The 7 best AI live chat apps for Shopify stores in 2025

You’re getting traffic to your store, but the sales just aren’t keeping up. Sound familiar? Shoppers land on your site, browse a bit, maybe even add something to their cart. But then they pause. They have a question about sizing, shipping times, or a custom option, and if they can’t find an answer right away, they’re gone. Just like that, another sale slips away.

This is where AI live chat steps in. It's how you give instant answers, cut down on abandoned carts, and basically have a 24/7 sales assistant working for your Shopify store. But with hundreds of options staring back at you from the Shopify App Store, finding the right one feels like a full-time job.

I’ve been there. So, I spent the time testing a dozen of the most popular chat apps to figure out what actually works. This guide is the result, a straight-to-the-point comparison of the top 7 AI-powered tools to help you pick the right one for your business.

Understanding AI live chat apps for Shopify stores

Put simply, an AI live chat app is a tool that puts a chat window on your Shopify store so customers can ask questions in real-time. But it's the "AI" part that really changes things.

Instead of just making a customer wait for a human agent (who might be swamped or offline), these apps use artificial intelligence to handle the conversation automatically. A good AI chatbot can understand what a customer is asking, pull info from your product pages, answer common questions, track orders, and even steer customers toward a purchase. It's like having a team of support agents and salespeople on the clock around the clock, but without the payroll.

How we chose the best AI live chat apps for Shopify

With so many options, it’s easy to get lost. I put this list together based on what I know growing Shopify merchants actually need. I wasn't just looking for the longest feature list; I was looking for tools that provide real-world value.

Here's what I focused on:

• Real AI, not just a script: Does the app do more than follow a rigid, pre-written flow? I looked for tools that can actually learn from your store's data, understand conversational language, and help with both sales and support questions.

• Deep Shopify integration: How well does it actually connect to your store? The best apps can pull product details, check order statuses, and see what's in a customer's cart without you lifting a finger. That context is everything.

• Easy to set up and use: Can you get it running in a few minutes, or do you need to hire a developer? I prioritized platforms that are self-serve and don't force you into a sales demo just to get started.

• Store performance: A chat widget should never, ever slow down your site. A slow store kills conversions, period. I paid attention to lightweight apps that are optimized for speed.

• No-nonsense pricing: Is the pricing clear and predictable? I leaned toward apps without confusing add-ons or hidden fees that punish you for getting more customers. Your monthly bill shouldn't be a surprise.

A quick comparison of the top AI live chat apps

Here’s a quick look at how the top contenders stack up.

App	Best For	Starting Price	Free Plan Available?	Key AI Feature
eesel AI	Proactive Sales & Risk-Free Automation	$299/mo	No	Simulation Mode & Training on Past Tickets
Tidio	All-in-One Support & Automation	$29/mo	Yes	Lyro AI Chatbot
Gorgias	High-Volume Support Helpdesk	$10/mo (ticket-based)	No	AI-Powered Ticketing & Macros
LiveChat	Established Teams Needing Stability	$24/mo	No	Smart Response Suggestions
Re:amaze	Multi-Brand Store Management	$29/mo	No	Customizable Chatbots & Workflows
Chatra	Simple, Affordable Live Chat	Paid plans were unavailable	Yes	Basic Lead-Capture Bots
Shopify Inbox	New Stores Needing a Free Option	Free	Yes	Basic Automated Answers

The 7 best AI live chat apps for Shopify stores in 2025

1. eesel AI

eesel AI is designed for Shopify merchants who want AI to do more than just answer support questions, they want it to proactively sell. Its biggest advantage is that you can test everything with total confidence before it ever talks to a customer. You can see exactly how it will perform, which removes all the usual guesswork and risk of launching a new AI tool.

A screenshot showing the simulation mode in eesel AI, which is one of the best AI live chat apps for Shopify stores.

Key Features:

• Powerful simulation mode: This is a huge deal. You can test the AI on thousands of your past support tickets to see its exact resolution rate and how much time it'll save you. You know all of this before you hit "go live."

