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Intercom vs LiveAgent vs Freshdesk Messaging (Formerly Freshchat) vs ZoomInfo Chat Comparison

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Intercom

4.3(2,278 reviews)

Starting at $59 /Month

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Intercom, a sales, marketing, and support software, is designed to boost your customer acquisition and retention efforts. By utilizing its chat and bot features, you can efficiently qualify, route, and convert leads, res…

LiveAgent

4.7(1,542 reviews)

Starting at $15 /User/Month

  • Free Trial
  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

LiveAgent is online support software that gives users the freedom to talk with their customers, manage projects and deliver live chat, e‑mail and phone support. It's mobile‑enabled too so it doesn't matter where customer…

Freshdesk Messaging (Formerly Freshchat)

4.4(263 reviews)

Starting at $19 /agent/month

  • Free Trial
  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

Introducing Freshdesk Messaging, formerly known as Freshchat, the ultimate solution for modern messaging needs. This software is designed to make customer service effortless for the digital-first customer, with live chat…

ZoomInfo Chat

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Transform the way you build relationships with ZoomInfo Chat. This innovative platform enables you to quickly create valuable conversations with your website visitors in just a few clicks. With personalized AI-driven exp…

LiveAgent leads on user satisfaction with a 4.7-star rating across 1,542 reviews.

Intercom vs LiveAgent vs Freshdesk Messaging (Formerly Freshchat) vs ZoomInfo Chat — at a glance

FeatureIntercomLiveAgentFreshdesk Messaging (Formerly Freshchat)ZoomInfo Chat
Rating4.3 / 54.7 / 54.4 / 5
Reviews2,2781,542263
Starting price$59 /Month$15 /User/Month$19 /agent/monthContact for pricing
Free trial No Yes Yes No
Free version No No No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryLive Chat SoftwareHelp Desk SoftwareLive Chat SoftwareLive Chat Software
Integrations1+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - MacSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud
APIAvailableAvailableAvailableAvailable
Support modes24/7 (Live rep), Online24/7 (Live rep), Online24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, OnlineBusiness Hours, Online
CertificationsSOC 2, GDPR, ISO 27001GDPRSOC 2, GDPR, ISO 27001SOC 2
Data residencyGlobalGlobalUSUS

Key differences between Intercom and LiveAgent

  • Pricing: Intercom starts at $59 /Month, while LiveAgent starts at $15 /User/Month.
  • Free trial: LiveAgent offers a free trial; Intercom does not.
  • Target audience: Intercom is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while LiveAgent targets Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises.
  • User satisfaction: LiveAgent scores higher with a 4.7-star average.
  • Deployment: Intercom supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; LiveAgent supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

Compare Intercom vs LiveAgent vs Freshdesk Messaging (Formerly Freshchat) vs ZoomInfo Chat — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Live Chat Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Intercom - Live Chat Software
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LiveAgent - Help Desk Software
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Free PDF comparison

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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Intercom

Best for SMBs needing AI-powered chat to boost sales and customer engagement.

Choose if
  • You want an intuitive, user-friendly interface with efficient automation features.
  • Your team includes sales, marketing, or customer success managers focused on lead qualification.
  • You need AI-enabled chat and knowledge base to enhance customer interactions and insights.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your company requires extensive third-party integrations beyond Intercom’s limited Marketplace.
  • You need immediate customer service support due to Intercom’s long wait times.

LiveAgent

Best for small to mid-sized teams needing simple omnichannel customer support.

Choose if
  • You want an all-in-one platform combining live chat, email, phone, SMS, and social media support.
  • Your team values quick, low-complexity setup with mobile-enabled customer engagement.
  • You require integrations with popular tools like Google Apps, Twitter, and MailChimp.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your company needs highly customizable, enterprise-grade workflows and advanced analytics.
  • You are a large enterprise concerned about scalability and transparent pricing for higher tiers.

Freshdesk Messaging (Formerly Freshchat)

Best for small to medium businesses needing easy, CRM-integrated live chat support.

Choose if
  • You want a user-friendly live chat platform accessible to non-technical agents.
  • Your team requires seamless CRM integration to manage customer interactions efficiently.
  • You need a scalable support solution combining live chat, AI bots, and self-service.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your organization depends on extensive third-party app integrations beyond the limited marketplace.
  • You lack dedicated support resources to manage the platform’s complex features and onboarding.

