VSKerabie vs Help Scout
A human, email-first shared inbox with a Beacon chat widget and AI Answers.
| At a glance | Kerabie | Help Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial | 14-day free trial, no credit card required | 15-day trial on Standard and Plus, no card |
| Free plan | ||
| Entry paid price | $9/mo ($7 billed yearly) | $25 per user/mo (Standard) |
| How you are billed | Plan: conversations, seats and channels together | Per user; AI Answers per resolution |
| AI pricing | Inside the plan: 50 replies on Basic, 100 on Pro, capacity can be added | AI Answers $0.75 per resolution, with a monthly spend cap |
Included; the free plan allows two channels | Listed in Standard and above | |
| Hire people in the product | Yes, virtual assistant marketplace | No |
Help Scout figures are US dollars from its public pricing page, read 18 October 2026. Kerabie prices are shown in your currency. Plans change; confirm on their site.
Where Help Scout is strong
- A calm, email-first inbox that feels personal.
- A spending cap on AI Answers, plus the first three months free.
- A free plan for up to five users.
Where Kerabie is strong
- One inbox for every channel. Web chat, WhatsApp, Instagram and email in one inbox, with the channel and AI draft status on every conversation.
- A mobile app built for several accounts. Sign into more than one account at once and switch between them. Push notifications open the right account first.
- Hire people inside the product. Add trained virtual assistants to your workspace from the marketplace when volume spikes.
- Built to be built on. A REST API, TypeScript and React Native SDKs, a WordPress plugin and a hosted MCP server for AI assistants.
One inbox for every channel
Web chat, WhatsApp, Instagram and email in one inbox, with the channel and AI draft status on every conversation.
A mobile app built for several accounts
Sign into more than one account at once and switch between them. Push notifications open the right account first.
Hire people inside the product
Add trained virtual assistants to your workspace from the marketplace when volume spikes.
Built to be built on
A REST API, TypeScript and React Native SDKs, a WordPress plugin and a hosted MCP server for AI assistants.
Which should you pick?
Choose Kerabie if
- You answer customers on web chat, WhatsApp and Instagram and want one inbox.
- You want one predictable plan price instead of seats plus AI plus channels.
- You reply from your phone, or run support for more than one business.
Choose Help Scout if
- A calm, email-first inbox that feels personal.
- A spending cap on AI Answers, plus the first three months free.
- A free plan for up to five users.
Questions
Is Help Scout good for live chat?
Chat is available through Beacon on Standard and above; the product is built around the shared inbox first.
How is AI billed at Help Scout?
AI Answers is $0.75 per resolution; you can set a monthly cap after which it switches off for the cycle.
Is Kerabie a good Help Scout alternative?
Kerabie suits teams that want one inbox for web chat, WhatsApp, Instagram and email, predictable plan-based pricing and a mobile app that works across several accounts. Help Scout remains a strong choice where its strengths (see above) are what you need most.