Alternatives · Email
Help Scout alternatives
Help Scout compared with 6 alternatives: Front, Missive, Hiver, Zoho TeamInbox, Gmelius and 1 more.
Help Scout has a free plan. Paid plans start at $25 per user / month, billed annually ($30 billed monthly). None of the alternatives has a free plan. 6 more offer a free trial.
6 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Help ScoutThis tool | Free plan · from $25/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Front | Free trial · from $25/mo | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Missive | Free trial · from $14/mo | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Hiver | Free trial · from $25/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Zoho TeamInbox | Free trial · from $0.99/mo | Trial only | Web, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Gmelius | Free trial · from $19/mo | Trial only | Web, Browser extension |
| Drag | Free trial · from $12/mo | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
How each one differs from Help Scout
- Free trial · from $25/mo
Front
Shared inbox and customer operations platform with AI and ticketing
- Front starts at $25 per seat / month, billed annually. Help Scout starts at $25 per user / month, billed annually ($30 billed monthly).
- Help Scout has a free plan. Front does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Front lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Help Scout also covers AI agents and reports.
Suits: Support and operations teams working shared addresses at volume
- Free trial · from $14/mo
Missive
Team email client with shared inboxes, internal chat and rules
- Missive starts at $14 per user / month, billed yearly ($18 billed monthly). Help Scout starts at $25 per user / month, billed annually ($30 billed monthly).
- Help Scout has a free plan. Missive does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Missive lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Missive also covers tasks and email client.
- Help Scout also covers AI agents and reports.
Suits: Small teams sharing addresses such as support@ or sales@
- Free trial · from $25/mo
Hiver
Shared inbox and AI help desk that runs inside Gmail or standalone
- Hiver starts at $25 per user / month, billed annually ($35 billed monthly). Help Scout starts at $25 per user / month, billed annually ($30 billed monthly).
- Help Scout has a free plan. Hiver does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Hiver lists a browser extension.
Suits: Support teams that want to keep working inside Gmail
- Free trial · from $0.99/mo
Zoho TeamInbox
Shared inboxes for group email, WhatsApp and social messages
- Zoho TeamInbox starts at $0.99 per month (mobile-only Solo); Starter is $5 per user / month, billed annually. Help Scout starts at $25 per user / month, billed annually ($30 billed monthly).
- Help Scout has a free plan. Zoho TeamInbox does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Zoho TeamInbox lists a macOS app.
- Zoho TeamInbox also covers templates.
- Help Scout also covers AI agents.
Suits: Small teams sharing group addresses such as support or sales
- Free trial · from $19/mo
Gmelius
Shared inboxes and AI agents that work inside Gmail
- Gmelius starts at $19 per user / month, billed yearly. Help Scout starts at $25 per user / month, billed annually ($30 billed monthly).
- Help Scout has a free plan. Gmelius does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Gmelius lists a browser extension.
- Only Help Scout lists iOS and Android apps.
- Gmelius also covers templates and kanban boards.
Suits: Teams that run support@ or ops@ addresses from Gmail
- Free trial · from $12/mo
Drag
Shared inbox for Gmail teams with kanban boards and built-in AI
- Drag starts at $12 per user / month, billed yearly. Help Scout starts at $25 per user / month, billed annually ($30 billed monthly).
- Help Scout has a free plan. Drag does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Drag lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Only Drag lists a browser extension.
- Drag also covers templates, tasks and kanban boards.
Suits: Gmail and Google Workspace teams sharing support@ or sales@ addresses
Limits worth knowing in Help Scout
- The Free plan is limited to 5 users, 1 Inbox, 1 Docs site and 100 contacts a month, and includes no AI tools.
- AI Answers is billed separately at $0.75 per resolution once its 3-month free trial ends.
- Pro has a 10-user minimum, and trying Pro means talking to the sales team.
- Extra Inboxes cost $10 a month each on annual billing ($12 monthly) and extra Docs sites $20 ($24 monthly). Phone and voice work only through an integration.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Help Scout?
The alternatives to Help Scout in this directory are Front, Missive, Hiver, Zoho TeamInbox, Gmelius and Drag. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Help Scout.
Is there a free alternative to Help Scout?
None of the alternatives listed here has a free plan. Front, Missive, Hiver, Zoho TeamInbox, Gmelius and Drag offer a free trial.
Which Help Scout alternatives work on Windows?
The Help Scout listing does not include a Windows app. Front, Missive and Drag list one.
Which Help Scout alternatives work on macOS?
The Help Scout listing does not include a macOS app. Front, Missive, Zoho TeamInbox and Drag list one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
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