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Hiver vs Plain

Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.

Help desk inside Gmail.

Customer support for modern teams.

The verdict

Both Hiver and Plain are credible helpdesk tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.

Choose Hiver if you want a longer free trial (7 days). Help desk inside Gmail.

Plain — Customer support for modern teams.

Hiver vs Plain: side by side

DimensionHiverPlain
Starting priceFree – $19/user/moFree – $39/agent/mo
Free planYesYes
Free trial7 daysWinner
Pricing modelSubscriptionFreemium
Best forSmb, Google Workspace UsersSaas, Startups
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Api
Rating4.6/54.7/5

Hiver key facts

Vendor
Hiver
Pricing
Subscription — Free – $19/user/mo
Free tier
Yes
Platforms
Web, Ios, Android
Best for
Smb, Google Workspace Users
Editor rating
4.6 / 5
Founded
2011
Headquarters
San Jose, CA, USA

Plain key facts

Vendor
Plain
Pricing
Freemium — Free – $39/agent/mo
Free tier
Yes
Platforms
Web, Api
Best for
Saas, Startups
Editor rating
4.7 / 5
Founded
2020
Headquarters
London, UK

Frequently asked questions

Is Hiver better than Plain?

Neither is universally better — Plain edges ahead on overall rating, but the best choice depends on price, platforms, and your use case. See the side-by-side table above.

Is Hiver or Plain cheaper?

Hiver is the more affordable of the two to get started, at free – $19/user/mo. Hiver starts at free – $19/user/mo; Plain starts at free – $39/agent/mo.

Can Hiver replace Plain?

Yes for most teams — both are helpdesk tools with heavily overlapping features. The main trade-offs are pricing and platform support, covered in the comparison above.