Kayako vs Help Scout
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
Kayako
Unified customer support platform with AI-powered response suggestions
7.2/10
$35/moFree trialfreemium
Try Kayako →VS
Help Scout
Simple, human-centered help desk with shared inbox and AI features
7.6/10
$20/moFree trialfreemium
Try Help Scout →Our Verdict
🏆 Help Scout wins on overall editorial score (7.6/10)
Help Scout scored higher across our editorial dimensions. That said, the best tool depends on your specific use case — check the breakdown below.
Editorial Scores
Pricing
Kayako
$35/moFree trialfreemium
Help Scout
$20/moFree trialfreemium
Pros
✓ Kayako
- ✓Strong multi-channel integration
- ✓AI-powered response suggestions
- ✓Good knowledge base features
- ✓Reasonable pricing for features
✓ Help Scout
- ✓Very affordable pricing
- ✓Clean, minimalist interface
- ✓Excellent email support experience
- ✓Built-in AI assistant
- ✓Shared inbox collaboration
Cons
✗ Kayako
- Smaller user community
- Less marketing presence than competitors
- Setup requires some customization
✗ Help Scout
- Limited phone support integration
- No social media channel
- Fewer integrations than competitors