# The best AI customer service agents for small business

> AI support agents a small team can sign up for, price in advance and leave without a penalty: Tidio Lyro, Intercom Fin, HubSpot Customer Agent, Freshworks Freddy, Help Scout AI Answers and Zendesk AI Agents compared.

Published: 18 September 2026 · Updated: 18 September 2026 · Prices and figures verified: 18 September 2026 · By the ai-agents.reviews team

This page was researched and drafted with AI assistance from the sources listed on it. We have not run hands-on tests of these products. Method: [How we review](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/how-we-review)

For a small business, the best AI customer service agent is one you can start without a sales call, on a bill you can predict. Tidio Lyro and Intercom Fin fit that best; if you already pay for HubSpot, Freshdesk, Help Scout or Zendesk, the agent built into that tool is usually the cheaper first step.

Every product on this list publishes at least part of its pricing and offers a trial. We left out the platforms that sell only by quote, where observed contracts start in five or six figures a year.

**Quick picks**

- **Online store:** [Tidio Lyro](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/reviews/tidio-lyro) — from US$32.50 a month, self-serve, EEA-hosted.
- **Pay only for outcomes:** [Intercom Fin](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/reviews/intercom-fin) — US$0.99 per outcome with a minimum of about US$49.50 a month on another helpdesk.
- **Already on Help Scout:** [Help Scout AI Answers](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/reviews/help-scout-ai-answers) — US$0.75 per resolution with a spending cap.
- **Already on HubSpot:** [HubSpot Customer Agent](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/reviews/hubspot-customer-agent) — US$0.50 per resolved conversation.

> **Scored on a public rubric, from sources you can open.** Every score on this site comes from five published criteria: pricing transparency, performance evidence, access, coverage, and control. Each price and percentage comes from one product database and links to its source, so every page agrees with every other page. Rubric v1.0 · We have not run hands-on tests yet, and no page here claims we did. [Read the full method](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/how-we-review)

## The ranking

### 1. Intercom Fin — 9.1/10

_Teams that want a price they can calculate today_

- **Price from:** US$0.99 per resolution
- **Pricing model:** Per resolution
- **Works on your existing helpdesk:** Yes
- **Self-serve sign-up:** Yes

Fin is the AI agent from the company formerly called Intercom, which renamed itself Fin in May 2026. It runs inside the Intercom helpdesk or on top of another one, charges US$0.99 per outcome, and documents more about its pricing, languages and certifications than any other product we reviewed.

> No platform fee and a low monthly minimum, so a quiet month costs little.

**The catch:** Customer silence for 24 hours is billed as a resolution, and so is a handoff to a human that you configured. Salesforce has agreed to buy the company.

[Read the review](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/reviews/intercom-fin) · [Pricing explained](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/pricing/intercom-fin) · [Alternatives](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/alternatives/intercom-fin)

### 2. Tidio Lyro — 7.9/10

_Small online stores that want to start this week_

- **Price from:** US$24.17 per month
- **Pricing model:** Per conversation
- **Works on your existing helpdesk:** Yes
- **Self-serve sign-up:** Yes

Lyro is Tidio's AI agent for small and mid-sized e-commerce businesses. It works as an add-on to Tidio, on its own, or on Zendesk, Intercom and Salesforce through Lyro Connect. Entry prices are public, data is hosted in the EEA, and it supports 48 languages.

> Built for small stores, with a trial and entry pricing a one-person team can afford.

**The catch:** A conversation thread closes after 15 idle minutes, so a visitor who comes back is billed again, and the free quota never resets.

[Read the review](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/reviews/tidio-lyro) · [Pricing explained](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/pricing/tidio-lyro) · [Alternatives](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/alternatives/tidio-lyro)

### 3. Freshworks Freddy AI Agent — 7.7/10

_Small and mid-sized teams already on Freshdesk_

- **Price from:** US$0.49 per session
- **Pricing model:** Seats plus usage
- **Works on your existing helpdesk:** Requires Freshdesk
- **Self-serve sign-up:** Yes

Freddy AI Agent is the no-code agent inside Freshdesk and Freshdesk Omni. Prices are public and setup is self-serve, but the billing unit is a session, not a resolution, and the session price rose about fivefold in November 2025.

> Low seat prices and quick setup; remember that every session is billed.

**The catch:** A session is consumed whether or not the customer's problem is solved, and the 500 free sessions are a one-time allotment, not monthly.

