Three popular support tools, side by side with SupportWire, across 22 features in 7 categories. Pick the one that fits how your team actually works.
SupportWire charges per seat plus $0.49 per AI resolution, half of Intercom Fin’s $0.99 per resolution, with a free plan and no sales call.
Updated June 2026
Feature comparison
22 features.
7 categories.
No hiding.
Every feature that matters for customer support, compared honestly across 4 platforms.
| Feature | Crisp | HelpScout | LiveChat | SupportWire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||||
| Starting Price | Free / $45 / $95 / $295 | Free / $25 / $75 / Custom | $19/agent/mo (1 agent max) | Free / $39 / $79 per month |
| Pricing Model | Per workspace (most pay $295) | Contact-based, unpredictable | 4 separate products | Base + per-seat extras |
| Per-Resolution AI Fees | $25 AI credits/mo on Essentials | $0.75 per AI resolution | Separate ChatBot product ($52+) | $0.49 per resolution — half of Fin |
| Channels | ||||
| Live Chat | Real-time chat | Beacon widget, reactive | Core product | Real-time with proactive triggers |
| Phone Support | Not available | Not available (14+ years) | Not available | All plans |
| Ticketing | Basic, no SLA management | Shared inbox | Separate HelpDesk ($29+/mo) | Full ticketing with SLAs |
| Knowledge Base | Help center included | Public only, broken editor | Separate product ($49+/mo) | Public and internal |
| AI | ||||
| AI Chatbot | $25/mo AI credit budget | $0.75/resolution add-on | Separate ChatBot ($52+/mo) | AI-native, included |
| AI Learning | Manual training only | Public articles only | Template-based | Learns from conversations |
| 24/7 Automation | Bot + triggers | Keyword-matching only | Requires ChatBot subscription | Works 24/7 autonomously |
| Platform | ||||
| Setup Time | Quick setup | Hours to days | Quick for chat only | Hours, not weeks |
| Design Quality | Clean, modern | Clean, simple | Clean but aging | Modern, minimal |
| Widget Performance | Lightweight | Light Beacon widget | Lightweight | Performance-optimized |
| White-Label Branding | Plus plan only ($295/mo) | Limited customization | Enterprise only | Your brand only |
| Cancellation | Account suspension risk | Straightforward | Requires support to cancel | One-click, any time |
| Data & Security | ||||
| Data Export | Cannot export full transcripts | CSV export available | Limited export | Full data portability |
| SOC 2 Compliance | Not certified | SOC 2 certified | Security measures in place | |
| Analytics | ||||
| Reporting | Shallow analytics | Basic dashboards | Strong analytics | Full analytics |
| SLA Management | Not available | No SLA tracking | Basic SLA features | Built-in SLA tracking |
| CSAT Surveys | Basic surveys | Satisfaction ratings | Post-chat surveys | Built-in |
| Integrations | ||||
| Native Integrations | Limited ecosystem | 100+ apps | 200+ apps | Growing ecosystem |
| Open API | REST API | REST API | REST API | Full REST API |
Pricing
Starting Price
Crisp
Free / $45 / $95 / $295
HelpScout
Free / $25 / $75 / Custom
LiveChat
$19/agent/mo (1 agent max)
SupportWire
Free / $39 / $79 per month
Pricing Model
Crisp
Per workspace (most pay $295)
HelpScout
Contact-based, unpredictable
LiveChat
4 separate products
SupportWire
Base + per-seat extras
Per-Resolution AI Fees
Crisp
$25 AI credits/mo on Essentials
HelpScout
$0.75 per AI resolution
LiveChat
Separate ChatBot product ($52+)
SupportWire
$0.49 per resolution — half of Fin
Channels
Live Chat
Crisp
Real-time chat
HelpScout
Beacon widget, reactive
LiveChat
Core product
SupportWire
Real-time with proactive triggers
Phone Support
Crisp
Not available
HelpScout
Not available (14+ years)
LiveChat
Not available
SupportWire
All plans
Ticketing
Crisp
Basic, no SLA management
HelpScout
Shared inbox
LiveChat
Separate HelpDesk ($29+/mo)
SupportWire
Full ticketing with SLAs
Knowledge Base
Crisp
Help center included
HelpScout
Public only, broken editor
LiveChat
Separate product ($49+/mo)
SupportWire
Public and internal
AI
AI Chatbot
Crisp
$25/mo AI credit budget
HelpScout
$0.75/resolution add-on
LiveChat
Separate ChatBot ($52+/mo)
SupportWire
AI-native, included
AI Learning
Crisp
Manual training only
HelpScout
Public articles only
LiveChat
Template-based
SupportWire
Learns from conversations
24/7 Automation
Crisp
Bot + triggers
HelpScout
Keyword-matching only
LiveChat
Requires ChatBot subscription
SupportWire
Works 24/7 autonomously
Platform
Setup Time
Crisp
Quick setup
HelpScout
Hours to days
LiveChat
Quick for chat only
SupportWire
Hours, not weeks
Design Quality
Crisp
Clean, modern
HelpScout
Clean, simple
LiveChat
Clean but aging
SupportWire
Modern, minimal
Widget Performance
Crisp
Lightweight
HelpScout
Light Beacon widget
LiveChat
Lightweight
SupportWire
Performance-optimized
White-Label Branding
Crisp
Plus plan only ($295/mo)
HelpScout
Limited customization
LiveChat
Enterprise only
SupportWire
Your brand only
Cancellation
Crisp
Account suspension risk
HelpScout
Straightforward
LiveChat
Requires support to cancel
SupportWire
One-click, any time
Data & Security
Data Export
Crisp
Cannot export full transcripts
HelpScout
CSV export available
LiveChat
Limited export
SupportWire
Full data portability
SOC 2 Compliance
Crisp
Not certified
HelpScout
SOC 2 certified
LiveChat
Security measures in place
SupportWire
Analytics
Reporting
Crisp
Shallow analytics
HelpScout
Basic dashboards
LiveChat
Strong analytics
SupportWire
Full analytics
SLA Management
Crisp
Not available
HelpScout
No SLA tracking
LiveChat
Basic SLA features
SupportWire
Built-in SLA tracking
CSAT Surveys
Crisp
Basic surveys
HelpScout
Satisfaction ratings
LiveChat
Post-chat surveys
SupportWire
Built-in
Integrations
Native Integrations
Crisp
Limited ecosystem
HelpScout
100+ apps
LiveChat
200+ apps
SupportWire
Growing ecosystem
Open API
Crisp
REST API
HelpScout
REST API
LiveChat
REST API
SupportWire
Full REST API
Go deeper
Read the full story.
Feature tables only tell half of it. Each deep-dive walks through pricing traps, real Trustpilot quotes, and where the product breaks down for growing teams.
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