13 Best Customer and Client Portal Software in 2025 

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Last update: August 13, 2025

Table of contents

    When customers reach out, they want clarity. They want to know the status of their order, whether their invoice has been processed, or a resolution timeline.

    These questions, as simple as they might be, can spiral into long threads, missed updates and frustration. That’s why more and more businesses are investing in a customer portal software. To give customers a place to get answers without having to send another email.

    Beyond reducing ticket volume, a good customer and client portal lets customers track requests, access documents, and find help articles on their own. But, how do you decide which customer portal tool to invest in? Which features should you prioritize?

    In this guide, we break down 13 top-rated tools that help you create secure, self-service portals your customers will actually use. From white-labeled dashboards to AI-powered help centers, here’s how to find the right fit for your team.

    Table of Contents

    ➡️ TL;DR: 13 best customer and client portal tools (Quick overview)

    • Hiver – Set up a branded customer portal to track tickets, reduce follow-ups, and share help articles in one place.
    • Zendesk – Offer a multilingual portal with AI-powered help articles and shared org visibility.
    • SuperOkay – Share tasks, proposals, and client updates in a neat, white-labeled dashboard.
    • Freshdesk – Customize smart ticket forms, automate FAQs with Freddy AI, and support multiple languages out of the box.
    • Salesforce – Launch a secure, CRM-connected portal with low-code templates and AI-suggested responses.
    • Ideagen Huddle – Collaborate on sensitive documents with full version control and secure access.
    • Copilot – Create a fully white-labeled portal with messaging, billing, eSignatures, and embedded tools.
    • Zoho Desk – Run separate portals for each brand with region-specific settings, multilingual forms, and user communities.
    • HappyFox – Keep things lightweight with a clean portal, public FAQs, community forums, and a support widget.
    • TeamSupport – Centralize ticket tracking, knowledge sharing, and customer discussions in one B2B portal.
    • Clinked – Manage files, chat, tasks, and content securely in a branded, mobile-ready portal.
    • Help Scout – Combine a help center with in-app content suggestions and live support via Beacon.
    • Intercom – Provide multilingual, in-product self-service with help center content, bots, and embedded app tools.

    What is a customer portal software?

    It’s a secure, self-service platform where customers or clients can log in to manage their interactions with your business. Instead of chasing updates over email or phone, they get one organized hub to track requests, find answers, and access important information at their leisure.

    A well-designed portal typically allows customers to:

    • View order history, invoices, or account details
    • Track shipments or service requests in real-time
    • Submit support tickets and monitor their progress
    • Access FAQs, guides, or knowledge base articles
    • Upload or download relevant files and documents

    A simple example is Amazon’s customer service portal. It shows your latest orders, prompts common actions, and solves most issues without needing live support. Everything is clearly categorized so that customers know exactly where to go and what to do next.

    Amazon’s customer portal is a good example of personalized and organized self-service 
    Amazon’s customer portal is a good example of personalized and organized self-service 

    Real benefits of using a customer + client portal software

    It’s easy to get caught up in design and feature checklists when evaluating a portal. But what truly matters is how it reduces chaos and improves the way your team and customers work together. These are the benefits that move the needle: 

    Fewer repeated queries: When customers can log in to view the status of their requests or download past invoices, they don’t need to ask your team the same questions again and again. According to Zendesk, 69% of customers try to resolve issues on their own before reaching out; and portals support that instinct.

    Clearer communication without chasing: When self-service portals display real-time progress of tickets, customers know what’s happening without needing to follow up. Teams can set up auto-notifications so customers get alerted when something changes: like when a service is completed or a file is uploaded.

    Less context switching for your team: Support teams often waste time jumping between emails, chat threads, and spreadsheets to piece together a customer’s story. A customer portal brings all updates, files, and past activity into one thread, so agents don’t lose time figuring out what’s already been said or done.

    Improved accountability across teams: With every request visible in the portal, it’s easier to assign ownership, monitor progress, and spot delays early. Managers get a clear view of what’s pending and who’s responsible, which helps reduce dropped tasks and missed deadlines.

    Better self-service experience: Portals with embedded FAQs and knowledge base links reduce basic tickets like “Where’s my order?” or “How do I reset my password?” This frees your team to focus on more complex requests and improves resolution time across the board.

