Asana for Startups vs Intercom Early Stage (2026): Which Is Better for Startups?
Both are software perks for startups. Here is how Asana for Startups and Intercom Early Stage compare on what a startup gets, who qualifies and how to apply, and which one we would pick.
Asana for Startups
Discounted first year of Asana Starter or Advanced for Series A-or-earlier startups with a partner code
6.0 /10
Pricing: Free to join
Pros
- Covers Starter or Advanced for 12 months
- Free-plan teams can still qualify
Cons
- Partner code required; discount percentage not public
- Annual plan with card at checkout
Intercom Early Stage
93% off Intercom in year one, then 50% and 25%, for startups under $10M raised and 15 staff
8.0 /10
Pricing: Free to join
Pros
- 93% off in year one, discounted for three years
- No partner code needed
- Includes Fin AI agent usage
Cons
- Phone, SMS, WhatsApp and extra Fin usage at list price
- Leaving the programme forfeits later-year savings
Asana for Startups vs Intercom Early Stage at a glance
| Asana for Startups | Intercom Early Stage | |
|---|---|---|
| Editor score | 6.0 / 10 | 8.0 / 10 |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| What you get | Free to join | Free to join |
| Who qualifies | Series A or earlier startups that are new to Asana or on the free plan (no paid plan in the last 60 days), with a partner discount code. | Startups with up to $10M in funding, fewer than 15 employees and no existing Intercom account. |
| Partner code needed | Yes | No |
| Steps it helps with | claim startup credits, build your mvp | claim startup credits, get your first 100 customers |
| Who it is for | Pre-seed, Seed stage, Series A+, VC-backed only | Pre-seed, Seed stage, Series A+, SaaS, AI startups |
| Reader upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Best for | project management, work management, asana | customer support, helpdesk, ai agent |
Our pick
Intercom Early Stage edges it with a score of 8.0 versus 6.0. Intercom Early Stage is the better fit if you value: 93% off in year one, discounted for three years, no partner code needed. Choose Asana for Startups instead if you need: covers starter or advanced for 12 months, free-plan teams can still qualify. Many startups can claim both: see credits by value.
Other software perks for startups to consider
Full ranking →HubSpot for Startups 🎁 ProgramFree
Up to 90% off HubSpot Professional or Enterprise in year one for funded or partner-backed startups
🔥 Up to 90% off HubSpot Professional/Enterprise in year one (50% year two, 25% year three)Notion for Startups 🎁 ProgramFree
Up to 6 months free on Notion Business with Notion AI included, for startups under 100 employees
🔥 Up to 6 months free on Notion Business with Notion AI includedAttio Startup Program 🎁 ProgramFree
80% off Attio Pro in year one and 30% in year two for venture-backed or partner startups
🔥 80% off the annual Pro plan in year one, 30% off in year twoZendesk for Startups 🎁 ProgramFree
Free Zendesk Professional Suite and Copilot for funded startups, 6 months baseline and up to 2 years via partners
🔥 Zendesk Professional Suite and Copilot free for 6 months (up to 2 years with partner)