Best Shopify live chat and AI chatbot apps in 2026
Compare Shopify live chat and AI chatbot apps with criteria, pros, cons, pricing notes, and current App Store sources.
Quick answer
Use Shopify Inbox if you want free native live chat. Choose Tidio for the broadest combination of live chat, Lyro AI, chatbot flows, helpdesk, and multiple channels. Choose Chatty when AI should answer product, FAQ, and order questions. Choose Chatway for a small team that wants simple chat, mobile app, and social inbox. Gorgias and Re:amaze are better when chat is part of a helpdesk workflow. Intercom is best for teams already committed to Intercom and Fin.
If you only need a shortlist:
- Best overall starting point: Shopify Inbox
- Best alternative to compare: Tidio - Live Chat & AI Chatbot
- Best specialist option: Chatty AI Chatbot & Live Chat
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify Inbox | free Shopify-native live chat | Free | Good baseline, but not a full helpdesk |
| Tidio - Live Chat & AI Chatbot | all-round live chat, Lyro AI, and helpdesk | Free plan. Paid modules from $29/month; Lyro from $39/month | Conversations, flows, and AI sit on different plan and usage logic |
| Chatty AI Chatbot & Live Chat | AI answers from product, FAQ, and order data | Free plan. Paid from $19.99/month with 7-day trial | AI conversations and product training are clear plan limits |
| Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot | small teams, mobile app, and WhatsApp/social inbox | Free plan. Paid from $29/month with 14-day trial | AI chatbot credits and agents are optional and must be priced separately |
| Gorgias: AI, Helpdesk & Chat | ecommerce helpdesk with chat, AI, and ticketing | From $10/month with 7-day trial | Ticket limits, extra tickets, and automation add-ons can drive cost |
| Re:amaze AI Helpdesk & Chat | shared inbox, live chat, AI, and help center | From $29/month with 14-day trial | Pricing is usually per staff user or conversation-based, and AI resolutions have limits |
| Intercom: AI Agent & Helpdesk | Fin AI Agent and professional support in Intercom | Fin from $0.99 per outcome. Seats from $39/month with 14-day trial | External Intercom charges can be billed separately from Shopify |
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:
- Live handoff
- AI training data
- Shopify order context
- Onsite and social channels
- Opening hours and fallback
- Conversation history
- AI conversation limits
How to choose the right app
Live chat should shorten the path from question to answer. Test handoff to a human, opening hours, fallback replies, product data, order data, notifications, conversation history, and how AI behaves with unclear or critical questions.
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.
Shopify Inbox
Shopify Inbox is a strong fit for free Shopify-native live chat. Good baseline, but not a full helpdesk
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 all-round live chat, Lyro AI, and helpdesk. Conversations, flows, and AI sit on different plan and usage logic
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.
Chatty AI Chatbot & Live Chat
Chatty AI Chatbot & Live Chat is a strong fit for AI answers from product, FAQ, and order data. AI conversations and product training are clear plan limits
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.
Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot
Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot is a strong fit for small teams, mobile app, and WhatsApp/social inbox. AI chatbot credits and agents are optional and must be priced separately
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.
Gorgias: AI, Helpdesk & Chat
Gorgias: AI, Helpdesk & Chat is a strong fit for ecommerce helpdesk with chat, AI, and ticketing. Ticket limits, extra tickets, and automation add-ons can drive cost
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 & Chat
Re:amaze AI Helpdesk & Chat is a strong fit for shared inbox, live chat, AI, and help center. Pricing is usually per staff user or conversation-based, and AI resolutions have limits
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 Fin AI Agent and professional support in Intercom. External Intercom charges can be billed separately from Shopify
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 live chat and AI chatbot apps should most stores try first?
Start with Shopify Inbox 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 Tidio - Live Chat & AI Chatbot 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.