Intercom alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data
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. Help Scout currently ranks first.
No alternatives match these filters.
Show all 6 alternativesThe best Intercom alternative for…
The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.
Best Intercom alternative for most people
Help ScoutCalmer, cheaper help desk with a free plan and simple AI resolution pricing.
Best Intercom alternative for a free option
ChatwootOpen-source, self-hostable alternative to the Messenger and shared inbox.
Best Intercom alternative for a free plan you can upgrade
CrispSimilar chat-first inbox priced per workspace rather than per seat.
Best Intercom alternative for open source
ChatwootOpen-source, self-hostable alternative to the Messenger and shared inbox.
Best Intercom alternative for self-hosting
ChatwootOpen-source, self-hostable alternative to the Messenger and shared inbox.
Best Intercom alternative for Windows
CrispSimilar chat-first inbox priced per workspace rather than per seat.
Best Intercom alternative for Linux
CrispSimilar chat-first inbox priced per workspace rather than per seat.
Best Intercom alternative for iPhone and Android
ZendeskDeeper ticketing and routing for large, multi-channel support teams.
Best Intercom alternative for working in the browser
PlainModern B2B support tool built for API-first and Slack-heavy teams.
Intercom alternatives: common questions
What is the best alternative to Intercom?
Help Scout ranks first right now. Calmer, cheaper help desk with a free plan and simple AI resolution pricing. Zendesk and Crisp follow it in our ranking.
Is there a free alternative to Intercom?
Yes. Help Scout (free plan + paid), Crisp (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.