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Intercom alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Intercom: seat fees plus per-resolution AI charges are hard to forecast, and expensive for small teams once add-ons stack up. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Intercom, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Zendesk currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Chatwoot logoChatwootOpen sourceYesWeb, iOS, Android +14 of 455.3
  1. Chatwoot logo

    1. ChatwootTop pick

    Best for: Teams that want an Intercom-style inbox they can self-host and control

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Intercom

    Open-source, self-hostable alternative to the Messenger and shared inbox.

    Pros

    • Open source and self-hostable
    • Many channels, including WhatsApp and Telegram
    • Free cloud tier for very small teams

    Cons

    • Thinner reporting and integrations than big suites
    • Self-hosting means managing upgrades yourself
    • Some advanced features are paid enterprise extras
    Visit Chatwoot Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Chatwoot a good Intercom alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026chatwoot.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free cloud plan
    Up to 2 agents
    Checked Oct 25, 2026chatwoot.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Paid cloud plan
    From $19 per agent/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026chatwoot.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Linux VM, Docker or Kubernetes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026developers.chatwoot.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Intercom alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Zendesk logo

Best Intercom alternative for most people

Zendesk

Deeper ticketing and routing for large, multi-channel support teams.

Chatwoot logo

Best Intercom alternative for a free option

Chatwoot

Open-source, self-hostable alternative to the Messenger and shared inbox.

Crisp logo

Best Intercom alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Crisp

Similar chat-first inbox priced per workspace rather than per seat.

Chatwoot logo

Best Intercom alternative for open source

Chatwoot

Open-source, self-hostable alternative to the Messenger and shared inbox.

Chatwoot logo

Best Intercom alternative for self-hosting

Chatwoot

Open-source, self-hostable alternative to the Messenger and shared inbox.

Tidio logo

Best Intercom alternative for Mac

Tidio

Cheaper chat widget and AI bot for small online businesses.

Crisp logo

Best Intercom alternative for Windows

Crisp

Similar chat-first inbox priced per workspace rather than per seat.

Crisp logo

Best Intercom alternative for Linux

Crisp

Similar chat-first inbox priced per workspace rather than per seat.

Help Scout logo

Best Intercom alternative for iPhone and Android

Help Scout

Calmer, cheaper help desk with a free plan and simple AI resolution pricing.

Plain logo

Best Intercom alternative for working in the browser

Plain

Modern B2B support tool built for API-first and Slack-heavy teams.

Intercom alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Intercom?

Zendesk ranks first right now. Deeper ticketing and routing for large, multi-channel support teams. Crisp and Help Scout follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Intercom?

Yes. Crisp (free plan + paid), Help Scout (free plan + paid), Chatwoot (open source) and Tidio (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Intercom?

Yes: Chatwoot. Chatwoot can also be self-hosted.

Which Intercom alternatives work on Linux?

Crisp runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Intercom?

The complaints we hear most: seat fees plus per-resolution AI charges are hard to forecast; expensive for small teams once add-ons stack up; less suited to email-heavy, traditional ticket queues.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Intercom, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.