10 Best Intercom Alternatives for Customer Support in 2024

Discover the top 10 Intercom alternatives for superior customer support in 2024. Compare features, pricing, and use cases to find the perfect fit for your business.

Intercom is a household name in the realm of customer support software, but it's not the only game in town. As companies navigate the ever-changing landscape of technology, a plethora of alternatives has risen to the forefront.

Each of these alternatives boasts its own distinct set of features and advantages, carefully crafted to address the diverse needs of businesses.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll embark on a journey to uncover the top 10 Intercom alternatives for customer support in 2024. This exhaustive list has got you covered, featuring affordable options that won't break the bank, as well as innovative platforms that fill the gaps left by Intercom's limitations. From cutting-edge chatbots to omnichannel solutions, we'll delve into the unique strengths of each customer support tool, providing you with a well-rounded understanding of the customer support landscape.

What Should You Look for in Intercom Alternatives?

When looking for Intercom alternatives, consider several key factors. They will help you choose the right platform for your business. Here are some of the most important things to look for:

• Features: Look for features that suit your business needs. Consider whether you need a live chat widget, chatbots, email support, or a knowledge base. Some platforms offer advanced features. These include social media integration, reporting, analytics, and workflow automation. Here are 5 key customer service software features according to Capterra
• Pricing: Compare the pricing plans of different platforms. Some offer free plans or trials, while others charge per user or per feature. Consider your budget and the number of users you need to support. Look for options that offer a basic plan with essential features for small businesses. A lot of Intercom alternatives, and customer support platforms use different pricing strategies which can be confusing at times. If you would like to learn more about some of the different strategies, such as flat rates, usage based, and more - I would highly recommend checking out The ultimate guide to SaaS pricing models.
• Ease of use: Look for a platform that is easy to use and set up. Examine the interface's usability, documentation quality, and customer support's promptness. A user-friendly chat solution can significantly improve your team's efficiency.
• Integrations: Check if the platform works with your other tools, like CRMs, project management software, or e-commerce platforms. Look for integrations that can help streamline your workflows and improve efficiency.
• Scalability: Consider whether the platform can scale with your business as it grows. Look for features like customizable workflows and flexible pricing. Also, check if you can add users or channels as needed.
• Security: Look for a platform that takes security seriously. Consider whether it offers features like data encryption, two-factor authentication, and compliance with industry standards like GDPR or HIPAA.

By considering these factors, you can find an Intercom alternative that meets your business needs and helps you provide excellent customer support, ultimately leading to improved customer satisfaction.

Intercom Alternatives at a Glance

The 10 Best Intercom Alternatives to Use in 2024

Let's take a look at the top 10 Intercom alternatives that you can use in 2024. Each of these chat software options offers unique features to help you manage customer inquiries effectively.

1. Chatmate

via Chatmate

Chatmate is an AI chatbot that instantly resolves 80% of your support queries. Chatmate allows you to create custom AI chatbots that provide fast and accurate responses, resolving customer inquiries and instantly reducing your team's ticket volume.

If you would like to see a massive improvement in your business' customer service, then I would highly recommend using an Intercom alternative like Chatmate, which allows you to quickly create a reliable, accurate, and on brand chatbot for your customer support.

If you want to read more about how impactful an AI customer support chatbot can be for your business, I highly recommend checking out Klarna's blog post on how their AI chatbot handled two thirds of all their support messages within the first month

Chatmate's personalized AI agents are tailored to your business identity and customer needs, are available in multiple languages, and can be integrated with various platforms like Webflow, Wix, Framer, Wordpress, and Shopify.

Chatmate best features

• Build chatbots that reflect your company's identity and knowledge
• Customize the chat widget to match your brand and website design
• Track customer interactions and gather insights for improvement
• Align the chatbot's tone and voice with your brand using various AI models
• Follow up on leads and nurture them with AI-driven conversations
• Get 24/7 customer support in the Pro plan

Chatmate limitations

• The free plan has limited features compared to the Pro plan
• The Enterprise plan requires contacting support for pricing details

Chatmate pricing

• Free
• Pro: $5/mo
• Enterprise: Contact us

Chatmate customer ratings and reviews

As a relatively new and lackluster app, there are few ratings and reviews on third-party platforms like G2 or Capterra.