    Stronger handoffs between teams: Whether support is looping in finance or sales is passing a client to customer success, a portal preserves context. The customer doesn’t have to re-explain the issue, and the next team can pick up right where the last left off.

    Scales better than shared inboxes: Shared email threads work when you’re handling a handful of queries. But when volume grows, things fall apart. A portal helps you categorize, assign, and respond at scale and is especially useful for recurring requests, approvals, or client onboarding.

    What features make a customer portal actually useful?

    The real value of a customer portal lies in how much work it takes off your team while keeping customers informed and in control. Here are some key features to look for if you’re choosing or building one: 

    A clean and secure login experience: Portals should be easy to log into, ideally with SSO or magic links. But they also need role-based permissions to keep sensitive data protected.

    Request tracking that shows real movement: A “ticket received” message isn’t enough. Customers should see progress: who’s handling it, where it stands, and when to expect a resolution. That transparency cuts down on follow-ups.

    A connected knowledge base: Great portals surface help articles before the customer hits submit. This reduces basic queries and helps customers help themselves.

    Context-aware file sharing: Let customers upload forms, access past invoices, or view service documents. The key is not just offering file access, but making sure it’s tied to the right request or timeline.

    Simple ways to collaborate: Some issues require back-and-forth. Whether it’s replying to a ticket or commenting on a shared document, portals should support two-way communication that doesn’t get lost.

    Real-time status and updates that don’t need chasing: Customers shouldn’t have to ask, “Any update on this?” Portals should auto-notify them when a ticket is assigned, resolved, or needs more input.

    Mobile-first usability: If your customers have to pinch, zoom, or scroll endlessly, they’ll stop using the portal. A responsive, easy-to-use mobile experience isn’t optional anymore.

    13 best customer portal software in 2025

    If your team is drowning in status update emails or bouncing between tools to track customer conversations, a portal can bring order to the chaos.

    This list breaks down 13 customer and client portal tools – what they’re built for, where they work best, and how they fit different team setups and budgets.

    ToolBest forFree trial/Free planStarting price
    HiverSupport teams that want a branded, inbox-like portalForever-free plan + 7-day free trial$19/user/month
    ZendeskLarge teams needing multilingual + AI support14-day free trial$89/agent/month
    SuperOkayAgencies sharing proposals, files, and tasksForever-free plan$9/month
    FreshdeskSMBs looking for automation + customizationFree plan + 21-day trial for paid plans$15/agent/month
    SalesforceCRM-first teams needing scalable self-service30-day free trial$24/user/month 
    Ideagen HuddleRegulated industries managing secure docsNo public trial (demo on request)Custom pricing
    CopilotAgencies and freelancers managing clients end-to-endFree forever plan$9/user/month
    Zoho DeskMulti-brand SMB setups with community features15-day free trial$20/user/month
    HappyFoxTeams needing a simple self-service setup14-day free trial$9/agent/month
    TeamSupportB2B software companies with long-term clients14-day free trial$35/agent/month
    ClinkedSecure file sharing and mobile access10-day free trial$95/month
    Help ScoutSmall teams wanting Docs + in-app help15-day free trial$22/user/month
    IntercomSaaS teams needing bots + multilingual content14-day free trial$29/seat/month

    1. Hiver: Inbox-native customer portal for fast-moving support teams

    Hiver is a customer service platform designed around how teams already work. Instead of introducing yet another interface or complex help desk, it sits on top of your inbox and brings together email, live chat, WhatsApp, and phone into one shared workspace.

    Its customer portal functionality gives your customers the same level of clarity and structure your team gets inside Hiver. While agents handle tickets from their inboxes, customers get a dedicated space to raise requests, track their progress in real time, and access help articles, without needing to follow up over email.

    Hiver lets you set up a branded customer portal with custom forms and real-time ticket tracking
    Hiver lets you set up a branded customer portal with custom forms and real-time ticket tracking

    What sets Hiver apart is how well the portal integrates into your team’s existing workflow. When a customer fills out a form on the portal, it instantly creates a structured ticket in your inbox; complete with issue type, priority, contact info, and even attachments like screenshots. Additionally, the built-in knowledge base helps customers troubleshoot common problems on their own.

