Your customers are calling, but your support team can't pick up every time.
That's the promise behind AI voice agents like NLPearl, which handles phone support around the clock without burning out or missing shifts.
But NLPearl isn't the only option and some stores want deeper Shopify integration.
Others need better voice quality or transparent pricing. And a few just want to avoid custom enterprise quotes altogether.
This guide breaks down the seven best NLPearl AI alternatives for eCommerce in 2026, with real pricing, verified features, and honest takes on where each tool fits.
Editor’s note: Want to hear some sample support calls made for your Shopify store?
- Just paste your store URL
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What is NLPearl AI and why look for alternatives?
NLPearl is an autonomous AI voice agent built for sales and support automation.
Its AI phone rep, Pearl, handles both inbound and outbound calls with 20+ language support, sentiment analysis, and real-time actions through API integrations.
The platform lets you create agents via natural conversation (no code required) and connects to CRMs, booking systems, and messaging platforms through its PearlVibe integration builder.
Pricing starts around $19-100/month depending on your plan, with additional agents at $100/month each.
So why look elsewhere? Here are the common reasons ecommerce businesses explore NLPearl AI alternatives:
- Deeper ecommerce integrations: NLPearl is a general-purpose voice agent. If you run a Shopify store, you might want a tool that pulls order data automatically without custom API work.
- Voice quality and naturalness: Some users report wanting more human-like conversations. Voice quality varies significantly across platforms.
- Transparent pricing: NLPearl's specific pricing is hidden behind signup forms. Stores that want clear costs upfront often prefer alternatives with published rates.
- Faster setup: While NLPearl offers no-code creation, platforms built specifically for ecommerce can deploy in minutes with pre-built workflows for returns and order tracking.
How we evaluated these NLPearl AI alternatives
To make this comparison useful, we focused on what actually matters for ecommerce phone support. Not just feature lists, but practical considerations.
Evaluation factors:
- Voice quality: How natural and human-like does the AI sound? This makes or breaks customer experience.
- Ecommerce integrations: Native connections to Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce matter more than generic CRM integrations.
- Automation depth: Can the AI actually process refunds and returns, or does it just deflect to human agents?
- Setup speed: Minutes versus weeks to deploy. Ecommerce moves fast.
- Pricing transparency: Clear tiers beat "contact sales" for most store owners.
- Resolution rate: What percentage of calls get handled without human escalation?
Ringly.io and DigitalGenius lead on ecommerce depth while Brilo AI offers the most affordable entry point
7 best NLPearl AI alternatives for ecommerce
1. Ringly.io
Ringly.io is an AI phone support platform built specifically for Shopify stores.
Its AI agent, Seth, handles inbound calls 24/7, pulling real-time order data, processing returns, and answering product questions without human intervention.
The platform has been deployed across 2,100+ Shopify stores with a 73% call resolution rate.
That means roughly three out of four calls get handled automatically. Setup takes about 3 minutes since the Shopify integration is native.
Key features:
- Native Shopify integration (pulls orders, products, customer data automatically)
- 24/7 phone support with 40+ language support
- Handles WISMO, returns, exchanges, and product questions
- 3-minute setup with no-code onboarding
- Call recordings, transcripts, and analytics dashboard
- Escalation to human agents when needed
Pricing:
Overage runs $0.19/min. A 14-day free trial is available with full features.
Pros:
- Deep Shopify integration (not just surface-level API calls)
- High resolution rate (73% without human intervention)
- Transparent pricing with performance guarantee
- Fastest setup among ecommerce-focused alternatives
Cons:
- Shopify-focused (less suited for WooCommerce or BigCommerce currently)
- Newer platform compared to enterprise solutions
Best for: Shopify stores wanting fast deployment and high automation rates without technical complexity.
2. Brilo AI
Brilo AI focuses on human-like voice agents with real-time sentiment analysis.
The platform works across industries including ecommerce, healthcare, real estate, and financial services.
What sets Brilo apart is its sentiment detection at word, sentence, and transcript levels.
The company claims a 15% CSAT improvement within 3 months of deployment. They also offer Spanish-speaking AI agents and connect to 6,000+ apps through integrations.
