Drift vs Intercom
type: Article
description: Drift is a conversational marketing and sales platform focused on real-time engagement and lead qualification, while Intercom is a comprehensive customer communication platform emphasizing customer support, onboarding, and product tours. Drift excels for B2B sales teams seeking instant chat-based lead capture, whereas Intercom serves broader customer lifecycle management across support, marketing, and product.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-07-07T23:10:25.929Z
date created: 2026-07-07T23:10:25.929Z
date modified: 2026-07-07T23:10:25.969Z
content reference time: 2026-07-07T23:10:25.969Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Drift
about: Intercom
abstract: Drift is a conversational marketing and sales platform focused on real-time engagement and lead qualification, while Intercom is a comprehensive customer communication platform emphasizing customer support, onboarding, and product tours. Drift excels for B2B sales teams seeking instant chat-based lead capture, whereas Intercom serves broader customer lifecycle management across support, marketing, and product.
text: Primary Use Case. Starting Price (Monthly). Live Chat Response Time. Chatbot Capabilities. Knowledge Base Tools. Product Tours/Onboarding. Video Chat Support
conclusion text: Choose Drift if you're a B2B SaaS company prioritizing sales acceleration and real-time lead qualification through conversational marketing—its AI-powered routing and intent-based engagement excel at moving prospects through the sales funnel quickly. Choose Intercom if you need an all-in-one customer communications hub spanning support, onboarding, product education, and marketing—it's more affordable at entry-level and provides deeper lifecycle management tools for larger customer bases.
additional property: Starting Monthly Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: $500 | Intercom: $39
  value reference: Intercom
additional property: AI Chatbot Conversations Per Month
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: Unlimited | Intercom: Unlimited
additional property: Third-party Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 200+ | Intercom: 500+
  value reference: Intercom
additional property: Live Agent Support Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 2 (Chat, Web) | Intercom: 5 (Chat, Email, SMS, Messenger, Instagram)
  value reference: Intercom
additional property: Customer Data Platform Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: No (via partners) | Intercom: Yes
additional property: AI Training Data Specialization
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: Sales conversations | Intercom: General customer interactions
additional property: Knowledge Base Articles Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: Limited | Intercom: Unlimited
additional property: Customer Satisfaction (G2 Rating 2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 4.5/5 | Intercom: 4.6/5
  value reference: Intercom
additional property: Average Implementation Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 2-3 weeks | Intercom: Less than 1 week (3-5 days)
  value reference: Intercom
additional property: Intent Data Sources Integrated
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 1-2 | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Predictive Lead Scoring Accuracy
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 65-70% | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Mobile Chat Completion Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 95% | Intercom: N/A
additional property: CRM Integration Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 3 (Salesforce, HubSpot, Dynamics) | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Anonymous Visitor Identification Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 25% | Intercom: N/A
additional property: 24/7 AI Chatbot Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: Yes, full capabilities | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Base Monthly Cost (Single User)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: $2,000-$4,000 | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Average Chat Response Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: <2 seconds | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Maximum Contacts in CRM
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 10,000 (paid plans) | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Native Email Marketing
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: Limited, requires integration | Intercom: N/A
additional property: AI Chatbot Sophistication (1-10 scale)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 9/10 (Advanced NLP) | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Third-Party Integrations Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 150+ (pre-built) | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Free Training Resources
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 50+ webinars/guides | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Implementation Time (Days)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 7-14 days | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Free Trial Length
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 14 days | Intercom: 14 days
additional property: AI Chatbot Response Accuracy
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 94% on conversational sales queries | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Number of Native Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 45+ | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Supported Communication Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 4 (Web, WhatsApp, SMS, Slack) | Intercom: 5 (Email, Chat, SMS, Messenger, WhatsApp)
  value reference: Intercom
additional property: Customer Reporting Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 18 standard + custom reports | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Average Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 8-12 hours with developer | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Salesforce Integration Depth
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: Native bi-directional sync with full data mapping | Intercom: N/A
additional property: AI Lead Qualification Accuracy
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 89% | Intercom: 76%
  value reference: Drift
additional property: Messaging Channels Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 3 channels (live chat, chatbot, email) | Intercom: 5+ channels (live chat, in-app, email, SMS, WhatsApp)
  value reference: Intercom
additional property: Company Database Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 10M+ companies | Intercom: No published database (relies on integrations)
additional property: Help Desk/Support Ticketing
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: Limited ticketing, sales-focused | Intercom: Full-featured help desk with SLA management
additional property: Third-Party Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 250+ integrations | Intercom: 400+ integrations
  value reference: Intercom
additional property: Ideal Company Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: Enterprise and mid-market (100+ employees) | Intercom: Startup to enterprise (all sizes)
additional property: Data Accuracy Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 95% | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Company Database Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 5M+ (via partners) | Intercom: N/A
additional property: API Response Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 250-500ms | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Live Chat & AI Engagement
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: Advanced (routing, qualification, video) | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Technographic Data Categories
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: Limited | Intercom: N/A
additional property: CRM Integration Native Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: Salesforce, HubSpot, Slack, Zapier | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Lead Scoring Engine
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: Behavioral scoring based on website activity | Intercom: N/A
additional property: Starting Monthly Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: $2,000 | Intercom: $39
  value reference: Intercom
additional property: AI Chatbot Resolution Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: ~40% (estimated) | Intercom: 50%+ (Fin AI)
  value reference: Intercom
additional property: Live Chat Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 15-20 minutes | Intercom: 5-10 minutes
  value reference: Intercom
additional property: Native Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 150+ | Intercom: 200+
  value reference: Intercom
additional property: Max Team Members (Entry Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 1 (requires upgrade) | Intercom: Unlimited
additional property: Mobile App Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Drift: 4.2/5 | Intercom: 4.4/5
  value reference: Intercom
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/drift
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/drift
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/intercom
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/intercom
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/drift-vs-intercom)
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/drift-vs-intercom)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/drift-vs-intercom
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/intercom-vs-crisp
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/intercom-vs-hubspot
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/drift-vs-qualified
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/intercom-vs-freshdesk
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/drift-vs-hubspot
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/pendo-vs-intercom
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/freshdesk-vs-intercom
teaches: How to choose between Drift and Intercom
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: Drift vs Intercom — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