    Build a self-service knowledge base so customers can find quick answers 
    Build a self-service knowledge base so customers can find quick answers 

    What users say about Hiver:

    Key features:

    • Let customers raise requests using forms that collect all the context your team needs.
    • Each submission triggers an automatic response that links back to the portal, so customers can track progress without having to follow up manually.
    • Add your logo, brand colors, and a custom URL. Tailor ticket forms based on issue types, so every customer sees what’s relevant to them.
    • Use built-in analytics to track key metrics like resolution time, agent responsiveness, and customer satisfaction. This helps you spot gaps and improve team output.

    Other built-in features include live chat, automation (like round-robin and skill-based routing), integrations with 100+ tools, and AI Copilot, which helps agents summarize threads and draft responses without any manual effort.

    Pricing:

    Hiver offers four pricing plans, starting with a free forever option. Paid plans include Lite at $19/user/month, Growth at $29/user/month, and Pro at $49/user/month. For larger teams, the Elite plan includes advanced analytics, automation, and support features. The customer portal and knowledge base are available across all plans.

    2. Zendesk: Powerful customer portal built into your support suite

    Zendesk is an AI-powered customer service platform built for large, high-volume support teams. It offers a complete suite to manage conversations across channels—email, chat, phone, messaging—and includes a dedicated portal called Zendesk Guide.

    The portal is tightly integrated with Zendesk’s omnichannel ticketing system, so customers can view their support history, track open requests, and access help articles from one place.

    Zendesk also brings generative AI into the mix. You can turn bullet points into knowledge base articles, refine content tone, and keep your help center fresh without much manual effort.

    Zendesk Guide lets customers track tickets, submit requests, and access help content from one place 
    Zendesk Guide lets customers track tickets, submit requests, and access help content from one place 

    What users say about Zendesk:

    Key features:

    • Customers can view past interactions or tickets they’ve been CC’d on, helping them find answers faster and avoid duplicate queries.
    • Portal design is customizable, so you can add your logo, use your own domain, and enable SSO for a smoother experience.
    • Customers can raise new requests through the portal by filling out forms with the exact details your team needs.
    ProsCons
    Supports multiple languages and brandsHigh pricing compared to similar tools (almost double the cost of Hiver) 
    AI features for content creation and refinementMay feel complex for smaller or non-technical teams

    Pricing:

    Zendesk’s customer portal is available in three plans: Suite Growth at $89 per agent per month, Suite Professional at $115 per agent per month, and Suite Enterprise at $169 per agent per month.

    3. SuperOkay: Flexible, white-labeled client portal for agencies and freelancers

    SuperOkay is built for agencies, consultants, and service teams that want their client experience to feel premium, without spending weeks on setup. It gives you a fully white-labeled portal where clients can view project updates, upload files, approve deliverables, and interact with your team.

    The platform is especially useful for teams juggling multiple client projects. You can customize each portal with your logo, brand colors, and even use a custom domain, making every client feel like they have a dedicated space. Whether it’s onboarding, design feedback, or project handoffs, SuperOkay keeps everything organized and on-brand.

    SuperOkay helps you build fully branded client portals that organize tasks, files, and feedback
    SuperOkay helps you build fully branded client portals that organize tasks, files, and feedback

    What users say about SuperOkay:

    Key features:

    • White-label everything—from the login page to favicons and Open Graph previews—to reflect your or your client’s brand.
    • Organize each portal with tasks, docs, assets, links, and embedded tools like Trello, Airtable, Figma, or Miro.
    • Use smart modules (like pricing tables, file uploads, and graphs) to gather client input or approvals.
    • Assign tasks using Kanban or list views to keep progress moving.
    • Embed 100+ tools securely via iframe, so clients don’t have to switch tabs.
    ProsCons
    Fully white-labeled client portal with custom domainLimited native automation or AI features
    Easy to set up with rich interactive documentsNot ideal for handling large-scale ticketing 

    Pricing:

    It offers a free forever plan for basic needs. Paid plans start with the Solo plan at $9/month. The Solo+ plan is at $29/month, while the Business plan, for growing teams, is priced at $112/month.

    4. Freshdesk: Customizable portal with automations and multilingual support

    Freshdesk is a customer service platform designed to help growing teams manage high ticket volumes with fewer manual touchpoints. Its customer portal strikes a balance between ease of use and flexibility, letting customers raise tickets, check statuses, and browse help articles, all from a branded, self-serve space. 

