This guide compares the top Shopify live chat app i.e. Tidio, Chatty AI, Gorgias, Willdesk, MooseDesk, SmartBot, and Shopify Inbox.
Each Shopify live chat app was evaluated on automation, AI capability, integrations, pricing logic, targeting, and analytics.
Some apps charge per conversation (Tidio, Willdesk), others per ticket (Gorgias) or per product training limit (SmartBot).
Shopify Inbox app is free but lacks advanced automation, segmentation, and analyti
MooseDesk stands out overall due to AI training depth, omnichannel inbox, automation workflows, pricing transparency, and scalability.
This blog compares the best Shopify live chat apps based on features, pricing, automation depth, AI capability, reviews, and scalability. I have reviewed Tidio, Chatty AI, Gorgias, Willdesk, MooseDesk, SmartBot, and also added a note on Shopify’s very own Shopify Inbox app.
Shopify live chat apps help merchants answer customer questions instantly, automate support, reduce ticket volume, and increase conversions. Based on feature depth, AI performance, pricing structure, and merchant reviews, we’ve identified the strongest Shopify live chat app depending on store size and use case. Let’s dive in.
Comparison Table: Best Shopify Live Chat Apps
App Name
Key Live Chat Features
Support Features
Reviews & Ratings
Pricing
Tidio
AI chatbots Live chat Email chat Social media integration
AI chatbots Live chat Email chat Social integration
FAQ builder Helpdesk ticketing Analytics
4.9 ★ (1,749 reviews)
Free plan available Paid plans available
Gorgias
AI chatbots Live chat Email support Automation rules
Ticketing system AI agent Automation workflows
4.3 ★ (613 reviews)
Starter: $10/mo Higher tiers available
Willdesk
AI chatbots Live chat Email chat Social media
Workflow builder Order tracking Returns management
4.8 ★ (385 reviews)
Free plan available Paid plans available
MooseDesk
AI chatbots Live chat Email chat Social support
Order tracking Helpdesk tickets Smart automation
5.0 ★ (466 reviews)
Free plan available Standard plans available
SmartBot
AI chatbots Live chat Multi-language chat
Custom workflows Unlimited AI chats Customer segmentation
4.7 ★ (367 reviews)
Free plan available Starter: $29/mo
Shopify Inbox
Live chat Customer context Product links
Instant answers Quick replies AI suggestions
4.7 ★ (5,220 reviews)
Free with all Shopify plans
In-Depth Review: Shopify Live Chat Apps
1. Tidio – Live Chat & AI Chatbot
Tidio is a popular Shopify live chat app that combines live chat, AI chatbot automation (Lyro), and helpdesk ticketing into one platform. It is suitable for small to mid-sized ecommerce brands looking for multi-channel support with automation.
Gorgias is an enterprise-grade Shopify live chat app built primarily as a helpdesk with deep Shopify backend integration.
Key Features of Gorgias
Unified inbox (chat, email, SMS, social, voice)
AI-powered ticket automation
Shopify order editing inside the dashboard
Refund & cancellation management
Revenue attribution tracking
Intent detection & auto-tagging
Macro automation rules
SLA workflows
Advanced routing rules
Customer segmentation
AI shopping assistant
Live chat widget
Detailed reporting & agent performance tracking
Multi-store management
API integrations
Major Limits:
Ticket-based billing
Automation add-ons increase cost
Pros
Deep Shopify integration
Strong automation workflows
Revenue tracking
Enterprise-ready infrastructure
Cons
Expensive at scale
Complex setup
Pricing
$10/month
$60/month
$360/month
$900/month
4. Willdesk – Live Chat & AI Chatbot
Willdesk combines GPT-4 AI, live chat, and ticketing into one Shopify live chat app with strong workflow automation.
Key Features of Willdesk
GPT-4 powered AI chatbot
Workflow automation builder
Cart recovery automation
Multi-store management
Omnichannel inbox (email + social)
Help center & FAQ builder
Order tracking integration
Smart ticket routing
Custom domain FAQ hosting
Agent performance analytics
Chat assignment automation
Customizable widget
Behavior tracking
Translation support
Major Limits:
Conversation caps per plan
Overage charges apply
Pros
Affordable pricing
Multi-store support
Strong workflow automation
Generous free tier
Cons
Occasional bugs reported
Limited macro editing
Pricing
Free
$16.90/month
$89.90/month
Custom
5. MooseDesk – AI Chatbot & Live Chat
MooseDesk is a scalable Shopify live chat app that blends AI automation, omnichannel messaging, ticketing, and analytics.
