Freshdesk vs Intercom

FRvs

Two Support tools side by side: what each does, what it costs and who it suits.

The verdict Side by side Plans and pricing Who each is for Other options

The verdict

On the data we hold, it's close: neither pulls ahead on features, a free plan or AI access. The choice comes down to how you work.

What the data says

Freshdesk starts lower, at $1.25/mo against $29/mo.
Both have an API and an MCP server, so either works with AI employees.
In our Support ranking, Freshdesk places 12 and Intercom 5 of 16.

Side by side

Freshdesk and Intercom compared
At a glance	FRFreshdesk	Intercom
Starts at	$1.25/mo	$29/mo
Free plan	No	No
API	Yes	Yes
MCP server	Yes	Yes
Links	Visit	Visit

Plans and pricing

Freshdesk

GrowthSmall teams with email-focused support$18/mo
ProExpanding teams needing custom routing$59/mo
EnterpriseLarge orgs requiring audit logs$95/mo

Intercom

EssentialPer seat; Fin AI Agent costs $0.99 per resolved outcome on top.$29/mo/seat
AdvancedPer seat with 20 free Lite seats; Fin AI Agent costs $0.99 per outcome.$85/mo/seat
ExpertPer seat with 50 free Lite seats; Fin AI Agent costs $0.99 per outcome.$132/mo/seat

Prices as the vendors list them. They change often; the final price is on their sites.

Who each is for

Choose Freshdesk if…

We haven't written up who Freshdesk suits yet.

Visit Read the review

Choose Intercom if…

Support and customer experience teams that want an AI agent to resolve a share of conversations alongside a human shared inbox across email, chat, phone and social channels.

Visit Read the review

Other options worth a look

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Freshdesk by Freshworks
Manage customer support tickets across email, chat and social channels with knowledge base tools.
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Zendesk
Customer service platform that combines helpdesk ticketing, omnichannel support and AI-powered knowledge base capabilities.
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From €19/mo yearly
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Gorgias
Centralises customer support across email, chat, social and SMS for ecommerce stores with order-data integration.
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Document360
Powers knowledge bases and help centres with AI search, chatbots and an AI writing agent.
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WhatsApp Business
Meta's messaging app and API that lets businesses chat with customers on WhatsApp, from small shops to enterprises.
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