Intercom

Intercom is a comprehensive conversational relationship platform that redefines live chat by blending messaging, automation, and AI into a unified system for support, engagement, and sales. Founded in 2011, it pioneered the modern "messaging-first" approach to customer communication, moving beyond simple chat widgets to a persistent messaging experience. Its notable strength lies in its sophisticated AI chatbot, Fin, which can autonomously resolve up to 50% of support questions and intelligently qualify leads. The platform excels at proactive engagement, allowing businesses to target messages based on user behavior, attributes, and in-app events.

It's ideal for product-led SaaS companies, tech startups, and sales teams that view customer communication as a core growth lever. Compared to alternatives, Intercom offers a more holistic and product-integrated suite, though its pricing and complexity reflect its enterprise-grade capabilities. Its robust APIs and extensive app ecosystem make it a central hub for customer conversations.