Finding the right product consultation tool can make or break your e-commerce conversion rates.
While Frontnow has built a name for itself as an AI-powered product advisor, it isn't the right fit for every business.
The 12-month minimum contracts, custom-only pricing, and complex onboarding drive many shops to look elsewhere.
This guide covers 7 Frontnow alternatives that actually solve the problem of helping customers find the right products.
These aren't generic chatbots that answer "Where's my order?" questions. Each tool on this list is built specifically for product consultation and guided selling.
Editor’s note: Want to hear some sample AI support calls made for your Shopify store?
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What is Frontnow?
Frontnow is an AI-driven product advisor founded in 2020 by Bernhard Lihotzky, Cedric May, and Marc Funk.
The platform uses a chatbot-like Q&A approach where customers ask questions and receive tailored product suggestions based on their input.
The company targets enterprise clients with deep pockets. You'll need to commit to at least 12 months upfront, pay a setup fee, and work with their team to get everything running.
The upside? Frontnow supports 117 languages and offers hyper-personalization for large catalogs.
The downside is what sends most businesses searching for alternatives: no transparent pricing, lengthy implementation, and a narrow focus that doesn't include broader customer service features.
Product Advisors vs. Support Bots: Know the Difference
Here's where most comparison articles get it wrong. They mix product advisors like Frontnow with support chatbots like Zendesk or Intercom.
These are fundamentally different tools.
Product advisors proactively guide purchase decisions. They understand product relationships ("This accessory works with that model"), compare options based on customer needs, and measure success by conversion rates and average order value.
Support bots react to customer questions. They excel at ticket management, routing inquiries, and handling post-purchase issues.
Ask a support bot "Which hiking boot is best for narrow feet?" and you'll get a generic response pointing to your FAQ.
If you're looking for Frontnow alternatives, you need a product advisor. Not a support bot with delusions of salesmanship.
Frontnow Alternatives at a Glance
1. Outfindo
Outfindo takes a different approach from Frontnow's open-ended chatbot.
Instead of letting customers ask whatever they want, it guides them through a structured Q&A flow designed by AI that analyzes customer behavior across your category.
The platform uses two proprietary AI agents: Beacon researches customer decision-making patterns to build optimal guidance flows, while Diver automatically gathers and enhances product data from manufacturers.
You upload your product feed, and Outfindo handles the rest.
Pricing is refreshingly transparent. The Essential plan starts at €99 per month for 200 SKUs and one product category.
The Plus plan at €599 adds unlimited domains, white-labeling, and customizable design. Enterprise customers can get custom guides, SDK access, and API integration.
Every plan includes unlimited conversations, so you won't get hit with overage fees during busy seasons.
The 30-day free trial lets you test everything before committing (something Frontnow doesn't offer).
What works:
- Setup takes minutes, not weeks
- No long-term contracts required
- Transparent, predictable pricing
- 4.8/5 rating on both G2 and Capterra
What doesn't:
- Less flexible than open chatbot approaches
- Category limitations on lower tiers
2. Qualimero
Qualimero positions itself as a "digital employee" rather than a chatbot. Founded by a team with 15+ years building enterprise tech used by over 25% of Fortune 500 companies, the platform focuses on the DACH region with full GDPR and EU AI Act compliance.
Unlike Frontnow's narrow product consultation focus, Qualimero handles both sales guidance and customer service in one platform. Their AI can answer product questions, handle returns and support inquiries, and qualify leads for your sales team.
The company claims impressive results: +35% average basket value, +60% checkout rate for product consultation, and 100% resolution rate for customer service with 60% cost savings. Customer testimonials on their site report 7x higher conversion rates and 16x ROI.
Pricing isn't publicly listed, which is a drawback compared to some alternatives. You'll need to contact sales for a quote based on your specific needs.
What works:
- Combines product consultation with customer service
- True multichannel support (web, email, phone, WhatsApp, social)
- EU-based with full compliance
- No flow-builder needed (train like a human employee)
What doesn't:
- No transparent pricing
- Primarily focused on DACH market
3. Ringly.io
Ringly.io takes product consultation off the screen and puts it on the phone. Founded in 2024 in Rotterdam, the company's AI agent "Seth" handles inbound calls 24/7, answering product questions, looking up orders, and processing returns.
