Why is Intercom so expensive? Here's what to do instead
Posted on by Preet Mishra
If you've looked at Intercom's pricing and thought "holy crap, this is expensive," you're not alone. At $39-132/month plus usage fees, it's one of the priciest customer support tools out there.
As someone who's bootstrapped multiple startups, I get the sticker shock. Here's why Intercom costs so much and what you can do about it. (Spoiler: there's no Intercom free plan either!)
Why Intercom Is So Expensive
Enterprise target market: Intercom builds for big companies with massive budgets. They pack in features like advanced automation, product tours, and marketing campaigns that most small businesses never use.
Per-seat pricing model: Every team member costs extra. Start with one agent at $39/month, add a second person and you're at $78/month. Scale to a small team and you're looking at hundreds per month.
Usage-based charges: On top of seat pricing, you pay $0.99 per Fin resolution. Heavy usage months can spike your bill unexpectedly.
Feature complexity: All those enterprise features require expensive development and support. You're paying for complexity whether you use it or not.
The Real Cost Breakdown
Let's say you're a small team of 3 people:
- 3 seats × $39/month = $117/month
- Plus Fin resolution fees
- Total: $1,400+ per year
That's money most bootstrapped founders would rather spend on marketing, development, or just keeping the lights on.
What I Built Instead
This pricing insanity is exactly why I created Helploom.
Simple pricing that makes sense:
- Free plan to get started
- A flat paid plan for unlimited agents
- No surprise charges
Built for founders, not enterprises:
- Live chat widget (setup in 2 minutes)
- Shared inbox for your team
- Email notifications
- Clean, simple interface
Focus on what matters: Instead of building 50 features you'll never use, we focus on making customer conversations effortless.
My Advice
If you're running a 50+ person company with dedicated support managers, Intercom might justify its cost. But if you're a bootstrapped founder trying to build something real? There are better ways to spend your money.
Start simple. Talk to your customers. Grow your business. Upgrade to expensive tools when you actually need their complexity, not because they're the "industry standard."
You can read the full breakdown in my Helploom vs Intercom comparison and check out my other comparisons here.