Intercom Free Plan: Why it doesn't exist (and what to do instead)
Posted on by Preet Mishra
If you're looking for Intercom's free plan, here's the deal: Intercom doesn't have a free plan. Their cheapest option starts at $39/month (or $29/month if you pay yearly), plus $0.99 per Fin resolution.
As a bootstrapped founder, this broke my brain. You need customer support from day 1 to make it easier for your users to talk to you, but I couldn't justify hundreds of dollars in the beginning.
What Intercom Actually Costs
- Basic plan: $39/month ($29/month yearly).
- Plus $0.99 per Fin resolution.
- Per seat pricing (costs multiply with team growth).
When you're living on ramen and coffee, these numbers get super fast. And, that's before adding team members.
Why This Doesn't Work for Founders
Intercom is built for enterprises with dedicated support teams and big budgets. They pack in product tours, marketing automation, and complex workflows you'll never use.
I just wanted a simple way to talk to my customers without breaking the bank.
What I'm Doing Instead
This frustration is why Helploom exists.
Actual free plan:
- Live chat widget (2-minute setup).
- Email notifications.
- Basic customization.
The Bottom Line
Intercom's pricing tells you who they're targeting. It's not bootstrapped founders like us.
If you need enterprise complexity, go with Intercom. If you just want to talk to customers without the overhead, try something built for founders.
For the complete breakdown, read my Helploom vs Intercom comparison.
Looking for other alternatives? Check out my other comparisons here.