Support AI cost calculator
Published by Elite Support AI, so not neutral. Every competitor figure below links to its source and the date it was read; figures that could not be confirmed on that date are left out.
Enter how many conversations the AI resolves each month, how many AI replies a typical conversation needs and how many human agents you employ. The calculator shows the cheapest Elite Support AI plan that covers the volume and the published prices of three alternatives for the same inputs. It runs in your browser; nothing is sent.
What the calculator uses
| Item | Value used | Source | How the calculator treats it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elite Support AI plans | Free 50 replies; Starter $29 for 1,000; Growth $79 for 4,000; Scale $199 for 15,000 | Pricing section, 2026-10-28 | It picks the smallest plan whose allowance covers conversations times replies per conversation, and notes when even the largest plan is exceeded. |
| Intercom Fin | $0.99 per outcome | intercom.com/pricing, read 2026-10-28 | Multiplied by the conversations you enter. Intercom seat plans are not included, so the true bill is higher than the figure shown. |
| Zendesk Suite Team | $55 per agent per month, billed annually | zendesk.com/pricing, read 2026-10-28 | Multiplied by the agents you enter. The number is the same whether the AI handles ten conversations or ten thousand. |
| Chatbase | $40 listed for a monthly plan | chatbase.co/pricing, read 2026-10-28 | Shown as a flat figure only. Message limits and credits are not modelled, so it is a reference point rather than a like-for-like comparison. |
How the arithmetic works
AI replies equal conversations times replies per conversation. For example, 200 conversations at 3 replies is 600 replies, which fits inside Starter's 1,000 allowance at $29. The same 200 resolutions on a per-outcome price of $0.99 come to $198 a month. Per-seat pricing ignores AI volume entirely: two agents at $55 is $110, before any AI add-ons that the vendor prices separately.
Example inputs
| Conversations | Replies each | Replies total | Elite plan | Fin at $0.99 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 3 | 90 | Starter, $29 | $29.70 |
| 100 | 3 | 300 | Starter, $29 | $99.00 |
| 500 | 3 | 1,500 | Growth, $79 | $495.00 |
| 1,500 | 3 | 4,500 | Scale, $199 | $1,485.00 |
| 4,000 | 3 | 12,000 | Scale, $199 | $3,960.00 |
Worked example with your own business
Suppose a home-services firm receives 400 customer messages a month and expects the AI to resolve about 250. At three replies each that is 750 replies, which sits inside Starter's 1,000 allowance at $29. A per-outcome price of $0.99 would come to $247.50 on the same 250 resolutions. A two-agent seat-based plan would be $110 a month on Zendesk Suite Team before AI charges. The numbers are not equivalent products, but they show how quickly the pricing model, not the headline price, drives the bill. Enter your own counts and compare, then test quality on your questions before choosing.
Estimating replies per conversation
Open ten recent chat transcripts or email threads and count the messages your side sent. Chats that end in one answer count as one; threads with clarifying questions count as several. Average them. Most small-business support threads fall between two and four. If your products need long troubleshooting, use a higher number, because the allowance is counted in replies, not conversations.
What it leaves out
- Intercom seats, Zendesk AI agent charges and any add-ons.
- Chatbase message limits and credits, which it does not model.
- Tidio, voice vendors and others, because their prices could not be confirmed on 2026-10-28.
- Your time. Setup and review hours are real costs on every product.
- Quality. A cheaper tool that answers wrongly costs more in refunds and goodwill.
Reading the result
If the flat plan is far cheaper at your volume, check that its allowance really matches your conversation length by running two weeks in review mode and counting actual replies. If the per-outcome option is cheaper, your volume is low enough that the free plan may serve you as well. Prices change; follow the source links before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Does Elite Support AI charge per resolution?
No. Plans are flat by monthly AI-reply allowance. Past the allowance a person answers.
Why are some vendors missing?
Only prices confirmed on the vendor page on 2026-10-28 are included.