This is a fundamentally different approach from Frontnow's text-based chat.
While other alternatives compete in the crowded chatbot space, Ringly.io owns the voice channel. For e-commerce stores where customers still prefer calling, this fills a gap that chat-based tools can't touch.
Pricing starts at $99 per month for 250 call minutes on the Start plan. The Grow plan at $349 includes 1,000 minutes and adds self-learning AI with deeper store data integration.
Enterprise customers can get the Scale plan at $1,099+ with 3,000+ minutes, private Slack support, and custom integrations.
The platform integrates natively with Shopify and supports 40 languages. According to their data, Seth resolves approximately 73% of calls without human intervention across their 2,100+ store deployments.
Want to see how voice-based AI could work for your store? Start your free trial and test Seth with your actual product catalog.
What works:
- Unique voice channel approach
- Transparent pricing with clear overage rates ($0.19/min)
- 14-day free trial with full features
- Handles complex queries and escalates intelligently
What doesn't:
- Voice-only (no chat interface)
- Limited to phone-based interactions
4. Rep AI
Rep AI (by ServiceBell, Inc.) combines behavioral AI with conversational AI to create what they call "the first AI Sales Rep."
The platform engages website visitors through video- and voice-ready live chat, then detects buying signals to alert your sales team.
Unlike Frontnow's pure product consultation play, Rep AI focuses on the entire sales motion.
It can identify which company a visitor works for, track their activity across your site, and hand off hot prospects to human reps at the right moment.
The AI Live Chat feature goes beyond text to include video and voice capabilities. Visitors can have face-to-face conversations with AI or human reps directly through the chat widget.
Pricing isn't publicly listed on their website. You'll need to book a demo to get custom pricing based on your traffic volume and feature needs.
What works:
- Video and voice chat capabilities
- Company identification for B2B targeting
- AI Intent detection for buying signals
- Easy setup with single script placement
What doesn't:
- No transparent pricing
- More focused on lead gen than pure product consultation
5. Heyday AI
Heyday AI is Hootsuite's conversational AI platform for retailers. It combines AI automation with human team collaboration to create what they describe as a "personal shopper" experience.
The platform connects directly to your product catalog to deliver tailored search results and recommendations. When customers are ready to buy, it can loop in your human associates for high-value conversations.
Pricing starts at $99 per month for Hootsuite plans with engagement tools. Heyday AI appears to be available as an add-on or enterprise feature rather than a standalone product.
The integration with Hootsuite's broader social media management platform is the key differentiator here. If you're already managing social presence through Hootsuite, Heyday AI keeps everything in one ecosystem.
What works:
- Backed by established Hootsuite platform
- Combines AI with human touch
- Strong retail focus
- 30-day free trial
What doesn't:
- Requires Hootsuite ecosystem
- Pricing not transparent for Heyday specifically
6. Ochatbot
Ochatbot (by Ometrics) is the most budget-friendly option on this list, with a genuinely free tier that supports up to 500 monthly visitors. It's built specifically for e-commerce platforms including Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and Magento.
The platform offers both generative AI and scripted NLP AI, letting you choose between flexible AI responses and legally accurate scripted replies where needed. It includes features many competitors charge extra for: abandoned cart recovery, order status tracking, and 80+ pre-built lead generation templates.
Pricing starts at free for 500 monthly visitors and 100 products. Paid plans run from $47/month (Starter, 3,000 visitors) to $497/month (Pro, 100,000 visitors). The Pro plan adds white-labeling, unlimited products, multiple domains, and daily automated syncing.
The company claims 20-40% revenue lift when shoppers engage with the chatbot, plus 25-45% reduction in support tickets.
