Protodesk vs Help Scout
Protodesk is an AI-powered support inbox with native WhatsApp, Slack, and Discord — starting at $14.99/mo. Help Scout is email-first at $25/seat. Here's the full comparison.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Protodesk | Help Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $14.99/mo | $25/seat/mo |
| Free trial | Yes (7-day full Pro trial) | No |
| Native | No | |
| Slack / Discord | Native | No |
| AI triage | Yes | No |
| AI auto-resolve | Yes (7-layer guardrail) | No |
| AI sidekick | Yes | No |
| Knowledge base | Yes | Yes |
| SLA management | Yes | No |
| Seats (Starter) | 5 | 1 ($25) |
| Monthly AI credits | 300–3,000 | N/A |
Key differences
Protodesk wins on channels
Protodesk was built multichannel from day one. WhatsApp, Slack, and Discord are first-class — not bolted-on integrations. Help Scout is email-first with no native WhatsApp.
Protodesk wins on AI
AI triage, auto-resolve, and sidekick are included in every paid plan. Help Scout has no native AI features — you'd need a third-party integration.
Protodesk wins on price
$14.99/mo for 5 seats vs $25/mo per seat. For a 5-person team, that's $14.99 vs $125 per month.
Help Scout wins on maturity
Help Scout has been around since 2011 with a larger app ecosystem and more third-party integrations. Protodesk is newer but ships weekly.
Frequently asked questions
Is Protodesk cheaper than Help Scout?
Yes. Protodesk Starter is $14.99/month for 5 seats. Help Scout starts at $25/month per seat. For a 3-person team, Protodesk costs $14.99/mo vs Help Scout's $75/mo.
Does Help Scout support WhatsApp?
No. Help Scout is email-first and does not offer native WhatsApp support. Protodesk supports WhatsApp (Cloud API + Baileys), email, Slack, and Discord natively.
Which is better for small teams?
Protodesk is built specifically for small teams that need multichannel support with AI. Help Scout is email-focused and better suited for traditional email support workflows.
Does Protodesk have AI features?
Yes. Protodesk includes AI triage (auto-labeling and routing), AI auto-resolve (answers routine questions from your knowledge base), and an AI sidekick (drafts replies and summarizes threads).
Summary
- •Choose Protodesk if you need WhatsApp, AI features, or multichannel support at a lower price.
- •Choose Help Scout if you need a mature email-only help desk with extensive third-party integrations.
- •Protodesk Starter ($14.99/mo) undercuts Help Scout ($25/seat) by 60%+ for small teams.
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