Support Chicken vs Help Scout
Email-first shared inbox for SMBs.
TL;DR
Help Scout is the gold standard for email-centric support — a clean shared inbox with a help center bolted on. Support Chicken does email too, but the live chat widget and AI assistant are first-class, not afterthoughts.
Feature
Support Chicken
Help Scout
Live chat widget
Included
Beacon (basic)
Shared inbox
Unlimited
Core feature
Knowledge base
Branded, included
Docs (included)
Email channel
Inbound + outbound
Best-in-class
AI replies
Built-in AI agent
AI features in higher tiers
Free plan
Forever free
15-day trial only
Starting paid price
$19 / mo
$22 / seat / mo
Setup time
Under 5 minutes
Same day
Pick Help Scout if…
- You're a pure email-support team, no live chat needed
- You want a beautifully designed inbox above all else
- You're a 10+ seat team where per-seat pricing still pencils out
Pick Support Chicken if…
- Live chat + AI replies are core to your support — not a tacked-on Beacon
- You want a free plan that lasts
- You'd rather pay $19 flat than $22 per seat
- You're juggling multiple brands — one workspace each, not one giant inbox
Help Scout starts at
$22 / seat / month
Support Chicken starts at
$19 / month flat
Switching from Help Scout?
Export your Docs articles, forward your support address, invite your team. Most teams switch over in a single afternoon.
Start your migrationTry Support Chicken free.
No card. No 14-day clock. Just the free plan, forever.
Get started