Head-to-head
Front vs Help Scout: which one in 2026?
Front is a shared inbox and customer operations platform from FrontApp, Inc., and Help Scout is a help desk for small support teams that starts with a free plan. Front prices from $25 per seat with caps on team size, while Help Scout lists a free tier and per-user plans plus a per-resolution AI add-on.
Verdict
Help Scout ranks above Front on this site for small teams because its free plan, flatter price steps and stated SOC 2 report make it easier to adopt and defend. Front earns its place for teams that treat the inbox as a shared workspace, with Autopilot, Copilot and QA included in the higher tiers. Watch the caps on Front's Starter and Professional plans, and the per-resolution cost of Help Scout's Envoy add-on once AI handles real volume.
Front and Help Scout side by side
| Front | Help Scout | |
|---|---|---|
| Price entry | $25 per seat per month (Starter, billed annually, up to 10 seats) | $25 per user per month (Standard) |
| Cheapest way in | 14-day trial with Professional features and no card, then Starter at $25 per seat per month billed annually, up to 10 seats. | Free plan for 5 users with 1 Inbox and 1 Docs site, then Standard at $25 per user per month with a 15-day trial. |
| Middle and top tiers | Professional at $65 per seat for up to 50 seats, then Enterprise at $105 per seat with no seat cap listed. | Plus at $45 per user and Pro at $75 per user, where Pro adds SSO, SAML, HIPAA compliance and up to 50 light users. |
| AI agent | Autopilot resolves inquiries and triages by urgency or language, and teams choose which inquiries it handles. | Envoy resolves requests at $0.75 per resolution, with 3 months of free resolutions on new accounts. |
| Agent assist | Copilot drafts replies from help content and past conversations; Smart QA scores every ticket against scorecards. | Copilot drafts replies and answers from the knowledge base, and Signal surfaces emerging issues from conversations. |
| Automation limits | Starter allows 10 automation rules and Professional 20, while Enterprise has unlimited rules and macros. | Basic workflows on Standard, advanced on Plus, and unlimited workflows and SLA policies only on Pro. |
| Channels | Email, SMS, WhatsApp, social channels and a shared inbox, with omnichannel handling beginning on Professional. | Email, SMS, social, chat and voice in one Inbox, with live chat and WhatsApp starting on Standard. |
| Integrations | Connects to more than 160 tools through its integrations directory and an API, with a partner named for importing data from other help desks. | Connects to 100+ tools through Apps and Integrations; the Salesforce, Jira and HubSpot integrations start on the Plus plan. |
| Data and compliance | Privacy notice is silent on AI training and certifications; relies on Data Privacy Framework certification and states US headquarters. | SOC 2 Type 2 for Security and Availability, hosted in AWS with no region named; training on customer data is not stated. |
Where each one wins
Front wins on
- Higher integration count at more than 160 tools, and an API named on the pricing page
- Automation depth on Enterprise, with unlimited rules and macros plus QA scoring and inferred CSAT
- Shared inbox model fits teams that handle internal requests as well as customer tickets
Help Scout wins on
- Free plan for up to 5 users, which Front does not offer beyond its trial
- Published SOC 2 Type 2 status and a HIPAA option on the Pro plan
- Gentler step between tiers, with Plus at $45 against Front's jump from $25 to $65
Which to pick
Pick Front if
You run a collaborative team inbox across email, SMS and WhatsApp, expect to grow past 10 seats, and want AI routing and QA in one tool.
Pick Help Scout if
You have a small team that wants a free start, a simple per-user bill, and a compliance page showing SOC 2 and HIPAA support.
Each tool in context: Front, Help Scout, and the full Best Help Desk Software in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Does Front have a free plan like Help Scout?
No. Front offers a 14-day free trial with all Professional features and no credit card required, then Starter at $25 per seat per month billed annually. Help Scout has a permanent Free plan for 5 users with 1 Inbox and 1 Docs site, which suits a very small team.
How is AI priced in Front compared with Help Scout?
Help Scout bills its Envoy AI agent at $0.75 per resolution, with 3 months of free resolutions for new accounts. Front's pricing page ties Copilot, QA and CSAT to the Enterprise tier and shows no per-resolution fee for Autopilot. Ask Front how Autopilot is charged before committing.
Which help desk scales better past 50 users?
Front's Enterprise plan lists no seat cap, at $105 per seat per month, while Professional stops at 50 seats. Help Scout's Pro plan at $75 per user allows up to 50 light users, and its pages do not state a total user cap. Request a quote for either at that size.
Do Front and Help Scout comply with SOC 2 and HIPAA?
Help Scout states SOC 2 Type 2 certification for Security and Availability and names HIPAA compliance on its Pro plan. Front's privacy notice does not state SOC 2 or ISO certification and relies on Data Privacy Framework certification. For regulated data, request Front's security documentation before purchase.