Discover how QuickCEP AI Chatbots can increase conversion rates by more than 30%
Intercom has recently undergone significant changes, transitioning from a simple messaging tool for sales and marketing to a more comprehensive customer service platform by incorporating new features such as detailed customer profiles and conversation notes. Their primary shift focuses on AI, branding themselves as an “AI-first customer service platform,” with their AI tool, Fin, being particularly notable. However, many of their most valuable features are limited to higher-priced plans, making them less accessible, while other companies provide similar tools, often at a lower cost, and many also offer AI capabilities; we’ve compiled a list of 8 Intercom alternatives for consideration.
In this article
1. Why Consider an Alternative To Intercom?
Not all AI chatbots are perfect—and Intercom’s software is no exception. Many users have expressed the following concerns:
Disjointed communication Intercom tends to create new tickets instead of linking conversations, which can lead to fragmented communication.
Performance issues Users have reported intermittent slow loading times, impeding workflow efficiency.
Pricing model The pay-per-email pricing for customer engagement emails is pricier for some businesses.
Documentation challenges Some users find Intercom’s help articles difficult to follow.
Inconsistent support
Users find it hard to talk to Intercom support. Some cited that the responses are mixed up and sometimes, they wait a long time for help. Sometimes, they don’t get any help when they try to talk to someone.
2. Best Intercom Alternatives Comparison Table
Did you know customers are willing to pay 19% more for quick service? Around 27% are more likely to spend money when a brand responds faster than expected. These figures show the importance of having a reliable AI chatbot that can respond instantly to customer inquiries.
Here are some of Intercom’s alternatives that you can consider, each with free and premium plans suitable for any budget.
| Unique features | Offers Free Plans? | Monthly Pro Plan Price |
|---|---|---|
| Personalized customer support through AI chatbots | ✅ YES | $49 - $99 |
| Code-free chatbot builder | ✅ YES | $25 - $95 |
| Multi-channel service | ✅ YES | $23 - $95 |
| Aura AI assistant | ✅ YES (but a free trial only) | $9 - $299 |
| Centralized dashboard for customer service data and channels | ✅ YES | $20 - $130 |
| Comprehensive suite of features | ✅ YES | $15 - $85 |
| Integrated live chat | ✅ YES | $14.99 - $39.99 |
| Centralized dashboard for marketing and customer service channels | ✅ YES | $29 - $499 |
3. 8 Best Intercom Alternatives Worth a Try
1. Budget Alternative to Intercom: QuickCEP
QuickCEP is perfect for small- and medium-sized enterprises and startups seeking extensive AI-powered customer service solutions without the hefty investment. With its robust features such as multichannel chat management, real-time intent analysis, personalized email communication, and no-code AI chatbots. We aim to help businesses deliver exceptional customer support and drive sales growth while maintaining affordability.
Pros and Cons: QuickCEP excels at bringing together chats from multiple channels, offering real-time intent analysis, and delivering personalized customer support through AI chatbots. We offer multi-language support, product recommendations, and after-sales assistance to help you improve your customer experience.
Pricing:
Free
Starter: $45/month
Growth: $89/month
READ MORE: QuickCEP vs. Intercom
2. Crisp
Crisp is a versatile chatbot platform offering real-time conversational experiences for websites. With its code-free chatbot builder and seamless integration with Crisp CRM, it enables businesses to automate interactions, qualify leads, and provide instant support.
Pros and Cons:
Crisp boasts a code-free chatbot builder for easy automation and integration with CRMs like Crisp CRM. AI-powered features, such as MagicReply boost your team’s productivity. On the flip side, users note drawbacks like the absence of a scheduling option for bot plug-ins, issues with the Magic Browse feature’s accuracy, and dependency on advanced features for SDK functions.
Pricing:
Basic: Free
Pro: $25/month/per workspace
Unlimited: $95/month/per workspace
3. Freshdesk
Freshdesk is a comprehensive customer support platform for businesses requiring call center support. It focuses on features like messaging, chatbot support, and omnichannel communication, making it a versatile alternative to Intercom.
Pros and Cons:
Freshdesk provides flexibility for seamless customer engagement and bot-driven support for scalable self-service. Its unified agent workspace also enhances personalized experiences.
However, users encounter usability issues, limited customization, and concerns about documentation accuracy, pricing structure, and additional costs for features like co-pilot and integration.
Pricing:
Free: Free for up to 10 agents.
Growth: $23/agent/month
Pro: $59/agent/month
Enterprise: $95/agent/month
4. Customerly
With features like Aura AI chatbot and AI Assistant, Customerly can enable businesses to enhance response rates, simplify complex tasks, and provide global support effortlessly.
Pros and Cons:
Customerly’s Aura AI chatbot offers cost-effective solutions, saving time and enhancing productivity in responding to customer inquiries. It improves response rates, crafting resonant responses efficiently. This tool transcends language barriers, bolstering customer satisfaction.
However, users face challenges in managing multiple chats simultaneously and encounter occasional glitches in beta features. Additionally, some users find the automated chat feature daunting, indicating a need for enhanced user-friendliness.
Pricing:
Essential: $9/month
Startup: $49/month
Pro: $99/month
Enterprise: $299/month
5. Hubspot Service Hub
HubSpot Service Hub is a versatile martech solution catering to SaaS and online businesses. It offers various tools for landing page creation, lead generation, email marketing automation, customer support, sales prospecting, and operational management.
