SmartChat vs. Intercom
SmartChat vs. Intercom.
SmartChat and Intercom differ in pricing structure, term and data storage. SmartChat lists four fixed plans from 0 € to 999 € per month, no add-ons and no minimum term. Intercom bills per seat in US dollars and offers all plans as an annual subscription; monthly payment exists only in Essential and Advanced. As of: 02.11.2026.
The comparison table at a glance.
The table shows only points that are listed on public pages for both providers. The information about Intercom comes from Intercom's pages, retrieved on 02.11.2026. Word-for-word quotes are in quotation marks, because with Intercom, prices and data storage depend on the plan and contract.
| SmartChat | Intercom | |
|---|---|---|
| AI replies and AI features | AI reply in every plan, including Free, in the contact's language; 20 credits per AI reply; 500, 3,000, 6,000 and 12,000 credits (Free once, then per month) | AI agent Fin: "$0.99 per outcome" (0.99 US dollars per outcome) according to the pricing page |
| Privacy and server location | Server in Germany | "Regional Data Hosting is only available to new workspaces on the Advanced and Expert plans" (regions US, EU, Australia) |
| Prize | Free 0 €, Starter 299 €, Basic 499 €, Pro 999 € (euros per month); 24 % off for 3 months, 37 % off for 12 months in advance | Billing per seat in US dollars. Help Center: "Essential: $39/seat monthly or $29/seat annually". The pricing page lists a different value for Essential. |
| Meta fees, add-ons, setup | No add-ons, no setup fee; you pay Meta fees directly to Meta, SmartChat adds nothing on top | Fin: "No setup, integration, or platform fees"; the pricing page also lists extra products such as Proactive Support Plus and Copilot |
| term and cancellation | No minimum term, no lock-in; cancel at any time, without notice, up to 1 hour before the payment is taken; the time you've paid for keeps running | All plans as an annual subscription; "you can also choose to pay monthly on the Essential and Advanced plans" |
| Limits: seats | Team seats 1, 3, 6, 12 (Free, Starter, Basic, Pro); contacts unlimited | Included "lite seats": Essential none, Advanced 20, Expert 50 |
| API and MCP | Yes API and MCP in every plan | Yes "Fin pulls in customer data and takes action through APIs or MCP." |
| Source | SmartChat pricing and feature pages | Intercom pricing, Help Center, home page |
Who fits what.
The two providers set different focus areas. The following points list documented properties, not a verdict.
SmartChat features
- Built for WhatsApp marketing. After you enter your website, SmartChat AI builds the landing page, confirmation message and follow-ups in 60 seconds.
- Sign-up options in every plan. Landing page, website popup, click-to-WhatsApp button and QR code are included even in Free.
- Consent built in. Double opt-in runs automatically. The proof of consent for each contact, with date, time and method, can be downloaded as a PDF.
- Fixed plans without extras. Newsletter, follow-ups, API, MCP, webhook and inbox are included in every plan. There are no add-ons.
- integrations. API, MCP (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini), webhook, Zapier, Make and n8n are possible.
Intercom's properties
- Helpdesk with an AI agent. On its home page, Intercom describes itself as a "helpdesk with a natively integrated AI Agent, Fin".
- Billing per seat and per outcome. The plans Essential, Advanced and Expert apply per seat. Fin is charged per outcome.
- Outbound WhatsApp messages. Intercom lists one-time campaigns, event-based messages and steps in a Series. Only templates approved by Meta are sent.
- Lite seats in the larger plans. Advanced lists 20 and Expert 50 included lite seats.
Prices and plans.
The prices of the two providers cannot be compared one to one: SmartChat charges a fixed monthly price per plan, Intercom bills per seat in US dollars. For the Essential plan, Intercom lists different values on its pricing page and in its Help Center. That is why, for Intercom, we only give the word-for-word quote with its source.
SmartChat plans
| Free | Starter | Basic | Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per month (euros) | 0 € | 299 € | 499 € | 999 € |
| With 3 months in advance (24% off) | 227 € per month | 379 € per month | 759 € per month | |
| With 12 months in advance (37% off) | €188 per month | 314 € per month | 629 € per month | |
| Messages | 100 one-time | 3,000 per month | 6,000 per month | unlimited |
| team seats | 1 | 3 | 6 | 12 |
Plans at Intercom
Intercom lists the plans Essential, Advanced and Expert. The Help Center says: "Essential: $39/seat monthly or $29/seat annually". The pricing page shows a different value for Essential. Which one applies, you can see with Intercom itself. As of: 02.11.2026, source: Intercom Help Center and Intercom pricing.
Fees for messages
With SmartChat, you pay the Meta fees directly to Meta, using the payment method in your Meta account. SmartChat charges no extra per message. Sending costs no credits.