[Read the review](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/reviews/freshworks-freddy) · [Pricing explained](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/pricing/freshworks-freddy)

### 4. HubSpot Customer Agent — 7.7/10

_Companies already on HubSpot Professional or Enterprise_

- **Price from:** US$0.50 per resolution
- **Pricing model:** Credits
- **Works on your existing helpdesk:** Requires HubSpot Service Hub
- **Self-serve sign-up:** Yes

HubSpot's Customer Agent answers customers using your CRM data and knowledge base. It is available only to Service Hub Professional and Enterprise subscribers, and since April 2026 it costs US$0.50 per resolved conversation, paid in HubSpot Credits.

> Very cheap per resolution, but only worth it if you already pay for HubSpot Professional.

**The catch:** A conversation counts as resolved if the visitor does not ask for a human within 72 hours, and lead qualifications are billed too.

[Read the review](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/reviews/hubspot-customer-agent) · [Pricing explained](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/pricing/hubspot-customer-agent)

### 5. Zendesk AI Agents — 7.5/10

_Teams already running support on Zendesk_

- **Price from:** US$55 per seat per month
- **Pricing model:** Seats plus usage
- **Works on your existing helpdesk:** Requires Zendesk Suite
- **Self-serve sign-up:** Yes

Zendesk's AI agents are built into Zendesk Suite and Support plans. Since May 2026 the agentic features are included in every plan and only resolutions verified by a model are billed. What Zendesk still does not publish is what a resolution costs.

> Included in every plan since 2026, though the included allowance is small and the overage price is not public.

**The catch:** The price per automated resolution is not published anywhere. The only figure in the open is a 2025 forum comment from a Zendesk product manager.

[Read the review](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/reviews/zendesk-ai-agents) · [Pricing explained](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/pricing/zendesk-ai-agents) · [Alternatives](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/alternatives/zendesk-ai-agents)

### 6. Help Scout AI Answers — 6.8/10

_Small Help Scout teams with a good knowledge base_

- **Price from:** US$0.75 per resolution
- **Pricing model:** Seats plus usage
- **Works on your existing helpdesk:** Requires Help Scout
- **Self-serve sign-up:** Yes

AI Answers is the customer-facing AI inside Help Scout's Beacon chat widget. It costs US$0.75 per resolution, among the lowest published prices in the category, and does one thing: answer questions from your help content.

> The simplest option if your questions can be answered from help articles in a chat widget.

**The catch:** A resolution is inferred when the customer does nothing further, so abandoned sessions can be billed. Hosting is in the United States only.

[Read the review](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/reviews/help-scout-ai-answers) · [Pricing explained](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/pricing/help-scout-ai-answers)

## Comparison table

| Product | Score | Pricing model | Price from | Works on your existing helpdesk | Self-serve sign-up | EU data residency | Best for |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Intercom Fin](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/reviews/intercom-fin) | 9.1 | Per resolution | US$0.99 per resolution | Yes | Yes | Yes | Teams that want a price they can calculate today |
| [Tidio Lyro](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/reviews/tidio-lyro) | 7.9 | Per conversation | US$24.17 per month | Yes | Yes | Yes | Small online stores that want to start this week |
| [Freshworks Freddy AI Agent](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/reviews/freshworks-freddy) | 7.7 | Seats plus usage | US$0.49 per session | No | Yes | Yes | Small and mid-sized teams already on Freshdesk |
| [HubSpot Customer Agent](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/reviews/hubspot-customer-agent) | 7.7 | Credits | US$0.50 per resolution | No | Yes | Yes | Companies already on HubSpot Professional or Enterprise |
| [Zendesk AI Agents](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/reviews/zendesk-ai-agents) | 7.5 | Seats plus usage | US$55 per seat per month | No | Yes | Yes | Teams already running support on Zendesk |
| [Help Scout AI Answers](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/reviews/help-scout-ai-answers) | 6.8 | Seats plus usage | US$0.75 per resolution | No | Yes | No | Small Help Scout teams with a good knowledge base |

## How to choose

**Count your conversations first.** Below a few hundred a month, almost any per-resolution product costs less than an hour of a person's time per week. The risk is not the price but paying for a bundle you do not use.

**Prefer spending caps and monthly terms.** Help Scout and Gladly let you set a cap; Tidio and Freshworks sell prepaid bundles that expire. Avoid annual commitments until you have measured a real resolution rate.

**Fix your help content before you switch anything on.** Every agent here answers from what you have written down. Twenty good articles will do more for your resolution rate than any choice of vendor.

## Verdict

Start with the agent inside the tool you already pay for, measure it for a month, and only then consider adding a standalone agent. If you have no helpdesk yet, Tidio Lyro for stores and Intercom Fin for software and services are the two easiest to price and try.

