Kayako vs Helply: Helpdesk Software Comparison 2026
Kayako and Helply are both helpdesk and customer support platforms, but they are built for different operating models, budgets, and team workflows. This comparison reviews pricing, AI and automation, integrations, use cases, migration considerations, and practical buying trade-offs.
Quick verdict
Kayako is usually a stronger fit for SMB teams that value Email, Live chat, Legacy. Helply is usually a stronger fit for SMB teams that value Simple, Email, Small team. On listed starting price, Helply appears more affordable, but final cost depends on seats, add-ons, AI usage, support channels, and implementation scope. Based on the available G2 rating in this dataset, Helply has the higher user rating.
Pricing comparison
Kayako starts at from $15/agent/mo, while Helply starts at from $12/agent/mo. Treat this as a starting point, not a full total cost estimate. Real pricing can change with agent count, AI features, phone or messaging channels, advanced reporting, implementation, marketplace apps, and data migration needs.
| Factor | Kayako | Helply |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | from $15/agent/mo | from $12/agent/mo |
| G2 rating | 4 | 4.5 |
| Best fit | SMB | SMB |
| Founded | 2001 | 2011 |
| HQ | London, UK | Remote (USA) |
| Customers | 50,000+ | 8,000+ |
| Known clients | NASA, FedEx, General Electric (historically) | Bootstrapped SaaS companies, small support teams |
AI and automation
Kayako
Basic — limited modern AI features. Product development has notably slowed since ~2019.
Helply
Basic — some AI reply suggestions added in recent updates.
For AI buying decisions, compare not only feature names but also automation limits, handoff quality, knowledge base dependency, pricing per resolution or add-on, reporting, and how much configuration your team needs before AI becomes useful.
Integrations
Kayako is commonly evaluated by teams that need Email, Live chat, Legacy. Helply is commonly evaluated by teams that need Simple, Email, Small team. Before choosing, check native integrations for your CRM, ecommerce platform, chat tools, telephony, BI stack, identity provider, and data warehouse.
When to choose Kayako
Choose Kayako when its pricing model, workflow depth, and operational fit match your team better than Helply. It may be the better option if the following strengths are central to your support strategy:
- Unified customer journey
- Good live chat
Watch out for these limitations before committing:
- Product development has slowed down
- Support can be unresponsive
When to choose Helply
Choose Helply when its ecosystem, product direction, and implementation model are a better fit for your team than Kayako. It may be the better option if these strengths matter most:
- Simple email helpdesk
- Clean inbox UI
Check these trade-offs carefully before rollout:
- Development seems paused
- Limited modern features
Migration considerations
If you are moving from Kayako to Helply, or from Helply to Kayako, the main challenge is usually not just ticket export. You need to plan how users, organizations, companies, comments, private notes, attachments, tags, statuses, custom fields, knowledge base articles, and record relationships will map into the new system.
Before migration, verify API limits, attachment handling, deleted or archived records, field mapping, ticket status logic, agent matching, knowledge base structure, and whether you need a delta migration close to go-live.
FAQ
The main difference is usually fit: pricing model, workflow depth, integrations, AI capabilities, implementation complexity, and the type of support team each product serves best.
Not universally. Kayako can be better for some teams, while Helply can be better for others. The right choice depends on your support channels, team size, budget, automation needs, and existing software stack.
Yes, in many cases you can migrate tickets, users, companies, comments, attachments, tags, custom fields, and knowledge base data. The exact scope depends on each platform's API and export/import limitations.
Based on listed starting prices, Helply is cheaper at entry level. However, total cost depends on add-ons, AI usage, number of agents, support channels, and implementation work.