Help Scout vs Kayako(2026)
Help Scout is better for teams that need clean, email-like interface. Kayako is the stronger choice if full conversation history. Help Scout is paid (from $22/mo) and Kayako is paid (from $15/mo).
Full feature breakdown, pricing details, and pros & cons below.
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Help Scout
Help Scout provides shared inboxes, a help center, and live chat in a clean interface that feels like email — designed for teams who want human, non-robotic customer support.
Starting at $22/mo
Visit Help ScoutKayako
Kayako provides omnichannel customer service with a unified conversation history across email, live chat, and social — giving support agents full context of every customer interaction.
Starting at $15/mo
Visit KayakoHow Do Help Scout and Kayako Compare on Features?
| Feature | Help Scout | Kayako |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | paid | paid |
| Starting price | $22/mo | $15/mo |
| Shared inbox | ✓ | — |
| Help center (Docs) | ✓ | — |
| Live chat (Beacon) | ✓ | — |
| Customer profiles | ✓ | — |
| Saved replies | ✓ | — |
| Automation workflows | ✓ | — |
| Satisfaction ratings | ✓ | — |
| Unified conversation view | — | ✓ |
| Live chat | — | ✓ |
| Email ticketing | — | ✓ |
| Social media support | — | ✓ |
| Self-service portal | — | ✓ |
| Customer journey tracking | — | ✓ |
| Automation | — | ✓ |
Help Scout Pros and Cons vs Kayako
Help Scout
Kayako
Should You Use Help Scout or Kayako?
Choose Help Scout if…
- •Clean, email-like interface
- •Great customer experience
- •Strong knowledge base
Choose Kayako if…
- •Full conversation history
- •Affordable
- •Good multi-channel support