What works:
- Free tier actually usable for small sites
- Platform-specific integrations
- Includes conversion tools (popups, sliders) at no extra cost
- No coding required
What doesn't:
- Interface may feel less modern than competitors
- Overage fees can add up ($2-18 per 1k visitors depending on plan)
7. Zoovu
Zoovu is the enterprise heavyweight on this list. Used by Microsoft, Canon, Bosch, and KitchenAid, the platform processes product data on 57 million SKUs daily.
Unlike Frontnow's chatbot approach, Zoovu offers a full suite of discovery tools: AI search that understands natural language, guided selling flows, visual configurators for complex products, and intelligent bundling recommendations.
The numbers from their case studies are impressive. Microsoft saw a 25% increase in add-to-cart rate. Canon drove a 53% lift in conversion rate. KitchenAid's configurator increased average order value by 65%.
Pricing isn't publicly listed. This is strictly enterprise sales with custom quotes based on your catalog size and feature requirements.
What works:
- Proven at massive scale
- Comprehensive discovery platform (not just chat)
- Visual configurator for complex products
- Strong data enrichment capabilities
What doesn't:
- No transparent pricing
- Likely requires significant implementation time
- Overkill for smaller catalogs
How to Choose the Right Frontnow Alternative
With seven solid options, how do you pick? Start by matching your needs to what each tool does best.
Choose Outfindo if: You want transparent pricing, quick setup, and a structured guidance approach. Best for SMBs with clear product categories.
Choose Qualimero if: You're in the EU and need GDPR compliance, or you want one tool that handles both sales and support.
Choose Ringly.io if: Your customers prefer phone calls, or you want to offer voice-based product consultation alongside your existing channels.
Choose Rep AI if: You're B2B and need company identification, or you want video chat capabilities for high-touch sales.
Choose Heyday AI if: You're already using Hootsuite and want to keep everything in one platform.
Choose Ochatbot if: You're budget-conscious or just starting out. The free tier lets you test AI product consultation without commitment.
Choose Zoovu if: You're enterprise with a complex catalog and need visual configuration or advanced bundling.
Which Frontnow Alternative Should You Try?
If you're looking for a quick recommendation, here's the short version:
Start with Outfindo or Ochatbot if you want to test the waters without a big commitment. Both offer transparent pricing and free trials.
Consider Ringly.io if you've been ignoring the phone channel. Voice-based AI consultation is an underserved opportunity in e-commerce.
Look at Qualimero if you need both product consultation and customer service in one platform.
Evaluate Zoovu if you're enterprise-scale with complex product relationships that need visual configuration.
The best tool is the one that fits your specific use case, budget, and technical resources. Take advantage of free trials to test how each platform handles your actual product catalog and customer questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do any Frontnow alternatives offer free trials?
Yes, several do. Outfindo offers a 30-day free trial, Ringly.io offers 14 days, Ochatbot has a free tier, and Heyday AI includes a 30-day trial. Qualimero, Rep AI, and Zoovu require contacting sales.
Which Frontnow alternative is best for small businesses?
Ochatbot is the most accessible with a genuinely free tier supporting 500 monthly visitors. Outfindo's €99/month Essential plan is also SMB-friendly with transparent pricing.
Are there any Frontnow alternatives that work with Shopify?
Most alternatives integrate with Shopify. Ringly.io has native Shopify integration, Ochatbot supports Shopify specifically, and Qualimero lists Shopify among its integrations.
Do Frontnow alternatives support multiple languages?
Yes. Frontnow supports 117 languages, but alternatives like Ringly.io support 40 languages, and Qualimero focuses on multilingual support for the European market.
Can Frontnow alternatives handle both sales and customer service?
Qualimero and Ringly.io both handle product consultation and customer service. Outfindo focuses purely on guided selling, while Ochatbot includes support features like order tracking.
Which Frontnow alternative has the fastest setup time?
Outfindo and Ringly.io both advertise setup in minutes. Ochatbot can be configured in hours. Enterprise solutions like Zoovu typically require weeks.
Are there any GDPR-compliant Frontnow alternatives?
Qualimero is explicitly built for GDPR and EU AI Act compliance, with development and data hosting in the EU. Ringly.io, based in the Netherlands, also adheres to EU data protection standards.