ZoomInfo Chat

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Intercom: Best for SMBs needing AI-powered chat to boost sales and customer engagement. LiveAgent: Best for small to mid-sized teams needing simple omnichannel customer support.

Description

Intercom, a sales, marketing, and support software, is designed to boost your customer acquisition and retention efforts. By utilizing its chat and bot features, you can efficiently ... Read More about Intercom

LiveAgent is online support software that gives users the freedom to talk with their customers, manage projects and deliver live chat, e‑mail and phone support. It's mobile‑enabled too so ... Read More about LiveAgent

Introducing Freshdesk Messaging, formerly known as Freshchat, the ultimate solution for modern messaging needs. This software is designed to make customer service effortless for the ... Read More about Freshdesk Messaging (Formerly Freshchat)

Transform the way you build relationships with ZoomInfo Chat. This innovative platform enables you to quickly create valuable conversations with your website visitors in just a few clicks. ... Read More about ZoomInfo Chat

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $59
  • Starts from $15
  • Starts from $19 , yearly
  • Not Available

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • Free Trial available
  • No free trial

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

9.8/10

9.8/10

9.3/10

8.2/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

Best Company Size

Small BusinessMedium Business
10-50 employees51-500 employees
Small BusinessMedium Business
Get pricing help
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

LiveAgent

  • All-in-One Omnichannel Support: Supports live chat, email, call center, SMS, and social media in one platform—ideal for centralizing customer communication.
  • Wide Range of Integrations: Easily integrates with popular tools like Google Apps, Twitter, MailChimp, Slack, and more, streamlining customer service workflows.
  • Competitive Pricing & Easy Setup: Offers affordable pricing tiers and fast onboarding, making it a strong choice for startups and small to mid-sized businesses.
Best fit

Best fit

Intercom

No best-fit guidance available yet.

LiveAgent

  • 10 – 500 Employees
  • E-commerce, SaaS, Education, Healthcare, Travel, Retail, Marketing Agencies
  • Customer Support Manager, Help Desk Agent, Operations Manager, Customer Success Specialist, IT Support Admin, Marketing Manager.
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

Intercom

No alternatives guidance available yet.

LiveAgent

  • Some users find LiveAgent’s interface less modern or intuitive compared to newer customer support platforms with more refined UX/UI.
  • Compared to tools like Zendesk or Intercom, LiveAgent currently lacks advanced AI-driven automation, chatbots, and machine learning capabilities.
  • While well-suited for SMBs, large organizations may find LiveAgent’s infrastructure less capable of handling complex, high-volume, or multi-department workflows at scale.

Software Demo

Demo

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  • Free 15-min call with a software advisor.

Step 1 of 4

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How do Intercom, LiveAgent, Freshdesk Messaging (Formerly Freshchat) and ZoomInfo Chat Compare on Features?

Total Features

38 Features

25 Features

8 Features

7 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare Intercom, LiveAgent, Freshdesk Messaging (Formerly Freshchat) and ZoomInfo Chat on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

          Starting From

          • $59
          • $15
          • $19 , yearly
          • Not Available

          Pricing Plans

          • Not Available
          • Not Available
          • Free

            Free

            • Free forever up to 10 agents

            • Chat widget on website and mobile apps

            • Team inbox

            Show more +

          • Growth

            $23

            /agent/month

            • Chat widget on the website and mobile apps

            • Team inbox

            • E-mail

            Show more +

          • Pro

            $59

            /agent/month

            • Chat widget on the website and mobile apps

            • Team inbox

            • E-mail

            Show more +

          • Browse all pricing plans
          • Not Available

          Pricing Page

          Intercom pricing
          LiveAgent pricing
          Freshdesk Messaging (Formerly Freshchat) pricing
          ZoomInfo Chat pricing

          Other Details

          Organization Types supported

          • Medium Business
          • Large Enterprises
          • Small Business
          • Freelancers
          • Individuals
          • Medium Business
          • Large Enterprises
          • Small Business
          • Freelancers
          • Individuals
          • Medium Business
          • Large Enterprises
          • Small Business
          • Freelancers
          • Individuals
          • Medium Business
          • Large Enterprises
          • Small Business
          • Freelancers
          • Individuals

          Platforms Supported

          • Mobile - Android
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - Windows
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - Android
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - Windows
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - Android
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - Windows
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - Android
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - Windows
          • Browser Based (Cloud)

          Modes of support

          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online

          API Support

          • Available
          • Available
          • Available
          • Available
          Get help choosing
          Get help choosing
          Get help choosing

