kitio.aiHelp Scout vs Help.center
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Help.center has the lower starting price: about $19 a month, against $25 for Help Scout.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Shared email inbox
- Docs knowledge base
- Beacon chat widget
- AI Answers
- AI drafts and summaries
- AI-powered knowledge base
- AI search for customers
- Website chat widget
- Shared email inbox
- One-click article import
- Custom domain
| Feature | Help Scout | Help.center |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Shared inbox and help center with AI answers for small support teams | AI knowledge base, chatbot and shared inbox for customer support |
| Category | Customer support | Customer support |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $25/mo | $19/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Help Scout | Help.center |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Both offer: Shared email inbox.
Pricing compared
Help.center has the lower starting price: about $19 a month, against $25 for Help Scout.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Free
Free
- 5 users
- 1 inbox
- 1 Docs site
Standard
$25/mo
- Per user
- Multiple inboxes and knowledge bases
- Live chat, SMS and social channels
- AI Inbox assistant
Plus
$45/mo
- Per user
- Advanced workflows and 2 SLA policies
- Secure customer portal
- Unlimited AI Drafts
Pro
$75/mo
- Per user
- Unlimited workflows and SLA policies
- SSO/SAML
- Strategic account manager
3 plans
Free
Free
- Public knowledge base
- AI search
Business
$19/mo
- Per user
- Chat widget
- Integrations
Unlimited
$99/mo
- Flat price for the whole team
- Custom domain
- Remove branding
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Help Scout
- Very easy for new agents to learn
- Emails feel personal, not ticket-like
- Free plan for tiny teams
- Fewer enterprise features
- Phone support is limited
- Free plan caps monthly contacts
Help.center
- Free knowledge base forever
- Flat team price on Unlimited
- Quick import of existing docs
- AI answers over the limit cost extra
- Business plan is billed per seat
- Fewer features than full help desks
Which one should you choose?
Choose Help Scout if you want:
- Very easy for new agents to learn
- Emails feel personal, not ticket-like
- Free plan for tiny teams
Watch out: fewer enterprise features.
Choose Help.center if you want:
- Free knowledge base forever
- Flat team price on Unlimited
- Quick import of existing docs
Watch out: ai answers over the limit cost extra.
Help Scout vs Help.center FAQ
What is the difference between Help Scout and Help.center?
Help Scout: Shared inbox and help center with AI answers for small support teams. Help.center: AI knowledge base, chatbot and shared inbox for customer support. Both are customer support tools.
Is Help Scout or Help.center cheaper?
Help.center has the lower starting price: about $19 a month, against $25 for Help Scout.
Do Help Scout and Help.center have free plans?
Help Scout: Yes. Help.center: Yes.
Who makes Help Scout?
Help Scout is made by Help Scout, based in United States.
Who makes Help.center?
Help.center is made by Help.center.
Which should I choose, Help Scout or Help.center?
Choose Help Scout if you value very easy for new agents to learn and emails feel personal, not ticket-like. Choose Help.center if you value free knowledge base forever and flat team price on unlimited.