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Head-to-head comparison

Tidio vs Intercom Fin: AI customer chat for small teams

Tidio suits small businesses that want a free start and chat across Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Intercom Fin suits support teams that want AI paid per resolved outcome inside Intercom. InsertChat is the stronger third option when calls matter as much as chat, covering calls, website chat, email, SMS, and WhatsApp from $98 per month.

Tidio vs Intercom vs InsertChat at a glance

Tidio details checked on from Tidio’s public pricing page; Intercom Fin details checked on from Intercom Fin’s public pricing page. Prices are in USD as listed; vendors change plans, so confirm current terms with each linked source.

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Tidio compared with Intercom Fin and InsertChat: pricing, metering, channels, handoff, knowledge, booking, and limits
ComparedTidioIntercom FinInsertChat
Pricing modelFree; Starter $24.17; Growth from $49.17; Plus from $300 plus usage; Premium custom SourcePer-seat plans at $29, $85, or $132 (billed annually), plus $0.99 per Fin outcome; a Fin-only plan has a monthly minimum SourcePro, Growth, Scale, and Enterprise plans with monthly AI credits included. Annual billing costs ten monthly payments, paid upfront. Details
What is meteredBillable human conversations (50 on Free, 100 on Starter, up to 2,000 on Growth) and Lyro AI conversations SourceFin outcomes ($0.99 each) and seats SourceAI credits from one monthly allowance. Use depends on the model, conversation length, knowledge processing, and tools; calls round up to whole minutes. Details
ChannelsLive chat, email, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp SourceLive chat, support email, and in-app chat included; SMS, WhatsApp, and phone are pay-as-you-go SourceWebsite chat, phone, email, SMS, and WhatsApp in one shared inbox Details
Human handoffLyro AI Agent hands conversations to your team SourceFin hands conversations to agents in your preferred inbox SourceYour own team takes over in the shared inbox with the full conversation, on every plan Details
Knowledge sourcesFAQ upload, FAQ and website scrapers, and Zendesk article import SourceNot verifiedWebsite URLs, documents, questions and answers, audio and video files, and product information (1,000 sources on Pro) Details
BookingNot verifiedNot verifiedBooks into the built-in calendar, Google Calendar, Outlook, Calendly, or Cal.com, automatically or after your team’s approval Details
Entry priceFree plan; Starter $24.17 Source$29 per seat (billed annually) plus $0.99 per outcome; 14-day free trial SourcePro at $98/month, or $81.67/month billed annually, with 5,000 credits, 3 assistants, and 3 seats Details
Notable limitsFree and Starter include 50 one-off Lyro AI conversations; more need the Lyro add-on, from $32.50 a month for 50 SourceSMS, WhatsApp, and phone are paid add-ons; the Fin-only plan has a minimum monthly commitment, such as 50 outcomes SourceAdditional phone numbers, SMS, WhatsApp, and other connected services can carry their own charges; analytics and reports start on Scale Details

“Not verified” means our check did not confirm this detail. Ask the vendor before deciding.

How Tidio and Intercom compare

300 AI answers with two agents

On Intercom, two seats at $29 billed annually plus 300 Fin outcomes at $0.99 come to $355 a month. Tidio’s Free and Starter plans include 50 Lyro conversations for life, so steady AI use means a larger plan: Growth from $49.17 or Plus from $300 plus usage. Our check did not confirm Growth’s Lyro allowance. InsertChat Pro is $98 per month with 3 seats and 5,000 monthly AI credits.

Estimate your InsertChat usage

Channels

Tidio’s pricing page lists chat, email, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Intercom includes chat and email, with SMS, WhatsApp, and phone as pay-as-you-go. InsertChat includes calls, website chat, email, SMS, and WhatsApp in one plan; SMS and WhatsApp can carry connected-service charges.

How the shared inbox works

How AI is metered

Tidio meters billable human conversations and Lyro AI conversations. Intercom charges $0.99 each time Fin resolves a conversation. InsertChat meters AI credits from one allowance, 5,000 a month on Pro.

Phone answering

Intercom sells phone as a pay-as-you-go channel, and Tidio’s pricing page does not list phone. InsertChat’s AI receptionist answers your business number on every paid plan and books appointments.

AI receptionist for calls

Tidio, Intercom, or InsertChat?

Choose Tidio if

  • You want a free plan for website chat, then Starter at $24.17.
  • You want Messenger and Instagram in the same inbox as chat, email, and WhatsApp.
  • You want AI replies included to start: Free and Starter come with 50 lifetime Lyro conversations.

Choose Intercom if

  • Your support team already works in Intercom.
  • You prefer paying for AI by outcome, at $0.99 each.
  • Chat and email are your main channels.

Choose InsertChat if

  • You want an AI receptionist answering calls in the same inbox as chat.
  • You want a flat plan: Pro is $98 per month with 3 seats and 5,000 monthly AI credits.
  • You want bookings in the built-in calendar, Google Calendar, Outlook, Calendly, or Cal.com, with optional approval.

Compare each one with InsertChat

InsertChat vs Tidio

Customer chat with the Lyro AI agent, priced by human and Lyro conversations.

Tidio alternative

InsertChat vs Intercom Fin

AI agent priced at $0.99 per outcome, alongside Intercom’s per-seat plans.

Intercom Fin alternative

InsertChat pricing

Pro, Growth, Scale, and Enterprise plans with monthly AI credits, from $98 per month, plus a usage estimator for your own call and chat volume.

See plans and pricing

Tidio vs Intercom: common questions

Pricing, channels, and the third option

At entry, yes: Tidio lists a free plan and Starter at $24.17, while Intercom starts at $29 per seat billed annually plus $0.99 per Fin outcome. As AI volume grows, Tidio moves you to Growth or Plus, and Intercom adds $0.99 per outcome. InsertChat Pro is $98 per month with 5,000 monthly AI credits for calls and messages.

Tidio’s pricing page lists 50 lifetime Lyro AI conversations on its Free and Starter plans; check Tidio for the Growth and Plus allowances. InsertChat Pro includes 5,000 monthly AI credits, and how many conversations they cover depends on your model, conversation length, and tools.

Intercom lists phone as a pay-as-you-go channel, next to SMS and WhatsApp. InsertChat’s AI receptionist answers calls on every paid plan, with one phone number included and calls drawn from the same credits as chat.

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