Kayako vs Papercups: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Kayako and Papercups. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Kayako starts at $79/mo and Papercups starts at Custom pricing. Compare all 2 pricing tiers side by side.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
Kayako vs Papercups: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Kayako | Papercups |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $79/mo | Custom pricing |
| Number of Plans | 1 | 1 |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| Pricing Model | per-seat | open-source |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Kayako and Papercups are both priced at $79/mo, making them equally accessible Customer Support tools. Together they offer 2 pricing plans with 8 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.
Papercups stands out with a free plan for getting started. Kayako uses per-seat pricing while Papercups uses open-source pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.
Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Customer Support needs.
| Pricing Plans |  Kayako Try it free |  Papercups Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Kayako One $79/month Includes
|
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Papercups
Papercups offers a free plan.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Best value: Papercups
Try Papercups freeWhich Should You Choose?
Choose Kayako if:
- •You want more features built-in—Kayako offers 4 additional features across its plans
- •You prioritize Kayako's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
- •Kayako's single-tier per-seat structure gives clearer cost visibility for budget planning
Choose Papercups if:
- •You need a free plan with Open-source live chat, Self-hosted—Papercups offers no-cost access with no credit card required
- •You prioritize Papercups's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
- •Papercups's open-source pricing lets you match exact team size without tier gaps
Papercups offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Kayako requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Papercups a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Papercups's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately Custom pricing provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against Kayako's tiering starting at $79/mo to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Papercups's 1 tier provide flexibility at different budgets, while Kayako's 1 tier structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, Papercups is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.
Frequently Asked Questions: Kayako vs Papercups
How many pricing plans does Kayako have vs Papercups?
Does Kayako or Papercups offer a free plan?
What pricing models do Kayako and Papercups use?
How do Kayako and Papercups compare for Customer Support?
Sources
- Kayako Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Papercups Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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