Help Scout nails email. LiveChat nails chat. SupportWire combines both with phone, AI, and ticketing built in, so your team works from one inbox instead of three tools.
Feature comparison
22 features.
7 categories.
No hiding.
Every feature that matters for customer support, compared honestly across 3 platforms.
| Feature | HelpScout | LiveChat | SupportWire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | |||
| Starting Price | Free / $25 / $75 / Custom | $19/agent/mo (1 agent max) | Simple per-seat pricing |
| Pricing Model | Contact-based, unpredictable | 4 separate products | Transparent per-seat |
| Per-Resolution AI Fees | $0.75 per AI resolution | Separate ChatBot product ($52+) | Included in every plan |
| Channels | |||
| Live Chat | Beacon widget, reactive | Core product | Real-time with proactive triggers |
| Phone Support | Not available (14+ years) | Not available | All plans |
| Ticketing | Shared inbox | Separate HelpDesk ($29+/mo) | Full ticketing with SLAs |
| Knowledge Base | Public only, broken editor | Separate product ($49+/mo) | Public and internal |
| AI | |||
| AI Chatbot | $0.75/resolution add-on | Separate ChatBot ($52+/mo) | AI-native, included |
| AI Learning | Public articles only | Template-based | Learns from conversations |
| 24/7 Automation | Keyword-matching only | Requires ChatBot subscription | Works 24/7 autonomously |
| Platform | |||
| Setup Time | Hours to days | Quick for chat only | Hours, not weeks |
| Design Quality | Clean, simple | Clean but aging | Modern, minimal |
| Widget Performance | Light Beacon widget | Lightweight | Performance-optimized |
| White-Label Branding | Limited customization | Enterprise only | Your brand only |
| Cancellation | Straightforward | Requires support to cancel | One-click, any time |
| Data & Security | |||
| Data Export | CSV export available | Limited export | Full data portability |
| SOC 2 Compliance | SOC 2 certified | Security measures in place | |
| Analytics | |||
| Reporting | Basic dashboards | Strong analytics | Full analytics |
| SLA Management | No SLA tracking | Basic SLA features | Built-in SLA tracking |
| CSAT Surveys | Satisfaction ratings | Post-chat surveys | Built-in |
| Integrations | |||
| Native Integrations | 100+ apps | 200+ apps | Growing ecosystem |
| Open API | REST API | REST API | Full REST API |
Pricing
Starting Price
HelpScout
Free / $25 / $75 / Custom
LiveChat
$19/agent/mo (1 agent max)
SupportWire
Simple per-seat pricing
Pricing Model
HelpScout
Contact-based, unpredictable
LiveChat
4 separate products
SupportWire
Transparent per-seat
Per-Resolution AI Fees
HelpScout
$0.75 per AI resolution
LiveChat
Separate ChatBot product ($52+)
SupportWire
Included in every plan
Channels
Live Chat
HelpScout
Beacon widget, reactive
LiveChat
Core product
SupportWire
Real-time with proactive triggers
Phone Support
HelpScout
Not available (14+ years)
LiveChat
Not available
SupportWire
All plans
Ticketing
HelpScout
Shared inbox
LiveChat
Separate HelpDesk ($29+/mo)
SupportWire
Full ticketing with SLAs
Knowledge Base
HelpScout
Public only, broken editor
LiveChat
Separate product ($49+/mo)
SupportWire
Public and internal
AI
AI Chatbot
HelpScout
$0.75/resolution add-on
LiveChat
Separate ChatBot ($52+/mo)
SupportWire
AI-native, included
AI Learning
HelpScout
Public articles only
LiveChat
Template-based
SupportWire
Learns from conversations
24/7 Automation
HelpScout
Keyword-matching only
LiveChat
Requires ChatBot subscription
SupportWire
Works 24/7 autonomously
Platform
Setup Time
HelpScout
Hours to days
LiveChat
Quick for chat only
SupportWire
Hours, not weeks
Design Quality
HelpScout
Clean, simple
LiveChat
Clean but aging
SupportWire
Modern, minimal
Widget Performance
HelpScout
Light Beacon widget
LiveChat
Lightweight
SupportWire
Performance-optimized
White-Label Branding
HelpScout
Limited customization
LiveChat
Enterprise only
SupportWire
Your brand only
Cancellation
HelpScout
Straightforward
LiveChat
Requires support to cancel
SupportWire
One-click, any time
Data & Security
Data Export
HelpScout
CSV export available
LiveChat
Limited export
SupportWire
Full data portability
SOC 2 Compliance
Analytics
Reporting
HelpScout
Basic dashboards
LiveChat
Strong analytics
SupportWire
Full analytics
SLA Management
HelpScout
No SLA tracking
LiveChat
Basic SLA features
SupportWire
Built-in SLA tracking
CSAT Surveys
HelpScout
Satisfaction ratings
LiveChat
Post-chat surveys
SupportWire
Built-in
Integrations
Native Integrations
HelpScout
100+ apps
LiveChat
200+ apps
SupportWire
Growing ecosystem
Open API
HelpScout
REST API
LiveChat
REST API
SupportWire
Full REST API
Go deeper
Read the full story.
Feature tables only tell half of it. Each deep-dive walks through pricing traps, real Trustpilot quotes, and where the product breaks down for growing teams.
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