I tried 10+ tools to find the best Shopify chat app in 2025

So you did the hard part. You launched your Shopify store. You picked a theme, your products are live, and the checkout actually works. Now you’re staring at the Shopify App Store, scrolling through 500+ chat apps, and trying to figure out which one will actually help you make more sales instead of just becoming another notification you have to ignore.

Sound familiar? It’s a common headache. So many chat tools are either too basic to be useful or so complicated and expensive they feel like they were built for a different planet. And let's be real, a lot of the so-called "AI chatbots" sound like a robot reading a dictionary, which just ends up annoying your customers.

I've been down this rabbit hole myself, so I decided to do the legwork for you. I personally tested and reviewed the top contenders to put together a straightforward list of the best Shopify chat apps for this year. Whether you're a one-person show or managing a growing team, there’s something in here that’ll work for you.

What is a Shopify chat app and why do you need one?

A Shopify chat app is basically that little bubble you see in the corner of a website. It lets visitors message you or an automated assistant (a chatbot) in real-time to ask questions.

But it’s way more than just a fancy contact form. When you get it right, a chat app can be a huge help for your business. Here’s why it matters:

It helps you make more sales by catching customers at the right moment. You can answer last-minute questions about sizing, shipping, or materials right when someone is thinking about clicking "buy." As one store owner on Reddit mentioned, "The amount of sales I got just by replying... is high." In fact, Shopify even says that 70% of conversations in their own Inbox app are with customers who are right in the middle of a purchase.

Reddit

It also takes a load off your plate. A good chat tool can instantly handle common questions like "Where's my order?" or "What's your return policy?" This frees you up to deal with the trickier problems that need a human touch.

And honestly, customers just expect it now. Live chat isn't a bonus feature anymore; it’s standard. It builds trust and shows shoppers you’re there to help, which can be the difference between a sale and another abandoned cart.

How I chose the best Shopify chat app for this list

To make this list actually useful, I focused on a few things that really matter for a Shopify store's daily grind and, of course, its bottom line. Here’s what I was looking for:

First off, how easy is it to set up? You should be spending your time on your business, not wrestling with complicated software. I wanted tools you could get running without calling in a developer.

Next, I looked at the AI and automation. Does the AI actually solve problems, or does it just create more work by misunderstanding everyone? I was hunting for tools that could do more than just spit out FAQ articles.

A deep Shopify integration was also non-negotiable. A great chat app should plug right into your store’s backend. Can it see a customer's order history or what's currently in their cart? That context is everything.

I also considered customization. Can you make the chat widget and the AI’s personality match your brand? And finally, pricing. Is it clear, fair, and predictable for a growing business? Nobody likes getting a surprise bill at the end of the month.

A quick comparison of the top 5 Shopify chat apps for 2025

Here's a bird's-eye view of how my top picks compare.

The 5 best Shopify chat apps in 2025

After digging through a ton of options, these are the five that really stood out from the pack.

1. eesel AI

eesel AI isn't just another chatbot. It’s more like an AI brain that you can layer on top of your existing tools to get seriously smart automation. It’s built for stores that have moved past basic chat and need an AI that can handle tricky questions, learn from your business data, and genuinely help your team.

The platform plugs into all your knowledge sources, from old support tickets and your help center to random Google Docs and even your live Shopify product catalog. This lets it give accurate, context-aware answers that actually sound like your brand. Its biggest strength is its ability to perform custom actions, like looking up a customer's real-time order status or escalating a ticket. You can get it up and running in minutes, and its simulation mode lets you test the AI on thousands of your past tickets before it ever speaks to a real customer.

An infographic showing how the eesel AI Shopify chat app connects to various knowledge sources.

What I liked:

• It learns from everything. It trains on your past support tickets and scattered knowledge, so it picks up your brand's voice right away.

• You're in complete control. You get to decide exactly which questions the AI handles and what actions it can take, from simple answers to more complex tasks.

• You can test it risk-free. The simulation mode shows you how much it could automate and save you before you even launch it. That's a huge confidence booster.

