Help Scout
Shared-inbox help desk with a genuine free plan, built for small support teams.
Overview
Help Scout is a help desk built around a shared inbox, with a knowledge base product called Docs. It offers an ongoing free plan for very small teams and per-user paid plans above it.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 5 users, 1 inbox, 1 Docs site, up to 100 contacts helped per month |
| Standard | $25/user/mo | Live chat and SMS |
| Plus | $45/user/mo | — |
| Pro | $75/user/mo | — |
| AI Answers (add-on) | $0.75 per resolution | Billed monthly, per resolution |
Help Scout's pricing page has a monthly/annual toggle and doesn't state which billing basis the listed per-user prices reflect. Standard and Plus come with a 15-day free trial, no credit card required.
Source: Help Scout pricing page, checked October 20, 2026. Prices change often — confirm current figures with Help Scout before buying.
Good fit for
Editorial analysis.
- Small teams that want to start on a free plan and upgrade as volume grows
- Teams whose support runs mainly through email and a shared inbox
- Teams that want a help center (Docs) without buying a separate knowledge base tool
Limitations to know
- The free plan stops at 5 users, 1 inbox, and 100 contacts helped per month. Help Scout counts a contact as someone who received a reply from your team or had a question resolved by its AI assistant.
- Paid plans are priced per user, so cost rises with headcount.
- AI Answers is a separate add-on billed per resolution.
Related SaaSMood guides
Coverage
- Best Help Desk Software for Small Businesses in 2026
Three help desk platforms worth considering for a small business, with real pricing and what each one is actually best at.
- Zendesk Alternatives in 2026: Top Picks Compared
Looking for a Zendesk alternative? A comparison of the strongest options for teams that want similar core functionality at a different price or complexity level.