Best Shopify helpdesk apps in 2026
Compare Shopify helpdesk apps for shared inboxes, AI, live chat, order context, social channels, workflows, and customer support.
Quick answer
Start with Gorgias, Re:amaze, or Tidio. Gorgias is the strongest Shopify-first option for growing ecommerce support teams. Re:amaze is a balanced helpdesk with inbox, chat, FAQ, workflows, and AI. Tidio is the easiest path when live chat and AI chat are more important than heavy ticket operations. Richpanel is best for AI self-service, eDesk for multi-channel ecommerce, Crisp for a flexible free-start platform, and Intercom/Kustomer for larger teams.
If you only need a shortlist:
- Best overall starting point: Gorgias: AI, Helpdesk & Chat
- Best alternative to compare: Re:amaze AI Helpdesk and Chat
- Best specialist option: Tidio Live Chat & AI Chatbot
Quick comparison
Research checked in June 2026. Shopify App Store listings can change, so verify current pricing, plan limits, and trial terms before installing.
| App | Best for | App Store pricing note | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gorgias: AI, Helpdesk & Chat | Shopify-first ecommerce support | From $10/month. Free trial | Strong for unified inbox, Shopify context, AI Agent, chat, social, voice, and SMS |
| Re:amaze AI Helpdesk and Chat | balanced helpdesk for small and mid-sized teams | From $29/month. Free trial | Good mix of email, chat, social, SMS, calls, FAQ, workflows, and Shopify order actions |
| Tidio Live Chat & AI Chatbot | light live chat, AI, and basic helpdesk | Free plan. Free trial on paid plans | Fast to start, but test limits for AI conversations, ticketing, and history |
| Richpanel: AI Customer Support | AI agents and self-service | From $89/month. Free trial | Good when many tickets are about order status, returns, refunds, and repeated policies |
| eDesk: AI, Helpdesk & Chat | multi-channel ecommerce and marketplaces | From $49/month. Free trial | Relevant when support comes from Shopify, Amazon, TikTok Shop, WhatsApp, and other channels |
| Crisp: Helpdesk & AI Chatbot | broad multi-channel helpdesk with chat and AI | Free plan. Free trial | Flexible platform with email, chat, WhatsApp, Instagram, FAQ, and Shopify data |
| Intercom: AI Agent & Helpdesk | AI agent plus professional helpdesk | From $0.99 per Fin outcome and seat plans from $39/month | Strong for mature teams, but often heavy for a simple store |
| Kustomer | enterprise customer service and AI CRM | Free to install. External pricing from $89/month per user | Best for larger organizations that want full customer history and order actions |
How we evaluated these apps
This comparison uses Shopify App Store category pages and the individual app listings as the primary sources. Vendor pages can still be useful for enterprise details, but the App Store listing is the clearest common baseline for Shopify merchants.
The main criteria were:
- Unified inbox
- Shopify order context
- Ticketing and assignment
- AI support
- Live chat
- Self-service
- Reporting and SLA control
How to choose the right app
A helpdesk should reduce support friction, not create another inbox. Test order lookup, refund and return workflows, tags, assignment, AI handoff, macros, social channels, and reporting with real tickets before launch.
Avoid choosing from rating alone. A high-rating app can still be wrong if the plan limits, workflow, data model, or support model do not match your store.
Gorgias: AI, Helpdesk & Chat
Gorgias: AI, Helpdesk & Chat is a strong fit for Shopify-first ecommerce support. Strong for unified inbox, Shopify context, AI Agent, chat, social, voice, and SMS
Use it when that specific workflow is more important than simply choosing the cheapest app. Before installing, check the current Shopify App Store plan details, test the feature with real store data, and confirm what happens with refunds, edge cases, limits, and support ownership.
