Gorgias is a popular helpdesk for more than 15,000 e-commerce brands.
Its Shopify integration is very tight, often feeling like a native part of the store's dashboard.
However, as a business grows, some challenges may arise. The pricing can become unpredictable since it's tied to ticket volume, and certain features might require add-ons.
This can lead merchants to wonder if other options are available. This guide explores the top gorgias alternatives for Shopify.
The goal is not just to find a cheaper option, but to identify the right tool for specific problems, such as managing phone support costs, using advanced AI, or having a more predictable monthly bill. Here’s what we found.
Why look for Gorgias alternatives for Shopify?
Gorgias is effective for consolidating text-based support channels, but its model presents certain challenges as businesses scale.
A common concern is the pricing model. Gorgias bills based on ticket volume, which can lead to fluctuating costs, especially during high-volume periods like Black Friday. This can make budgeting challenging. Some smaller teams also feel it offers more features than they need.
Another area is AI. While effective for text channels, its Voice add-on is more focused on organizing calls than automating them.
If phone support is a significant cost center, Gorgias may not fully address that specific challenge.
Lastly, while its deep Shopify focus is a strength, it may not be as flexible as some general-purpose platforms. If you require extensive customization or a simpler interface, you might be better off looking at other solutions. To summarize, here are the key reasons Shopify merchants explore alternatives.
How we chose the best Gorgias alternatives for Shopify
To keep this comparison useful, we focused on what a growing Shopify brand typically needs. We evaluated each platform based on real-world scenarios.
Here’s our checklist:
- Deep Shopify integration: How well does it sync with order history and shipping info? Can the team issue refunds without leaving the app?
- Automation and AI capabilities: Does it go beyond basic templates? Can the AI resolve customer issues without human intervention?
- Channel coverage: Does it handle email, chat, social, and phone effectively?
- Pricing model: Is it predictable and fair as the business grows?
- Ease of use: Can a new team member learn it quickly, or does it require extensive training?
A quick comparison of the top Gorgias alternatives for Shopify in 2026
The 7 best Gorgias alternatives for Shopify stores in 2026
Let's break down the platforms that made the list.
1. Ringly.io
Instead of being an all-in-one helpdesk, Ringly.io focuses on one of the most resource-intensive channels for Shopify stores: phone support.
Its AI phone rep, Seth, operates 24/7 to answer calls, handle "where is my order?" questions, process returns, and only escalate a call to a human when necessary. It's designed to work alongside your current helpdesk, not replace it.
Pros and cons: Ringly's specialization is a key strength. It is built to automate 70-80% of phone calls with an AI that integrates directly into Shopify. This means Seth can access real-time order information, handle returns according to your policies, and answer product questions in over 40 languages.
The setup is fast, you can be operational in about three minutes without writing any code. The primary consideration is that it is for voice only, so you still need another solution for email and chat. For the 2,100+ Shopify stores using it, that focus is a key part of its design.
Pricing:
- Grow Plan: $349/month for 1,000 call minutes.
- Scale Plan: $1,099+/month for 3,000+ minutes.
- All plans include a guarantee: billing begins after Seth resolves at least 60% of your calls.
2. Zendesk
Zendesk is a well-known name in customer service, offering a comprehensive platform that can be configured to handle almost any workflow. It’s recognized as a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™, bringing all channels together with powerful AI and reporting tools.
Pros and cons: The main advantages are power and flexibility. With a marketplace of over 1,000 apps, including a Shopify integration, you can build a support system tailored to your needs. However, this flexibility comes with a learning curve.
As a general-purpose tool, configuring Shopify-specific workflows to be as seamless as they are in Gorgias may require extra setup. It is a suitable choice for large teams but may be more than smaller shops need.
Pricing:
- Suite Team: $55 per agent/month (billed annually).
- Suite Professional: $115 per agent/month (billed annually).
- Suite Enterprise: $169 per agent/month (billed annually).
3. Kustomer
Kustomer approaches customer service from a different perspective. Instead of focusing on tickets, it centers everything on the customer.
Every interaction, from purchases to chats and emails, is organized into a single timeline, giving agents extensive context for every conversation.
Pros and cons: The unified timeline is designed to help agents build relationships with customers. The native Shopify integration lets agents see and manage order data, like processing a return, without leaving the customer's profile.
Its AI can handle around 40% of questions and provides agents with suggestions. A key consideration is that it is priced for enterprise teams and has a minimum requirement of eight seats.
Pricing:
- Enterprise: Starts at $89 per user/month (billed annually, 8-seat minimum).
- Ultimate: Starts at $139 per user/month.
- AI agents are an add-on, starting at $0.60 per conversation.
4. Help Scout
Help Scout is designed for teams that prioritize a personal and human touch in their support.
The interface resembles a clean email inbox, making it highly intuitive for new team members. It provides a shared inbox, a knowledge base builder, and an AI chatbot that can reportedly handle 70% of common questions.
Pros and cons: Help Scout's ease of use is a primary feature. It removes unnecessary complexity so your team can focus on the conversation. The Shopify integration places essential order information in a sidebar, and agents can process refunds directly.
The trade-off is that it is not as focused on e-commerce automation as Gorgias. If you need complex, multi-step workflows, its tools may be somewhat limited.
Pricing:
- Standard: $25 per user/month (billed annually).
- Plus: $45 per user/month.
- Pro: $75 per user/month.
5. Freshdesk
Freshdesk is an all-in-one solution from Freshworks that is built to scale.
Its unique feature is its "Vertical AI Agents," which are pre-trained for specific industries like e-commerce. It is a comprehensive platform with a good ticketing system and support for multiple channels.
