Comparisons
KernChat compared with other AI assistant tools
Honest comparisons, prices checked on each vendor's website, with what each tool does better than us when it does.
The six tools at a glance
The entry price shown, how AI is billed, how you get started and where each tool is most at home.
| Tool | Entry price | How AI is billed | Getting started | Most at home for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KernChat | From €100 excl. VAT a month, set-up from €1 500 excl. VAT | Included in the subscription, no credits | One-hour audit, then set-up with you | An SME that wants an assistant prepared on its documents and taken over by its team |
| Intercom | $29 per seat a month ($19 for new customers) | $0.99 per Fin outcome | 14-day free trial | A support team that wants a complete platform |
| Zendesk | $55 per agent a month, billed yearly | 5 resolutions per agent a month included, then $1.50 to $2.00 each | Configured by your team | A structured, multichannel customer service with its own metrics |
| Crisp | Free without AI, then $45 a month per workspace | About 90 automated conversations on Mini | Free plan | A small team that wants a messaging tool and sets up AI itself |
| Tidio | Free, then $24.17 a month billed yearly | Lyro add-on from $32.50 for 50 conversations | Free plan | A small online shop that wants chat the same day |
| Chatbase | $40 a month for 700 credits ($32 billed yearly) | Message credits, $25 per extra agent | 7-day trial | Trying out an AI agent on your own content alone |
Vendor prices checked on their pricing pages on 30 October 2026, in dollars and before tax. They change often: check them before deciding.
Intercom and its Fin agent compared with KernChat: prices checked on 30/10/2026, how AI is billed, set-up, and who should choose which.
In short
Intercom is a complete customer service platform, billed per seat, whose Fin AI agent is paid for each resolved request. KernChat is an assistant built with you on your documents, with a fixed subscription that includes AI usage.
30 October 2026 · 3 min read
- KernChat or Zendesk: which AI assistant for an SME?
Zendesk Suite and its AI agents compared with KernChat: prices checked on 30/10/2026, billing, set-up, and who should choose which.
30 October 2026 · 3 min read
- KernChat or Crisp: which AI assistant for an SME?
Crisp and its AI compared with KernChat: per-workspace prices checked on 30/10/2026, automated conversations included, and who should choose which.
30 October 2026 · 3 min read
- KernChat or Tidio: which AI assistant for an SME?
Tidio and its Lyro agent compared with KernChat: prices checked on 30/10/2026, billable conversations, and who should choose which.
30 October 2026 · 3 min read
- KernChat or Chatbase: which AI assistant for an SME?
Chatbase compared with KernChat: prices and message credits checked on 30/10/2026, self-service creation, and who should choose which.
30 October 2026 · 3 min read
See it on your own cases
Everything starts with a one-hour audit of your questions, your documents and your tools. Then we propose the level that fits.
Request a demo