Prices below were checked 29 Aug 2026 on Intercom, Crisp, and Cove. Feature rows for Cove are what you can use in the product today, not what a marketing URL is named.
How each one charges
Public list pricing, 29 Aug 2026. Intercom seats and Fin from intercom.com/pricing. Crisp from crisp.chat/en/pricing. Cove from coveinbox.co/pricing.
| Intercom | Crisp | Cove | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Seats + usage | Flat per workspace | Flat per workspace |
| Entry paid plan | Essential $29/seat | $45 Mini | $39 Mini |
| Mid | Advanced $85/seat | $95 Essentials | $89 Essentials |
| Upper self-serve | Expert $132/seat | $295 Plus | $219 Plus |
| AI line item | $0.99 per Fin outcome; 50-outcome minimum in their FAQ example | Hugo credits $5 / $25 / $75, then overage | No per-outcome meter |
| Copilot / extra AI | $29/agent/mo annual, $35 monthly | Included in those credits | Keyword drafts from articles. You send. |
| Outbound pack | Proactive Support Plus $99/mo for 500 messages | Campaigns in product | Broadcasts + widget teasers |
| Channels usage | WhatsApp, SMS, campaigns, phone are extra | In plan from Essentials | Connect WhatsApp, SMS, phone callbacks |
| Conversation caps | Live chat included; Fin is per outcome | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Trial | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days |
What you can actually do
| Surface | Intercom | Crisp | Cove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website messenger | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shared inbox | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Help articles in the messenger | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Resolve, then CSAT | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fin / Hugo | Fin | Hugo | Drafts + live workflows |
| Outbound campaigns | Yes | Yes | Broadcasts |
| WhatsApp as the desk | Yes, usage-priced | Yes, Essentials+ | Connect — same inbox |
| Public help URL | Yes | Yes | Yes — {slug}.coveinbox.co, optional verified custom host |
| Customer portal / tickets | Yes | Plus | Yes — magic link |
| Live visitor map | — | Yes | Recent country |
| Highlight on page | — | Yes | Banner from inbox — not screen share |
| Operator mobile / desktop apps | Yes | Yes | Inbox PWA |
| Chat SDKs (iOS / Android / RN) | Yes | Yes | Official WebView SDK |
| Translation | Add-on | Plus quota | Yes — under the original |
| Integrations | Marketplace | Plus catalog | HubSpot, Shopify, webhooks |
Pick by the job, not the homepage
Switch from Intercom if you wanted Messenger and an inbox, not seats plus $0.99 times outcomes. Product tours and Series are Intercom extras — switch the queue first, then use Cove Broadcasts and teasers for outbound.
Switch from Crisp if you want the same workspace shape without a Hugo credit pack. WhatsApp, a visitor map, workflows, and a portal ship in Cove. See Cove vs Crisp.
Buy Cove if the job is a complete desk: widget on the site, team inbox, articles in the messenger, resolve, CSAT, portal, SLA clocks, no outcome meter. Mini at $39 or Essentials at $89 is the usual desk.
A worked monthly picture, without fake savings
Four people, website chat only, maybe a thousand conversations a month, no WhatsApp, no outbound series.
- Cove Mini: $39 for the workspace (10 seats included). Conversations do not add a line item.
- Crisp Mini: $45 for the same seat count. Hugo credits are $5 unless you turn pay-as-you-go on. You also get Crisp’s apps and map, which this scenario does not use.
- Intercom: 4 × Essential $29 = $116 in seats, plus Fin if it is on. At $0.99, 200 Fin outcomes is $198 usage on top of seats, before Copilot. If Fin is off, you still bought a Fin-first platform.
When WhatsApp or a first reply is the job, connect the channel and turn on a live workflow. See Cove vs Intercom and Cove vs Crisp.
Blog
Related reading
28 Aug 2026
Customizable live chat widget: glass, themes, radius, launcher
Most live chat widgets give you a color and a greeting. Cove’s Widget studio sets the look visitors actually see: theme, a single radius in pixels, launcher shape and mark, then a shared inbox behind it. That is the product.
28 Aug 2026
Cove vs Crisp chatbox: switch the widget, get the desk
Cove is a branded messenger and a complete shared inbox. Switch the chatbox when you want glass, radius, and launcher control plus the rest of the desk.
28 Aug 2026
Cove vs Intercom: switch to the complete desk
Cove is live chat, email, help, CRM, and workflows in one product. This page is for teams who want that desk instead of Intercom.
Try the widget and the shared inbox
Fourteen-day trial. Per workspace. Conversations are unlimited.