• The pricing is predictable. Its plans are based on usage, not how many tickets it resolves, so your costs don’t suddenly jump during busy times like Black Friday.

What to consider:

• There isn't a free-forever plan, but there is a free trial to get you started.

• It might be overkill for a brand-new store that gets very few customer questions.

Pricing:

eesel AI's pricing is straightforward and covers all its products (AI Agent, Copilot, Chatbot, etc.).

• Team Plan: $299/month ($239/month if billed annually) for up to 1,000 AI interactions.

• Business Plan: $799/month ($639/month if billed annually) for up to 3,000 interactions and adds features like training on past tickets and advanced AI actions.

• Custom Plan: For larger needs with unlimited interactions.

2. Shopify Inbox

For anyone just launching their store, Shopify Inbox is a total no-brainer. It's free, it’s made by Shopify, and it fits perfectly into your admin dashboard. It handles the basics of live chat better than any other free tool out there.

Shopify Inbox lets you talk to customers from your computer or their mobile app. Its real magic is how well it works with everything else in Shopify. You can see what's in a customer's cart, check their profile, and send discount codes right from the chat window. It also uses Shopify Magic to suggest quick answers to common questions, which is a nice first step into automation without any extra cost.

What I liked:

• It's completely free to use with any Shopify plan.

• The integration with your Shopify store and admin is seamless.

• It's incredibly simple to set up, you can have it live in minutes.

• You can capture leads and continue conversations over email if someone leaves your site.

What to consider:

• The AI is pretty basic and you can't customize it. You can't train it on your specific knowledge.

• It's missing more advanced features like custom actions or connecting to external knowledge bases.

• Some user reviews mentioned problems with delayed or missed notifications on the mobile app.

Pricing:

Shopify Inbox is free to install and use, but you need an active Shopify store subscription.

• Basic Shopify: Starts at $29/month (billed annually).

• Shopify: Starts at $79/month (billed annually).

• Advanced Shopify: Starts at $299/month (billed annually).

3. Tidio

Tidio is a really popular tool that does more than just live chat. It bundles chat, AI chatbots, and email marketing into one platform. This makes it a solid pick for stores that are focused on capturing leads and proactively engaging with visitors.

Tidio's coolest feature is its visual chatbot builder. It lets you map out automated conversation flows with a drag-and-drop editor, no code needed. You can build bots to greet new visitors, offer discounts to people who seem hesitant, or help recover abandoned carts. It connects with Shopify to pull product info and also links up with other marketing tools. My take is that its AI is more about following the rigid flows you build, not really learning from past conversations. That can lead to some robotic moments if a customer asks something unexpected.

What I liked:

• The free plan is pretty generous and works well for very small businesses.

• The visual editor for building custom bot flows is powerful and easy to use.

• It packs basic email marketing and ticketing features into one place.

What to consider:

• The AI isn't as good at understanding context as more specialized platforms. It follows rules, but it doesn't really learn.

• The pricing can get complicated since it's broken down by different features and conversation limits.

• It can sometimes feel like you're working in a separate system rather than something that blends in with your existing tools.

Pricing:

Tidio's pricing is modular, so you only pay for what you need.

• Free Plan: Includes 50 live chat conversations and lets you reach 100 visitors with Flows.

• Starter Plan: $24.17/month for 100 live chat conversations.

• Lyro AI Agent (Standalone): Starts at $32.50/month for 50 AI-powered conversations.

• Flows (Standalone): Starts at $24.17/month to engage with 2,000 visitors.

4. Gorgias

Gorgias is not just a chat app; it's a full-blown customer service helpdesk made specifically for e-commerce. It has one of the deepest Shopify integrations you'll find. If your goal is to manage all your support channels, email, chat, social media, in one central hub, Gorgias is worth a serious look.

The chat feature is powerful because it's tied to a main dashboard showing a customer's entire history with your brand. You can see past orders and conversations and even edit Shopify orders without leaving the helpdesk. It also has good automation for routing and responding to messages. The catch is that you have to adopt their entire platform, which is a much bigger commitment than just adding a chat widget to your site.

What I liked:

• The super-deep integration with Shopify is unmatched. You can manage orders right from the helpdesk.

