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CRM · head to head

Capsule CRM vs Help Scout

Capsule CRM logo

Capsule CRM

CRM

The customer relationship management CRM

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Help Scout logo

Help Scout

Customer Support

Customer service software that people love

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Capsule CRM free plan caps at 250 contacts and a maximum of 2 users, with only 1 sales pipeline; Help Scout the free plan caps contacts at 100 a month, so it is a volume trial rather than a standing free tier
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Capsule CRM and Help Scout actually diverge.

Attributes where Capsule CRM and Help Scout differ
AttributeCapsule CRMHelp Scout
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryCRMCustomer Support
FoundedUnknown2011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Capsule CRM

Nothing recorded that Help Scout does not also cover.

Only in Help Scout

  • Shared inbox
  • Knowledge base
  • Live chat
  • Customer profiles
  • Workflows
  • Reporting
  • Slack
  • Salesforce

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Capsule CRM

  • Centralizing customer data for salesnot Help Scout
  • Tracking sales pipeline and conversionnot Help Scout
  • Managing project delivery with kanban boardsnot Help Scout
  • Automating task workflows for teamsnot Help Scout

Help Scout

  • Shared inbox and help desk for customer support teamsnot Capsule CRM
  • Publishing a knowledge base alongside email and chat supportnot Capsule CRM

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Capsule CRM

  • Free plan caps at 250 contacts and a maximum of 2 users, with only 1 sales pipeline
  • Starter plan, the cheapest paid tier, still caps at 30,000 contacts before requiring an upgrade to Growth (60,000) or Advanced (120,000)
  • Ultimate tier, aimed at teams of 5 or more users, has no published price and requires contacting sales
  • Marketing features are not included in any core plan; the Transpond marketing add-on costs an additional $11/month minimum on top of the CRM price

Help Scout

  • The free plan caps contacts at 100 a month, so it is a volume trial rather than a standing free tier
  • Inboxes are rationed by plan, at 1 on free, 5 on Plus and 10 on Pro
  • Each plan also caps users, at 25 on Standard and 50 on Plus
  • The Pro plan at $75 per user per month carries a 10 user minimum, so the entry cost is $750 a month
  • SSO, SAML and HIPAA compliance are Pro only
  • AI Answers is billed separately at $0.75 per resolution on top of the seat price

Pricing, plan by plan

Capsule CRM

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Capsule CRM review.

Help Scout

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 5 users
    • 1 Inbox
    • 1 Docs site
  • Standard$25/month
    • Multiple inboxes
    • Live chat, SMS, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger
    • Multiple knowledge bases
  • Plus$45/month
    • Standard features plus advanced workflows
    • Two advanced SLAs
    • Secure portal
  • Pro$75/month
    • Plus features plus unlimited workflows
    • Unlimited SLAs
    • SSO/SAML

Which should you pick?

Choose Capsule CRM if

  • You want to start without paying.
Capsule CRM review

Choose Help Scout if

  • You need shared inbox.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want knowledge base.
Help Scout review

Questions people ask

Is Capsule CRM or Help Scout better?
Neither clearly leads. Capsule CRM starts at Free and Help Scout at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Capsule CRM or Help Scout?
Capsule CRM starts at Free and Help Scout at Free.
Does Capsule CRM or Help Scout run on more platforms?
Capsule CRM runs on Web. Help Scout runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Capsule CRM for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Capsule CRM best used for?
Capsule CRM is most often used for centralizing customer data for sales, tracking sales pipeline and conversion, managing project delivery with kanban boards, automating task workflows for teams. Of those, centralizing customer data for sales and tracking sales pipeline and conversion are not what Help Scout is typically brought in for.
What can Capsule CRM do that Help Scout cannot?
Help Scout covers Shared inbox, Knowledge base, Live chat, Customer profiles.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Capsule CRM: How much does Capsule CRM cost?

Capsule CRM pricing is per-user, per-month with annual billing discounts up to 15%. Specific dollar amounts are not published on the pricing page; contact sales for exact pricing for Starter, Growth, and Advanced plans.

Source
Help Scout: How much does Help Scout cost?

Help Scout offers a free plan for up to 5 users. Paid plans start at $25/user/month (Standard), $45/user/month (Plus), and $75/user/month (Pro).

Source
Capsule CRM: Does Capsule CRM offer a free tier?

Yes, Capsule CRM offers a free plan for up to 2 users with 250 contacts, 5 custom fields, 1 sales pipeline, and basic features. A 14-day free trial with no card required is also available for paid plans.

Source
Help Scout: What is included in the Pro plan?

Help Scout Pro at $75/user/month includes unlimited workflows, unlimited SLAs, SSO/SAML, HIPAA compliance, up to 50 light users, dedicated onboarding, and a strategic account manager.

Source
Capsule CRM: What contact limit does each paid plan include?

Starter plan includes 30,000 contacts, Growth plan includes 60,000 contacts, Advanced plan includes 120,000 contacts, and Ultimate includes custom limits.

Source
Help Scout: Does Help Scout offer a free trial?

Yes, Help Scout offers a 15-day free trial for Standard and Plus plans with no credit card required. Pro plan requires booking a demo.

Source
Capsule CRM: Are there add-on costs beyond the base plan?

Yes, Capsule CRM offers a Marketing Add-on starting at $11/month that includes email campaigns, social posting, and lead capture forms.

Source
Help Scout: What is the cost of Help Scout's AI Answers add-on?

Help Scout's AI Answers add-on costs $0.75 per resolution with a 3-month free trial included.

Source
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