Help center software pricing compared (2026)
Help center tools are priced in very different ways: flat monthly fees, per-editor seats, per-site fees, or bundles inside a larger support suite. This page compares the cheapest paid plan of popular options so you can see the entry price at a glance.
Prices are monthly list prices of each vendor's cheapest paid plan as published on their pricing pages. Vendors change prices and plan contents; check their sites before deciding.
Entry prices at a glance
| Tool | Cheapest paid plan | Billed per editor? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| kbshelf | $15/mo | No (3 editors included) | Custom domain and no branding included |
| HelpKit | $19/mo | No | Builds the help center from a Notion workspace |
| GitBook | $65/site + $12/user per month | Yes | Product documentation focus |
| Crisp | $95/mo | — | Knowledge base comes with the chat suite |
| KnowledgeOwl | $100/mo | — | Dedicated knowledge base tool |
| HelpDocs | $129/mo ($99/mo billed yearly) | No | Dedicated knowledge base tool |
| Helpjuice | $249/mo | — | Enterprise-oriented |
What to look for beyond the price
Per-editor pricing. A tool that looks cheap for one editor can become the most expensive once support, product and success all write articles. Flat pricing with included editors is easier to budget.
Custom domain and branding. Some tools reserve your own domain or the removal of their logo for higher tiers. A help center on help.yourcompany.com without someone else's badge is the baseline for most companies.
Search quality. Instant, typo-tolerant search matters more than any other feature: most visitors search rather than browse.
Analytics that lead to action. "Was this helpful?" per article and a list of searches with no result are the two numbers that tell you what to write next.
Migration. Moving an existing help center by hand is weeks of copy-paste. Look for an importer that brings articles, categories and images over in one go.
AI readiness. An llms.txt file and Markdown versions of articles help AI assistants answer from your content correctly.
Where kbshelf fits
kbshelf is built for small and mid-sized SaaS companies and online stores that want a fast, branded help center without enterprise pricing: $15/month flat, unlimited articles, your own domain, an in-app widget, and a one-click importer from HelpDocs, Zendesk Guide, Intercom, Help Scout, GitBook, Freshdesk and Crisp. See pricing or compare directly with HelpDocs and GitBook.
Build your help center with kbshelf
$15/month flat, your own domain, instant search and an in-app widget. 14 days free, no card.