• Train on all your knowledge: It connects instantly to your Shopify catalog, past tickets, help center articles, and even random knowledge you have stored in Google Docs or Notion. This means its answers are always on-brand and accurate.

• Completely self-serve: You can forget about mandatory sales demos or long onboarding calls. You can sign up, connect your helpdesk (if you have one), and set up your AI chatbot on your own in about 10 minutes.

Pricing:

eesel AI's pricing is straightforward and based on features and usage, not confusing per-resolution fees.

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

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

• Custom: Custom pricing for unlimited interactions and more advanced features.

Pros & Cons:

• Pro: The simulation feature means you can deploy AI with zero risk.

• Pro: It pulls knowledge from everywhere to give highly accurate, brand-specific answers.

• Con: There's no free plan, so it's a better fit for businesses that are ready to invest in serious automation.

2. Tidio

Tidio is a well-known all-in-one platform that combines live chat, chatbots, and a help desk. It's a solid option for businesses that want one tool to manage all customer communication, and its Lyro AI chatbot is pretty good at handling common questions.

Key Features: Lyro AI chatbot, a visual flow builder for creating rule-based bots, and a unified inbox for chat, email, and social media.

Pricing:

Tidio has a free plan and a few paid tiers.

• Free: Includes 50 live chat conversations and 100 chatbot triggers.

• Starter: $29/month for 100 conversations.

• Growth: Starts at $49.17/month.

• Add-ons: The Lyro AI and automation features are priced separately based on usage, which can make the final monthly cost a bit of a moving target. The Lyro AI add-on, for instance, is another $39/month for 200 conversations.

Pros & Cons:

• Pro: The free plan is generous and makes it easy to get started with basic live chat.

• Pro: It combines multiple communication tools into one dashboard.

• Con: The pricing can get confusing. You pay for agent-led chats, AI chats, and automation flows separately, so the costs can add up fast.

3. Gorgias

Gorgias is less of a chat app and more of a complete helpdesk built for busy Shopify stores. Its main strength is how deeply it integrates with Shopify, giving support agents amazing context by pulling customer data and order history right into the ticket view.

Key Features: Deep Shopify integration (you can even edit orders from the chat), ticket management, automation rules (macros), and customer sentiment analysis.

Pricing:

Gorgias pricing is based on the number of "billable tickets" you handle each month. AI features cost extra per resolution.

• Starter: $10/month for 50 tickets.

• Basic: $60/month ($50/mo annually) for 300 tickets.

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

• AI Agent: Resolutions cost an extra $1.00 each on monthly plans or $0.90 on annual ones.

Pros & Cons:

• Pro: For support agents, its Shopify data integration is pretty much unbeatable.

• Pro: Great for managing a high volume of support tickets across different channels.

• Con: It’s really a support helpdesk, not a proactive sales tool. The ticket-based pricing can also get expensive as your store grows.

4. LiveChat

LiveChat is one of the old guards of the chat world, known for being stable and reliable. It’s a dependable choice for teams that need a polished, professional tool with great reporting and a massive library of integrations.

Key Features: A highly customizable chat widget, detailed analytics, proactive chat invitations, and a marketplace with over 200 integrations.

Pricing:

LiveChat pricing is per agent, which can get pricey for larger teams. There’s no free plan, but they do offer a 14-day trial.

• Starter: $25/month per agent ($19/mo annually).

• Team: $59/month per agent ($49/mo annually).

• Business: $89/month per agent ($79/mo annually).

Pros & Cons:

• Pro: It's an extremely stable and reliable platform with excellent uptime.

• Pro: The reporting and analytics features are powerful.

• Con: The AI chatbot isn't built-in. You have to integrate it with their sister product, ChatBot.com, which adds another subscription and extra complexity.

5. Re:amaze

Re:amaze is another helpdesk-first platform that's really good at managing customer support for multiple brands or storefronts from one account. It’s a versatile tool that brings together chat, email, social media, and even SMS.

Key Features: Multi-brand support from one dashboard, customizable chatbots, proactive "Cues" for engagement, and a built-in FAQ center.

Pricing:

Re:amaze pricing is based on team members, with a starter plan for very small businesses.

