Crisp vs Intercom: Which Customer Support Tool Is Better in 2026?

Crisp

From $25

Intercom

From $39

Quick verdict

Overall pick: Tie

Choose Crisp if you want a free plan and flat per-workspace pricing that does not scale with headcount, and you can live without a built-in SLA ticketing system. Choose Intercom if you need SLA-based ticketing and are willing to pay per seat starting at $39, which costs more as your support team grows. Both cover live chat, AI bots, shared inbox, knowledge base, customer history, and API, so the decision comes down to ticketing needs versus seat-based versus flat pricing.

Crisp's entry plan ($25) is 36% cheaper than Intercom's ($39).
Intercom charges per user while Crisp uses a flat price, so Crisp gets relatively cheaper as your team grows.
Crisp has a free plan; Intercom does not.
Only Intercom offers: sla-based ticketing system.

Try Crisp →Try Intercom →

Cost calculator

Team size: 5 users

Tool	Monthly	Yearly
Crisp · flat	$25.00	$300
Intercom · per user	$195.00	$2340

Based on entry-level paid plans. Prices change, so check the vendor before you buy.

Which one should you choose?

If you need…	Pick	Why
Startup adding support seats on a tight budget	Crisp	Crisp offers a free plan and flat pricing from $25 per workspace, so adding agents does not raise the bill the way Intercom's per-seat pricing from $39 does.
Support team that needs SLA-based ticketing	Intercom	Intercom includes SLA-based ticketing, while Crisp does not list a ticketing feature.
Team wanting unlimited seats at a predictable cost	Crisp	Crisp is explicitly positioned for teams wanting unlimited seats at flat pricing, whereas Intercom bills per seat.
SaaS company combining support with proactive product messaging and AI bots	Intercom	Intercom is positioned for SaaS companies and proactive product messaging with its Fin AI Copilot, and it adds ticketing on top of the shared feature set.
Buyer who needs live chat, AI bot, shared inbox, knowledge base, and API	Tie	Both tools list all five of these features, so neither has an advantage on this core set.

Feature comparison: Crisp vs Intercom

Feature	Crisp	Intercom
Free plan	✅	❌
Starting price	$25 /mo	$39 /user/mo
Real-time live chat widget	✅	✅
AI agent / automated chatbot resolution	✅	✅
Omnichannel shared team inbox	✅	✅
SLA-based ticketing system	—	✅
Self-service help center / FAQ	✅	✅
Built-in voice telephony & call center	—	—
Full customer timeline & context	✅	✅
Public REST API & webhooks	✅	✅

Highlighted rows are where the tools differ.

Pros and cons

Crisp

Free plan available and flat per-workspace pricing starting at $25
Positioned for teams wanting unlimited seats at flat pricing
Covers live chat, AI bot, shared inbox, knowledge base, customer history, and API
Founded in 2015 and aimed at startups

No SLA-based ticketing system
No built-in voice telephony and call center
Starting price is per workspace rather than per seat, which may not suit teams that prefer seat-level cost tracking

Try Crisp →

Intercom

Includes SLA-based ticketing, which Crisp lacks
AI-first positioning with Fin AI Copilot
Covers live chat, AI bot, shared inbox, knowledge base, customer history, and API
Founded in 2011 and aimed at SaaS companies and proactive product messaging

No free plan
Per-seat pricing starting at $39 means costs rise as you add agents
No built-in voice telephony and call center

Try Intercom →

COMMUNITY POLL

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At a glance

Crisp

All-in-one business messaging platform with flat pricing per workspace.

Founded 2015 · From $25 · 6/8 tracked features

Best for: startups, teams wanting unlimited seats at flat pricing

See Crisp alternatives →

Intercom

AI-first customer service platform powered by Fin AI Copilot.

Founded 2011 · From $39 · 7/8 tracked features

Best for: SaaS companies, proactive product messaging & AI bots

See Intercom alternatives →

FAQ

Is Crisp cheaper than Intercom?

Crisp starts at $25 with flat per-workspace billing and offers a free plan, while Intercom starts at $39 with per-seat billing and no free plan. For teams adding seats, Crisp's flat model is likely cheaper, but the exact cost depends on your workspace and seat count.

Does Crisp have SLA-based ticketing?

No. Crisp does not list a ticketing feature, while Intercom includes SLA-based ticketing.

Do both tools include live chat and an AI bot?

Yes. Both Crisp and Intercom list live chat, AI bot, shared inbox, knowledge base, customer history, and API.

Which tool offers built-in voice telephony?

Neither. Both Crisp and Intercom do not list built-in voice telephony and call center features.

Which is better for a SaaS company?

Intercom is positioned for SaaS companies and proactive product messaging with its Fin AI Copilot, and it adds SLA-based ticketing. Crisp may still fit if flat per-workspace pricing and a free plan matter more than ticketing.

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Data last reviewed: pending verification. All Customer Support tools →