Intercom: impact on page speed
Category: Chat widget
The Intercom Messenger loads a full chat application into the page, including its own framework code, so that the chat bubble is ready immediately. Most visitors never open it.
On 0.6 % of the 5509 homepages measured, Intercom is among the five heaviest third parties. Where it is, it takes a median of 303 ms of main-thread time; on the heaviest quarter of those sites it takes 341 ms or more.
0.6 %
of homepages: among the five heaviest third parties
303 ms
median main-thread time
341 ms
main-thread time on the heaviest quarter (p75)
294 KB
median transfer size
Distribution across homepages
Percentiles across 31 homepages with Intercom.
| Percentile | Main-thread time | Transfer size |
|---|---|---|
| p25 |
258 ms
|
293 KB |
| Median |
303 ms
|
294 KB |
| p75 |
341 ms
|
301 KB |
| p90 |
474 ms
|
341 KB |
In context
By median main-thread time, Intercom ranks sixth of 72 third parties in the benchmark, lighter than Google CDN and heavier than Facebook.
On 77 % of the homepages where it appears, Intercom alone uses 250 milliseconds of main-thread time or more, the mark from which Lighthouse flags third-party code.
Homepages with Intercom weigh 5.2 MB at the median (JavaScript: 2.4 MB), homepages without it 4.3 MB (JavaScript: 1.5 MB).
Often loaded together with
Share of homepages with Intercom where the other tool is also among the five heaviest third parties.
- Google Tag Manager 74 %
- Facebook 48 %
- Hubspot 16 %
How to spot Intercom on your page
The Messenger loads its loader from widget.intercom.io and the application code from js.intercomcdn.com, then requests its launcher settings from Intercom's API on api-iam.intercom.io. On SaaS sites it is often present on marketing pages, the app and the help centre at the same time. Deciding page by page where a conversation is likely is the most effective way to cut its cost.
How to reduce the impact of Intercom
- Replace the bubble with a lightweight facade button that loads the Messenger on click.
- Show the chat only on pages with support or sales intent.
- Delay loading until the browser is idle after the page has rendered.
Frequently asked questions
How can I load Intercom with less impact?
Replace the bubble with a lightweight facade button that loads the Messenger on click. Show the chat only on pages with support or sales intent.
Does Intercom affect Core Web Vitals?
Intercom affects INP and, less often, CLS. The messenger loads its application in the background on every page so that it opens instantly, and that work competes with the first interactions. The launcher button floats above the page, but banners and inline messages can push content when they appear.
Method and sample: Third-Party Benchmark.