• Starter: $59/month flat rate for unlimited team members, but capped at 500 conversations.

• Basic: $29/month per team member.

• Pro: $49/month per team member.

• Plus: $69/month per team member.

Pros & Cons:

• Pro: Perfect for businesses that run multiple Shopify stores.

• Pro: It brings a lot of channels together into a single inbox.

• Con: The setup can feel a bit complex, and some users find its AI isn't quite as sharp as more specialized tools.

6. Chatra

Chatra is a simple and affordable live chat app that nails the basics of lead capture. It's not the most advanced AI tool on this list, but it works well and is a great starting point for small teams.

Key Features: Live chat for web and mobile, basic lead-capture bots, a real-time visitor list to see who's on your site, and integrations with Facebook and Instagram.

Pricing:

Chatra's official pricing page was down when I wrote this, but it has always offered a free plan and affordable paid options.

• Free: Usually includes one agent and basic chat features.

• Paid Plans: Have previously been in the ballpark of $17-$23 per agent per month, which unlocks more features and removes their branding.

Pros & Cons:

• Pro: Very easy to set up and use, making it ideal for small teams or solo founders.

• Pro: It has a functional free plan so you can try out live chat without commitment.

• Con: The AI and automation features are pretty basic compared to the others here.

7. Shopify Inbox

Shopify Inbox is Shopify's own free live chat tool. If you're a new store owner and just want to offer chat without any extra cost or complicated setup, this is the place to start. It’s built right into your Shopify admin, so you can’t get much easier than that.

Key Features: It's 100% free, has native Shopify integration, basic automated FAQ responses, and mobile app support.

Pricing:

It's completely free for all Shopify merchants.

Pros & Cons:

• Pro: It's free and works with your store right out of the box.

• Pro: Incredibly simple to set up and manage from your Shopify dashboard.

• Con: It lacks true AI, advanced automation, and reporting. It’s a great first step, but most growing stores will eventually need something more powerful.

Pro tips for making your AI live chat a sales machine

Just installing a chat app isn't going to magically boost your sales. To really get a return, you need to use it smartly. Here are a few tips to turn that little chat widget into a powerful sales channel.

Train your AI on sales conversations

You want your chatbot to sound like your best employee, right? The secret is training it on your past support tickets and sales chats. This teaches the AI your brand’s voice, the kinds of tricky questions customers ask, and which answers actually close a sale. Platforms like eesel AI can do this automatically by learning from your history in Zendesk, Gorgias, or other helpdesks, so your chatbot sounds like an expert from day one.

A screenshot showing how eesel AI connects to various knowledge sources to train the chatbot.

Use proactive chat to prevent abandoned carts

Don't just sit back and wait for customers to ask for help. Set up automated messages for shoppers who are lingering on the checkout page or have high-value items in their cart. A simple, "Hey, looks like you're checking out the Pro model. Have any questions before you buy?" can make all the difference. Sometimes, offering a small discount at that moment is the nudge they need to finish the purchase.

Always test your AI chat before you go live

Honestly, the only thing worse than no chat is a bad chatbot. Launching a poorly configured AI that gives wrong answers or gets stuck in a loop will only frustrate customers and cost you sales. This is where having a simulation environment is a lifesaver. With eesel AI's simulation mode, you can run the bot against thousands of your real customer questions in a safe space. You get to see exactly how it will respond, measure its success rate, and tweak it before it ever talks to a live shopper.

The right AI live chat app does more than just answer questions

At the end of the day, the best AI live chat app for your Shopify store is one that not only answers questions but actively helps you sell more, saves you time, and can grow with your business. While a free tool like Shopify Inbox is a great place to start, scaling brands need an AI that can handle complex questions, learn from your data, and deliver a clear return on your investment.

For serious merchants who want to remove the risk of adopting AI and make sure it works perfectly from day one, eesel AI is the clear choice. Its simulation mode, easy setup, and focus on real results make it stand out in a very crowded field.

Ready to see how much support you can automate without the risk? Try eesel AI or book a demo to see the simulation mode in action.