What are real-life users saying about Chatmate?

“I love using Chatmate. It has fully replaced Intercom for me because of the smooth user experience and AI integrations” — Reddit review

2. Zendesk

via Zendesk

Zendesk is a well-known player in the customer support space, offering a suite of tools for managing support tickets, live chat, and more. Its user-friendly interface and robust feature set make it a popular choice for businesses of all sizes.

Zendesk best features

• Unified agent workspace
• Self-service support
• AI-powered automation
• Collaboration and productivity tools
• Analytics and reporting

Zendesk limitations

• The user interface can be overwhelming for new users
• Some users have reported performance issues with the platform
• The pricing can be high for small businesses
• Some features require additional usage fees

Zendesk pricing

• Suite Team: $79 per agent/month
• Suite Growth: $99 per agent/month
• Suite Professional: $125 per agent/month
• Suite Enterprise: $189 per agent/month

Zendesk customer ratings and reviews

• Capterra: 4.4/5 (3933)
• G2: 4.3/5 (5,878)

3. HubSpot

via HubSpot

HubSpot is a popular CRM platform that also offers a range of customer support tools. Its ticketing system, knowledge base, and live chat features make it a solid alternative to Intercom for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution. The HubSpot Service Hub provides a comprehensive set of tools for customer support teams.

HubSpot best features

• Shared inbox
• Conversations inbox
• Knowledge base
• Live chat
• Reporting and analytics

HubSpot limitations

• The free plan has limited features compared to the paid plans
• Some users have reported performance issues with the platform
• The pricing can be high for small businesses
• Some features require additional usage fees

HubSpot pricing

• Free
• Starter: $18/month
• Professional: $42/month
• Enterprise: $100/month

Zendesk customer ratings and reviews

• Capterra: 4.5/5 (160)
• G2: 4.4/5 (2,353)

4. Freshdesk

via Freshdesk

Freshdesk is another popular customer support platform that offers a range of features for managing support tickets, live chat, and more. Its user-friendly interface and robust feature set make it a solid alternative to Intercom for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution.

Freshdesk best features

• Advanced Ticketing
• Self-Service
• AI-Powered Automations
• Collaboration Tools
• Analytics

Freshdesk limitations

• Some users have reported performance issues with the platform
• The pricing can be high for small businesses
• Some features require additional usage fees

Freshdesk pricing

• Free
• Growth: $15/agent/month, billed annually
• Pro: $49/agent/month, billed annually
• Enterprise: $79/agent/month, billed annually

Freshdesk customer ratings and reviews

• Capterra: 4.5/5 (3307)
• G2: 4.4/5 (3,132)

5. LiveAgent

via LiveAgent

LiveAgent is a customer support platform that offers a range of features for managing support tickets, live chat, and more. Its user-friendly interface and robust feature set make it a solid alternative to Intercom for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution.

LiveAgent best features

• Universal Inbox
• Live Chat
• Call Center
• Help Desk
• Automation

LiveAgent limitations

• The user interface can be overwhelming for new users
• Some users have reported performance issues with the platform
• The pricing can be high for small businesses
• Some features require additional usage fees

LiveAgent pricing

• Free
• Ticket: $15/agent/month, billed annually
• Chat: $29/agent/month, billed annually
• All-Inclusive: $49/agent/month, billed annually
• Custom: Contact us

Freshdesk customer ratings and reviews

• Capterra: 4.7/5 (1609)
• G2: 4.5/5 (1,596)

6. HelpScout

via HelpScout

Help Scout is a customer support platform that combines shared inboxes, knowledge bases, and live chat to enhance customer interactions. Its user-friendly interface and robust feature set make it a solid alternative to Intercom for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution.