Drift
type: Thing
language: en-US
description: Conversational marketing and sales platform for real-time lead engagement and qualification.
subject of: Drift vs Intercom

Intercom
type: Thing
language: en-US
description: Customer communication platform for support, marketing, sales, and product onboarding.
subject of: Drift vs Intercom

Drift vs Intercom — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Drift vs Intercom. Contains 112 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Starting Monthly Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: AI Chatbot Conversations Per Month
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Third-party Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integrations
variable measured: Live Agent Support Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: Customer Data Platform Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: AI Training Data Specialization
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI
variable measured: Knowledge Base Articles Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: Customer Satisfaction (G2 Rating 2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reputation
variable measured: Average Implementation Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Deployment
variable measured: Intent Data Sources Integrated
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Predictive Lead Scoring Accuracy
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Mobile Chat Completion Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Engagement
variable measured: CRM Integration Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integrations
variable measured: Anonymous Visitor Identification Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Targeting
variable measured: 24/7 AI Chatbot Support
  type: PropertyValue
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variable measured: Base Monthly Cost (Single User)
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variable measured: Average Chat Response Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Maximum Contacts in CRM
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Native Email Marketing
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Marketing Tools
variable measured: AI Chatbot Sophistication (1-10 scale)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI Capabilities
variable measured: Third-Party Integrations Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Free Training Resources
  type: PropertyValue
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variable measured: Implementation Time (Days)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Implementation
variable measured: Free Trial Length
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Onboarding
variable measured: AI Chatbot Response Accuracy
  type: PropertyValue
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variable measured: Number of Native Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
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variable measured: Supported Communication Channels
  type: PropertyValue
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variable measured: Customer Reporting Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Analytics
variable measured: Average Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
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variable measured: Salesforce Integration Depth
  type: PropertyValue
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variable measured: AI Lead Qualification Accuracy
  type: PropertyValue
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variable measured: Messaging Channels Supported
  type: PropertyValue
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variable measured: Company Database Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI & Data
variable measured: Help Desk/Support Ticketing
  type: PropertyValue
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variable measured: Third-Party Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Ideal Company Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Target Market
variable measured: Data Accuracy Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Quality
variable measured: Company Database Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Coverage
variable measured: API Response Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Live Chat & AI Engagement
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Engagement Features
variable measured: Technographic Data Categories
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Attributes
variable measured: CRM Integration Native Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration Ecosystem
variable measured: Lead Scoring Engine
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Lead Management
variable measured: Starting Monthly Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: AI Chatbot Resolution Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI & Automation
variable measured: Live Chat Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Native Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Max Team Members (Entry Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Mobile App Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: User Experience
variable measured: Knowledge Base Articles Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Content Management
variable measured: Average Customer Onboarding Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customer Success
variable measured: Free Tier Contact Limit
  type: PropertyValue
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variable measured: Native Omnichannel Messaging Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Starting Monthly Price (USD)
  type: PropertyValue
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variable measured: Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Quality
variable measured: Omnichannel Support Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Average Implementation Time
  type: PropertyValue
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variable measured: AI Chatbot Deflection Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI Capabilities
variable measured: Enterprise Security Certifications
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Starting Price (Monthly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Live Chat Features
variable measured: AI Capabilities
variable measured: Mobile App Quality
variable measured: Available Integrations
variable measured: Mobile App Support
variable measured: Global Customers
variable measured: Integration Ecosystem
variable measured: Implementation Time
variable measured: Knowledge Base Feature
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/drift-vs-intercom)

Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Drift vs Intercom.
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Integrations
has defined term: Support
has defined term: AI
has defined term: Reputation
has defined term: Deployment
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Engagement
has defined term: Targeting
has defined term: Scalability
has defined term: Marketing Tools
has defined term: AI Capabilities
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Implementation
has defined term: Onboarding
has defined term: Analytics
has defined term: AI & Data
has defined term: Target Market
has defined term: Data Quality
has defined term: Data Coverage
has defined term: Engagement Features
has defined term: Data Attributes
has defined term: Integration Ecosystem
has defined term: Lead Management
has defined term: AI & Automation
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: User Experience
has defined term: Content Management
has defined term: Customer Success
has defined term: Quality
has defined term: Security
has defined term: Technology
has defined term: Accessibility
has defined term: Market
has defined term: Efficiency
has defined term: Marketing
has defined term: Collaboration
has defined term: Self-Service
has defined term: Technical
has defined term: AI Features
has defined term: Capabilities
has defined term: Market Adoption
has defined term: Security & Compliance
has defined term: Compliance

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integrations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integrations
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: support
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Reputation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reputation
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Deployment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: deployment
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Engagement
type: DefinedTerm
term code: engagement
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Targeting
type: DefinedTerm
term code: targeting
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scalability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scalability
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Marketing Tools
type: DefinedTerm
term code: marketing-tools
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI Capabilities
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-capabilities
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Implementation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: implementation
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Onboarding
type: DefinedTerm
term code: onboarding
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Analytics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: analytics
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI & Data
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-&-data
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Target Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: target-market
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data Quality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-quality
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data Coverage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-coverage
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Engagement Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: engagement-features
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data Attributes
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-attributes
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration-ecosystem
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Lead Management
type: DefinedTerm
term code: lead-management
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI & Automation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-&-automation
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ease of Use
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ease-of-use
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-experience
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Content Management
type: DefinedTerm
term code: content-management
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customer Success
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customer-success
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Quality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: quality
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technology
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technology
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Accessibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: accessibility
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Efficiency
type: DefinedTerm
term code: efficiency
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Marketing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: marketing
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Collaboration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: collaboration
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Self-Service
type: DefinedTerm
term code: self-service
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technical
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technical
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-features
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Capabilities
type: DefinedTerm
term code: capabilities
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-adoption
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security & Compliance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security-&-compliance
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Compliance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: compliance
in defined term set: Drift vs Intercom — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-07T23:10:25.969Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: drift-vs-intercom)
main entity: Which platform is better for B2B SaaS sales teams?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Drift is better optimized for B2B SaaS sales teams because it specializes in real-time lead qualification, AI-powered conversation routing, and intent-based engagement. Its playbooks automate sales workflows, and behavioral targeting helps salespeople prioritize high-value prospects. Intercom serves this use case secondarily as part of its broader customer communication suite.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I use both Drift and Intercom together?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes, both platforms integrate with each other. Many B2B companies use Drift for sales conversations and lead capture, then hand off qualified leads to Intercom for customer success, onboarding, and ongoing support. This combination creates a cohesive buyer-to-customer journey.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which platform is more affordable for startups?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Intercom is significantly more affordable for startups, starting at $39/month with unlimited team members, compared to Drift's $2,000/month entry price. For bootstrapped companies or early-stage startups, Intercom's lower cost and broader feature set (support, onboarding, marketing) provides better value.
    language: en-US
main entity: Does Drift have a knowledge base like Intercom?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Drift has basic knowledge base integration but lacks the robust, built-in knowledge management features that Intercom provides. Drift focuses primarily on live conversation, while Intercom's comprehensive knowledge base builder helps reduce support tickets by enabling customers to self-serve answers.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which platform has better AI/automation capabilities?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Both platforms excel in different areas. Intercom's Fin AI resolves 50%+ of support inquiries automatically. Drift's AI focuses on conversation routing and lead scoring for sales acceleration. For support automation, Intercom wins; for sales acceleration, Drift wins.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Drift and Intercom
type: HowTo
description: Drift is a conversational marketing and sales platform focused on real-time engagement and lead qualification, while Intercom is a comprehensive customer communication platform emphasizing customer support, onboarding, and product tours. Drift excels for B2B sales teams seeking instant chat-based lead capture, whereas Intercom serves broader customer lifecycle management across support, marketing, and product.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Primary Use Case
step: Consider: Starting Price (Monthly)
step: Consider: Live Chat Response Time
step: Consider: Chatbot Capabilities
step: Consider: Knowledge Base Tools
step: Consider: Product Tours/Onboarding
step: Consider: Video Chat Support
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Drift if you're a B2B SaaS company prioritizing sales acceleration and real-time lead qualification through conversational marketing—its AI-powered routing and intent-based engagement excel at moving prospects through the sales funnel quickly. Choose Intercom if you need an all-in-one customer communications hub spanning support, onboarding, product education, and marketing—it's more affordable at entry-level and provides deeper lifecycle management tools for larger customer bases.

