CrawlBot AI vs. Help Scout Beacon AI
Help Scout Beacon AI helps visitors search docs and reach the help desk. CrawlBot focuses on grounded answers with citations, freshness controls, and per-embed analytics. Here is how they differ and when to pair them.
Comparison
| Dimension | CrawlBot AI | Help Scout Beacon AI |
|---|---|---|
| Grounding | Hybrid RAG with citations and refusal policy | Docs search and article suggestions |
| Freshness | Sitemap-first crawl, IndexNow, incremental recrawl | Based on help center updates |
| Analytics | Per-embed impressions, opens, chats, messages, fallback reasons | Beacon usage and article views |
| Security | SRI, strict widget CSP, origin checks, SSO, formal threat model | Standard SaaS security; embed headers depend on setup |
| Multi-tenant | Agency friendly styling and quotas per tenant | Single help desk focus |
When CrawlBot fits better
- Visitors want cited answers on marketing, pricing, or docs without opening an email form.
- Agencies need isolated styling, quotas, and analytics for multiple brands.
- Security reviews require tight CSP and origin validation for embeds.
- Ops teams want retrieval transparency to reduce hallucinations quickly.
When to lean on Beacon
- You need simple docs search and quick email handoffs.
- Teams already rely on Help Scout mailboxes and workflows.
- Authenticated support is routed through Help Scout.
Pairing both
- Add CrawlBot on content-heavy pages for factual Q&A with citations.
- Keep Beacon for quick contact and help center browsing.
- Route account or billing intents from CrawlBot to Help Scout forms when human help is needed.
- Compare containment and CSAT across both to refine placement and crawl cadence.
CrawlBot reduces bounce with grounded answers while Beacon keeps the help desk available when visitors need a human response.