    One of Freshdesk’s strengths is how deeply the portal ties into its broader support suite. You can build fully themed portals for different brands or teams, publish multilingual content, and use Freddy AI to deflect basic queries before they hit your agents.

    Freshdesk’s customer portal lets you manage up to 10 custom, branded themes; no coding needed
    Freshdesk’s customer portal lets you manage up to 10 custom, branded themes; no coding needed

    What users say about Freshdesk:

    Key features:

    • Use a rich text editor to build engaging help articles with images, formatting, and clear structure.
    • Publish different language versions of the same article to support global teams.
    • Design and maintain up to 10 branded themes for your portals. This is useful for managing multiple teams, regions, or products.
    • Help content is SEO-optimized so customers can find answers directly via search engines.
    • Use built-in feedback and analytics to see which articles are working and where updates are needed.
    ProsCons
    Easy to brand and launch a portal without developersSome customizations may still need technical input
    Freddy AI reduces repetitive tasks for agentsAI features may be limited on lower-tier plans

    Pricing:

    Freshdesk offers a free plan with limited features. Paid plans start at $15/agent/month (Growth), $49/agent/month (Pro), and $79/agent/month (Enterprise). Advanced portal features, custom themes, and AI tools are included in higher tiers.

    5. Salesforce: Secure, AI-powered self-service portal connected to your CRM

    Salesforce is a powerhouse CRM platform that helps businesses manage everything from sales and service to marketing and support. What sets it apart is its ability to bring all customer touchpoints into one ecosystem. Teams can access a unified view of every interaction, automate workflows, and personalize support at scale – all within the same platform.

    For support teams, Salesforce offers a fully integrated customer portal that connects directly to your CRM. That means every customer interaction, ticket, and article is already tied to the rest of your data; no context lost, no need to juggle between tools. The portal includes a built-in knowledge base, and AI features to surface the most relevant answers quickly.

    Launch a fully branded, AI-powered self-service portal directly within your Salesforce CRM
    Launch a fully branded, AI-powered self-service portal directly within your Salesforce CRM

    What users say about Salesforce:

    Key features:

    • Create a customer community with Q&A forums, top contributor highlights, and collaborative discussions.
    • Surface relevant knowledge articles instantly via Einstein AI, embedded in both the portal and chatbot.
    • Support multichannel service through bots on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and SMS.
    • Use Einstein Service Agent to handle complex queries with multimedia inputs like images or videos.
    • Build and customize portals using drag-and-drop templates in Experience Builder.
    ProsCons
    Fully integrated with Salesforce CRMHelp center only available from Enterprise plan upwards
    Easy to launch and customize with low-code toolsAdd-ons like Customer Community cost extra

    Pricing:

    Plans start at $24/user/month and go up to $500/user/month. The help center is included from the Enterprise plan onward. Authenticated portals and customer community are sold as add-ons and can be purchased starting with the Professional plan.

    6. Ideagen Huddle: Document collaboration portal for regulated industries

    Ideagen Huddle is built for organizations that need to collaborate on sensitive documents without compromising on security or compliance. It’s not your typical customer support portal. It’s more of a structured, audit-ready workspace for teams in finance, legal, healthcare, or government.

    Instead of ticketing or chat flows, Huddle focuses on version-controlled document sharing, approvals, task management, and real-time co-authoring—all within a branded client portal. If you’re working with regulated data, need full traceability, and want your clients to co-author files without emailing drafts back and forth, Huddle fits the bill.

    Collaborate securely with clients through Ideagen Huddle’s branded, document-focused portal
    Collaborate securely with clients through Ideagen Huddle’s branded, document-focused portal

    What users say about Ideagen Huddle:

    Key features:

    • Create branded workspaces with your logo and color scheme for each client or project.
    • Share and co-author documents with real-time Microsoft Office integration and offline editing.
    • Track tasks, assign priorities, and manage approvals within the portal.
    • Use audit trails to track who made what changes—down to timestamps and user IDs.
    • Set user-based access controls and permissions, with SSO login for secure, easy access.
    ProsCons
    Strong document collaboration with full version controlMore suited for regulated or enterprise teams
    Custom branding and SSO accessLess focused on traditional customer support

    Pricing:

    Ideagen Huddle offers three plans: Essentials, Professional, and Enterprise. Pricing details are available upon request.

