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Technology · head to head

Intercom vs LivePerson

Intercom logo

Intercom

Technology

The only AI customer service solution you need

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LivePerson logo

LivePerson

Live Chat

Enterprise-grade conversational AI platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Intercom has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Intercom pricing is high and unpredictable with confusing per-seat, per-feature, and usage-based structure that makes cost estimation difficult; LivePerson no price is published for any of the three tiers, and the page states no cost metric
  • They diverge on capability: Intercom covers AI-powered inbox, LivePerson covers Conversational AI.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Intercom and LivePerson actually diverge.

Attributes where Intercom and LivePerson differ
AttributeIntercomLivePerson
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Mobile app, IOS, Android, Messaging apps
CategoryTechnologyLive Chat
Founded20111995

Identical on both: 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 Intercom

  • AI-powered inbox
  • Chatbots
  • Help center
  • Product tours
  • Customer data platform
  • Automation
  • Mobile SDKs
  • HubSpot

Only in LivePerson

  • Conversational AI
  • Mobile messaging
  • Intent detection
  • Zendesk
  • Webhooks
  • Web support
  • Mobile app support
  • IOS support

Both cover

  • Live chat
  • Salesforce
  • Slack

What people use each for

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

Intercom

  • Customer supportnot LivePerson
  • Lead generationnot LivePerson
  • User onboardingnot LivePerson
  • Product adoptionnot LivePerson
  • Customer engagementnot LivePerson

LivePerson

  • Conversational AI and messaging across web, SMS and social channelsnot Intercom
  • Routing customer conversations between bots and human agentsnot Intercom

Where each one falls short

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

Intercom

  • Pricing is high and unpredictable with confusing per-seat, per-feature, and usage-based structure that makes cost estimation difficult
  • API rate limited to 1,000 calls per minute, which may constrain integrations for high-volume data users
  • Does not support multiple language versions of knowledge base articles, requiring creation of duplicate articles for each language

LivePerson

  • No price is published for any of the three tiers, and the page states no cost metric
  • Despite advertising minimal add ons, SMS outbound and WhatsApp carry separate charges plus a 15% handling fee
  • X is supported only with additional fees
  • Every route to a figure is a quote request or an RFP

Pricing, plan by plan

Intercom

Free
  • Essential$29/month
    • Fin AI Agent
    • Messenger
    • Shared inbox
  • Advanced$85/month
    • Multiple team inboxes
    • Workflow automation
    • Round robin assignment
  • Expert$132/month
    • SSO
    • HIPAA support
    • SLAs

LivePerson

On request
  • Professional$100/month
    • Live chat
    • Basic AI
    • Automations
  • Enterprise$500/month
    • Advanced AI
    • Custom integrations
  • Premium$undefined/month
    • Custom solutions
    • Dedicated support

Which should you pick?

Choose Intercom if

  • You need ai-powered inbox.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want chatbots.
Intercom review

Choose LivePerson if

  • You need conversational ai.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app, IOS, Android, Messaging apps.
  • You also want mobile messaging.
LivePerson review

Questions people ask

Is Intercom or LivePerson better?
Neither clearly leads. Intercom starts at Free and LivePerson at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Intercom or LivePerson?
Intercom has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Intercom and On request for LivePerson.
Does Intercom or LivePerson run on more platforms?
Intercom runs on Web, iOS, Android. LivePerson runs on Web, Mobile app, IOS, Android, Messaging apps.
Can I use Intercom for free?
Yes. Intercom has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. LivePerson starts at On request.
What is Intercom best used for?
Intercom is most often used for customer support, lead generation, user onboarding, product adoption. Of those, customer support and lead generation are not what LivePerson is typically brought in for.
What can Intercom do that LivePerson cannot?
Intercom covers AI-powered inbox, Chatbots, Help center, Product tours. LivePerson covers Conversational AI, Mobile messaging, Intent detection, Zendesk. Both handle Live chat, Salesforce, Slack.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Intercom: Is there a free tier and what are the limitations?

Intercom offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required and access to all features and add-ons. After trial, Essential plan starts at $29/seat/month. Free Lite seats are available on paid plans: 20 with Advanced, 50 with Expert.

Source
LivePerson: How much does LivePerson cost?

LivePerson does not publish pricing on its website. The platform operates on a quote-based model with three subscription tiers: Bronze (messaging-first workspace), Silver (with automation and AI features), and Gold (advanced analytics and Generative AI). Customers must request quotes from the sales team.

Source
Intercom: Does Intercom support single sign-on (SSO)?

Yes, Intercom supports SAML SSO with identity provider integration, but it is only available on the Expert plan ($132+/seat/month). SSO also works with Intercom's mobile apps on iOS and Android.

Source
LivePerson: What are LivePerson's pricing tiers?

LivePerson offers Bronze (includes multi-channel workspace and Intent Manager), Silver (adds AI automation and Conversation Assist), and Gold (adds Generative AI and Proactive Messaging). Each tier includes progressively more advanced AI capabilities and support levels.

Source
Intercom: Can I export my data from Intercom?

Yes. You can export conversations in CSV format via the Data Export feature in Reports, apply filters to refine exports, and use the REST API to programmatically access conversation and customer data.

Source
LivePerson: Are there additional fees beyond the base LivePerson subscription?

Yes, Proactive Messaging charges carrier rates plus a 15% handling fee, and additional fees apply for certain communication channels like X (formerly Twitter).

Source
Intercom: What would a team of 10 cost on Intercom?

Minimum cost would be $290/month for 10 Essential seats at $29/seat/month. Advanced plan costs $850/month for 10 seats. Prices increase with additional add-ons like Fin AI ($0.99 per resolution), SMS, WhatsApp, or email campaigns.

Source
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