks ecosystem.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $18/agent/month.

Pro tip: You can get around Freshdesk’s AI limitations with the eesel AI Freshdesk integration. It lets you build AI agents that can pull data from any source and perform custom tasks.

5. Help Scout: A human-centric choice for Intercom alternatives

Help Scout is built for teams who believe customer support should feel human, not like a transaction. It ditches complex ticket numbers in favor of a clean, simple shared inbox that feels like a normal email client. It’s fantastic for teams that work together on email and live chat, with handy features like private notes and saved replies.

Pros:

• Simple, clutter-free design that puts the conversation first.

• Great for team collaboration on customer emails.

• The "Beacon" help widget neatly combines a knowledge base search with live chat.

Cons:

• Doesn’t have the advanced automation or chatbot features of its competitors.

• Has fewer integrations than the bigger platforms.

Pricing: Starts at $25/user/month.

6. Drift: A B2B choice for Intercom alternatives

Drift is all about conversational marketing and sales, making it a top Intercom alternative for B2B companies trying to generate leads. Its main weapon is a powerful chatbot that can talk to website visitors, qualify them as leads, and book meetings for your sales team automatically.

Pros:

• The best in the business for B2B lead generation and sales automation.

• Connects deeply with Salesforce and other essential sales tools.

• High-quality chatbots and proactive messaging that actually start conversations.

Cons:

• It’s extremely expensive, with plans reportedly starting at $2,500 per month.

• It’s much more focused on pre-sales than post-sales customer support.

Pricing: Custom pricing, but expect it to start around $2,500/month.

7. Crisp: A startup choice for Intercom alternatives

Crisp is a versatile, all-in-one platform that packs a surprising amount of punch for a low price, making it a hit with startups. It includes a shared inbox, live chat, knowledge base, CRM, and even some basic email marketing tools. Its straightforward pricing is a welcome break from Intercom’s model.

Pros:

• You get a ton of features for a very reasonable price.

• Simple and transparent pricing plans.

• Includes cool features you don’t always see, like co-browsing and video calls.

Cons:

• Many of the best features are only available on the most expensive plan.

• Some users feel its features are a mile wide but an inch deep.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $25/month per workspace.

8. Tidio: An e-commerce choice for Intercom alternatives

Tidio is a great Intercom alternative for e-commerce stores, with a strong focus on live chat and chatbots. It offers a slick chat widget, a visual chatbot builder that’s easy to use, and great integrations with platforms like Shopify. Its AI chatbot, Lyro, can learn from your FAQ page to answer common customer questions.

Pros:

• Excellent live chat and chatbot tools.

• Great value, with a solid free plan and affordable paid options.

• Super easy to set up, especially for e-commerce sites.

Cons:

• It doesn’t have a native, full-featured knowledge base tool.

• It’s more of a chat tool than a complete helpdesk system.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $29/month.

9. Gorgias: A leading e-commerce choice for Intercom alternatives

Gorgias is a customer service platform built from the ground up for e-commerce. It has deep integrations with Shopify, BigCommerce, and Adobe Commerce, letting agents see a customer’s order history, make edits, and process refunds right from the helpdesk. If you run an online store, this is the tool for you.

Pros:

• Unbeatable integration with e-commerce platforms.

• Brings all customer conversations (email, chat, social media) into one place.

• Has powerful automation rules designed specifically for e-commerce scenarios.

Cons:

• Pricing is based on the number of tickets, which can get pricey for fast-growing stores.

• It’s not a good fit for businesses outside of e-commerce.

Pricing: Starts at $60/month for 300 tickets.

Pro tip: With the eesel AI Gorgias integration, your AI agent can pull live product data from Shopify to answer pre-sales questions and automate common support tasks.

10. Front: A collaborative choice for Intercom alternatives

Front calls itself a "customer operations platform," and it shines when it comes to team collaboration around a shared inbox. It’s perfect for B2B companies where a single customer email might need input from sales, support, and success. You can assign messages, leave internal comments, and work together on a reply before the customer ever sees it.

Pros:

• Amazing for getting different teams to collaborate on customer communication.

• The email-like interface is clean and easy for anyone to pick up.

• Strong rules for automating workflows.

Cons:

• The minimum seat requirements can be a dealbreaker for very small teams.

• Less focused on features like live chat and chatbots.

Pricing: Starts at $59/seat/month with a 2-seat minimum.

