Chatwoot vs Help Scout Pricing (2026)

Which one is cheaper?

Chatwoot starts lower at $19/mo, compared to $25/mo for Help Scout.

Can I use either one for free?

Both offer free plans, so you can try each without paying. Start with whichever fits your workflow better and upgrade when you hit the limits.

How do they charge?

Both use a per-seat model, so the comparison is straightforward — it comes down to features and limits at each price point.

Which one is a better deal?

Depends on what you need. Chatwoot: Chatwoot is playing the affordable open-source-friendly angle hard — $39/seat Business tier undercuts Intercom and Zendesk significantly, and the free plan for open source projects is a direct community acquisition move. They're not chasing enterprise logos; they're trying to win dev-adjacent teams and scrappy support orgs who'd otherwise self-host. Help Scout: Help Scout sits mid-market — pricier than bare-bones ticketing tools but noticeably cheaper than heavyweight platforms like Zendesk or Intercom at comparable seat counts. They're clearly courting small-to-mid-sized teams that want something more polished than a free tool but don't need enterprise-grade complexity.

Still deciding? See the best Chatwoot alternatives or the best Help Scout alternatives, ranked with verified pricing.