          Security & Compliance

          Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

          SOC 2

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          HIPAA

          ✗ No
          ✗ No
          ✗ No

          GDPR

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          ISO 27001

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Single Sign-On (SSO)

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Data Encryption

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Audit Logs

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Data Residency

          🌐 Global
          🌐 Global
          🇺🇸 US

          Intercom vs LiveAgent vs Freshdesk Messaging (Formerly Freshchat) User Reviews & Rating Comparison

          User Ratings

          No reviews available for the product

          Rating Distribution

          1900

          470

          70

          25

          31

          682

          173

          13

          1

          1

          329

          289

          3

          3

          6

          No reviews available for this product

          Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

          Buyer sentiment

          Overall positive sentiment highlights Intercom's ease of use and automation, tempered by concerns over customer support responsiveness and feature complexity.

          What buyers like

          • Ease of use
          • Automation capabilities
          • AI-powered customer support

          Common complaints

          • Complexity of features
          • Customer service wait times

          Buyer sentiment

          Users generally praise LiveAgent for its comprehensive omnichannel support and ease of setup, though some note limitations for large enterprise needs.

          What buyers like

          • Ease of use
          • Multichannel support
          • Integration capabilities

          Common complaints

          • Limited enterprise features
          • Pricing clarity

          Buyer sentiment

          Users generally praise Freshdesk Messaging for its ease of use, CRM integration, and effective omnichannel support, though some find its feature set complex and marketplace limited.

          What buyers like

          • Ease of use
          • CRM integration
          • Omnichannel communication

          Common complaints

          • Limited app marketplace
          • Complexity for new users

          What buyers like

          • AI-driven experiences
          • Seamless prospect routing
          • Instant alerts

          Common complaints

          • May require technical setup
          • Limited offline capabilities
          • Not ideal for small teams

          Pros and Cons

          • Intuitive and user-friendly interface

          • Efficient automation capabilities

          • AI-enabled chat and knowledge base enhancing customer interactions

          • Feature richness and customization can be overwhelming without guidance

          • Limited selection of additional apps and connectors in the Marketplace

          • All-in-one omnichannel support combining live chat, email, phone, SMS, and social media

          • Wide range of integrations with popular tools like Google Apps, Twitter, and MailChimp

          • Competitive pricing with easy and fast setup

          • Limited information on advanced enterprise features

          • Potential scalability concerns for very large enterprises

          • Easy to use interface accessible to non-technical users

          • Seamless CRM integration for managing customer interactions

          • Combination of live chat, AI bot support, and self-service for scalable support

          • Limited marketplace options for additional apps and connectors

          • Feature richness and customization complexity can overwhelm new users

          • AI capabilities provide personalized interactions with leads.

          • Efficient routing of prospects accelerates sales processes.

          • May require a learning curve for setup.

          • Not suitable for teams with limited resources.

          Positive Reviews

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          Integrations

          Integration with other apps

          No Integration information available.

          No Integration information available.

          No Integration information available.

          List of Customers

          Customers

          No Customers information available.

          LiveAgent_customers_0

          LiveAgent_customers_0

          LiveAgent_customers_1

          LiveAgent_customers_1

          LiveAgent_customers_2

          LiveAgent_customers_2

          No Customers information available.

          No Customers information available.

          Media and Screenshots

          Screenshots

          Ourbound

          4 Screenshots

          Inside of Tickets

          14 Screenshots

          Bot Builder screenshot

          5 Screenshots

          Videos

          video-0

          2 Videos

          video-0

          5 Videos

          video-0

          2 Videos

          Expand your shortlist

          Add another option to compare side by side

          Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.

          Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

          Frequently asked questions

          Which is better, Intercom or LiveAgent?
          LiveAgent edges out the other on user ratings (4.7 vs 4.3). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
          Do Intercom and LiveAgent offer a free trial?
          LiveAgent offers a free trial. Intercom does not.
          What is the starting price of Intercom vs LiveAgent?
          Intercom starts at $59 /Month. LiveAgent starts at $15 /User/Month.
          What are the top alternatives to Intercom?
          Top alternatives to Intercom include ZoomInfo Chat, ClickDesk, LiveAgent, LiveChat, Crisp.
          What are the top alternatives to LiveAgent?
          Top alternatives to LiveAgent include Zoho Desk, Freshservice, ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus, Freshdesk, ClickDesk.

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