Pros and Cons:
Service Hub gathers insights, tracks interactions, and delivers personalized experiences. It also enables businesses to connect interactions to the front office for identifying growth opportunities. It streamlines team efficiency through task automation and collaboration.
However, cumbersome form submissions, unreliable automation, and limited customization options sometimes make it a difficult software to work with.
Pricing:
Free: $0/month
Starter: $20/month per seat
Professional: $100/month per seat
Enterprise: $130/month per seat
6. LiveAgent
LiveAgent offers a rich set of support features such as call center support, SLA management, and audit logs. Unlike Intercom, LiveAgent initiates conversations by searching for live representatives, ensuring efficient and proactive support.
Pros and Cons:
LiveAgent provides a comprehensive customer service solution with live chat, call center, ticketing, social media integration, and knowledge base features. Its fast implementation and direct 24/7 customer support make it a top choice for customer service operations.
Despite these advantages, occasional performance issues and changes in features without notification impact some users’ workflow efficiency.
Pricing:
Free: $0 with no agent
Small Business: $9/agent or $15/month
Medium Business: $29/agent or $35/month
Large Business: $49/agent or $59/month
Enterprise: $69/agent or $85/month
7. ClickDesk
ClickDesk offers a distinct alternative to Intercom with its voice and video support alongside live chat, enhancing customer interaction. Its integration of social media tools with live chat fosters a genuine connection with your customers directly from your website.
Pros and Cons:
ClickDesk offers a comprehensive suite of live chat features designed to turn every conversation into an exceptional experience. Pros include diverse communication channels, social media integration, and mobile app support, empowering businesses to engage with customers effectively across various platforms.
On the flip side, some users have encountered initial complexity and limitations in the free mode, with delayed access to certain features.
Pricing:
Free for up to 10 users
Lite: $14.99/month
Pro: $24.99/month
Enterprise: $39.99/month
8. Tidio
Tidio is known according to its intuitive interface and rapid setup, enabling teams to initiate operations within minutes. Its tools include multi-channel communication, lead generation, and AI-driven chatbots, which provide robust support for customer engagement and nurturing. Pros and Cons:
Tidio provides a versatile live chat app tailored for e-commerce and small businesses, enabling real-time communication across multiple channels. While it streamlines communication and enhances customer support, users previously complained about occasional limitations like frequent logins and constraints on advanced chatbot customization.
Pricing:
Free
Starter: $29/month
Growth: $59/month
Tidio+: $499/month
READ MORE: QuickCEP vs. Tidio
4. Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Intercom Alternative
Choosing an alternative to Intercom is not as easy as browsing through a software’s features and choosing one that fits your needs. It’s not all about what a chatbot service can do. Here are three key things to consider when choosing an automated customer service platform.
Hassle-free Setup
Choosing an Intercom alternative should involve a seamless transition. Look for platforms that offer straightforward onboarding processes, intuitive interfaces, and robust support documentation.
A hassle-free setup ensures minimal disruption to your operations and enables your team to quickly leverage the new solution’s capabilities without extensive training or technical assistance.
Pricing of the Intercom Alternative
Look beyond the initial costs. You should also consider factors such as scalability, feature inclusion, and hidden fees because they could affect your budget in the long run. Seek transparent pricing models that align with your budgetary constraints and offer flexibility as your business grows.
Prioritize solutions that provide value for money by delivering the features you need without unnecessary add-ons or inflated costs.
Proactive Customer Support
Just as your customers expect good customer support from you, you should also anticipate it from your chatbot service provider. Look for Intercom alternatives that offer proactive customer support channels, such as live chat, dedicated account managers, or detailed help resources.
Evaluate the vendor’s reputation for customer service, including response times, expertise, and willingness to address user feedback promptly.
A proactive support system ensures that any challenges or questions can be swiftly addressed to keep a good relationship with your customers.
5. Pick Up the Best Intercom Alternative For Your Business
While Intercom is a popular chatbot software, its features might not suit every business. If you’re exploring alternatives, refer to the listed options above.
QuickCEP emerges as the ideal choice for SMEs, startups, and every business dedicated to taking customer service to the next level.
Our user-friendly interface ensures a swift setup for customer support and marketing teams, perfect for those falling behind on support goals. We also provide various tools necessary to streamline operations and boost customer engagement.
Explore our pricing plans and product features to get started on enhancing your customer support and engagement.
Experience our robust features for FREE, just sign up for our free plan and start improving your customer service today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you use Intercom for free?
No, Intercom does not offer a free plan. While it provides a 14-day free trial, users must choose a paid plan to continue using the service beyond the trial period.
What is the best Intercom alternative for SMEs and startups?
Offering a generous free plan, QuickCEP provides essential features for customer engagement, such as AI chatbots, Shopify integration, and marketing automation. Our intuitive interface and easy setup make it ideal for businesses looking to enhance customer interactions without breaking the bank.
What are the best Intercom alternatives for data-based companies?
With its robust analytics and reporting features, QuickCEP allows businesses to gain valuable insights into customer interactions and behavior.
We offer customizable chatbots, proactive messaging capabilities, and seamless integration with other tools. It is ideal for companies that prioritize data-driven decision-making and personalized customer experiences.
