kitio.aiHelp Scout vs SupportBuddy
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Help Scout starts at $25/mo and SupportBuddy starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
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
- Website chat widget
- Answers from approved docs
- Routing and escalation rules
- Human handoff inbox
- Conversation analytics
| Feature | Help Scout | SupportBuddy |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Shared inbox and help center with AI answers for small support teams | Website support chat that answers from your approved docs |
| Category | Customer support | Customer support |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $25/mo | See pricing page |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Help Scout | SupportBuddy.io |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Help Scout starts at $25/mo and SupportBuddy starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
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
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
SupportBuddy
- Replies stay grounded in your sources
- No helpdesk migration needed
- Handoffs keep full context
- Prices not shown on the homepage
- Website chat only, no email or phone
- Few integrations named
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 SupportBuddy if you want:
- Replies stay grounded in your sources
- No helpdesk migration needed
- Handoffs keep full context
Watch out: prices not shown on the homepage.
Help Scout vs SupportBuddy FAQ
What is the difference between Help Scout and SupportBuddy?
Help Scout: Shared inbox and help center with AI answers for small support teams. SupportBuddy: Website support chat that answers from your approved docs. Both are customer support tools.
Is Help Scout or SupportBuddy cheaper?
Help Scout starts at $25/mo and SupportBuddy starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Help Scout and SupportBuddy have free plans?
Help Scout: Yes. SupportBuddy: Yes.
Who makes Help Scout?
Help Scout is made by Help Scout, based in United States.
Who makes SupportBuddy?
SupportBuddy is made by SupportBuddy.io.
Which should I choose, Help Scout or SupportBuddy?
Choose Help Scout if you value very easy for new agents to learn and emails feel personal, not ticket-like. Choose SupportBuddy if you value replies stay grounded in your sources and no helpdesk migration needed.