LiveChat vs Intercom
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of LiveChat and Intercom. We compare features, pricing, ease of use, and value for money to help you make the right choice in 2026.
Reviewed by the Ikaroa team · Last updated: March 2026
Quick Verdict
Intercom edges ahead overall with a rating of 4.3/5. However, LiveChat (4.1/5) may be the better fit if you prioritise Businesses wanting the best possible live chat experience for website visitors. Read on for the full breakdown.
LiveChat vs Intercom at a Glance
LiveChat
★ 4.1LiveChat is a dedicated live chat platform that helps businesses communicate with website visitors in real time. Unlike broader helpdesk tools, LiveChat focuses exclusively on delivering the best possible chat experience with features like chat routing, canned responses, file sharing, and detailed analytics.
Starting from: £16/agent/month
Best for: Businesses wanting the best possible live chat experience for website visitors
Read full review →Intercom
★ 4.3Intercom is a customer messaging platform that combines live chat, chatbots, help centre, and proactive messaging into a unified inbox. Known for its AI-first approach with Fin (its AI agent), it helps businesses automate support while maintaining a personal touch. Popular with SaaS companies and tech-forward businesses.
Starting from: £24/seat/month
Best for: SaaS and tech companies wanting AI-powered conversational support
Read full review →LiveChat vs Intercom Feature Comparison
Here is how LiveChat and Intercom compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | LiveChat | Intercom |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | No | No |
| Starting Price | £16/agent/month | £24/seat/month |
| Best For | Businesses wanting the best possible live chat experience for website visitors | SaaS and tech companies wanting AI-powered conversational support |
| Our Rating | 4.1/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Mobile App | Yes | Limited |
| Email Marketing | No | No |
| Automation | Limited | Yes |
| Reporting | Basic | Yes |
| Integrations | Limited | Extensive |
| API Access | Limited | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
LiveChat vs Intercom Pricing
Pricing is often the deciding factor. Here is a full breakdown of what each platform charges at every tier:
LiveChat Pricing
Starter
£16/agent/month
- ✓60-day chat history
- ✓Basic widget customisation
- ✓Ticketing system
- ✓Data security
Team
£29/agent/month
- ✓Unlimited history
- ✓Full customisation
- ✓Basic reporting
- ✓Agent groups
Business
£42/agent/month
- ✓Advanced reporting
- ✓Staffing prediction
- ✓Work scheduler
- ✓Apple Business Chat
Enterprise
Custom
- ✓Dedicated account manager
- ✓Product training
- ✓Security assistance
- ✓HIPAA compliance
Intercom Pricing
Essential
£24/seat/month
- ✓Shared inbox
- ✓Basic automation
- ✓Fin AI agent
- ✓Help centre
Advanced
£73/seat/month
- ✓Multiple inboxes
- ✓Workflows
- ✓Custom reports
- ✓Multilingual help centre
Expert
£109/seat/month
- ✓Workload management
- ✓Custom roles
- ✓SSO
- ✓HIPAA compliance
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both LiveChat and Intercom for clients. We can help you decide based on your specific needs.
LiveChat Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Best-in-class live chat experience
- •Fast, reliable chat widget
- •Excellent analytics and reporting
- •200+ integrations
- •Good mobile app for agents
✗Cons
- •Focused on chat only (no full helpdesk)
- •Per-agent pricing adds up
- •Chatbot is a separate product (ChatBot)
- •No knowledge base included
- •Limited email support capabilities
Intercom Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Industry-leading AI agent (Fin)
- •Excellent proactive messaging capabilities
- •Beautiful, modern interface
- •Strong product tour features
- •Good for in-app messaging
✗Cons
- •Expensive, especially with AI usage costs
- •Complex pricing structure
- •Steep learning curve
- •AI agent (Fin) charged per resolution
- •Not ideal for email-heavy support workflows
Our Verdict: LiveChat vs Intercom
Both LiveChat and Intercom are solid options, but they serve different needs. Having implemented both for multiple clients, here is our recommendation:
Choose LiveChat if you need Businesses wanting the best possible live chat experience for website visitors. With a starting price of £16/agent/month and a rating of 4.1/5, it offers best-in-class live chat experience.
Choose Intercom if you need SaaS and tech companies wanting AI-powered conversational support. Starting at £24/seat/month with a 4.3/5 rating, it excels at industry-leading ai agent (fin).
Still not sure? Talk to the Ikaroa team. We have helped hundreds of businesses make this exact decision, and we are happy to point you in the right direction.
🎁 Get either product at a discount through Ikaroa Partners
Consider Open Doors Instead
Why choose between LiveChat and Intercom? Open Doors gives you the best features of both in one platform, for less. It is an all-in-one CRM with email marketing, SMS, funnels, booking, invoicing, automation, and more, starting at just £97/month with unlimited contacts.
Need implementation help?
Ikaroa can set up LiveChat or Intercom for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.