Helpbar
HelpBar by Chameleon is a universal search tool designed specifically for SaaS companies. It allows users to connect their help center and ...
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What is Helpbar?
HelpBar is a universal in-app search tool built specifically for SaaS companies. It connects your help center and provides keyboard-enabled searching (CMD+K for Mac, CTRL+K for PC), navigation across pages, and AI-driven answers pulled from your existing documentation. Users can find exactly what they need without switching tabs or leaving your app, creating a faster and more efficient self-serve experience.
Key features include global search support that works without engineering setup, AI-answers using GPT that auto-generate responses when users end questions with a question mark, support for rich media content like videos (Loom), documents, and Figma prototypes, pinned
Helpbar pricing
Pricing model: Free
HelpBar is available on Chameleon's Free plan at $0/month - no payment or credit card required. The Free plan includes: CMD+K or other shortcut, native fonts and styling, Help Center integrations, AI-answers to user questions, and beautiful search interface. Paid Chameleon plans include Startup ($279/month based on 2,000 MTUs) which adds HelpBar with Targeting, Unlimited Tours & Tooltips, 5 Microsurveys, 1 Launcher, and Custom CSS; Growth ($1,500/month with annual billing) adds all experiences unlimited, A/B testing, rate limiting, unlimited goals tracking, and customer success; Enterprise has custom pricing based on needs with unlimited seats, roles & permissions, localization, account-switching, and contract redlining. HelpBar itself is available for all plans including Free.
Helpbar pros
- Free to set up with no payment or credit card required
- No engineering setup needed - plug in help center URL and go
- Keyboard-enabled search with automatic CMD+K (Mac) and CTRL+K (PC)
- AI-answers using GPT pull responses from all your content
- Works with any web app framework (React, Angular, etc.)
- Supports rich media: Loom videos, Figma prototypes, documents
- Native integrations with Zendesk, Intercom, HelpScout, Gitbook
- Pin always-there content items for quick access
- Custom brand styling matches your app's look and fonts
- Reduces support costs by enabling self-serve support
- Speeds up time to value for new users
- Creates power users who navigate your app efficiently
- Keeps users in-app without context switching to other tabs
- CSV or API upload for custom URLs and actions
- Analytics integration sends events data automatically
- Downloadable CSVs for questions, interactions, and content data
- Works on all modern browsers for Mac and PC
Helpbar cons
- No chat functionality - users can't have ongoing conversations
- AI only answers when question ends with question mark
- Additional targeting functionality may require paid plans
- Core Chameleon product (tours/walkthroughs) requires paid subscription
- No price information publicly available for paid tiers
- User-generated page navigation requires API integration
- Engineering tools like Algolia serve different search purposes
- Limited to publicly indexed content without integrations
- May not replace existing site search without careful setup
Frequently asked questions about Helpbar
How does HelpBar leverage AI?
HelpBar uses GPT to provide answers to questions users ask, alongside search results. Users must end their question with a question mark (?) to initiate the AI-answering feature.
What frameworks and browsers does HelpBar work with?
HelpBar works for any web app using any framework (e.g. React, Angular etc.). It is available on all modern browsers and for Mac and PCs (using CMD for Macs and CTRL for PCs automatically).
Can HelpBar replace my existing site search?
Yes, but it doesn't have to. Your existing search can persist while HelpBar provides help answers. You can trigger HelpBar to open when a user clicks on your existing search bar (or any other page element). Over time you can decide if you want HelpBar to replace overall search functionality.
How do I add my help articles and docs to HelpBar?
For help articles/docs, simply add the top-level URL of the site and HelpBar can search it (as long as it's publicly indexed). You can also use native integrations with common knowledge base hosting solutions (Zendesk, Intercom, HelpScout, Gitbook etc.) to privately search your help center. For other content, upload URLs via CSV or API, and manually add actions like booking a call or upgrading plan.
Can users chat with HelpBar multiple times?
HelpBar does not support chat. Users can ask a question and receive an answer multiple times, but users cannot chat with HelpBar. However, if you use an existing support solution (like Intercom or Zendesk), you can launch the chat/messenger from that service from HelpBar via an action/shortcut.
How do I help users discover HelpBar in my app?
To enable users to discover HelpBar, announce it via existing channels (email, in-app, docs site, webinar, LinkedIn etc.). Drive discoverability by placing the Smart widget in your app as a click target. You can also use an existing element to trigger HelpBar, affording another opportunity to make users aware via your UI.
What data and analytics does HelpBar provide?
Within the Chameleon dashboard where you configure HelpBar, downloadable CSVs are available for: Questions and Answers (from users), Interactions (events when users open, search etc.), and Content (download all content uploaded or pointed to HelpBar). Automatically sent events data goes to connected analytics integrations.
Does HelpBar require payment to deploy?
Yes, you can deploy HelpBar without any payment or credit card details. There may be additional functionality developed in future available only to paid plans (e.g. more sophisticated targeting). To offer Chameleon Product Tours/Walkthroughs as search results, you must join a paid subscription for the Chameleon core product.
What is the relationship between Chameleon and HelpBar?
Chameleon is the company/startup behind HelpBar. Chameleon's mission is to enable teams to create personalized UX without engineering, driving better engagement and product usage via patterns like in-app product tours, announcements, tooltips, checklists, microsurveys etc. HelpBar is the newest addition to their product catalog.
Do I need to use Chameleon's core product to use HelpBar?
No. Chameleon's core product offers teams the ability to build and deploy targeted and branded in-product experiences without code. If you use Chameleon's main product, you can include walkthroughs in search results to help users take guided tours, but this is not necessary. You can also include walkthroughs built with other providers in your HelpBar results.