Intercom review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Intercom suits small businesses and enterprise teams that want a help desk with a chatbot built in. Essential starts at $29, above the €13.15 typical entry price, and there is no free plan to try before you pay.
Key facts
- Best for
- Small businesses wanting help desk and chatbot in one product
- Price per user from
- $29 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan
- No (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Plan tiers
- Essential, Advanced, Expert (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Product
- Help-desk (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Intercom, Inc. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2011 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Audience
- Small business, Enterprise
- Pricing model
- Free trial
- Official website
- intercom.com
Business tools
- Price from
- $29 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan
- No (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Usage limits
- $0.99 per Fin outcome (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Tool type
- Chatbot (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Intercom, Inc. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2011 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Audience
- Small business, Enterprise
- Pricing model
- Free trial
Pros and cons
Pros
- Help desk and chatbot in one product, per help desk and chatbot
- Tiered choice of Essential, Advanced, Expert to match team size
- A free trial lets you test before committing, per free trial
- Built for small businesses and enterprise buyers alike, per small business and enterprise
Cons
- Higher entry cost: $29 against a €13.15 site median
- There is no free plan, so a free trial is the only way in
- Support runs on help centre only, so phone and chat support are not offered
Ready to try Intercom?
Scored 8.6 / 10 by ForgeCue.
Who it suits
- Small businesses that want support chat and a help desk in one place
- Enterprise teams ready to pay more for a bundled support suite
- Anyone who wants to test the product on a free trial before paying
Who should look elsewhere
- Teams on a tight budget, since LiveAgent starts at $19 per user
- Anyone needing a permanent free plan, which HubSpot offers
- Support teams that want phone or chat support listed, since Intercom shows help centre only
How Intercom compares
8.6 vs 8.7- 8.6 vs 9.3
8.6 vs 8.9- 8.6 vs 9.2
- 8.6 vs 9.3
8.6 vs 9.4
8.6 vs 8.5- 8.6 vs 9.2
- 8.6 vs 8.7
- 8.6 vs 8.0
- 8.6 vs 9.5
8.6 vs 9.4
8.6 vs 9.4- 8.6 vs 9.3
8.6 vs 9.1
8.6 vs 9.1
8.6 vs 9.1- 8.6 vs 9.0
8.6 vs 9.0- 8.6 vs 8.9
8.6 vs 8.9
8.6 vs 8.8- 8.6 vs 8.7
8.6 vs 8.5
8.6 vs 8.5
8.6 vs 8.5
8.6 vs 8.5
8.6 vs 8.5
8.6 vs 8.0
8.6 vs 8.0
8.6 vs 8.0
Frequently asked questions
How much does Intercom cost to get started?+
The Essential tier starts at $29. That sits above the €13.15 site median and the €17.54 help desk median, so Intercom asks for more money than the typical help desk in this group.
Is there a free plan to try Intercom?+
There is no free plan. Intercom offers a free trial instead, per free trial, which means you can look at the product with real support volume before you commit to a paid tier.
Which Intercom plans can I choose from?+
Intercom lists Essential, Advanced, Expert as its plan tiers. Each step up adds capability, so the tier you pick depends on how much of the help desk and chatbot you actually need to run day to day.
What does Intercom charge for chatbot usage?+
The chatbot is billed separately from the seat price, at $0.99 per Fin outcome. Budget for that on top of $29 if your team leans on automated replies rather than live agent work.
Who is Intercom built for?+
Intercom serves small business and enterprise, so a small team and a large enterprise can both buy in. It is headquartered in the US and the legal entity behind the terms is Intercom, Inc..
How does Intercom compare in price to other help desks?+
Intercom's $29 is above the €21.75 site median, and above LiveAgent at $19 and Zendesk at $19. You pay more for the bundled chatbot.
How can I get help from Intercom?+
Support runs on help centre, which is the only channel listed. Help centre articles are the route for everyday questions, and larger buying conversations go through the contact sales path.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intercom,_Inc. checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded, Headquarters
“Founded | 2011 (2011)”
- intercom.com/contact-sales checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“Contact sales”
- intercom.com/legal/terms-and-policies checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Legal entity
“Intercom, Inc., a Delaware corporation”
- intercom.com/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience, Free plan, Pricing model, Plan tiers, Price from, Price per user from, Product, Tool type, Usage limits
“Customer support for individuals, startups, and small businesses”
Compiled from 4 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Free plan limits.