AI support agents: per-resolution pricing is either a bargain or a meter running
This category replaced "deflection rate" slides with invoices that scale with usage, which I find healthier: you can finally measure what you're buying. But read the fine print on what counts as "resolved." A ticket the AI closes badly also counts, and your customers will tell you about those. I ran Fin on a 40k-tickets-a-year helpdesk for a client; the notes below come from that project and the demos I sat through since.
| Tool | What it costs (checked 20 Oct 2026) | My read | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intercom Fin | Fin AI Agent $0.99 per outcome on all plans; seats from $19/seat/mo (Essential), $85 (Advanced), $132 (Expert); Fin Voice $1.99 per voice outcome free trial · monthly or annual |
The pricing model everyone copied. Simple to predict, easy to audit, and it only makes sense past a few thousand tickets a year. If you're under that, a flat-rate tool wins. | |
| Zendesk AI | AI agents included in all Suite/Support plans from $19/agent/mo (paid yearly); 5 automated resolutions/agent/mo included; extra resolutions $1.50 committed, $2.00 pay-as-you-go free trial · monthly or annual |
The safe pick if you already live in Zendesk. Don't migrate your helpdesk just to get their AI; that's a year of pain for a rounding error. | |
| Forethought | Not public no free trial · custom quote |
Enterprise, with the procurement process to match. Strong on deflection for high-volume ticket queues. | |
| Sierra | Not public no free trial · custom quote |
Bret Taylor's company, and the agents are the most convincing I've demoed. Also the one your CFO will ask questions about. | |
| Decagon | Not public no free trial · custom quote |
The darlings of the CX-agent space. Deep integrations, opinionated about how support should work. Mid-market and up. | |
| Yuma | ~$0.75-$1.20 per resolution; annual bundles $14,400/yr (~$1.20), $40,000/yr (~$0.83), $90,000/yr (~$0.75); rate floor $0.55 past 120k resolutions/yr; 12-month commitment; Voice $0.90/conversation + $750/mo free trial · annual billing |
Shopify merchants only, basically. If that's you, put it at the top of your list; it speaks your platform's language. |
Run this before signing anything: take last month's ticket volume, multiply by the per-resolution price, then add 30% for tickets the AI "resolves" and reopens. That number is your real quote. On the 40k-ticket helpdesk, Fin's list price looked 15% cheaper than the old vendor and landed 8% more expensive. Not a disaster, but we'd have budgeted wrong.
Prices from vendor pricing pages on 20 Oct 2026; per-resolution rates get negotiated down at volume, so treat list price as a starting point. No paid placements, and none of these vendors have reviewed this page.