Starting price$25/user/moStandard, billed monthly; 16% off annually
Free trial / planFree plan (5 users); 15-day trial
Vettlo score75/100
G2 user rating4.4/5431 reviews
Help Scout Review (2026): Pricing, Pros and Cons
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Short answer
Help Scout ranks #7 of 7 in our help desk tools ranking (75/100). Best for small teams that want simple, friendly support. Paid plans start at $25/user/mo (Standard, billed monthly; 16% off annually).
What is Help Scout?
Help Scout is a shared inbox with a knowledge base, live chat and an AI agent (Envoy) billed at $0.75 per resolution. The free plan covers 5 users, 1 inbox and 1 Docs site.
Who it's best for
Small and growing teams that want customer support to feel personal rather than ticket-driven.
Why we rank it
It's the easiest tool here to set up and use, with a free plan for 5 users.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- Very easy to set up and use
- Free plan for 5 users
- AI agent free for the first 3 months
Watch-outs
- Fewer advanced workflows than Zendesk or Freshdesk
- Extra inboxes cost $10 to $12 per month each
Skip it if: You run a large, multi-team support operation with complex routing.
Help Scout pricing
Paid plans start at $25/user/mo (Standard, billed monthly; 16% off annually). Free plan or trial: Free plan (5 users); 15-day trial.
From Help Scout's pricing page, checked on the date at the top of this review. See how it compares on price in our help desk tools pricing overview.
How we scored Help Scout
Help desk score: 75/100
Ticketing & workflows (25%)3.5/5
Channels & self-service (20%)3.5/5
AI & automation (15%)3.5/5
Reporting (10%)3/5
Ease of use (15%)5/5
Price & value (15%)4/5
Each criterion is rated 0 to 5 and weighted for the category. See our methodology.
How Help Scout compares
| # | Tool | Best for | Starting price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zendesk | Growing teams that need every channel | $19/agent/mo | 87/100 |
| 2 | Zoho Desk | Best value for multichannel support | €7/agent/mo | 85/100 |
| 3 | Freshdesk | Teams that want AI and SLAs at a mid-range price | $19/agent/mo | 83/100 |
| 4 | Intercom | AI-first support and in-app messaging | $19/seat/mo | 82/100 |
| 5 | HubSpot Service Hub | Teams already on HubSpot CRM | $7/seat/mo | 78/100 |
| 6 | Front | Email-heavy teams that want a shared inbox | $25/seat/mo | 76/100 |
Alternatives and comparisons
Help Scout FAQ
How much does Help Scout cost?
Paid plans start at $25/user/mo (Standard, billed monthly; 16% off annually). Free plan or trial: Free plan (5 users); 15-day trial.
Is Help Scout worth it?
Help Scout scores 75/100 in our help desk tools ranking, where it is best for small teams that want simple, friendly support. It's a weaker fit if: you run a large, multi-team support operation with complex routing.
Does Help Scout have a free plan or trial?
Free plan (5 users); 15-day trial.
What are the best Help Scout alternatives?
In our help desk tools ranking, the closest alternatives are Zendesk, Zoho Desk and Freshdesk.