    7. Copilot: Fully branded, all-in-one client portal for modern service teams

    Copilot is a modern, no-code platform that lets you create a white-labeled client portal that feels like an extension of your brand. You can customize everything, from your domain name and logo to the layout and apps. 

    Clients get one place to do everything: send messages, upload files, sign contracts, track project updates, and make payments. With drag-and-drop tools, you can set it up quickly without needing a developer.

    What makes Copilot stand out is its flexibility. You can start small with just one feature, like file-sharing or billing, and add more as your needs grow. The platform also includes a built-in CRM, permission settings, workflow automation, and an app marketplace. 

    Copilot gives you a fully branded client portal to centralize communication, payments, and support
    Copilot gives you a fully branded client portal to centralize communication, payments, and support

    What users say about Copilot:

    Key features:

    • Generate invoices and subscriptions right inside the portal, with client-side billing access.
    • Enable contract signing with integrated eSignature tools like DocuSign.
    • Share real-time dashboards so clients can monitor project progress or payment status.
    • Automate onboarding and service delivery with trigger-based workflows.
    • Embed 100+ tools (e.g. Airtable, ClickUp, Calendly) for a seamless client experience.
    ProsCons
    Full white-label control with branding and domainPricing can scale up quickly for larger teams
    All-in-one platform for communication, billing, and docsLess suited for complex enterprise-level support setups

    Pricing:

    Copilot offers four pricing tiers starting at $39/user/month and going up to $399/user/month. A custom plan is available for larger teams or advanced use cases. Billing, CRM, and core modules are included in all plans.

    8. Zoho Desk: Multi-brand portals with region-specific support and community spaces

    Zoho Desk is designed for support teams managing multiple brands, regions, or customer segments under one roof. It lets you spin up separate portals for each brand, with their own ticket forms, service rules, and branding, while still managing everything from one backend.

    The portal includes the basics: ticket submission, status tracking, and a searchable knowledge base. But what sets Zoho apart is its ability to localize each experience: multilingual support, custom domains, and community forums where users can share feedback or answer each other’s questions. 

    Zoho Desk gives every brand its own help center: customized, multilingual, and easy to manage
    Zoho Desk gives every brand its own help center: customized, multilingual, and easy to manage

    What users say about Zoho Desk:

    Key features:

    • Create tailored ticket forms for each brand to capture the right context from customers.
    • Support multiple languages and regions through localized help centers.
    • Build a customer community where users can ask and answer questions.
    • Allow customers to rate help articles so you know what’s working and what needs improvement.
    ProsCons
    Customizable portals with separate branding per brandFree plan has limited portal features
    Community space fosters customer engagementSome features are locked behind higher-tier plans

    Pricing:

    Zoho Desk has a free plan. Paid plans start at $20/user/month and include a public knowledge base, dashboard access, and portal theming options. The highest plan is priced at $50/user/month and also includes community gamification, live chat, and Zoho’s AI-powered bot. 

    9. HappyFox: Lightweight self-service portal with forums and ticketing built-in

    HappyFox is a ticketing platform designed for teams that want to reduce support clutter without overcomplicating the tech stack. It combines help desk workflows, a knowledge base, and community forums into one clean, unified system and is ideal for small to mid-sized teams looking for an easy rollout.

    The customer portal is a key part of that experience. Customers can submit tickets, browse help articles, track progress, and even interact with other users through a built-in forum. Everything is accessible via browser or embedded widget, with support for social logins and public content access to reduce barriers to entry.

    Deliver 24/7 self-service support with HappyFox’s easy-to-use customer portal and embedded widget
    Deliver 24/7 self-service support with HappyFox’s easy-to-use customer portal and embedded widget

    What users say about HappyFox:

    Key features:

    • 24/7 self-service access to ticket submission, tracking, and help articles.
    • Social login support (Google, Twitter) for easier customer access.
    • Knowledge base and FAQs are publicly available.
    • Built-in community forum where customers can ask questions, share feedback, and help one another.
    • Use the embeddable widget to unify ticketing, help content, and chat on your site.
    • Categorize issues to prioritize and respond to high-impact tickets first.
    ProsCons
    Supports public access to help articles without loginForum features are basic compared to dedicated tools
    Social login options improve accessibilityAI or automation features are limited in lower plans

    Pricing:

    HappyFox offers its self-service portal across all four pricing tiers. The basic plan starts at $9/user/month, with top-tier plans going up to $89/user/month. Custom enterprise pricing is also available.