Key Features of MooseDesk
AI auto-training on products & FAQs
AI learning from past conversations
Order tracking automation
Returns & exchange automation
Omnichannel inbox (chat, email, social)
Smart ticket routing
FAQ builder with custom URL
Chat widget customization
Multi-language support
Customer data storage
Agent performance dashboard
AI pay-as-you-go model
Detailed analytics & reporting
Team management
Knowledge base hosting
Major Limits:
AI replies capped per plan
Overage per AI response
Pros
Generous free plan
Automatic AI learning
Strong analytics dashboard
Scalable pricing
Cons
Interface can feel dense
AI reply caps per tier
Pricing
Free
$19/month
$49/month
$249/month
6. SmartBot – AI Chatbot & Live Chat
SmartBot is a conversion-focused Shopify live chat app designed to drive sales using AI-powered product recommendations.
Key Features of SmartBot
AI trained on products & policies
Context-aware product recommendations
Sales follow-up automation
Discount trigger automation
Multi-language support
Product upsell popups
WhatsApp live-agent handoff
Sales analytics dashboard
Custom AI rules builder
Multi-currency support
Recommendation performance tracking
High concurrency support (Pro plan)
Headless storefront compatibility
Major Limits:
Product training caps
Shopify-only data ingestion
Pros
Sales-focused AI
Unlimited AI chats
Built for Shopify badge
Strong multilingual support
Cons
Pricing tied to product count
Limited external data ingestion
Pricing
Free
$30/month
$100/month
$300/month
$680/month
7. Shopify Inbox – Native Shopify Live Chat
Shopify Inbox is a Shopify live chat app that is native to Shopify and available for free on all plans.
Key Features of Shopify Inbox
Basic live chat widget
AI suggested replies (Shopify Magic)
Instant Answers (pre-configured FAQs)
Discount code creation inside chat
Cart visibility during conversation
Order history preview
File & image sharing
Chat assignment
Business hours settings
Basic customization (colors & placement)
Mobile app access
Major Limits:
No omnichannel inbox
No advanced AI automation
No ticket management system
Limited segmentation
Basic analytics only
Pros
Completely free
Native Shopify integration
Easy to install
Cons
No advanced automation
No workflow builder
No revenue tracking
Not scalable for growing brands
Pricing
Free
Conclusion
Selecting the ideal Shopify live chat app boils down to your store's scale and goals: Start with free tools like Shopify Inbox or Chatty AI for quick wins in engagement, upgrade to Tidio or Willdesk for scalable AI automation under $50/month, or invest in Gorgias for enterprise-grade multichannel support. Prioritize apps with deep Shopify integration, usage-based pricing transparency, and proven ROI through analytics—test with free trials to match your traffic and cut support tickets by up to 50% while driving upsells
Hurrify customers to buy within a given timeframe with a sales countdown timer & improve conversions
Another popular Shopify checkout app is Checkout Promotions. The app comes with the ability to leverage a collection of highly robust visibility rules that help show customers one-click post purchase upsell promotions after an order payment has been made. Some of its key features include:
Features
AI recommended and manual recommendations for upselling.
Complete branding control.
Checkout Upsell for increasing AOV.
AI recommended and manual recommendations for upselling.
Pricing
Development
Free
Monthly Plan
$99/ month
Plus Plan
$99/ month
Plus Plan
$99/ month
FAQ (Best Shopify Live Chat Apps)
What is the best Shopify live chat app for small stores with low traffic?
How do I choose the right Shopify live chat app for my store?
What are the installation steps for a Shopify live chat app?
Does a Shopify live chat app integrate with WhatsApp or Instagram?
Can a Shopify live chat app handle order tracking and upsells?
What AI features should I expect from a Shopify live chat app?
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Sid B
Sid is the founder of Skai Lama and The Indian Dream Podcast. He is passionate about building SaaS and talks about eCommerce Growth, 0-1 Startups, Building Businesses and Brands, and Shopify.
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