Updated October 18, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team
EngageBay vs Help Scout
EngageBay
Higher score in this comparison
Help Scout
What sets them apart
| Compare | EngageBayReviewVisitVisit | Help ScoutReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $14.99Lower | $25 |
| Plan tiers | Free, Basic, Growth, Pro | Standard, Plus |
| Integrations | 250Higher | 100 |
| Product | CRM, Help deskCovers more | Help desk |
| Free plan | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Free plan limits | 250 contacts, up to 15 users | Not confirmed |
| Compliance certifications | GDPR, DPF | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- EngageBay scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.8.
- Price per user from is lower at EngageBay: $14.99 vs $25.
- Integrations is higher at EngageBay: 250 vs 100.
- Support channels: only EngageBay offers Email, Chat, Phone.
- Founded is lower at Help Scout: 2011 vs 2017.
- Audience: only EngageBay offers Beginners.
- Pricing model: only EngageBay offers Free plan.
- Pricing model: only Help Scout offers Free trial.
- Product: only EngageBay offers CRM.
Our verdict on each
EngageBay
EngageBay suits small businesses and beginners seeking CRM and help-desk tools with a free entry point. Its free plan allows 250 contacts, up to 15 users, giving a clear starting check on contact and user allowances before reviewing paid tiers for your growing team.
Help Scout
Help Scout Inbox unites scattered contact points in a single orderly view so small teams trade channel juggling for steady follow through. It is a support platform for customer focused groups that want machine aided drafting, pattern spotting and coordinated handoffs without extra clutter.
Score breakdown
| Area | EngageBay | Help Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7HigherEngageBay lists a per-user starting price of $14.99. | 8.9 |
| Offer | 9.5HigherEngageBay lists CRM and help-desk coverage as CRM and help desk. | 8.6 |
| Trust | 8.3EngageBay lists compliance coverage as GDPR and DPF. | 9.0Higher |
Also worth a look
Pipedrive has integrations at 500, against 250 for EngageBay and 100 for Help Scout.
Pipedrive reviewHow they place
| Ranking | EngageBay | Help Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Help desk software | 2 of 51 | 9 of 51 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | EngageBay | Help Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Small business, BeginnersCovers more | Small business |
| Pricing model | Free plan | Free trial |
| Legal entity | EngageBay Inc. | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2017 | 2011Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Email marketing
| Fact | EngageBay | Help Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Price at 1,000 contacts | $64.99 | Not confirmed |
| Price at 10,000 contacts | $119.99 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | EngageBay | Help Scout | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $14.99lowest quarter | $25at the median | $25 |
| Integrations | 250above the median | 100above the median | 77 |
Median across 52 listed software products.
Pros and cons
EngageBay
Pros
- The listed allowances of 250 contacts, up to 15 users give you a clear free entry point to review contacts and users before paying.
- The listed total of 250 integrations helps you judge how EngageBay might sit alongside tools you already use.
- Contact based pricing at $64.99 and $119.99 gives you separate listed points for larger contact needs.
Cons
- The included allowances are capped at 250 contacts, up to 15 users, so a growing list or a larger team may need to look beyond the entry allowances.
- EngageBay at $14.99 is higher than Nutshell at $13, which matters when you compare per-user starting prices.
Help Scout
Pros
- Unites varied messages in a tidy hub with self assigned tasks for clarity
- Uses machine aided drafting and triage hints while keeping people in control
- Spots repeat themes and emerging friction to guide staffing and next steps
Cons
- Centered on service work, so less useful for groups without support volume
- Moving from plain mail habits to a shared queue takes adjustment time
- Machine made replies still need human review on sensitive or complex topics
Who each suits
EngageBay
Who it suits
- Small businesses comparing CRM and help-desk options, with EngageBay listing coverage as CRM and help desk.
- Beginners wanting a free entry point with stated allowances of 250 contacts, up to 15 users and audience focus of small business and beginners.
- Teams that value many connections alongside clear tiers, with 250 integrations and Free, Basic, Growth, Pro.
Who should look elsewhere
- If a lower listed per-user starting price is your main concern, check Nutshell at $13 against EngageBay at $14.99.
- If your contact base already exceeds the free allowances of 250 contacts, up to 15 users, compare Bumpa and Dolisoft before settling on EngageBay.
Help Scout
Who it suits
- Small teams handling mail, chat and social together
- Manufacturing and logistics support operations
- Brands wanting early warning on emerging issues
Who should look elsewhere
- Teams that prefer keeping each channel in separate tools
- Groups with almost no ongoing customer questions
Questions about each
EngageBay
What is EngageBay's per-user starting price?+
EngageBay lists a per-user starting price of $14.99. That figure describes the entry per-user price and sits alongside separate contact based prices. Check which pricing basis matches the option you are reviewing so you compare matching measures.
What does EngageBay charge at the lower listed contact volume?+
For the lower listed contact volume, EngageBay gives a price of $64.99. This is a contact based price, separate from the per-user starting price of $14.99. Confirm whether you are comparing contact pricing or per-user pricing before deciding.
Help Scout
What does Help Scout do?+
Help Scout offers a support platform for customer focused brands that joins messaging, task automation and pattern review in one place. It helps small groups give steady answers, pass work cleanly between teammates and learn from past conversations.
Which channels can teams manage in Help Scout?+
Staff can handle mail, text notes, social notes, live chat and voice calls from one orderly view. Duties are assigned on their own and background details move with each handoff. Built in workflows plus mobile access keep daily work structured.