🎧 Free options · limits checked Oct 23, 2026
Free AI tools to customer service
Short answer: start with Help Scout on its free plan (5 users, 1 inbox, 1 Docs site, 100 contacts/mo). We found 3 tools for this job with a free tier we verified in the last 30 days.
Every free option, with the catch
| Tool | Free tier, as listed | The catch | Paid from | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Help Scout | Yes (5 users, 1 inbox, 1 Docs site, 100 contacts/mo) | Usage caps reset on a schedule; heavy use needs a paid plan | $25/user/mo Standard (annual saves 16%) | |
| Tidio | Yes (50 billable conversations/mo; 50 one-time Lyro AI conversations) | Runs out: a one-time allowance or trial, not a monthly reset | $29/mo Starter ($24.17/mo billed annually) | |
| Crisp | Yes (2 seats, chat widget and shared inbox; no AI credits) | Limits not published in detail; check the vendor's page | $45/mo Mini per workspace, 4 seats |
When it's worth paying
Upgrade when you hit the free limits every week, or when you need commercial rights. The cheapest verified paid plans for this job right now: Intercom (Fin) from $19/seat/mo Essential billed annually (new-customer price, list $29) + $0.99 per Fin outcome; Freshdesk (Freddy AI) from Growth $19 annual per agent/mo (monthly rate not listed); Zendesk from $25/agent/mo Support Team ($19 annual).
See the full comparison, paid tools included: best AI tools to customer service. Ready to pay a little? Best picks under $20/mo.
How we check: every price and free tier on this page comes from the vendor's own pricing page, with the date we checked it. If we can't verify something, we say so. Found a wrong price? Email info@usethissi.com and we fix it within 24 hours.