How Disciple and Intercom compare
Disciple does the thing most community platforms charge a premium for: every plan includes your own iOS and Android app listed under your name, a synced web version, and no Disciple branding anywhere your members look. Groups, feeds, DMs, events, native video, livestreaming, courses, push notifications to segments, and a customer success manager who helps you through the app store submission. Associations, training providers, nonprofits, and membership brands that want an icon on the member's phone are who it is built for.
Intercom is the customer service platform SaaS teams grow into. The Fin AI agent resolves conversations on its own, the inbox gives agents AI copilot help, and help center, product tours, outbound messages, and deep reporting round out a system designed for support at scale. It is expensive and it is excellent.
Where they are different
Disciple
- Disciple lives behind a login and a home screen icon.
- Disciple reaches members with push notifications and hands email to Mailchimp or ConvertKit.
- Disciple starts at $599 a month for a branded app with unlimited members.
- Disciple has courses, livestreams, tiers, and in-app purchases.
Intercom
- Intercom lives inside your product.
- Intercom answers anyone.
- Intercom messages users in-app.
Choose Disciple when your members should open an app with your name on it, and a private community with groups, events, and paid tiers is the whole point.
Choose Intercom when you run software support at scale and want AI to resolve most of it.
Compare features
What's on Disciple and Intercom
A check means that capability is available. Disciple and Intercom are marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Audience and email
- AudienceDisciple: IncludedIntercom: Included
- Email on your domainDisciple: Not includedIntercom: Included
- Marketing emailsDisciple: Not includedIntercom: Included
- Campaign workflowsDisciple: Not includedIntercom: Included
Messaging
- Built-in chatDisciple: IncludedIntercom: Included
- Messaging CenterDisciple: Not includedIntercom: Included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsDisciple: IncludedIntercom: Not included
Team
- Admin usersDisciple: IncludedIntercom: Included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Disciple or Intercom, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Disciple or Intercom may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Disciple vs Intercom pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Disciple
Current plans and prices
See what Disciple charges on their pricing page.
Intercom
Current plans and prices
See what Intercom charges on their pricing page.
Cardel: An alternative to
Disciple and Intercom
You don't pay until you publish.
Cardel provides a home for your craft. Share and sell your work, grow your audience, and bring your community together on a site of your own.
Common questions
Is Cardel an alternative to Disciple or Intercom?
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace Disciple or Intercom when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list on this page shows where Disciple and Intercom are marked.
Can I use Cardel with Disciple or Intercom?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Disciple or Intercom for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared with Disciple and Intercom?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. Disciple and Intercom set their own prices, so check their pricing pages on this page for current plans.
How do I switch from Disciple or Intercom to Cardel?
Start with Build Your Site, set up your home, and bring your work over at your own pace. You do not have to move everything on day one.