• It brings all your customer communication channels into a single inbox.

• It has strong automation rules for organizing and answering tickets.

What to consider:

• It's pricier than a standalone chat app.

• You're committing to a full helpdesk platform, which might be more than some stores need.

• The pricing is based on tickets and AI resolutions, which can get unpredictable and expensive as your support volume grows.

Pricing:

Gorgias bases its prices on ticket volume, with AI as an add-on.

• Starter: $10/month for 50 tickets. AI resolutions are pay-as-you-go at $1.00 each.

• Basic: Starts at $60/month ($50/month annually) for 300 tickets. AI is an add-on; for example, 60 AI resolutions cost an extra $54/month.

• Pro: Starts at $360/month ($300/month annually) for 2,000 tickets.

5. Zendesk

Zendesk is a giant in the customer support world for a reason. For big stores with dedicated support teams, its powerful ticketing system, detailed reporting, and huge list of integrations make it a solid and scalable choice.

The Zendesk Suite includes live chat and chatbot tools that are part of a massive, enterprise-level system. It's great at handling complex workflows, sending conversations to the right people, and giving you deep analytics. While its AI is capable, it often takes a lot of work to set up and can be an expensive add-on. For businesses already using Zendesk, adding a more focused AI layer like eesel AI can be a more affordable way to get great automation without the complicated setup.

What I liked:

• It's extremely powerful and can scale to handle huge, complex support operations.

• It offers advanced reporting and analytics that data-driven teams will love.

• It integrates with pretty much any business tool you can imagine.

What to consider:

• It can be very complex and expensive to set up and keep running.

• The best AI features are often pricey add-ons that aren't as simple to use as more modern tools.

• The interface can feel a bit overwhelming for smaller teams who aren't used to enterprise software.

Pricing:

Zendesk has several tiers, with AI features included in the "Suite" plans.

• Support Team: Starts at $19/agent/month (billed annually) for basic email and ticketing.

• Suite Team: Starts at $55/agent/month (billed annually) and includes messaging, a help center, and "Essential" AI features.

• Suite Professional: Starts at $115/agent/month (billed annually) for more advanced features.

• Advanced AI Agents & Copilot: These are paid add-ons that can really drive up the total cost.

Key features to look for in your Shopify chat app

Now that you've seen the options, here's a quick rundown of what to look for. This should help you pick a tool that grows with your business, not one you'll have to replace in six months.

An AI that learns from everything.

Can the AI pull info from more than just your help center? The best tools connect to past tickets, internal docs, and even collaborative tools like Slack. This is how they give the most accurate and human-sounding answers.

A safe way to test it.

You shouldn't have to "test" your AI on live customers. A simulation mode is essential for seeing how it performs and building your confidence before you launch. It lets you see exactly how the AI would have answered past customer questions.

A screenshot of the eesel AI simulation mode, a key feature in a modern Shopify chat app.

The ability to take action.

A great chatbot doesn't just talk; it does things. Look for the ability to create custom actions to check order statuses, process returns, or create tickets in your helpdesk automatically.

Pricing that makes sense.

Try to avoid tools that charge you per conversation or resolution. That model punishes you for being successful and makes it impossible to budget. Look for flat, predictable pricing that lets you scale without getting hit with surprise bills.

An easy onboarding process.

You're busy running a store. You shouldn't have to sit through a bunch of sales calls just to try a tool. I'd prioritize solutions that let you sign up and see if it's a good fit in minutes.

The right Shopify chat app turns browsers into buyers

Adding a chat app to your Shopify store is one of the quickest ways to increase sales and keep customers coming back. While a free tool like Shopify Inbox is a great place to start, growing stores eventually need a smarter solution.

The goal is to find a tool that goes beyond simple, pre-written responses. An AI-powered chat app that actually learns from your unique business data, gives you full control over automation, and lets you test everything with confidence isn't a luxury anymore, it's how you stay ahead.

If you're ready to see what an intelligent chatbot can do for your support, try eesel AI for free. You can connect your knowledge sources in a few minutes and see just how many of your customer questions could be automated right away.