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Intercom vs Strictly

Two fact sheets from our own research, side by side — pricing, platforms, API access and status re-checked by us rather than quoted from the vendors. Intercom starts at $29, Strictly at $195. Only Intercom ships a public API.

IntercomCustomer service helpdesk built around Fin, an AI agent billed per resolved conversationStrictlyBuilds a custom-trained AI chat layer for a business website aimed at converting visitors into qualified leads.

Side by side

FactIntercomStrictly
CategoryHelpdesk & TicketingLanding Pages & CRO
Pricing modelPaidPaid
Starts at$29 month$195 month
Public APIYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, APIWeb
CompanyIntercom, Inc.StrictlyAI, Inc.
Launched2011—
Last verifiedSep 6, 2026Sep 1, 2026

What our research says

Intercom

The most complete bet on AI-first support: Fin's per-outcome billing aligns cost with actual resolutions, and the surrounding helpdesk is mature. The catch is the compound bill — seats plus $0.99 per Fin outcome — which at high ticket volume can exceed what flat-rate rivals charge.

Pros

  • Fin charges only when a conversation actually resolves
  • Full omnichannel inbox including phone and WhatsApp
  • 350+ integrations and a documented developer platform
  • Copilot and QA tooling for the human side of the team

Cons

  • Per-outcome fees stack on top of per-seat pricing
  • Advanced workflow features require the mid tier and up
  • Historically criticized for pricing complexity and creep

Strictly

Strictly is a fit for service businesses that want a done-for-them AI chat layer on their site rather than building one themselves. The lift numbers in its own marketing should be treated as a vendor claim rather than a verified benchmark, and the entry price is not trivial for a small local business.

Pros

  • Chat assistant is trained on the business's own content rather than a generic script
  • Bundles SEO optimization and lead management alongside the chat widget
  • Three tiers let a business scale up as conversation volume grows

Cons

  • No free tier; the free offering is limited to a one-time sample audit
  • Entry price of $195 a month is high relative to simple chatbot-only tools
  • The headline conversion-lift statistic is the company's own claim, not third-party verified

Which one fits

Choose Intercom if you need

  • Mid-market and enterprise teams automating a large share of tier-1 support
  • Companies that want AI agent, copilot and helpdesk from one vendor
  • Teams on Zendesk or Salesforce that only want Fin bolted on

Choose Strictly if you need

  • Service businesses that rely on their website for lead generation and want a managed chat layer
  • Teams that want SEO and lead management bundled with the chatbot rather than separate tools

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