Crisp
Crisp IM SAS
7.6
Overall Score / 10
Intercom
Intercom Inc.
6.4
Overall Score / 10
Our Verdict
Choose Crisp if:
- —You want the most advanced AI chatbot (Fin) for customer support
- —You need proactive in-app messaging and product tours
- —You're a SaaS company with budget for per-seat + AI resolution costs
Choose Intercom if:
- —You want flat-rate pricing without per-seat or per-resolution fees
- —You need omnichannel support (WhatsApp, Instagram, SMS, email) in one inbox
- —You're an SMB that wants live chat + chatbot + knowledge base affordably
The biggest difference: Crisp uses flat-rate workspace pricing (not per-seat); Intercom charges per seat with additional per-resolution AI costs
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Crisp | Intercom |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Paid Plan | $45/mo (Mini)Source: Crisp IM SAS pricing page → | $39/mo (Essential)Source: Intercom Inc. pricing page → |
| Free Tier | Yes 2 seats, website chat widget, shared inbox, unlimited messages | No 14-day free trial available |
| Value for Money | 8 | 6 |
| Ease of Use | 8 | 7 |
| Feature Power | 7 | 9 |
| Setup Ease | 8 | 6 |
| Migration Ease | 6 | 4 |
| Transparency | 8 | 5 |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android | Web, Mac, iOS, Android |
| Compliance | GDPR | SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, HIPAA (Expert plan) |
Feature Comparison
Feature Comparison Matrix
19 features compared · 16 differences
| Feature | Crisp | Intercom |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| Chat triggers | Full | None |
| Co-browsing | Full | None |
| Help center | None | Full |
| Knowledge base | Full | None |
| Live chat widget | Full | None |
| Messenger widget | None | Full |
| Outbound messaging | None | Full |
| Product tours | None | Full |
| Shared inbox | Full | Full |
| Status page | Full | None |
| Ticketing | None | Full |
| Video calls | Full | None |
| Advanced | ||
| AI chatbot | Full | None |
| Custom bots | None | Full |
| Fin AI Agent | None | Full |
| Omnichannel (email, WhatsApp, Instagram, SMS) | Full | None |
| Reporting | None | Full |
| Workflows | Full | Full |
| Integrations | ||
| API Access | Full | Full |
Pricing Comparison
Crisp Pricing
2 seats, website chat widget, shared inbox, unlimited messages
4 seats, shared email inbox, chat triggers, shortcuts, unlimited history
10 seats, omnichannel inbox, AI chatbot, knowledge base, analytics
20 seats, unlimited AI, ticketing, white-labeling, customer portal
Intercom Pricing
Fin AI Agent ($0.99/resolution), Messenger, shared inbox, ticketing, help center
Multiple inboxes, workflow automation, round-robin, private help center, 20 Lite seats
SSO, HIPAA, SLAs, multibrand Messenger, 50 Lite seats
Who Should Choose Which?
Who should choose Crisp
Best for
- SMBs wanting all-in-one customer messaging without per-seat pricing
- Teams needing live chat + chatbot + knowledge base in one tool
- Companies supporting customers across multiple channels
Avoid if
- You need enterprise-grade ticketing and SLAs
- You need deep CRM integration
- You have more than 20 agents (Plus plan limit)
Who should choose Intercom
Best for
- SaaS companies wanting AI-first customer support
- Teams that value proactive, conversational messaging
- Companies wanting a modern alternative to Zendesk
Avoid if
- You are a small team on a tight budget
- You need phone/voice support as a primary channel
- You want predictable pricing (AI resolution costs add up)
Switching Guidance
Switching from Crisp
Common triggers to leave:
- •Need more than 20 agents
- •Need enterprise compliance
- •Need deeper CRM integration
Potential blockers:
- •Chat widget customization
- •Knowledge base content
- •Chatbot workflows
Switching from Intercom
Common triggers to leave:
- •Per-resolution AI costs unpredictable
- •Pricing at scale
- •Need voice/phone support channel
Potential blockers:
- •Fin AI Agent trained on your data
- •Messenger widget embedded across products
- •Conversation history and workflows
Try Crisp
Start free — no credit card required
Try Intercom
Plans from $39/mo