Consider: Primary Use Case
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Primary Use Case: Drift has Sales & lead qualification, while Intercom has Customer support & lifecycle management.

Consider: Starting Price (Monthly)
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Starting Price (Monthly): Drift has $2,000 (starter plan), while Intercom has $39 (Essential plan).

Consider: Live Chat Response Time
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Live Chat Response Time: Drift has Real-time, AI-powered routing, while Intercom has Real-time with queue management.

Consider: Chatbot Capabilities
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Chatbot Capabilities: Drift has Conversation AI with lead scoring, while Intercom has AI-powered bot builder (Fin AI).

Consider: Knowledge Base Tools
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Knowledge Base Tools: Drift has Limited, basic integration, while Intercom has Robust, built-in knowledge management.

Consider: Product Tours/Onboarding
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Product Tours/Onboarding: Drift has Not included, while Intercom has Native product tours feature.

Consider: Video Chat Support
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Video Chat Support: Drift has Not available, while Intercom has Available (Intercom Spaces).

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Drift vs Intercom
review body: Drift is a conversational marketing and sales platform focused on real-time engagement and lead qualification, while Intercom is a comprehensive customer communication platform emphasizing customer support, onboarding, and product tours. Drift excels for B2B sales teams seeking instant chat-based lead capture, whereas Intercom serves broader customer lifecycle management across support, marketing, and product.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Drift vs Intercom

Knowledge Base Articles Supported
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: Limited | Intercom: Unlimited

Average Customer Onboarding Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: 8-12 hours | Intercom: 4-6 hours
value reference: Intercom

Free Tier Contact Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 1,000

Native Omnichannel Messaging Channels
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 50+

Starting Monthly Price (USD)
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: $39 (Inbox Starter)

Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT)
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 91%

Omnichannel Support Channels
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 5 channels

Average Implementation Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 3 weeks

AI Chatbot Deflection Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 60%

Enterprise Security Certifications
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: SOC 2, GDPR, CCPA

Starting Price (Monthly)
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: $39 for team inbox

Live Chat Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Advanced routing, queues, canned responses, routing rules

AI Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Fin AI bot with autonomous ticket resolution, predictive analytics

Mobile App Quality
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Comprehensive mobile app with full feature parity

Available Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 500+ integrations

Mobile App Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: iOS & Android available

