Help Scout nails email. LiveChat nails chat. SupportWire combines both with phone, AI, and ticketing built in, so your team works from one inbox instead of three tools.
HelpScout vs SupportWire LiveChat vs SupportWire
SupportWire is $19 per seat per month, with 50 AI resolutions a month included, then $0.49 each, half of Intercom Fin’s $0.99 per resolution. 14-day trial, no card, 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 3 platforms.
| Feature | HelpScout | LiveChat | SupportWire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | |||
| Starting Price | Free / $25 / $75 / Custom | $19/agent/mo (1 agent max) | $19 per seat per month |
| Pricing Model | Contact-based, unpredictable | 4 separate products | Per seat, unlimited free lite seats |
| Per-Resolution AI Fees | $0.75 per AI resolution | Separate ChatBot product ($52+) | $0.49 per resolution after 50 free, half of Fin |
| Channels | |||
| Live Chat | Beacon widget, reactive | Core product | Real-time with proactive messaging |
| Phone Support | Not available (14+ years) | Not available | Not a channel we offer |
| Ticketing | Shared inbox | Separate HelpDesk ($29+/mo) | Full ticketing with SLAs |
| Knowledge Base | Public only, broken editor | Separate product ($49+/mo) | Help center + AI knowledge stores |
| AI | |||
| AI Chatbot | $0.75/resolution add-on | Separate ChatBot ($52+/mo) | AI-native, included |
| AI Learning | Public articles only | Template-based | Learns from conversations |
| 24/7 Automation | Keyword-matching only | Requires ChatBot subscription | Works 24/7 autonomously |
| Platform | |||
| Setup Time | Hours to days | Quick for chat only | Hours, not weeks |
| Design Quality | Clean, simple | Clean but aging | Modern, minimal |
| Widget Performance | Light Beacon widget | Lightweight | Performance-optimized |
| White-Label Branding | Limited customization | Enterprise only | Your brand only |
| Cancellation | Straightforward | Requires support to cancel | One-click, any time |
| Data & Security | |||
| Data Export | CSV export available | Limited export | Full data portability |
| SOC 2 Compliance | SOC 2 certified | Security measures in place | |
| Analytics | |||
| Reporting | Basic dashboards | Strong analytics | Full analytics |
| SLA Management | No SLA tracking | Basic SLA features | Built-in SLA tracking |
| CSAT Surveys | Satisfaction ratings | Post-chat surveys | Built-in |
| Integrations | |||
| Native Integrations | 100+ apps | 200+ apps | Growing ecosystem |
| Open API | REST API | REST API | Full REST API |
Pricing
Starting Price
HelpScout
Free / $25 / $75 / Custom
LiveChat
$19/agent/mo (1 agent max)
SupportWire
$19 per seat per month
Pricing Model
HelpScout
Contact-based, unpredictable
LiveChat
4 separate products
SupportWire
Per seat, unlimited free lite seats
Per-Resolution AI Fees
HelpScout
$0.75 per AI resolution
LiveChat
Separate ChatBot product ($52+)
SupportWire
$0.49 per resolution after 50 free, half of Fin
Channels
Live Chat
HelpScout
Beacon widget, reactive
LiveChat
Core product
SupportWire
Real-time with proactive messaging
Phone Support
HelpScout
Not available (14+ years)
LiveChat
Not available
SupportWire
Not a channel we offer
Ticketing
HelpScout
Shared inbox
LiveChat
Separate HelpDesk ($29+/mo)
SupportWire
Full ticketing with SLAs
Knowledge Base
HelpScout
Public only, broken editor
LiveChat
Separate product ($49+/mo)
SupportWire
Help center + AI knowledge stores
AI
AI Chatbot
HelpScout
$0.75/resolution add-on
LiveChat
Separate ChatBot ($52+/mo)
SupportWire
AI-native, included
AI Learning
HelpScout
Public articles only
LiveChat
Template-based
SupportWire
Learns from conversations
24/7 Automation
HelpScout
Keyword-matching only
LiveChat
Requires ChatBot subscription
SupportWire
Works 24/7 autonomously
Platform
Setup Time
HelpScout
Hours to days
LiveChat
Quick for chat only
SupportWire
Hours, not weeks
Design Quality
HelpScout
Clean, simple
LiveChat
Clean but aging
SupportWire
Modern, minimal
Widget Performance
HelpScout
Light Beacon widget
LiveChat
Lightweight
SupportWire
Performance-optimized
White-Label Branding
HelpScout
Limited customization
LiveChat
Enterprise only
SupportWire
Your brand only
Cancellation
HelpScout
Straightforward
LiveChat
Requires support to cancel
SupportWire
One-click, any time
Data & Security
Data Export
HelpScout
CSV export available
LiveChat
Limited export
SupportWire
Full data portability
SOC 2 Compliance
Analytics
Reporting
HelpScout
Basic dashboards
LiveChat
Strong analytics
SupportWire
Full analytics
SLA Management
HelpScout
No SLA tracking
LiveChat
Basic SLA features
SupportWire
Built-in SLA tracking
CSAT Surveys
HelpScout
Satisfaction ratings
LiveChat
Post-chat surveys
SupportWire
Built-in
Integrations
Native Integrations
HelpScout
100+ apps
LiveChat
200+ apps
SupportWire
Growing ecosystem
Open 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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A new chapter for your support
Support, finally
worth showing up for.
Customers feel heard. Your team feels in control. Bills stay where you expect. The work that used to drain everyone starts to feel like the best part of the day again.
5 min
From signup to live chat on your site
$0
14-day trial. No card.
Cancel anytime
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