Help Scout vs LiveChat
Compare Help Scout and LiveChat on features, pricing, and buyer fit using the same researched criteria.
Help Scout
SMB shared inbox and helpdesk — free for up to 5 users; Standard $25, Plus $45, Pro $75 user/mo annual.
Best for
- • SMB teams wanting email-first shared inbox support without enterprise complexity
- • Startups using the free 5-user tier
- • Buyers prioritizing ease of use over omnichannel breadth
Starting from $0.00/user/mo
Free plan available
VS
Our verdict
No universal winner. Choose based on which criteria matter most for your team.
Help Scout is better for
- ✓ Free plan
- ✓ Ticketing depth
- ✓ Knowledge base
- ✓ SLA & routing
LiveChat is better for
- ✓ Integrations
Tie
- • Live chat
- • Omnichannel inbox
- • AI features
Choose Help Scout if: SMB teams wanting email-first shared inbox support without enterprise complexity
Choose LiveChat if: Teams wanting mature live chat with Text ecosystem optionality
LiveChat
Established live chat from Text — Starter $19, Team $49, Business $79, Enterprise $52 per person/mo annual.
Best for
- • Teams wanting mature live chat with Text ecosystem optionality
- • SMB–mid-market website support with per-agent clarity
- • Buyers who may add ChatBot or HelpDesk from the same vendor
Starting from $19.00/user/mo
No free plan
Evidence & transparency
Sources and research process behind this comparison.
Sources
4
Criteria
11
Screenshots
2
Sources consulted
| Title | Product | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Help Scout — Official Site | Help Scout | official-product-page |
| Help Scout Pricing | Help Scout | official-pricing-page |
| LiveChat — Official Site | LiveChat | official-product-page |
| LiveChat Pricing | LiveChat | official-pricing-page |
Methodology steps
- 1Collect first-party product and pricing evidence
- 2Map both products to the same category criteria
- 3Record criterion outcomes with confidence and sources
- 4Publish only when editorial gates allow indexing
Methodology version 1.0.0.
Affiliate relationships never change comparison outcomes. We evaluate both products on the same criteria and allow ties when evidence does not support a universal winner.
Read full methodology →Some visit links may be affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Comparison outcomes are never based on commission.