What is the best Tidio alternative for Shopify?

For AI that resolves orders in website chat, Counter fits. For free chat, look at Shopify Inbox. For a full helpdesk, look at Gorgias, Richpanel or Re:amaze. We make Counter, so check each tool's own pages too.

Is there a free alternative to Tidio?

Shopify Inbox is free for Shopify stores, with no separate charge for its AI agent. Counter doesn't have a free plan, but every plan starts with a 7-day free trial.

Which Tidio alternatives can process refunds with AI?

Counter handles refunds as a built-in topic you can set to automatic, approval or hand-off. Gorgias's documented AI actions include cancellations and address edits; check its current docs for refunds. Shopify's documentation doesn't list refunds for its Inbox agent.

When should I stay with Tidio?

Stay if you want a free plan, mostly need live chat staffed by people, need one inbox for chat, email, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp, or want rule-based chatbot flows for marketing.

Tidio alternatives for Shopify stores

Tidio is an easy way to start with live chat, and its free plan is hard to beat. The cost and setup can change once you want AI to handle most conversations. Here are five alternatives and when Tidio is still the better choice.

Try Counter free See Counter pricing

We make Counter, so it's listed first. Details about other tools come from their own pages, linked under Sources. 7-day free trial on every Counter plan.

Why stores look elsewhere

Three reasons to compare Tidio.

AI conversations add up

Lyro is an add-on priced per conversation: $39 a month for 50, rising to $700 for 1,000, on top of a helpdesk plan. It stops at your limit rather than charging more. Tidio's App Store listing shows $39 for up to 200, so check which applies to you.

Order changes may take setup

Tidio's help center lists one ready-made Shopify template, for order status. Its updates say Lyro can also cancel, modify and refund, and its App Store listing mentions native Shopify actions, so confirm what's included.

Seats are capped below Plus

Free, Starter and Growth include 10 seats. The limit goes away on Plus, from $300 a month.

At a glance

Tidio alternatives compared.

Tool	Price	Order changes by the AI	Trial
Counter	$29 to $249 per 30 days by AI conversation allowance, then $0.04 each. Unlimited seats	Returns, refunds, cancellations, address changes and discount codes within rules you publish	7-day free trial, card required
Shopify Inbox	Free, with no separate charge for the AI agent	Not documented for the AI agent; handed to staff	Free
Re:amaze	$29, $49 or $69 per team member a month, or $59 flat for up to 500 responded conversations. AI resolutions beyond the plan's allowance cost $0.85 each	Not stated for its AI Agent. Your team can manage and modify Shopify orders in chat	14 days, no card required
Gorgias	$10 to $900 a month for 50 to 5,000 tickets, plus AI Agent per automated interaction	Cancel, edit address, remove or replace items, free reship, order notes and integration actions	7 days, no card required
Richpanel	$99 per seat a month on annual billing ($119 monthly). AI is metered by credits with a $200-a-month minimum, so one seat plus AI starts at $299 a month on annual	Order and subscription updates, custom rules and human handoff. Returns and exchanges are a paid add-on from $99 a month	No free trial mentioned; the page asks you to book a demo

The options

1. Counter
AI support assistant for website chat, with a shared inbox for handoffs.
Best for
Stores that want AI on most chats, with order actions ready to switch on and approvals when needed.
Channels
Website chat on Shopify and Medusa v2
Watch out for
Website chat only, so it isn't a full helpdesk for email, social, SMS or phone. No free plan.
2. Shopify Inbox
Shopify's free chat app with an opt-in AI agent.
Best for
Shopify stores that want a free chat app and mostly get pre-sale questions.
Channels
Website chat; Shopify only
Watch out for
Order lookups need a signed-in customer, and seats follow your Shopify plan's staff account limit.
Counter vs Shopify Inbox
3. Re:amaze
Helpdesk for email, social and live chat, with a Beta AI agent.
Best for
Small teams that want a low-cost helpdesk across email, social and chat, and need little AI.
Channels
Email, social and live chat on every plan; SMS and voice from Pro
Watch out for
Basic, Pro and Plus include only 5 to 20 AI resolutions per user each month, and its AI is labeled Beta.
4. Gorgias
Omnichannel helpdesk with an optional AI Agent.
Best for
Support teams that need a full omnichannel helpdesk and a long list of AI actions.
Channels
Email, chat, social, help center and contact form; SMS and voice as paid add-ons
Watch out for
An AI-resolved conversation is billed as a ticket and as an automated interaction.
Counter vs Gorgias
5. Richpanel
Helpdesk with AI agents, a team copilot and a self-service portal.
Best for
Larger teams that want a per-seat helpdesk with AI agents and a self-service portal.
Channels
Email, chat, social and phone in one inbox; manages Shopify orders from its dashboard
Watch out for
Its pricing page gives two figures for AI usage (about $0.20 a conversation and $0.50 to $0.60 a credit), so confirm the real cost before you switch.

Before you switch

When to stay with Tidio.

You want a free plan, or mostly need live chat staffed by people
You need one inbox for chat, email, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp, or sell on WooCommerce, Wix or BigCommerce
You want rule-based chatbot flows for cart recovery, lead capture and marketing

Tidio alternatives, answered.

What is the best Tidio alternative for Shopify?: For AI that resolves orders in website chat, Counter fits. For free chat, look at Shopify Inbox. For a full helpdesk, look at Gorgias, Richpanel or Re:amaze. We make Counter, so check each tool's own pages too.
Is there a free alternative to Tidio?: Shopify Inbox is free for Shopify stores, with no separate charge for its AI agent. Counter doesn't have a free plan, but every plan starts with a 7-day free trial.
Which Tidio alternatives can process refunds with AI?: Counter handles refunds as a built-in topic you can set to automatic, approval or hand-off. Gorgias's documented AI actions include cancellations and address edits; check its current docs for refunds. Shopify's documentation doesn't list refunds for its Inbox agent.
When should I stay with Tidio?: Stay if you want a free plan, mostly need live chat staffed by people, need one inbox for chat, email, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp, or want rule-based chatbot flows for marketing.

Keep reading

Sources

Details were checked on October 4, 2026 and October 30, 2026 against the pages below. Plans and features change, so confirm current details on each company's site. Counter's details come from our pricing. Other product names are trademarks of their owners.

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