Softwr

Customer Support · head to head

Help Scout vs Reply.io

Help Scout logo

Help Scout

Customer Support

Customer service software that people love

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Reply.io logo

Reply.io

CRM

Multichannel sales engagement platform for email, LinkedIn, calls and SMS outreach

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Help Scout the free plan caps contacts at 100 a month, so it is a volume trial rather than a standing free tier; Reply.io multichannel features and CRM sync require the higher-priced Professional tier or above.
  • They diverge on capability: Help Scout covers Shared inbox, Reply.io covers Multichannel sequences.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Help Scout and Reply.io actually diverge.

Attributes where Help Scout and Reply.io differ
AttributeHelp ScoutReply.io
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Androidweb, api
CategoryCustomer SupportCRM
Founded20112014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), 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 Help Scout

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

Only in Reply.io

  • Multichannel sequences
  • Contact database
  • AI email assistant
  • Deliverability tools
  • CRM sync
  • Reporting and analytics

What people use each for

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

Help Scout

  • Shared inbox and help desk for customer support teamsnot Reply.io
  • Publishing a knowledge base alongside email and chat supportnot Reply.io

Reply.io

  • Running multichannel outbound sequences combining email and LinkedInnot Help Scout
  • Automating cold calling and SMS follow-ups alongside emailnot Help Scout
  • Finding new B2B prospects from a built-in contact databasenot Help Scout
  • Syncing outreach activity into an existing CRMnot Help Scout

Where each one falls short

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

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

Reply.io

  • Multichannel features and CRM sync require the higher-priced Professional tier or above.
  • LinkedIn and calling/SMS automation are billed as separate per-account add-ons on top of plan pricing.
  • Pricing is per user, which can raise costs quickly for larger sales teams.
  • Monthly (non-annual) billing carries a notable price premium over the advertised annual rates.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Reply.io

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited monthly emails
    • Basic sequence features
  • Starter$49/month
    • Email-only sequences
    • Billed annually per user
  • Professional$89/month
    • Multichannel sequences
    • CRM sync
    • Billed annually per user
  • Ultimate$139/month
    • Full AI suite
    • Highest sending limits
    • Advanced reporting and integrations

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Reply.io if

  • You need multichannel sequences.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want contact database.
Reply.io review

Questions people ask

Is Help Scout or Reply.io better?
Neither clearly leads. Help Scout starts at Free and Reply.io at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Help Scout or Reply.io?
Help Scout starts at Free and Reply.io at Free.
Does Help Scout or Reply.io run on more platforms?
Help Scout runs on Web, Ios, Android. Reply.io runs on web, api.
Can I use Help Scout for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Help Scout best used for?
Help Scout is most often used for shared inbox and help desk for customer support teams, publishing a knowledge base alongside email and chat support. Of those, shared inbox and help desk for customer support teams and publishing a knowledge base alongside email and chat support are not what Reply.io is typically brought in for.
What can Help Scout do that Reply.io cannot?
Help Scout covers Shared inbox, Knowledge base, Live chat, Customer profiles. Reply.io covers Multichannel sequences, Contact database, AI email assistant, Deliverability tools.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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
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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