## For buyers in the United Kingdom

The UK has no AI Act. An AI support agent is governed by the law you already know: UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, PECR for anything a chat widget stores on a device, and, for regulated financial firms, the FCA's Consumer Duty. Rules on automated decisions changed on 5 February 2026.

Vendors in this category price in US dollars, so that is what we show; we do not convert prices, because an assumed exchange rate is not a quote. Each review states whether the product documents a UK or EU hosting region and whether it supports the UK–US data bridge route for transfers.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does an AI support agent cost a small business?

At 500 conversations a month with half resolved, published prices put the AI usage between roughly $125 and $250 a month, before any helpdesk seats. Use the [calculator](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/tools/cost-calculator) with your own numbers.

### Is a free plan enough to start?

Enough to test, not to run. Free quotas such as Tidio's 50 Lyro conversations or Freshworks' 500 sessions are granted once and do not reset.

## Keep reading

- [The best AI customer service agents in 2026](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/best/ai-customer-service-agents)
- [The best AI customer service agents for e-commerce](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/best/for-ecommerce)
- [The best AI customer service agents for enterprise](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/best/for-enterprise)
- [The best AI customer service agents for Zendesk](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/best/for-zendesk)
- [The best AI customer service agents for Salesforce](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/best/for-salesforce)
- [What counts as a resolution?](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/guides/what-counts-as-a-resolution)
- [How to run an AI agent pilot](https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/guides/how-to-run-an-ai-agent-pilot)

