Stack
Plain
A support platform for B2B companies whose customers ask questions in shared Slack channels, email, and in-app.
What it actually does
Plain gathers customer conversations from shared Slack channels, email, Microsoft Teams, Discord, and in-app widgets into one inbox built for technical teams. It fits companies where support already happens in a customer's Slack, not on a public help site.
It is API-first, with native integrations to Linear and Jira so a support thread can become an engineering ticket without copy-paste. An AI agent is included with a monthly credit allowance rather than a per-resolution fee.
There is no free tier and only a 7-day trial, the shortest window in this category. The base Foundation plan is a single flat per-seat price, but the next tier up is a sharp jump aimed at larger teams.
Plain vs its main rivals
The tools people actually weigh against Plain: Pylon, Front, Zendesk. Same criteria for every column, including where Plain loses.
| Plain | PPylon | FFront |  Zendesk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pricing & access | ||||
| Free tier | No7-day trial | NoTrial only | NoTrial only | NoTrial only |
| Starting price | $35/seat/mo | $59/seat/mo | $19/user/mo | $55/agent/mo |
| Startup discount | 50% off | Available | No | 6 mo free |
Channels | ||||
| Native shared-Slack support | YesYes | YesYes | NoSlack Connect | NoAdd-on |
| In-app + email + Discord | YesYes | YesYes | YesEmail focus | YesBroad |
Automation & AI | ||||
| AI agent included in base | 2,000 credits | Included | Add-on | Per resolution |
| Bring-your-own AI model | YesBYOA | NoVendor-locked | NoNo | NoNo |
Developer & API | ||||
| Native Linear / Jira sync | YesYes | YesYes | YesJira | YesJira |
| REST / GraphQL API | Paid | Paid | Paid | Paid |
| MCP server | Paid | No | No | Paid |
Scaling & limits | ||||
| Cheapest single-seat entry | $35/mo | $59/mo | $19/mo | $55/mo |
| Second-tier cliff | Steep | $89/seat | Gradual | Gradual |
- Built for B2B support across Slack, email, and in-app, matching where dev-tool customers actually ask
- AI agent included with 2,000 credits/mo and no per-resolution fee, plus bring-your-own-model support
- API-first with native Linear and Jira integrations and a 50%-off startup program
- No free tier and only a 7-day trial, the shortest evaluation window here
- The second tier is a large jump aimed at teams, not solo use
- Foundation caps the workspace at 5 users
Pay less for it
4 ways foundEligible VC-backed startups get 50% off Plain's startup pricing (applied to the startup/Grow plan)
The flat $35/seat with 2,000 AI credits covers solo use; the cliff only hits when you need Horizon features
BYOA lets you route AI to your own Claude or GPT key instead of buying extra vendor credits
Chatwoot — Open-source multi-channel inbox at $19/agent (or self-hosted free) if you do not need the deep Slack-native B2B workflow
StackTracker tracks what you actually pay for Plain and every other tool, flags overpayment, and shows the dollars you would save by switching.
Is it the right tool for you
- Your customers already ask questions in shared Slack channels
- You want support threads flowing into Linear or Jira
- You are an engineering-led team that values an API-first inbox
- You want a free start and email-based support → use Help Scout
- You want a website chat widget for consumer traffic → use Crisp
Track what Plain and the rest of your stack cost
StackTracker adds up every subscription, plus your hours, so you see the real number.
Prices and limits last verified 2026-07-20.