Help Scout vs Chatwoot
A comprehensive head-to-head comparison of two leading customer support solutions in 2026. Compare features, pricing, ratings, and more to find the right fit.
Quick Verdict
Choose Help Scout if you need Shared inbox and prefer a free starting option. Choose Chatwoot if you prioritize Live chat and want a free tier to start. Help Scout has a higher user rating (4.6 vs 4.5).
Help Scout vs Chatwoot: At a Glance
| Criteria | Help Scout | Chatwoot |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | 4.6 | 4.5 |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Pricing Model | per-user | freemium |
| Free Plan | ||
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Web, Ios, Android, Self-hosted |
| Category | Customer Support | Customer Support |
| Founded | 2011 | 2017 |
Feature Comparison: Help Scout vs Chatwoot
| Feature | Help Scout | Chatwoot |
|---|---|---|
| Shared inbox | ||
| Knowledge base | ||
| Live chat | ||
| Customer profiles | ||
| Workflows | ||
| Reporting | ||
| Slack | ||
| Salesforce | ||
| HubSpot | ||
| Jira | ||
| Shopify | ||
| SOC2 | ||
| GDPR | ||
| HIPAA | ||
| Web support | ||
| Email inbox | ||
| Social channels | ||
| Chatbots | ||
| Reports | ||
| Telegram | ||
| Line | ||
| Data ownership | ||
| SSL | ||
| Role-based access |
Help Scout vs Chatwoot: Pricing Breakdown
Help Scout Pricing
Model: per-user
- 2 mailboxes
- 1 Docs site
- Email & live chat
- Beacon help widget
- 5 mailboxes
- Custom fields
- Advanced permissions
- Salesforce integration
- 25 mailboxes
- Enterprise security
- HIPAA compliance
- Dedicated account manager
Chatwoot Pricing
Model: freemium
- Unlimited agents
- All features
- Full data control
- Hosted solution
- Email support
- Basic features
- Priority support
- Advanced features
- SSO
- Custom deployment
- SLA
- Dedicated support
Pros and Cons
Help Scout
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.6/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Available on 3 platforms (Web, Ios, Android)
- Rich feature set with 15+ capabilities
- Strong Shared inbox functionality
- Strong Knowledge base functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Chatwoot
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.5/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Available on 4 platforms (Web, Ios, Android, Self-hosted)
- Rich feature set with 15+ capabilities
- Strong Live chat functionality
- Strong Email inbox functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Who Should Use Help Scout vs Chatwoot?
Choose Help Scout if you:
- Need Shared inbox
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Ios
- Value Knowledge base
Choose Chatwoot if you:
- Need Live chat
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Ios
- Value Email inbox
Frequently Asked Questions: Help Scout vs Chatwoot
Is Help Scout better than Chatwoot?
It depends on your needs. Help Scout has a 4.6/5 user rating while Chatwoot has 4.5/5. Help Scout excels in Shared inbox and Knowledge base, while Chatwoot stands out with Live chat and Email inbox. Consider your budget (Free vs Free), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.
Which is cheaper, Help Scout or Chatwoot?
Help Scout offers a free plan and starts at Free. Chatwoot offers a free plan and starts at Free. Compare the specific plan features to determine the best value for your use case.
Can I use Help Scout and Chatwoot together?
While both are customer support tools, some teams use complementary software together. Check each product's API and integration capabilities for compatibility. However, most users find that one solution covers their core customer support needs.
What are the main differences between Help Scout and Chatwoot?
The key differences include: pricing model (per-user vs freemium), platform support (Web, Ios, Android vs Web, Ios, Android, Self-hosted), and feature focus. Help Scout emphasizes Shared inbox, Knowledge base, Live chat while Chatwoot focuses on Live chat, Email inbox, Social channels. User ratings differ slightly: 4.6 vs 4.5 out of 5.
Ready to choose?
Explore detailed reviews, user ratings, and pricing for both Help Scout and Chatwoot.