## Sources

- [Fin homepage](https://fin.ai/) — Fin · 18 September 2026
- [Fin pricing](https://fin.ai/pricing) — Fin · 18 September 2026
- [Intercom pricing](https://www.intercom.com/pricing) — Intercom (Fin) · 18 September 2026
- [Fin pricing: outcomes](https://fin.ai/help/en/articles/13975800-fin-pricing-outcomes) — Fin Help Center · 18 September 2026
- [Anthropic customer story](https://fin.ai/customers/anthropic) — Fin · 18 September 2026
- [Lightspeed customer story](https://fin.ai/customers/lightspeed) — Fin · 18 September 2026
- [Fin channels](https://fin.ai/channels) — Fin · 18 September 2026
- [Fin integrations](https://fin.ai/integrations) — Fin · 18 September 2026
- [Use Fin AI Agent in multiple languages](https://fin.ai/help/en/articles/10840651-use-fin-ai-agent-in-multiple-languages) — Fin Help Center · 18 September 2026
- [Regional data hosting](https://fin.ai/help/en/articles/13976037-regional-data-hosting) — Fin Help Center · 18 September 2026
- [Intercom security](https://www.intercom.com/security) — Intercom (Fin) · 18 September 2026
- [Fin AI Agent explained](https://fin.ai/help/en/articles/13975995-fin-ai-agent-explained) — Fin Help Center · 18 September 2026
- [Today, Intercom becomes Fin](https://www.intercom.com/blog/today-intercom-becomes-fin/) — Intercom (Fin) · 18 September 2026
- [Salesforce signs definitive agreement to acquire Fin](https://www.salesforce.com/news/press-releases/2026/06/15/salesforce-signs-definitive-agreement-to-acquire-fin/) — Salesforce · 18 September 2026
- [Lyro AI Agent](https://www.tidio.com/ai-agent/) — Tidio · 18 September 2026
- [Tidio pricing](https://www.tidio.com/pricing/) — Tidio · 18 September 2026
- [The Lyro AI agent limit](https://help.tidio.com/hc/en-us/articles/13924459295900-The-Lyro-AI-agent-limit) — Tidio Help Center · 18 September 2026
- [Lyro, the conversational AI agent](https://help.tidio.com/hc/en-us/articles/9003475527196-Lyro-the-conversational-AI-agent) — Tidio Help Center · 18 September 2026
- [Lyro multilanguage support](https://help.tidio.com/hc/en-us/articles/12643043611036-Lyro-Multilanguage-support) — Tidio Help Center · 18 September 2026
- [Privacy policy and GDPR compliance](https://help.tidio.com/hc/en-us/articles/5462910440220-Privacy-Policy-and-GDPR-Compliance) — Tidio Help Center · 18 September 2026
- [Lyro: build and integrate](https://www.tidio.com/ai-agent/build-and-integrate/) — Tidio · 18 September 2026
- [Lyro achieves best resolution rates in industry (31 March 2025)](https://www.tidio.com/blog/lyro-achieves-best-resolution-rates-in-industry/) — Tidio · 18 September 2026
- [Borrowell case study](https://www.tidio.com/blog/borrowell-case-study/) — Tidio · 18 September 2026
- [Tidio support team achieves 58% automation with Lyro](https://www.tidio.com/blog/lyro-case-study/) — Tidio · 18 September 2026
- [Tidio earns SOC 2 Type 2 certification (14 October 2025)](https://www.einpresswire.com/article/858163495/tidio-earns-soc-2-type-2-certification-strengthening-trust-in-its-ai-powered-customer-service-platform) — EIN Presswire · 18 September 2026
- [About Tidio](https://www.tidio.com/about/) — Tidio · 18 September 2026
- [Freddy AI Agent](https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/omni/freddy-ai-agent/) — Freshworks · 18 September 2026
- [Freshdesk pricing](https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/pricing/) — Freshworks · 18 September 2026
- [Freddy AI Agent sessions FAQs](https://crmsupport.freshworks.com/support/solutions/articles/50000004664-freddy-ai-agent-sessions-faqs) — Freshworks Support · 18 September 2026
- [Manage Freddy AI add-ons](https://support.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/50000011515-manage-freddy-ai-add-ons) — Freshdesk Support · 18 September 2026
- [Overview of Freddy AI for ticketing](https://support.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/50000010359-overview-of-freddy-ai-for-ticketing) — Freshdesk Support · 18 September 2026
- [Voice AI Agent integration in Freshcaller](https://crmsupport.freshworks.com/support/solutions/articles/50000011867-voice-ai-agent-integration-in-freshcaller) — Freshworks Support · 18 September 2026
- [Configure AI Agent responses](https://crmsupport.freshworks.com/support/solutions/articles/50000010091-configure-ai-agent-responses) — Freshworks Support · 18 September 2026
- [Freshworks launches new AI capabilities (13 November 2025)](https://www.freshworks.com/pressrelease/freshworks-launches-new-ai-capabilities-to-minimize-customer-service-fragmentation-and-deliver-faster-more-personal-support/) — Freshworks · 18 September 2026
- [Hobbycraft customer story](https://www.freshworks.com/customers/stories/hobbycraft/) — Freshworks · 18 September 2026
- [Freshworks Q4 2025 earnings call transcript](https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/02/11/freshworks-frsh-q4-2025-earnings-call-transcript/) — The Motley Fool · 18 September 2026
- [Where are your data servers located?](https://support.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/235810-where-is-your-data-servers-located-) — Freshdesk Support · 18 September 2026
- [Freshworks Trust Center](https://trust.freshworks.com/) — Freshworks · 18 September 2026
- [Freshworks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freshworks) — Wikipedia · 18 September 2026
- [HubSpot Customer Agent](https://www.hubspot.com/products/artificial-intelligence/ai-customer-service-agent) — HubSpot · 18 September 2026
- [Service Hub pricing](https://www.hubspot.com/pricing/service) — HubSpot · 18 September 2026
- [HubSpot Credits](https://www.hubspot.com/products/artificial-intelligence/credits) — HubSpot · 18 September 2026
- [HubSpot product and services catalog](https://legal.hubspot.com/hubspot-product-and-services-catalog) — HubSpot Legal · 18 September 2026
