Softwr

Live Chat · head to head

Google Dialogflow vs Help Scout

Google Dialogflow logo

Google Dialogflow

Live Chat

Google's conversational AI platform

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: Google Dialogflow usage-based pricing expected but specific rates not confirmed; Help Scout the free plan caps contacts at 100 a month, so it is a volume trial rather than a standing free tier
  • They diverge on capability: Google Dialogflow covers NLU and NLG, Help Scout covers Shared inbox.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Dialogflow and Help Scout actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Dialogflow and Help Scout differ
AttributeGoogle DialogflowHelp Scout
Pricing modelusage-basedsubscription
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, Messaging apps, Voice assistantsWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryLive ChatCustomer Support
Founded19982011

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 Google Dialogflow

  • NLU and NLG
  • Multi-language support
  • Integration with Google services
  • Webhooks
  • Google Cloud
  • Facebook
  • Telegram
  • Mobile support

Only in Help Scout

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

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Google Dialogflow

  • Customer engagementnot Help Scout
  • Lead generationnot Help Scout
  • Customer supportnot Help Scout
  • Sales automationnot Help Scout

Help Scout

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

Where each one falls short

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

Google Dialogflow

  • Usage-based pricing expected but specific rates not confirmed
  • Free tier details not documented in available content

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

Google Dialogflow

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 100 requests/day
    • Basic NLU
  • Standard$0.005/month
    • Pay per request
    • Advanced features
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Custom SLAs
    • Dedicated support

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 Google Dialogflow if

  • You need nlu and nlg.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Messaging apps, Voice assistants.
  • You also want multi-language support.
Google Dialogflow 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 Google Dialogflow or Help Scout better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Dialogflow 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, Google Dialogflow or Help Scout?
Google Dialogflow starts at Free and Help Scout at Free.
Does Google Dialogflow or Help Scout run on more platforms?
Google Dialogflow runs on Web, Mobile, Messaging apps, Voice assistants. Help Scout runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Google Dialogflow for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Google Dialogflow best used for?
Google Dialogflow is most often used for customer engagement, lead generation, customer support, sales automation. Of those, customer engagement and lead generation are not what Help Scout is typically brought in for.
What can Google Dialogflow do that Help Scout cannot?
Google Dialogflow covers NLU and NLG, Multi-language support, Integration with Google services, Webhooks. Help Scout covers Shared inbox, Knowledge base, Live chat, Customer profiles. Both handle Slack, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Dialogflow: How is Google Dialogflow priced?

Dialogflow uses usage-based pricing through Google Cloud. Costs vary based on the number of requests, interactions, or queries depending on the specific Dialogflow edition (Standard or Enterprise).

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
Google Dialogflow: Does Google Dialogflow offer a free tier?

Google Cloud typically provides free tier access for Dialogflow, but specific free quota limits depend on the Dialogflow edition and must be verified in the Google Cloud Console.

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
Google Dialogflow: What factors affect Dialogflow pricing beyond request volume?

Dialogflow pricing depends on request volume, concurrent users, AI model complexity, data processing volume, and additional features or third-party integrations used.

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
Google Dialogflow: Where can I find exact Dialogflow pricing rates for my use case?

Exact per-query pricing and free tier limits are documented in the Google Cloud Console under Dialogflow billing. Regional pricing variations apply, and enterprise customers can contact Google Cloud sales.

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
Share

Related pages

More on Google Dialogflow

More on Help Scout

Keep looking

Other head to heads