11. Missive: A unified choice for Intercom alternatives

Missive brings all your communication ,internal and external ,into one app. It’s a great pick for teams that want to manage shared inboxes (like support@ or sales@), social media messages, and internal team chat without switching between tools. Its standout feature is real-time collaborative draft writing.

Pros:

• Affordable and easy-to-understand pricing.

• Top-notch collaboration features, like writing emails together.

• Supports a wide variety of communication channels.

Cons:

• It’s not a full helpdesk; it lacks some of the more advanced ticketing features.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $14/user/month (billed annually).

12. HelpCrunch: An affordable choice for Intercom alternatives

HelpCrunch offers a great mix of features and affordability, making it a strong option for startups and SMBs. It bundles live chat, email marketing, a help desk, and pop-ups into one platform without breaking the bank.

Pros:

• An all-in-one tool for support, marketing, and sales.

• Very competitive and clear pricing.

• Good options for customizing the chat widget and pop-ups.

Cons:

• Its AI features are not as developed as what you’ll find on more established platforms.

Pricing: Starts at $15/month per team member.

13. Zoho Desk: A great choice for Intercom alternatives in the Zoho ecosystem

If your business is already using other Zoho products, Zoho Desk is the obvious and powerful choice. It’s an omnichannel helpdesk that connects perfectly with Zoho CRM and its other apps. It gives you ticket management, a knowledge base, live chat, and an AI assistant named Zia.

Pros:

• Flawless integration with the massive Zoho ecosystem.

• The AI assistant, Zia, can provide context-aware suggestions to agents.

• Feature-packed plans at a reasonable price.

Cons:

• It can be complex to set up because it has so many configuration options.

Pricing: Starts at $20/agent/month.

14. LiveAgent: A multi-channel choice for Intercom alternatives

LiveAgent delivers a full helpdesk and live chat solution at a very competitive price. It supports a huge number of communication channels and includes a universal inbox, ticketing, and even a built-in call center. Its gamification features are a fun way to keep support agents motivated.

Pros:

• Incredible value, with a free plan and very low-cost paid tiers.

• Supports over 40 languages.

• The live chat widget is fast and highly customizable.

Cons:

• Has fewer integrations with other tools compared to its competitors.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $9/agent/month.

15. Outseta: A unique choice for Intercom alternatives for memberships

Outseta is a unique all-in-one platform for SaaS and membership businesses, rolling billing, user logins, CRM, email, and a help desk into one package. It’s designed for early-stage founders who want to avoid a complicated tech stack. If you’re just starting out and want one tool to run your business, Outseta is worth checking out.

Pros:

• Simplifies the tech stack for new businesses.

• Predictable, low-cost pricing with unlimited users.

• Focuses on human-to-human support rather than complex AI.

Cons:

• Its help desk features are more basic than what you’d get from a dedicated tool.

• Not a good fit if you already have an established set of tools.

Pricing: Starts at $37/month for unlimited users.

Tips for choosing the right Intercom alternatives

Switching platforms is a big deal. Here are a few things to keep in mind to make sure you pick the right tool.

• Audit what you actually need: Be honest. Does your team really need complex conversational marketing bots, or would a simple, effective shared inbox do the trick? Make a list of your must-haves versus your nice-to-haves so you don’t overpay for features you’ll never touch.

• Think about the total cost of switching: The monthly price is just one part of the equation. You also have to account for the time and effort it will take to move your data, retrain your team, and set up all your workflows again. This is where an enhancement tool like eesel AI has a huge advantage, since there’s no migration at all.

• Check the key integrations: Make sure the new tool plays nice with the software you can’t live without, whether that’s your CRM, e-commerce platform, or internal chat tool like Slack.

• Run a small test: Before you go all-in, sign up for a free trial and have a few of your support agents use the platform with real customer questions. Their real-world feedback is gold.

The best Intercom alternatives are the ones that fit your workflow

The big takeaway here isn’t that you need to ditch Intercom tomorrow. It’s that you have options. The "best" alternative is simply the one that solves your biggest headaches ,whether that’s a runaway budget, a clunky workflow, or an AI that just isn’t cutting it.

But before you jump into the deep end with a full-scale migration that could take months, why not see if you can make your current setup way better first? That’s where a tool like eesel AI comes in. It enhances the tools you already have, giving you powerful, custom-trained AI without disrupting how your team works.

Start a free trial of eesel AI and see what a smarter AI agent can do for you in just a few minutes.