- [Customer Agent and Prospecting Agent: now you pay when the task is complete (14 April 2026)](https://www.hubspot.com/company-news/hubspots-customer-agent-and-prospecting-agent-now-you-pay-when-the-task-is-complete) — HubSpot · 18 September 2026
- [Understand the customer agent](https://knowledge.hubspot.com/customer-agent/understand-the-customer-agent) — HubSpot Knowledge Base · 18 September 2026
- [Set up the customer agent](https://knowledge.hubspot.com/customer-agent/set-up-the-customer-agent) — HubSpot Knowledge Base · 18 September 2026
- [Deploy the customer agent to channels](https://knowledge.hubspot.com/customer-agent/deploy-the-customer-agent-to-channels) — HubSpot Knowledge Base · 18 September 2026
- [Set up and customize the customer agent's handoff process](https://knowledge.hubspot.com/customer-agent/set-up-and-customize-the-customer-agents-handoff-process) — HubSpot Knowledge Base · 18 September 2026
- [HubSpot cloud infrastructure and data hosting FAQ](https://knowledge.hubspot.com/account-security/hubspot-cloud-infrastructure-and-data-hosting-frequently-asked-questions) — HubSpot Knowledge Base · 18 September 2026
- [HubSpot security and compliance](https://www.hubspot.com/security-and-compliance) — HubSpot · 18 September 2026
- [HubSpot Trust Center](https://trust.hubspot.com/) — HubSpot · 18 September 2026
- [HubSpot Q2 2026 earnings call transcript](https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/08/12/hubspot-hubs-q2-2026-earnings-call-transcript/) — The Motley Fool · 18 September 2026
- [HubSpot switching AI pricing from per-use to per-resolution](https://www.saastr.com/hubspot-switching-ai-pricing-from-per-use-to-per-resolution-but-does-it-really-matter/) — SaaStr · 18 September 2026
- [Zendesk AI agents](https://www.zendesk.com/service/ai/ai-agents/) — Zendesk · 18 September 2026
- [Zendesk pricing](https://www.zendesk.com/pricing/) — Zendesk · 18 September 2026
- [About automated resolutions for AI agents](https://support.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/5352026794010-About-automated-resolutions-for-AI-agents) — Zendesk Help · 18 September 2026
- [About automated resolution tiers](https://support.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/9570369117338-About-automated-resolution-tiers) — Zendesk Help · 18 September 2026
- [What happens when I exceed my automated resolutions limit](https://support.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/9751536041754-What-happens-when-I-exceed-my-automated-resolutions-limit) — Zendesk Help · 18 September 2026
- [Announcing expanded access to AI agent capabilities for all Zendesk customers](https://support.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/10487730059034-Announcing-expanded-access-to-AI-agent-capabilities-for-all-Zendesk-customers) — Zendesk Help · 18 September 2026
- [Community forum comment by a Zendesk product manager on the automated resolution list price (August 2025, unofficial)](https://community.zendesk.com/product-updates/we-are-excited-to-launch-ai-agents-and-automated-resolutions-6337/index9.html) — Zendesk Community · 18 September 2026
- [TeamSystem customer story](https://www.zendesk.com/customer/teamsystem/) — Zendesk · 18 September 2026
- [Hello Sugar customer story](https://www.zendesk.com/customer/hello-sugar/) — Zendesk · 18 September 2026
- [Languages supported by AI agents](https://support.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/8357749663130-Languages-supported-by-AI-agents) — Zendesk Help · 18 September 2026
- [Regional Data Hosting Policy](https://support.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4408883599130-Regional-Data-Hosting-Policy) — Zendesk Help · 18 September 2026
- [Zendesk Trust Center](https://www.zendesk.com/trust-center/) — Zendesk · 18 September 2026
- [Zendesk says its new AI agent can solve 80% of support issues](https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/08/zendesk-says-its-new-ai-agent-can-solve-80-of-support-issues) — TechCrunch · 18 September 2026
- [Zendesk acquires agentic customer service startup Forethought](https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/11/zendesk-acquires-agentic-customer-service-startup-forethought/) — TechCrunch · 18 September 2026
- [Help Scout AI features](https://www.helpscout.com/ai-features/) — Help Scout · 18 September 2026
- [Help Scout pricing](https://www.helpscout.com/pricing/) — Help Scout · 18 September 2026
- [AI resolutions pricing](https://docs.helpscout.com/article/1746-ai-resolutions-pricing) — Help Scout Docs · 18 September 2026
- [AI Answers](https://docs.helpscout.com/article/1569-ai-answers) — Help Scout Docs · 18 September 2026
- [Manage AI Answers](https://docs.helpscout.com/article/1736-manage-ai-answers) — Help Scout Docs · 18 September 2026
- [Help website visitors with AI](https://docs.helpscout.com/article/1750-help-website-visitors-with-ai) — Help Scout Docs · 18 September 2026
- [Improve AI Answers](https://docs.helpscout.com/article/1742-improve-ai-answers) — Help Scout Docs · 18 September 2026
- [AI Answers usage and spend (21 May 2026)](https://articles.helpscout.com/blog/ai-answers-usage-and-spend/) — Help Scout · 18 September 2026
- [Help Scout self-service](https://www.helpscout.com/self-service/) — Help Scout · 18 September 2026
- [AIHR customer story](https://articles.helpscout.com/customers/aihr/) — Help Scout · 18 September 2026
- [Help Scout customers](https://www.helpscout.com/customers/) — Help Scout · 18 September 2026
- [Security at Help Scout](https://docs.helpscout.com/article/1263-security-at-help-scout) — Help Scout Docs · 18 September 2026
- [Help Scout security](https://www.helpscout.com/company/legal/security/) — Help Scout · 18 September 2026
- [HIPAA at Help Scout](https://docs.helpscout.com/article/330-hipaa) — Help Scout Docs · 18 September 2026

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Canonical: https://ai-agents.reviews/en-gb/best/for-small-business