Fits less well, when.
At SmartChat
- You want to send messages across multiple channels. SmartChat only sends via WhatsApp.
- You want to build a chatbot yourself. SmartChat has no chatbot builder. SmartChat AI replies to messages, and in the Basic and Pro plans, SmartChat builds your automation.
- You need multiple WhatsApp numbers in one account. One account has 1 WhatsApp number. For multiple numbers, you create multiple accounts.
With Intercom
- You are looking for a fixed monthly price with no price per seat. Intercom bills per seat, and for Fin per outcome.
- You want to pay monthly in every plan. Intercom lists all plans as an annual subscription; monthly payment exists only in Essential and Advanced.
- You want prices in euros. The Intercom pages we checked list prices in US dollars.
FAQ about SmartChat and Intercom.
What sets SmartChat apart from Intercom?
SmartChat sends WhatsApp marketing with fixed plans and no add-ons. Intercom describes itself as a helpdesk with the AI agent Fin and bills per seat. The differences in price, term and data storage are in the table above. As of: 02.11.2026.
How does Intercom bill?
Intercom bills per seat in US dollars. The Help Center says: "Essential: $39/seat monthly or $29/seat annually". The pricing page shows a different value for Essential. As of: 02.11.2026, source: Intercom Help Center.
What do you pay per month with SmartChat compared to Intercom?
SmartChat costs 0 € on the Free plan, 299 € on Starter, 499 € on Basic and 999 € on Pro per month. If you pay 3 months in advance, that is 24 % off, and 37 % off for 12 months in advance. Free applies with no time limit and no credit card.
How long am I tied in with Intercom?
Intercom lists all plans as an annual subscription. The Help Center writes: "you can also choose to pay monthly on the Essential and Advanced plans". A contract is optionally possible through sales. As of: 02.11.2026.
Do you have to commit to a term with SmartChat?
No. SmartChat has no minimum term and no commitment. You cancel any time and with no notice period, up to 1 hour before the payment is taken. The time you paid for keeps running. There is no refund.
What does Intercom's AI agent Fin cost?
On its pricing page, Intercom lists "$0.99 per outcome", so 0.99 US dollars per outcome. With SmartChat, an AI reply uses 20 credits. The plans include 3,000, 6,000 or 12,000 credits per month, Free 500 once. Credits never expire.
Where does Intercom store the data?
Intercom writes in its Help Center: "Regional Data Hosting is only available to new workspaces on the Advanced and Expert plans". The regions listed are US, EU and Australia. SmartChat uses servers in Germany. As of: 02.11.2026.
Does Intercom charge setup fees?
For Fin, Intercom's pricing page says: "No setup, integration, or platform fees". The pricing page also lists products such as Proactive Support Plus and Copilot. SmartChat has no add-ons and no setup fee.
How many users are included in the plans?
Intercom lists included lite seats: Essential none, Advanced 20 and Expert 50. SmartChat lists team seats: 1 in Free, 3 in Starter, 6 in Basic and 12 in Pro. With SmartChat, contacts are unlimited in every plan.
What connections do SmartChat and Intercom have?
Intercom writes on its home page: "Fin pulls in customer data and takes action through APIs or MCP." SmartChat offers API and MCP in every plan, plus webhook, Zapier, Make and n8n. With SmartChat, a connection to ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini runs through MCP.
How does Intercom send WhatsApp messages to contacts?
Intercom lists one-time campaigns, event-based messages and steps in a Series. Only templates approved by Meta are sent, and recipients must have agreed to marketing messages. SmartChat sends newsletters and follow-ups only after the contact has confirmed.
When is SmartChat a weaker fit?
SmartChat is a weaker fit if you want to send across several channels, because SmartChat sends only through WhatsApp. There is no chatbot builder and no second WhatsApp number in the same account. One number belongs to one account.
Try SmartChat for free.
Enter your website. In 60 seconds, your WhatsApp marketing system is ready, no credit card needed.
Sources and date. All information about Intercom comes from the provider's public pages, retrieved on 02.11.2026. Prices and features can change. SmartChat is the provider of this page. This comparison comes from SmartChat and is not legal advice.
Intercom: Intercom pricing · Intercom Help Center: Fin and Intercom plans · Intercom Help Center: Pricing FAQs · Intercom Help Center: Regional Data Hosting · Intercom Help Center: Outbound WhatsApp messages · Intercom homepage
SmartChat: SmartChat pricing · Landing page · Website popup · Click-to-WhatsApp button · Double opt-in · proof of consent · API · MCP
Intercom is a trademark of its respective owners. Found an incorrect statement? Please report it via Contact.
Last updated: By SmartChat Team