Helploom vs Fernand: Which tool is better for small businesses and solo founders?
Posted on by Preet Mishra
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Fernand is a specialized customer support tool designed specifically for SaaS companies. It positions itself as "the fastest, calmest customer support experience for SaaS ever made" with a focus on productivity, speed, and psychological design principles to reduce anxiety and improve focus.
If you're a solo founder or small business choosing between Fernand and Helploom, this comparison will help you understand which platform better fits your needs and budget.
What Fernand Shines
Fernand is built specifically for SaaS companies with a strong focus on productivity and psychological well-being:
- Ultra-fast performance (loads under 100ms).
- Keyboard shortcuts for everything to maximize efficiency.
- Native Stripe integration for payment management and refunds.
- Shared inbox with live chat widget and knowledge base.
- AI-powered features for drafts and automation.
- Rules-based automation and smart replies.
- "One thing at a time" interface to reduce cognitive load.
- Progress tracking to inbox zero with psychological motivators.
- Dark mode optimization and calm design principles.
Fernand is specifically designed for SaaS businesses that use Stripe (and other payment processors) and want a productivity-focused support experience that helps reduce stress and anxiety for support agents.
What Makes Helploom Different
Helploom takes a more straightforward approach, built specifically for solo founders and small businesses who want simple customer support without complexity:
- Simple setup in minutes.
- Live chat with a shared inbox for customer conversations.
- Affordable, flat pricing that doesn't scale with agents.
- Focus on human, personal support.
- Minimal learning curve.
Pricing: A Significant Gap
Fernand's pricing is positioned as a premium SaaS-focused solution:
- 14-day free trial with no credit card required.
- $29/user/month for unlimited access to every feature.
Helploom keeps pricing flat, simple, and affordable:
- Free plan: 30 threads/month, 1 user.
- Base plan: $13/month, 300 threads/month, 1 user.
- Plus plan: $39/month, 5000 threads/month, unlimited users.
| Plans | Fernand | Helploom |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Base plan (live chat) | $29/agent/month | $13/month |
| Team plan (live chat) | $29/agent/month | $39/month (unlimited agents) |
$13
/mo
Helploom
$29
/mo
Fernand
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Fernand | Helploom |
|---|---|---|
| Target audience | SaaS companies | Solo founders and all small businesses |
| Setup complexity | Moderate (requires SaaS-specific configuration) | Low, ready in seconds |
| Pricing model | Per user per month | Simple flat pricing |
| Core features | SaaS-optimized: Stripe integration, psychology | Essential support: live chat, shared inbox |
| Learning curve | Low to Moderate (keyboard shortcuts and workflows) | Easy and intuitive |
| Stripe integration | Native and comprehensive | Not included |
| Psychology focus | Built-in anxiety reduction and focus features | Simple design |
| Automation | Advanced rules and AI drafts | AI Assist while replying |
The Bottom Line
Fernand is a specialized, premium customer support tool built specifically for SaaS companies that want to optimize their support workflow with psychological principles and deep Stripe (and other payment processors) integration. It's a productivity powerhouse for teams willing to invest in learning its keyboard-driven interface and paying premium pricing.
However, Fernand's SaaS-specific focus, pricing, and complexity can be a deal breaker for many small businesses, especially those not in the SaaS space.
Helploom was built to be the opposite: a simple, affordable customer support tool that helps you connect with your customers without distraction, regardless of your business type. If you're looking for straightforward customer support that just works without the complexity, Helploom might be the better choice.