All comparisons
vs
vsInvent vs Help Scout: pricing and AI
Help Scout is a well-loved email inbox with AI billed per resolution on top. Invent is AI-first: the agent, the inbox and every channel share one flat plan.AI Answers$0.75per resolution
Every AI-resolved chat bills $0.75 in arrears, and AI Answers works only in the website widget, not email. Our AI answers on every channel, per message, usage included.
A real month~$825/month
Three users on Standard plus 1,000 AI resolutions run about $825 a month. Invent covers AI-first support from $29/mo, usage included.
The gatesPlus + Pro
Branding removal and AI Drafts start on Plus at $45 per user. SSO needs Pro with a ten-user minimum, a $750 monthly floor.
01Pricing
Help Scout pricing vs Invent
Entry plans, billed monthly. The scenario: three seats and 1,000 AI resolutions a month.Invent Business$29/monthIncludes $29 of usage. Overage at the same per-message rates, from $0.001.~3,000 Auto messages≈ $32 total
White-label + custom domainIncluded
SSO + audit logsIncluded
Team inbox, CRM, broadcastsIncluded
Free trial14 days
Help Scout Standard$25/user/moPer user, billed monthly. AI Answers bills $0.75 per resolution on top, in arrears.1,000 AI resolutions+$750/mo
AI DraftsPlus and Pro only
Remove "Powered by"Plus, $45/user
SSOPro, 10-user min
WhatsAppNew, March 2026
Live prices, monthly billing, Jul 10, 2026. AI resolutions bill in arrears; prepaying can discount them.
02Features
Feature comparison
The highlights. The full comparison table lives on the compare page.| Feature | Invent | Help Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Value | ||
| Billing model | Per message, $29 incl. | Seats + per resolution |
| Remove "Powered by" | Included | Partial or add-on |
| SSO and audit logs | Included | Partial or add-on |
| Channels | ||
| Web widget | Included | Included |
| Included | Partial or add-on | |
| Instagram and Messenger | Included | Included |
| SMS | Included | Not available |
| AI phone calls | Soon | Not available |
Verified against helpscout.com pricing and docs, monthly billing, Jul 10, 2026. See the full matrix on the compare page.
03Fine print
The fine print
All from Help Scout's own pricing page, Jul 10, 2026.AI bills in arrearsAI Answers costs $0.75 per resolved chat, invoiced after the fact. At 1,000 resolutions that is $750 on top of every seat, unless you prepay for a discount.
AI Answers lives in the widgetThe AI resolves chats in the website widget only. Email, where Help Scout is strongest, still needs humans or per-conversation AI Drafts.
Branding and drafts sit on PlusRemoving "Powered by Help Scout" and AI Drafts start on Plus at $45 per user a month; Standard keeps the badge.
SSO means ten Pro seatsSAML SSO requires the Pro plan at $75 per user with a ten-user minimum, a $750 monthly floor. Invent includes SSO at $29/mo.
Leaving Help Scout? We move you over, free
Book a free 30-minute call and we migrate your agent for you: knowledge, instructions, channels, branding. You just approve the result.
1Book a 30-minute callShow us your Help Scout setup. Sources, instructions, integrations.
2We rebuild it hereKnowledge, instructions, channels, and your white-label branding. No charge.
3You flip the switchTest it side by side, go live when you are happy.
Common questions
How much does Help Scout AI cost?
AI Answers bills $0.75 per resolved chat, in arrears, and only works in the website widget. AI Drafts is included on Plus and Pro. Invent prices per message with $29 of usage included, on every channel.
How much does Help Scout cost?
Free covers five users with tight caps; Standard is $25 per user, Plus $45, Pro $75 with a ten-user minimum, all monthly rates. Three users plus 1,000 AI resolutions land around $825 a month.
Does Help Scout support WhatsApp?
Yes, natively since March 2026, alongside Instagram and Messenger. There is still no native SMS or voice. Invent includes WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, Slack and SMS in the base plan.
Which is better, Invent or Help Scout?
Help Scout is excellent at human email support and ships a genuinely good Docs product. Invent is the AI-first pick: the agent resolves conversations on every channel, with white-label and SSO included instead of gated to top plans.
What is a good Help Scout alternative?
Invent, if you want the AI to do the resolving: one $29/mo plan covers the agent, team inbox, CRM and channels, with no per-user or per-resolution fees.
How do I migrate from Help Scout to Invent?
Book a short migration call and we move your saved replies, docs and channels for you. You run both side by side before switching.