    10. TeamSupport: Collaboration-driven B2B customer portal with AI chat and community

    TeamSupport is customer support software specifically for B2B technology and software companies. It’s designed to help support teams manage long-term client relationships, track detailed interactions, and handle technical issues without letting conversations slip through the cracks.

    Its customer portal, known as the ‘Customer Hub,’ is an all-in-one space where clients can track tickets, read help articles, and stay updated, without needing to contact support every single time. The portal also includes a ‘Community’ section, which acts like a discussion forum. Customers can ask questions, share feedback, and even help each other out.

    TeamSupport’s customer portal brings tickets, community, and AI-powered help together for smoother B2B support
    TeamSupport’s customer portal brings tickets, community, and AI-powered help together for smoother B2B support

    What users say about TeamSupport:

    • “The best feature that TeamSupport offers is the Knowledge Base articles. This feature allows answers to common support issues to become community answers or documentation the end customer can access. This feature reduces the call time and eventually may eliminate some of the incoming call workloads.” 
    • “What really makes TeamSupport stand out is its incredible versatility and customization. No two companies are alike, and this software gets that! We’ve been able to tailor it to fit our exact processes, workflows, and reporting needs.” 
    • “We were able to create a high-quality Knowledge Base quickly and easily because of how user-friendly the tools are. And because we integrated SFDC with TeamSupport, our sales team always knows what’s going on with our customers’ tickets.”

    Key features:

    • AI-powered chatbots handle common questions and deflect routine queries.
    • Customer Hub consolidates ticket tracking, documentation, and status updates in one place.
    • Built-in community forum enables customer-to-customer support and feedback sharing.
    • Link community threads to support tickets so agents stay informed on emerging issues.
    • Knowledge base content is embedded in the portal for quick, self-service resolutions.
    ProsCons
    Strong community and collaboration featuresInterface can feel dated compared to newer tools
    Centralized ticket tracking with real-time visibilityBranding/customization options are somewhat limited

    Pricing:

    TeamSupport’s self-service portal is included in three pricing plans. The Essential Support plan starts at $35/user/month, the Professional Support plan is priced at $49/user/month, and the Enterprise Support plan is available with custom pricing.

    11. Clinked: Mobile-ready, fully branded client portal for secure collaboration

    Clinked is built for teams that need to collaborate securely with clients on files, projects, and updates, especially in industries like consulting, finance, real estate, and legal. The platform offers a fully branded client portal where you can share documents, assign tasks, send messages, and control who sees what.

    What makes Clinked stand out is its tight focus on permissions and security. You can customize access down to the folder or user level, use SSO for frictionless logins, and let clients interact with your team via group chat or task comments. It’s also mobile-ready out of the box, making it easy for clients to stay in the loop on the go.

    Share documents, assign tasks, and collaborate in real-time with Clinked’s all-in-one client portal
    Share documents, assign tasks, and collaborate in real-time with Clinked’s all-in-one client portal

    What users say about Clinked:

    Key features:

    • Version-controlled document collaboration with secure sharing and e-signatures.
    • Task and project tracking with document sharing and team updates in one space.
    • Real-time communication via group chat, private messages, or public updates.
    • Integrations with third-party tools for project management, file storage, and editing.
    ProsCons
    Strong access control and file versioningUI can feel a bit dated in some areas
    Built-in wiki, task management, and chat toolsLimited automation and AI features

    Pricing:

    Clinked’s plans start at $95/month and go up to $479/month. All plans include secure file sharing, white-label branding, task management, chat, and mobile access. Pricing varies based on team size and storage needs.

    12. Help Scout: Clean and organized help center with in-app support via Beacon

    Help Scout is a customer support platform known for its simplicity and clean interface. What makes Help Scout special is how easily it blends live support and self-service. Instead of building a complex support system from scratch, you can get started using its two main tools: Docs and Beacon.

