Intercom
Sales
From$39/user/mo
10 people: $390 a month · $4,680 a year
- No free plan
- Up to 26% off yearly
- $5,000 startup credits
- 3 plans · priced per user
Intercom vs Zendesk: pricing compared
Plans, list prices and what a team of 5, 10 or 25 pays on each, from Surba's catalog of Sales tools. Updated for 2026.
At a glance
Side by side
Intercom starts at $39/user/mo (Essential) and Zendesk at $25/user/mo (Support Team). For 10 people that's $390 vs $250 a month: Zendesk is $140 a month (36%) cheaper than Intercom on list price.
Zendesk
Cheaper for 10 people
From$25/user/mo
10 people: $250 a month · $3,000 a year
- No free plan
- Up to 24% off yearly
- $5,000 startup credits
- 3 plans · priced per user
Plans
Intercom and Zendesk plans
Every plan with a public price, in US dollars.
Intercom
Essential
Fin AI agent ($0.99/outcome) · Messenger · Shared inbox & ticketing
$39/user/mo
Advanced
Multiple team inboxes · Workflow automation builder · Round robin assignment
$99/user/mo
Expert
SSO & identity management · HIPAA support · Service level agreements
$139/user/mo
Per full seat. Billed annually: Essential $29, Advanced $85, Expert $132. Fin AI from $0.99 per outcome. intercom.com/pricing also displayed $29/$19 for Essential (unlabeled).
Prices from Intercom's pricing page, checked 26 Oct 2026.
Zendesk
Support Team
Email and ticketing · Ticket routing · Prebuilt dashboards
$25/user/mo
Suite Team
AI agents · Omnichannel routing · Messaging and live chat
$69/user/mo
Suite Professional
Admin copilot · AI App Builder · Skills-based routing
$149/user/mo
Per agent. Paid yearly: Support Team $19, Suite Team $55, Suite Professional $115. Suite Enterprise: talk to sales.
Prices from Zendesk's pricing page, checked 26 Oct 2026.
Team cost
What each costs your team
Entry paid plans, per month and per year at list price.
| Team | Intercom (Essential) | Zendesk (Support Team) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 people | $195/mo$2,340/yr a year | $125/mo$1,500/yr a year | Zendesk $70 less a month |
| 10 people | $390/mo$4,680/yr a year | $250/mo$3,000/yr a year | Zendesk $140 less a month |
| 25 people | $975/mo$11,700/yr a year | $625/mo$7,500/yr a year | Zendesk $350 less a month |
Intercom is priced per user. Zendesk is priced per user. Per-user prices are multiplied by the team; per-plan prices aren't. Before tax; yearly discounts not applied.
FAQ
Intercom vs Zendesk: questions
Which is cheaper, Intercom or Zendesk?
Intercom starts at $39/user/mo (Essential) and Zendesk at $25/user/mo (Support Team). For 10 people that's $390 vs $250 a month: Zendesk is $140 a month (36%) cheaper than Intercom on list price. Compare features too: the cheaper plan isn't always the closer match.
Do Intercom and Zendesk have free plans?
Intercom has no free plan in Surba's catalog. Zendesk has no free plan in Surba's catalog.
Are Intercom and Zendesk cheaper if you pay yearly?
Intercom lists up to 26% off yearly billing. Zendesk lists up to 24% off yearly billing.
More comparisons
Other Sales comparisons
Paying for Intercom or Zendesk? Track it in Surba.
Surba reminds you before every renewal, shows your whole software spend in your currency, and flags tools that overlap — like these two.