Global Customers
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 35,000+

Integration Ecosystem
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 500+

Implementation Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 2-4 hours

Knowledge Base Feature
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Standard KB functionality

AI Chatbot Maturity
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Native Fin bot; resolves 50%+ support tickets autonomously

Number of Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 500+

AI Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Fin AI assistant, predictive analytics, auto-responses

Customer Response Time Impact
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 60% reduction with AI automation

Support Ticket Deflation Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Up to 30% with knowledge base

Multi-Channel Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Chat, email, SMS, social, messaging apps, phone

Email Marketing Automation
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Limited; requires third-party integration

Team Collaboration Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Shared inboxes, assignment rules, customer context

Base Monthly Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: $39

Maximum Team Size (Starter Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 3 seats

Live Chat Response Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 8 seconds average

Supported Channels
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 4 channels

Knowledge Base Articles
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Unlimited

Starting Monthly Price (USD)
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: $39/month

Session Replay Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: No, requires integration

Live Chat Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Yes, unlimited agents

Mobile App Analytics
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Basic tracking only

API Rate Limits (requests/sec)
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 1,000+ requests/sec

User Retention Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Basic: churn alerts, customer health scores

Typical Implementation Timeline
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 1-2 weeks

Price for 10-Agent Team
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: $150-$250 (mid-tier)

Native AI Chatbot Ticket Deflection
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 40% average deflection rate

Initial Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 2-4 hours

Knowledge Base AI Search Reduction in Tickets
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Advanced AI search (30% reduction)

In-App Messaging & Product Engagement
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Full suite (tours, checklists, surveys, broadcasts)

Native Mobile Apps
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Full-featured iOS/Android with AI assistant

Maximum Recommended Team Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 500+

Mid-Market Plan Price (100 agents)
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: $1,299/month

AI Chatbot Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Native AI (included)

Live Chat Mobile App Rating
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 4.6

Entry-Level Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: $39 (all users)

Mid-Tier Monthly Cost (10 agents)
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: $99/month

Live Chat Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Advanced automation, AI bot, proactive messaging

AI Resolution Capability
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 30-50% (AI Resolution Bot)

Best For Team Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 1-100 agents optimal

Free Trial Duration
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 14 days

Starting Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: $39/month

Mid-Tier Plan Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: $99/month

Omnichannel Support Channels
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 5 channels

Built-in AI Chatbot
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Yes, included in all plans

Global Customers
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: 25,000+

HIPAA Compliance
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Not certified

FedRAMP Compliance
type: PropertyValue
value: Drift: N/A | Intercom: Not available

SpeakableSpecification
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Drift — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Intercom — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Drift vs Intercom
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/drift-vs-intercom)
object: Drift
object: Intercom

Live Chat Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

AI Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Technology

Mobile App Quality
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Technology

Available Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Mobile App Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Accessibility

Global Customers
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market

Integration Ecosystem
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integrations

Implementation Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Knowledge Base Feature
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

AI Chatbot Maturity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: AI Capabilities

Number of Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integrations

AI Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Customer Response Time Impact
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Support Ticket Deflation Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Efficiency

Multi-Channel Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Email Marketing Automation
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Marketing

Team Collaboration Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Collaboration

Base Monthly Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Maximum Team Size (Starter Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

Live Chat Response Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Supported Channels
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Knowledge Base Articles
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Self-Service

Starting Monthly Price (USD)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Session Replay Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Live Chat Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Mobile App Analytics
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

API Rate Limits (requests/sec)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Technical

User Retention Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Typical Implementation Timeline
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Deployment

Price for 10-Agent Team
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Native AI Chatbot Ticket Deflection
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Initial Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Knowledge Base AI Search Reduction in Tickets
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

In-App Messaging & Product Engagement
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Native Mobile Apps
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Maximum Recommended Team Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

Mid-Market Plan Price (100 agents)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

AI Chatbot Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Live Chat Mobile App Rating
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Entry-Level Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Mid-Tier Monthly Cost (10 agents)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Live Chat Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

AI Resolution Capability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: AI Features

Best For Team Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

Free Trial Duration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Starting Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Mid-Tier Plan Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Omnichannel Support Channels
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Built-in AI Chatbot
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Capabilities

Global Customers
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Adoption

HIPAA Compliance
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security & Compliance

FedRAMP Compliance
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compliance