HelpLane vs HelpScout
Looking for a HelpScout alternative? HelpLane offers unlimited agents, built-in AI features, and more affordable pricing for growing support teams.
Quick Comparison
HelpLane
- $49-$199/month flat pricing with unlimited agents
- AI features included on all plans
- Free plan available with 50 conversations/month
- Omnichannel - Email, chat, WhatsApp, SMS, social
HelpScout
- $50-$65/user/month - costs scale with team size
- AI costs extra - $50/user/month add-on
- No free plan - 15-day trial only
- Limited channels - Social requires add-ons
Why Teams Switch from HelpScout to HelpLane
Unlimited Agents, One Price
HelpScout charges per user starting at $50/month per agent. HelpLane's paid plans include unlimited agents, so your costs stay predictable as your team grows.
AI Included, Not Extra
HelpScout's AI features require an additional $50/user/month add-on. HelpLane includes AI reply suggestions, summaries, and autocorrect on every plan at no extra cost.
More Channels, Lower Tiers
Get WhatsApp, SMS, Facebook, and Instagram support on HelpLane without paying enterprise prices. HelpScout limits social channels to higher tiers and add-ons.
Generous Free Plan
HelpLane offers a free plan with 50 conversations/month, 25 AI credits, and core features. HelpScout has no free tier - just a 15-day trial.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
See exactly how HelpLane and HelpScout compare across pricing, features, and capabilities.
| Feature | HelpLane | HelpScout |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & Plans | ||
| Starting Price | $49/month | $50/user/month |
| Free Plan | Yes (50 conversations) | No |
| Agent Pricing | Unlimited agents on paid plans | Per-user pricing |
| Annual Discount | 17% (save ~$120/year) | ~15% |
| Communication Channels | ||
| All plans | All plans | |
| Live Chat Widget | All plans | All plans |
| Growth plan ($99) | Plus plan add-on | |
| SMS | Growth plan ($99) | Not available |
| Facebook Messenger | Growth plan ($99) | Plus plan add-on |
| Standard plan ($49) | Not available | |
| AI Features | ||
| AI Reply Suggestions | All plans (included) | AI add-on ($50/user) |
| AI Summaries | All plans (included) | AI add-on required |
| AI Chatbot | All plans | AI add-on required |
| AI Intent Detection | Growth plan | Limited |
| Core Features | ||
| Knowledge Base | All plans | All plans |
| CSAT Surveys | Standard plan | All plans |
| Automation Rules | Growth plan | Plus plan |
| Custom Fields | All plans | Plus plan |
| SLA Management | Pro plan | Pro plan |
| API Access | Growth plan | Standard plan |
| Team & Collaboration | ||
| Internal Notes | All plans | All plans |
| Collision Detection | All plans | All plans |
| Teams/Departments | All plans | Plus plan |
| Custom Roles | Pro plan | Company plan |
Pricing That Makes Sense
See how much you could save with HelpLane's flat-rate pricing vs HelpScout's per-user model.
Monthly Cost Comparison (5 Agents)
HelpLane Growth
Unlimited agents, 5 brands, AI bot, automation rules, API access
HelpScout Plus + AI
5 users × $50 + AI add-on ($50 × 5 users)
Save over $400/month with HelpLane - that's $4,800/year
When to Choose Each Platform
Choose HelpLane if you:
- Want predictable pricing that doesn't scale with headcount
- Need AI features without paying extra per user
- Want omnichannel support (WhatsApp, SMS, social) at lower tiers
- Are a growing team looking to minimize support costs
Consider HelpScout if you:
- - Prefer email-first support with minimal channels
- - Have a very small team (1-2 agents)
- - Already invested in HelpScout workflows and integrations
Start Delivering Great Customer Experiences Today
Set up HelpLane in minutes and start managing all your customer conversations in one place. 14-day free trial—no credit card required.