HelpScout best features

• Shared Inbox
• Knowledge Base
• Live Chat
• AI Features
• Automation Workflows

HelpScout limitations

• The user interface can be overwhelming for new users
• Some users have reported performance issues with the platform
• The pricing can be high for small businesses
• Some features require additional usage fees

HelpScout pricing

• Standard: $25 per user per month
• Plus: $50 per user per month
• Pro: $65 per user per month

HelpScout customer ratings and reviews

-Capterra: 4.6/5 (214)

7. Crisp

via Crisp

Crisp is a business messaging platform designed for startups and SMBs. It offers features like a shared inbox, CRM, knowledge base, and chatbots to enhance customer engagement and streamline communication. This chat tool is particularly popular among business owners looking for a comprehensive solution.

Crisp best features

• Shared Inbox
• CRM
• Chatbot
• Campaigns
• Knowledge Base

Crisp limitations

• The user interface can be overwhelming for new users
• Some users have reported performance issues with the platform
• The pricing can be high for small businesses
• Some features require additional usage fees

Crisp pricing

• Free Forever
• Pro: $25 Month / Per Workspace
• Unlimited: $95 Month / Per Workspace

Crisp customer ratings and reviews

-Capterra: 4.5/5 (108) -G2: 4.6/5 (131)

What are real-life users saying about Crisp?

I'd recommend Crisp - it's an all-in-one business chat widget, and it comes with a massive range of features, integrations and super simple pricing (free basically lol) — Reddit review

8. Gorgias

via Gorgias

Gorgias is a customer support platform that offers a range of features for managing support tickets, live chat, and more. Its user-friendly interface and robust feature set make it a solid alternative to Intercom for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution.

Gorgias best features

• Helpdesk
• Live Chat
• Automation
• Integrations
• Reporting

Gorgias limitations

• The user interface can be overwhelming for new users
• Some users have reported performance issues with the platform
• The pricing can be high for small businesses
• Some features require additional usage fees

Gorgias pricing

• Basic: $10/month
• Pro: $25/month
• Advanced: $40/month
• Custom: Contact us

Gorgias customer ratings and reviews

-Capterra: 4.7/5 (114) -G2: 4.6/5 (514)

9. Front

via Front

Front is a customer communication platform that combines the familiarity of email with the power of a help desk and the magic of AI. It enables teams to deliver exceptional customer service at scale by centralizing all customer communication channels in one platform. Front offers a team inbox feature, allowing for efficient collaboration on customer inquiries.

Front best features

• Omnichannel inbox
• Live chat
• Collaboration
• AI chatbots and agent assistance
• Knowledge base
• Workflow automation
• Analytics

Front limitations

• The user interface can be overwhelming for new users
• Some users have reported performance issues with the platform
• The pricing can be high for small businesses
• Some features require additional usage fees

Front pricing

• Starter: $19 USD/seat/mo
• Growth: $59 USD/seat/mo
• Scale: $99 USD/seat/mo
• Premier: $229 USD/seat/mo

Front customer ratings and reviews

-Capterra: 4.5/5 (263) -G2: 4.7/5 (2,129)

10. Tidio

via Tidio

Tidio is a customer support platform. It has features for managing support tickets, live chat, and more. Its simple interface and strong features make it a good alternative to Intercom for businesses wanting an all-in-one solution. Tidio offers basic features in its free plan, making it an attractive option for small businesses.

Tidio best features

• Multilingual support
• Instant responses
• Task automation
• Customizable knowledge base
• Real-time monitoring

Tidio limitations

• The user interface can be overwhelming for new users
• Some users have reported performance issues with the platform
• The pricing can be high for small businesses
• Some features require additional usage fees

Tidio pricing

• Free Plan
• Lyro Plan: Starts at $39
• Tidio+: Starts at $749

Tidio customer ratings and reviews

-Capterra: 4.7/5 (450) -G2: 4.7/5 (1,550)

Enhance Customer Experiences with AI-Driven Support

Intercom is a powerful tool for businesses looking to deliver exceptional customer service. But, it's essential to explore other options to find the best fit for your needs. The options in this article have various features and prices. They can help you provide great customer support.

Whether you choose Intercom or an alternative, focus on a seamless, personalized experience for your customers. With the right tools and strategies, you can create a top-notch customer service operation. It will exceed expectations and build long-term loyalty.

Intercom Alternatives Based on Plan and Pricing

Use Cases Comparison for Intercom Alternatives

Legend: ✅ Highly Suitable, ⚠️ Suitable with limitations