Helmdesk vs Plain Developer-first support, with email, docs and logs included.
Plain is built for B2B support teams and priced per user: $45 on Foundation and $99 on Horizon, billed annually. Helmdesk adds transactional email, error logs and a help centre per app to the helpdesk, with unlimited seats.
Through Nov 30: 30% off Starter or Growth for 3 months with code SHIP30 at checkout.
Side by side
Feature comparison
| Feature | Helmdesk | Plain |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing unit | Per plan, sized by apps and tickets | Per user, per month |
| Paid plans from | $39/mo, or $31 billed annually (Starter) | $45 per user billed annually (Foundation, up to 5 users) |
| Free plan | Yes, 1 app | No (7-day trial) |
| AI pricing | Included on paid plans, no per-resolution fee | Credits: 100 per Ari resolution; 1,000 a month on Foundation, then $10 per 1,000 |
| Help centres | One per app | 1 on Foundation; unlimited on Horizon (minimum 3 users) |
| API | REST API + TypeScript SDK | GraphQL API |
| MCP server for AI agents | 73 tools across tickets, customers, email, docs, feedback and logs; read and write | Yes |
| Error logs from your app, grouped into issues | Yes | No |
Plain list prices as published on plain.com, October 2026. Check their page for current pricing.
The arithmetic
What it costs for a small team with several apps
Two common set-ups, priced on each product's published list prices. The sums are shown so you can redo them for your own team.
Solo developer with 3 apps
One person answering for three products, under 1,000 tickets a month in total. Both billed annually.
- 1 × Foundation user ($45)$45
One help centre shared by the three apps. A help centre per app needs Horizon, minimum 3 users: 3 × $99 = $297.
Plus Ari credits past the included 1,000 a month
Starter: 3 apps, a help centre each, unlimited seats, AI drafting included.
$45 − $31 = $14/mo less with Helmdesk, before usage charges
Team of 5 with 3 apps
Five people across three products, about 3,000 tickets a month. Both billed annually.
- 5 × Foundation users ($45)$225
Foundation’s maximum of five users, with one help centre. Horizon, with a help centre per app, is 5 × $99 = $495.
Plus Ari credits past the included 1,000 a month
Growth: 10 apps, 7,500 tickets a month, unlimited seats, AI included.
$225 − $119 = $106/mo less with Helmdesk, before usage charges
Plain list prices as published on plain.com, October 2026. Check their page for current pricing.
Choose Helmdesk if…
- You want transactional email and error logs alongside the helpdesk
- You manage several apps and want a help centre per app on one plan
- You prefer a REST API and a typed SDK to GraphQL
- You want unlimited seats instead of per-user pricing
- You are a solo developer or small team, not a B2B support org
Choose Plain if…
- You run B2B support for business customers, including over Slack
- You prefer a GraphQL API
- You support one product and per-user pricing suits your team size
- You want a focused support tool, without email sending or logs in scope
Pricing
Priced by apps and tickets, not by people.
Free for your first app. Starter $39/mo for 3 apps, unlimited seats.
Annual billing saves 20%. No per-seat fees on paid plans, no per-resolution AI fees.
Through Nov 30: 30% off Starter or Growth for 3 months with code SHIP30 at checkout.
- Free1 app$0
- Starter3 apps$39/mo
- Growth10 apps$149/mo
- Enterprise: more apps and volume, quoted. Talk to us
FAQ
Helmdesk and Plain
How is Plain priced?
Per user per month, billed annually: Foundation $45 (up to five users, one help centre), Horizon $99 (three to ten users, unlimited help centres), Frontier quoted. AI resolutions are paid in credits, 100 per resolution.
Are Plain and Helmdesk both developer tools?
Yes. Both have an API and an MCP server. Plain focuses on B2B support workflows; Helmdesk adds transactional email, a help centre per app and error logs, and is priced by apps rather than users.
Which is cheaper for a solo developer?
With one shared help centre, Plain Foundation is $45 a month billed annually; Helmdesk Starter is $31 billed annually for 3 apps, each with its own help centre.
One desk for every app, at one price.
Free for your first app. Starter $39/mo for 3 apps, unlimited seats. No card.