Intercom vs Olark
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Intercom | Olark |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $85/seat/mo | From $29/seat/mo |
| Best For | Well-funded SaaS companies wanting AI-first customer service | Small to medium businesses needing basic live chat |
| Standout Feature | Fin AI Agent that autonomously resolves customer queries | Visitor insights and chat targeting |
| Free Plan | ✗ | ✗ |
| G2 Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.2 |
Intercom and Olark represent two different philosophies in customer support. Intercom ($29-$132/seat, G2 4.5) offers a comprehensive customer engagement platform, while Olark ($29-$39/seat, G2 4.2) focuses on simple, effective live chat functionality.
This comparison examines how these platforms serve different business needs, from Intercom's advanced automation to Olark's straightforward chat approach.
Feature Comparison
Intercom excels in advanced features like automated workflows, customer segmentation, and multi-channel engagement across email, chat, and social media. Its product tours and in-app messaging make it ideal for SaaS companies.
Olark focuses on core live chat functionality with features like visitor insights, chat transcripts, and basic automation. It's designed for businesses that want effective chat without overwhelming complexity.
The key difference is scope: Intercom is a full customer engagement platform, while Olark is a specialized chat tool that does one thing very well.
Pricing Comparison
Intercom's pricing ranges from $29-$132 per seat monthly, with costs increasing significantly as you add advanced features and higher contact volumes. Enterprise features can push costs much higher.
Olark offers simpler pricing at $29-$39 per agent monthly, making it more predictable and affordable for teams focused solely on live chat functionality.
For small teams needing only chat, Olark provides better value. For companies requiring comprehensive customer engagement, Intercom's higher cost may be justified.
Intercom
Pros
- ✓ Fin AI Agent resolves queries autonomously
- ✓ Beautiful, modern interface design
- ✓ Strong product tour and onboarding features
Cons
- ✗ Premium pricing, especially with AI usage
- ✗ Complex pricing structure
- ✗ Per-resolution AI fees add up
Olark
Pros
- ✓ Easy setup and customization
- ✓ Good visitor tracking
- ✓ Reliable uptime
Cons
- ✗ Per-agent pricing gets expensive
- ✗ Limited mobile app functionality
- ✗ No social media integration
Verdict
Choose Intercom if you need advanced customer engagement features, automation, and don't mind the higher cost for comprehensive functionality. Choose Olark if you want simple, reliable live chat without complexity or high per-seat costs.
Choose Intercom if: You need comprehensive customer engagement features, advanced automation, and can justify the higher cost for a full-featured platform.
Choose Olark if: You want reliable, simple live chat functionality without the complexity and cost of a full engagement platform.
Consider Converge as an alternative: At $49/month flat rate with up to 15 agents, it offers better value than both options for teams of any size, combining essential features without per-seat pricing complexity.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Intercom comparisons and all Olark comparisons.