    Docs is Help Scout’s knowledge base builder. It lets you create a simple, well-organized help center where customers can find answers on their own. Beacon, on the other hand, is a live chat-style widget that brings self-service directly into your product or site. Together, they form a lightweight but powerful self-service portal experience.

    Help Scout combines Docs and Beacon to deliver a smart, self-service experience that’s easy to manage
    Help Scout combines Docs and Beacon to deliver a smart, self-service experience that’s easy to manage

    What users say about Help Scout:

    • “We wish we could secure the knowledge base website for only our application users so it was not public for everyone to see. Other than that, the app works great.” 
    • Help Scout enables us to connect with and support many thousands of users, through multiple channels (email, chat). The tool also offers self-service options, which our users love! 
    • “We use the Knowledge Base feature, and have made two separate knowledge bases – one for patients and one for clinic staff. We use them to onboard new clinic users and as a self-help option for both clinic staff and patients.”

    Key features:

    • Docs: Build and manage a help center using a simple WYSIWYG editor. Add a search bar, organize content, and track performance of every article.
    • Customize your help center’s design using CSS to keep things on-brand.
    • Beacon: A smart widget you can embed on any page of your website or product. It automatically shows relevant help articles based on the page the customer is on. For example, if someone is on your pricing page, Beacon might surface articles about billing or plan comparisons. It also supports live chat, email contact forms, and self-service – all from within the widget. 
    • Features like AI Summarize and AI Assist help reduce response time and improve content quality.
    ProsCons
    Seamless blend of knowledge base and live supportLimited design/template options for the knowledge base
    Clean UI and easy setupSome users report frustration with the Docs text editor

    Pricing:

    Help Scout’s Standard plan starts at $22/user/month and includes one Docs site. The Plus plan ($44/user/month) supports two Docs sites, while the Pro plan ($65/user/month) includes up to 10 sites—ideal for teams managing multiple products or brands.

    13. Intercom: Multilingual help center integrated with bots and in-app chat

    Intercom is built for fast-moving teams that want to blend chat, automation, and help content inside their product. Instead of a login-based portal, Intercom offers a lightweight, public knowledge base that integrates with live chat and AI bots to deliver help contextually.

    The help center works across web, mobile, and in-product surfaces. It is multilingual, searchable, and supports smart article suggestions. Intercom also includes bots like ‘Resolution Bot’ and custom workflows that guide users through FAQs or escalate to support.

    Intercom’s Help Center brings articles, bots, and in-app support together in one seamless experience
    Intercom’s Help Center brings articles, bots, and in-app support together in one seamless experience

    What users say about Intercom:

    Key features:

    • Make help articles accessible across web, mobile, and in-product experiences.
    • Use ‘Resolution Bot’ to auto-answer FAQs and deflect tickets before they reach your team.
    • Deploy custom bots to collect info, triage queries, and route issues intelligently.
    • Embed tools like Content Showcase, Shopify, or Statuspage directly into the support widget.
    • Automate welcome messages to guide customers to the right help resource without delay.
    ProsCons
    Multilingual support across 45+ languagesLimited layout customization in the Help Center
    Strong automation with bots and app integrationsBasic article display structure; no multi-column layout options

    Pricing:

    Intercom offers three plans: Essential at $29/user/month, Advanced at $85/user/month, and Expert at $132/user/month. Each plan includes the help center and access to core self-service features. 

    Make your customer portal work for both sides

    The best customer portal isn’t the one with the most features. It’s the one your team actually uses and your customers don’t need help figuring out. 

    So, before picking a solution, evaluate how the tool fits into your existing workflows. Can it reduce support volume without complicating internal handoffs? Does it help customers solve problems without creating new ones for your team? 

    These are the kinds of questions that separate short-term convenience from long-term value.And if your team already works heavily out of email, Hiver gives you a way to streamline support without switching systems. It adds structure, automation, and visibility, right inside a space your team already knows.

    Start using Hiver today

    • Collaborate with ease
    • Manage high email volume
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    A passionate content marketer, Nidhi writes value-driven, actionable content for various teams such as customer service, finance, IT and HR. Her expertise lies in helping these teams engage, collaborate, and manage their workload better – by shedding insights on best practices and industry trends. When not working, you’ll find her tuning in to marketing and support-related podcasts, while also planning her next vacation.

    Finally, a customer service platform you can set up in 15 minutes

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