Honest, like-for-like comparison. Pricing, AI, channels, ergonomics. Q2 2026 list pricing, current as of 26 April 2026.
Same team, same channels, same AI capability. Public list pricing as of 26 April 2026.
Per-user · 8 users
List pricing as of 2026-04-26, vendor pricing page
Flat tier · 8 agents
Flat per-tier · No per-agent surcharge · No "Enterprise" gate · Ex VAT
Calculated against Help Scout Plus list pricing for 8 agents at the line items shown. Help Scout pricing accessed 2026-04-26 from https://www.helpscout.com/pricing/. KimonDesk figures ex VAT.
03 / Capability
| Feature | KimonDesk | Help Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat per-tier, no user surcharge | $50 per user / mo Plus |
| AI included as core | Yes, included | AI assist add-on, +$15 per user / mo |
| Email inbox | Yes | Yes (the core product) |
| Live chat | Yes (built-in) | Yes via Beacon, additional setup |
| WhatsApp Business | Yes | Not offered |
| Voice and VoIP | Yes (Twilio BYO) | Not offered |
| Instagram and Facebook DM | Yes | Not offered |
| SMS | Yes (Twilio BYO) | Not offered |
| Reply drafts (Claude or GPT) | Yes, your choice of model | Yes, Help Scout AI only |
| Per-org AI training, no cross-leak | Yes | Shared training, no isolation guarantee |
| SSO (SAML, OIDC) | Yes, every tier | Pro tier only |
| Audit log full read access | Yes | Pro tier only |
| Sandbox environment | Yes | Not offered |
| EU-resident hosting guarantee | Yes | US-default hosting |
| Self-hosting (Scale tier) | Yes | Not offered |
| Direct line to founder | First 50 customers | Support tickets only |
| Locked-in pricing for life | First 50 customers | Annual price increases standard |
| UI minimalism for email-only teams | Multi-channel inbox, more controls visible | The lightest, most minimal UI for pure email support teams |
04 / When to pick which
You are a pure email support team and the lightest possible UI matters more than channel breadth. Help Scout has the cleanest email-only interface in the category by some margin.
You actively dislike the visible automation, SLA timers, and routing controls of fuller helpdesks. Help Scout deliberately hides them.
You do not need WhatsApp, voice, social DMs, or SMS. Help Scout does not offer them and you do not miss what you do not use.
You value the Help Scout brand and editorial voice. Their content marketing and customer support content is among the best in the category.
You need any channel beyond email and chat. KimonDesk ships WhatsApp, voice, social DMs, SMS, and self-serve portal as standard.
You want AI in the core, not as a +$15 per user add-on. KimonDesk includes drafts, summaries, and auto-resolve at every tier.
You need SSO, audit log, or sandbox without buying Help Scout Pro. KimonDesk includes them at every paid tier.
You want EU-resident hosting as a tier feature. Help Scout defaults to US hosting.
You expect to outgrow email-only support within 12 months. Migrating off Help Scout when channel needs expand is a real cost.
05 / FAQ
Anything not covered, drop the founder a line. We’ll answer in writing within 24 hours.
06 / Compare other helpdesks
14 days. No card. Cancel any time. If we don’t save you four figures a year, you can keep our t-shirt.