Helpshift vs Intercom (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Helpshift if

• Fits if you run a mobile or PC game studio and want support inside the game
• Works for studios that want to buy software, AI and human support in any mix

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you're not a game studio, as the pages speak of players
• Not for you if you want a price before a sales call
• Watch out: what you pay depends on interaction volume, solutions and languages, so it can't be worked out from the site
• Watch out: no free plan or trial is on record

Pick Intercom if

• Fits if you run a software or app company and support people inside the product
• Works for startups with under $10M raised and fewer than 15 staff, which get 93% off the first year

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you get lots of questions, as every Fin resolution adds $0.99 to the bill
• Skip it if you need a fixed monthly cost, since WhatsApp, SMS, phone and bulk email are billed by use
• Tight if you want automation workflows or several team inboxes, as both start on Advanced at $85 a seat
• Watch out: each agent gets 10 Copilot conversations a month free, and unlimited Copilot is $29 an agent on top
• Watch out: product tours and surveys need Proactive Support Plus, from $99 a month for 500 messages

Helpshift

• The pricing page publishes no prices: cost is quoted per studio from interaction volume, solutions used, capabilities and languages.
• It is built for game studios; the vendor's pages describe players, not general customer support.
• Technology, AI and human services can be bought in any mix, so what a studio pays depends on that mix.

Intercom

• Every Fin outcome costs $0.99 on top of seats, and WhatsApp, SMS, phone and bulk email are billed by usage.
• Unlimited Copilot costs $29 per agent / month billed annually ($35 monthly); the Pro add-on with Operator starts at $100 a month per workspace.
• Fin can run on another helpdesk such as Zendesk or Salesforce for $0.99 per outcome with a monthly minimum and no seat fees, sold through sales.
• Outbound features such as product tours and surveys need Proactive Support Plus, from $99 a month for 500 messages.

Helpshift

In-game support SDKs

Support is built into mobile, PC and web games, with a console handoff through QR codes and links.

CARE AI agent

An AI agent resolves routine player issues on its own, with real-time monitoring of conversations and translation into over 70 languages.

Agent copilot and routing

Human agents get an AI copilot and smart routing, and an API lets studios connect their own systems.

Engagement and VIP care

Player segmentation, in-game and push messages and VIP outreach are sold as a separate solution.

Trust and safety

AI detection of toxicity and harassment across in-game chat, Discord and forums, with policy enforcement workflows.

Intercom

Fin AI Agent

Answers customers across channels and hands off to the team inbox. It costs $0.99 per outcome, charged at most once per conversation and not when a human takes over.

Messenger live chat

A chat widget for websites and mobile apps that feeds the same inbox as email and other channels.

Shared inbox and tickets

Conversations and tickets in one inbox with pre-built reports. Advanced adds multiple team inboxes and round-robin assignment.

Help center

A public help center on every plan; Advanced adds private and multilingual help centers and Expert adds one per brand.

Workflows

Basic automation on Essential and a visual workflow automation builder from Advanced up, with SLAs on Expert.

Copilot

An AI assistant in the inbox. Each agent gets 10 Copilot conversations a month free; unlimited use is a paid add-on per agent.

Helpshift

Pricing could not be confirmed. See helpshift.com.

Intercom

• Essential$29

  per seat / month, billed annually ($39 billed monthly)

  Messenger live chat, a shared inbox and tickets, pre-built reports, a public help center and basic automation. Fin costs $0.99 per outcome on top.

• Advanced$85

  per seat / month, billed annually ($99 billed monthly)

  Adds a workflow automation builder, multiple team inboxes, round-robin assignment, a private and multilingual help center and 20 free Lite seats.

• Expert$132

  per seat / month, billed annually ($139 billed monthly)

  Adds SSO and identity management, HIPAA support, SLAs, a multibrand Messenger and help center, and 50 free Lite seats.

Helpshift

No public discounts listed.

Intercom

• Annual discount

  Lower price with annual billing

  Intercom's pricing page lists Essential at $29 per seat a month billed annually against $39 billed monthly, Advanced at $85 against $99 and Expert at $132 against $139.

• Other savings

  New customers save 35% on annual Essential

  Some loads of the pricing page show Essential at $19 per seat a month billed annually instead of $29 for new customers, or 25% off monthly, kept for as long as the subscription lasts.

• Startups

  Early Stage: 93% off the first year

  Startups with under $10M raised and fewer than 15 employees get 93% off in year one, 50% in year two and 25% in year three, plus a year of Fin with 300 outcomes.