Help Scout vs HubSpot
A side-by-side look at 2 Communication tools for 2026 — the verdict, pricing, ratings, features, and what readers think.
helpscout.com
Best for small and mid-sized support teams that want a simple shared inbox with AI help
Shared inbox and help desk with AI drafts, an AI support agent and a free plan for up to 5 users.
Visit Help Scout
hubspot.com
Best for small and mid-sized teams that want CRM, marketing and sales in one platform
All-in-one CRM platform with a genuinely useful free tier and paid Sales, Marketing and Service Hubs.
Visit HubSpotPricing compared
Help Scout
$25/user/mo
HubSpot
$9/seat/mo
Head to head
| Help Scout | HubSpot | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $25/user/mo | $9/seat/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Free plan; Envoy AI add-on has a 3-month free trial | Free tools forever; paid tiers have free trials |
| Platforms | Web · iOS · Android | Web · iOS · Android · API |
Pros & cons
Help Scout
Pros
- A permanent Free plan covers up to 5 users, 1 Inbox and 1 Docs site.
- Email, chat, SMS, social and voice land in one shared Inbox.
- AI Drafts and Copilot help agents reply faster while a human stays in control.
- Envoy AI is billed per resolution at USD 0.75, so cost follows results.
- SSO/SAML and HIPAA compliance are listed on the Pro plan.
Cons
- Pro plan pricing and many advanced limits push larger teams to a sales conversation.
- Extra inboxes cost USD 10 per month each on Standard, Plus and Pro.
- The Free plan is capped at 100 contacts per month.
- Fewer marketplace integrations than the largest help desks (the vendor lists 100+).
HubSpot
Pros
- Free CRM includes unlimited contacts and companies, email integration and a meeting scheduler.
- Marketing, Sales and Service Hubs share one customer database.
- Sales Hub Starter at $9 per seat per month (annual) is cheap to enter.
- Large integration marketplace and free training through HubSpot Academy.
- Scales from a two-person team to enterprise with custom objects on Enterprise.
Cons
- Free tools are capped at 2 users, 1 pipeline and 3 email templates.
- Professional costs $90 per seat per month annually and carries a $1,500 one-time onboarding fee.
- Enterprise tier starts at $150 per seat with a $3,500 onboarding fee.
- Costs climb quickly once you add multiple hubs and extra seats.