Re:amaze AI Helpdesk and Chat
Re:amaze AI Helpdesk and Chat is a strong fit for balanced helpdesk for small and mid-sized teams. Good mix of email, chat, social, SMS, calls, FAQ, workflows, and Shopify order actions
Use it when that specific workflow is more important than simply choosing the cheapest app. Before installing, check the current Shopify App Store plan details, test the feature with real store data, and confirm what happens with refunds, edge cases, limits, and support ownership.
Tidio Live Chat & AI Chatbot
Tidio Live Chat & AI Chatbot is a strong fit for light live chat, AI, and basic helpdesk. Fast to start, but test limits for AI conversations, ticketing, and history
Use it when that specific workflow is more important than simply choosing the cheapest app. Before installing, check the current Shopify App Store plan details, test the feature with real store data, and confirm what happens with refunds, edge cases, limits, and support ownership.
Richpanel: AI Customer Support
Richpanel: AI Customer Support is a strong fit for AI agents and self-service. Good when many tickets are about order status, returns, refunds, and repeated policies
Use it when that specific workflow is more important than simply choosing the cheapest app. Before installing, check the current Shopify App Store plan details, test the feature with real store data, and confirm what happens with refunds, edge cases, limits, and support ownership.
eDesk: AI, Helpdesk & Chat
eDesk: AI, Helpdesk & Chat is a strong fit for multi-channel ecommerce and marketplaces. Relevant when support comes from Shopify, Amazon, TikTok Shop, WhatsApp, and other channels
Use it when that specific workflow is more important than simply choosing the cheapest app. Before installing, check the current Shopify App Store plan details, test the feature with real store data, and confirm what happens with refunds, edge cases, limits, and support ownership.
Crisp: Helpdesk & AI Chatbot
Crisp: Helpdesk & AI Chatbot is a strong fit for broad multi-channel helpdesk with chat and AI. Flexible platform with email, chat, WhatsApp, Instagram, FAQ, and Shopify data
Use it when that specific workflow is more important than simply choosing the cheapest app. Before installing, check the current Shopify App Store plan details, test the feature with real store data, and confirm what happens with refunds, edge cases, limits, and support ownership.
Intercom: AI Agent & Helpdesk
Intercom: AI Agent & Helpdesk is a strong fit for AI agent plus professional helpdesk. Strong for mature teams, but often heavy for a simple store
Use it when that specific workflow is more important than simply choosing the cheapest app. Before installing, check the current Shopify App Store plan details, test the feature with real store data, and confirm what happens with refunds, edge cases, limits, and support ownership.
Kustomer
Kustomer is a strong fit for enterprise customer service and AI CRM. Best for larger organizations that want full customer history and order actions
Use it when that specific workflow is more important than simply choosing the cheapest app. Before installing, check the current Shopify App Store plan details, test the feature with real store data, and confirm what happens with refunds, edge cases, limits, and support ownership.
FAQ
Which Shopify helpdesk apps should most stores try first?
Start with Gorgias: AI, Helpdesk & Chat if its main use case matches your store. It is the first app in this comparison because it covers the broadest practical need for the category, but Re:amaze AI Helpdesk and Chat may be a better fit if your workflow is closer to its strengths.
Is a free plan enough?
Sometimes. Free plans are useful for testing setup, UI, and basic workflows, but the limits usually appear around volume, automation, branding, integrations, or advanced controls. Always compare the plan at your real order volume and team size.
Can I use more than one app in this category?
You can, but avoid overlapping responsibilities. Two apps trying to control the same storefront widget, customer message, tracking script, or operational workflow can create duplicate work and hard-to-debug errors.
What should I test before launch?
Test the app on real products, orders, customers, themes, and edge cases. Check mobile layout, speed, notifications, permissions, data sync, uninstall behavior, and who on the team owns the workflow after launch.
How often should I re-check the app choice?
Review the setup whenever order volume, markets, team size, theme, fulfillment process, or paid media mix changes. Also re-check pricing and plan limits before major sales periods.
Sources
Research checked in June 2026. Shopify App Store listings can change, so verify current pricing, plan limits, and trial terms before installing.