Side by side
Cerb vs Serif
Both stand on shared inbox software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Open source APILinuxSelf-hosted+1
Choose Cerb if your support team needs shared inbox workflows with SLA management, automation, and customer-facing help tools. Compare the plan billing and slot allowances to find a fit, especially if choosing Cerb Cloud, which bills per seat and per slot.
Visit Cerb Free plan iPhoneMacWeb+1
Serif combines routine email handling with a human review path for uncertain or sensitive messages. It offers free credits and a trial, but monthly plans have listed costs and Android is not yet available.
Visit SerifThe facts
| Cerb | Serif | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web | iPhone, Mac, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Cerb Cloud: $40 per seat a month | Lite: $30 a month |
| Plans published | 5 | 6 |
| Maker | Cerb | Not published |
| Website | cerb.ai | serif.ai |
| On shared inbox software | #1 of 30 | #3 of 30 |
Cerb: what it does well
- Shared inbox with SLA management.
- Includes help center and customer portal capabilities.
- Ticket automation and API access are available.
- Community plan has unlimited workers and seats.
- Self-hosted and cloud paid plans are offered.
What to know first
- Cerb Cloud pricing adds a per-slot charge to per-seat billing.
- Community includes three concurrency slots.
- Community includes two AI agent turns per slot.
Serif: what it does well
- Can route inquiries and answer common questions.
- Escalates ambiguous or sensitive messages to the team.
- Offers $100 in free credits without a credit card.
- Every plan includes a 7-day free trial.
What to know first
- Lite costs $30 a month.
- Team costs $50 a month per user.
- Android is listed as coming soon.