Pros and cons: Freshdesk offers a balance between power and usability. Its AI, "Freddy," helps sort tickets and suggests replies for agents. The Shopify integration allows your team to see order details directly within a ticket.
A potential downside is that its e-commerce features are not as deeply integrated as Gorgias, and you will likely need to upgrade to higher-tier plans to fully utilize its AI capabilities.
Pricing:
- Free Plan: Available for up to 10 agents.
- Growth: $19 per agent/month (billed annually).
- Pro: $55 per agent/month.
- Enterprise: $89 per agent/month.
6. Re:amaze
As a Shopify Plus Certified App Partner, Re:amaze is a direct competitor to Gorgias. It combines email, live chat, social media, SMS, and voice into one shared inbox.
It is a particularly good fit for brands running multiple Shopify stores, since you can manage support for all of them from a single account.
Pros and cons: Re:amaze has a strong feature set for e-commerce, including chatbots that can handle order questions and live user monitoring for proactive conversations.
The multi-brand support is a significant advantage. However, its app marketplace is smaller than Zendesk's, and some users find the interface to be less modern.
Pricing:
- Basic: $29 per user/month.
- Pro: $49 per user/month.
- Plus: $69 per user/month.
7. Tidio
Tidio is an AI-driven platform that specializes in live chat and chatbots. Its main feature is Lyro, an AI chatbot that can answer up to 67% of customer questions and includes a resolution guarantee.
It is built for smaller businesses that want to automate support and drive sales through chat.
Pros and cons: Tidio's visual chatbot builder is very user-friendly, allowing you to create automated flows without writing code. It offers a generous free plan, which makes it a good starting point for new stores.
The drawback is that it is not a complete helpdesk solution. Its ticketing and team features are not as robust as a dedicated platform like Gorgias, and it is heavily focused on chat.
Pricing:
- Free Plan: Available with up to 50 human-handled conversations per month.
- Starter: $24.17/month for 100 conversations.
- AI conversations and proactive flows are priced separately.
How to choose the right Gorgias alternatives for Shopify for your store
Changing your helpdesk is a significant decision. Don't just select the one with the longest feature list; focus on the main problem you are trying to solve.
1.
Identify your biggest pain point. Do you have a high volume of repetitive phone calls? A specialized tool like Ringly.io may be your best bet. Is your monthly bill unpredictable? Look for a tool with per-agent pricing like Help Scout. Do you feel like you never have the full customer story? Kustomer's timeline view could be what you need.
2.
Know your support channels. Be realistic about where your customers actually contact you. If most of your support happens over email and chat, don't pay for enterprise-level phone features. But if phone calls are a constant challenge, make automation a top priority.
3.
Think about your team. A complex tool like Zendesk is suitable if you have a large team and someone to manage it. A smaller team will be more efficient with something simple and intuitive like Help Scout.
4.
Run some tests. Sign up for free trials and see how each platform handles your most common support requests. How easy is it to find an order or process a return? The tool that feels the most natural to your team is usually the right one.
Finding the right Gorgias alternatives for Shopify
Gorgias is a popular tool, but it's not the only option available for Shopify brands.
The customer service market is filled with capable options designed for specific needs, whether that's handling enterprise complexity or keeping things simple and human-centric.
The main takeaway from this analysis is that the best solution isn't always another all-in-one helpdesk.
For many stores, the most significant improvement comes from automating the channels that create the most work and have the highest costs, such as the phone. A call handled by a human costs about $2.35 on average, while an AI-resolved call is around $0.38.
If your team is constantly answering "Where is my order?" calls, a traditional helpdesk may not fully resolve the underlying efficiency issue.
An AI phone agent like Seth from Ringly.io can work with your existing tools to automate that entire channel, freeing up your team to focus on conversations that can grow your business.
Ready to see how AI can impact your phone support? Book a call with Ringly.io and see Seth in action.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main reasons to look for Gorgias alternatives for Shopify?
Many Shopify merchants look for alternatives due to Gorgias's ticket-based pricing, which can be unpredictable during busy seasons. Other reasons include needing more advanced AI for voice automation or finding that the platform is too complex for their team's needs.
Which of the Gorgias alternatives for Shopify is best for automating phone support?
Ringly.io is a strong option for automating phone support. Its AI agent, Seth, is specifically designed to handle common e-commerce calls like order status and returns 24/7, integrating directly with Shopify to provide accurate information.
Are there any free Gorgias alternatives for Shopify?
Yes, a few platforms offer free plans. Freshdesk has a free tier for up to 10 agents, and Tidio offers a free plan with a limited number of conversations. These are suitable for new businesses but may lack the advanced features of paid plans.
How do I choose the right Gorgias alternatives for Shopify for my business?
Start by identifying your biggest support challenge (e.g., high phone call volume, unpredictable costs). Then, consider your team's size and the channels your customers use most. Finally, sign up for free trials to see which platform feels most intuitive for your daily tasks.
What makes Ringly.io different from other Gorgias alternatives for Shopify?
Ringly.io's main differentiator is its specialization. Instead of being an all-in-one helpdesk, it focuses entirely on automating phone support with an AI agent. This allows it to address a common cost center for e-commerce stores with a fast, no-code setup.
Do all Gorgias alternatives for Shopify integrate as deeply with the platform?
While most alternatives offer a Shopify integration, the depth varies. Tools like Re:amaze are built with e-commerce in mind and have very deep integrations. General-purpose helpdesks like Zendesk are powerful but may require more configuration to achieve the same seamless workflow as Gorgias.
