kitio.aiIntercom vs Kayako
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Intercom starts at $39/mo and Kayako starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Customer service help desk with messaging, tickets and a built-in AI agent
Free trial · $39/moAt a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Shared omnichannel inbox
- Fin AI agent
- Copilot for human agents
- Help center builder
- Workflow automation
- AI agent for ticket resolution
- Shared inbox and ticketing
- Knowledge base
- Live chat widget
- Automation rules
- Reporting and analytics
| Feature | Intercom | Kayako |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Customer service help desk with messaging, tickets and a built-in AI agent | Help desk with an AI agent that resolves tickets for you |
| Category | Customer support | Customer support |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Paid |
| Starting price | $39/mo | See pricing page |
| Free plan | No, 14-day trial | No |
| Made by | Fin (Salesforce) | Kayako |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Intercom starts at $39/mo and Kayako starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
3 plans
Essential
$39/mo
- Per seat
- Fin AI Agent at $0.99/outcome
- Shared inbox and ticketing
- Public help center
Advanced
$99/mo
- Per seat
- Workflows automation builder
- Multiple team inboxes
- 20 free Lite seats
Expert
$139/mo
- Per seat
- SSO and identity management
- HIPAA support and SLAs
- 50 free Lite seats
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
Intercom
- Polished messenger and inbox
- AI built into every plan
- Good in-app messaging tools
- Seat and AI costs add up
- Pricing pages change often
- Advanced reporting needs top tiers
Kayako
- Pay per resolution instead of per seat for the AI
- Onboarding handled by the vendor
- Kay can run on top of an existing help desk
- No self-serve plans or prices listed
- Resolution counts decide the AI bill
- Few integrations named on the homepage
Which one should you choose?
Choose Intercom if you want:
- Polished messenger and inbox
- AI built into every plan
- Good in-app messaging tools
Watch out: seat and ai costs add up.
Choose Kayako if you want:
- Pay per resolution instead of per seat for the AI
- Onboarding handled by the vendor
- Kay can run on top of an existing help desk
Watch out: no self-serve plans or prices listed.
Intercom vs Kayako FAQ
What is the difference between Intercom and Kayako?
Intercom: Customer service help desk with messaging, tickets and a built-in AI agent. Kayako: Help desk with an AI agent that resolves tickets for you. Both are customer support tools.
Is Intercom or Kayako cheaper?
Intercom starts at $39/mo and Kayako starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Intercom and Kayako have free plans?
Intercom: No, 14-day trial. Kayako: No.
Who makes Intercom?
Intercom is made by Fin (Salesforce), based in United States.
Who makes Kayako?
Kayako is made by Kayako.
Which should I choose, Intercom or Kayako?
Choose Intercom if you value polished messenger and inbox and ai built into every plan. Choose Kayako if you value pay per resolution instead of per seat for the ai and onboarding handled by the vendor.