Key features:
- Live call transcripts with real-time conversation capture
- Sentiment analysis tracking emotions throughout calls
- 24/7 availability with instant human transfer
- 6,000+ app integrations
- Spanish-speaking AI agents available
Pricing:
Pros:
- Free plan available for testing
- Strong sentiment analysis capabilities
- Most affordable entry point among paid alternatives
Cons:
- Not ecommerce-specific (general business platform)
- Cannot take ecommerce actions like issuing refunds natively
- Integration depth varies by platform
Best for: Budget-conscious businesses wanting sentiment tracking and affordable voice AI to test before committing.
3. DigitalGenius
DigitalGenius has been in the ecommerce AI space since 2019, making it one of the most established options.
The platform uses a hybrid approach combining structured workflows with LLM agents to reduce hallucination risks.
What makes DigitalGenius stand out is its ability to take real actions.
We're talking issuing refunds, approving warranty claims, and sending replacement orders. Most AI agents just deflect or inform. DigitalGenius actually resolves.
Key features:
- Genius Flows: Pre-built workflows for WISMO, returns, refunds
- Visual AI recognizes product defects for warranty claims
- Voice AI, Care AI, Purchase AI, Proactive AI, and Insights AI products
- Deep integrations with Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Salesforce, Magento
The company reports 600% ROI and 93% wait time reduction for customers.
Setup takes about 30 minutes to connect systems, with full automation within 1-2 days.
Pricing:
Custom pricing (contact for quote). DigitalGenius offers free integration builds for new platforms. No transparent pricing published.
Pros:
- Deepest ecommerce automation (takes real actions, not just deflection)
- Hybrid AI approach reduces hallucination risk
- Longest track record in ecommerce AI
- Visual defect recognition for automated warranty processing
Cons:
- No transparent pricing (requires sales conversation)
- Enterprise-focused (may be overkill for smaller stores)
- Longer implementation than specialized tools
Best for: Mid-market to enterprise ecommerce needing deep automation that actually issues refunds and processes returns.
4. Gorgias AI Agent
Gorgias is primarily an ecommerce helpdesk, but its AI Agent has become a serious contender.
With 16,000+ Shopify merchants, it's one of the largest platforms in this space.
The AI Agent splits into two parts: a Shopping Assistant for pre-purchase conversations (product recommendations, upsells) and a Support Agent for post-purchase issues. Both pull real-time Shopify data for orders, inventory, and customer tags.
Key features:
- Shopping Assistant for pre-purchase support and upsells
- Post-purchase automation for returns, refunds, order tracking
- Real-time Shopify data access (orders, inventory, customer tags)
- 80+ language support
- Can edit subscriptions, issue refunds, update shipping addresses
- Works across chat, email, SMS, and voice
Pricing:
Gorgias uses a unique pay-per-resolution model at $0.90 per resolved conversation.
Tiered subscriptions (Starter, Basic, Pro, Advanced, Enterprise) exist with higher tiers getting lower per-resolution costs.
Pros:
- Pay-per-resolution model (only pay for successful automation)
- Deep Shopify integration with 100+ tools
- Covers both pre-sales and post-sales
- Largest Shopify merchant user base
Cons:
- Voice capabilities less developed than dedicated phone agents
- Primarily text-based (chat/email focused)
- Per-resolution pricing can be opaque without usage estimates
Best for: Shopify stores wanting AI across chat, email, and phone in one platform, especially if pay-per-resolution pricing appeals to you.
5. Dialogflow by Google
Dialogflow (now branded as Customer Experience Agent Studio) is Google Cloud's enterprise conversational AI platform.
It's the most powerful option here, but also the most complex.
The platform comes in two editions: Flows (deterministic intent-based agents) and Playbooks (generative AI agents powered by Gemini).
You can mix both in the same agent for a hybrid approach.
Key features:
- Visual agent builder with 35+ pre-built templates
- 40+ languages with HD voice synthesis
- Audio-to-audio translation in 10 core languages
- Omnichannel support (web, mobile, voice, email, social)
- Native integration with BigQuery, Vertex AI, and Google Cloud services
Pricing:
Dialogflow pricing offers $600 in free credits for Flows and $1,000 for Playbooks, valid for 12 months.
Pros:
- Gemini-powered enterprise AI with Google infrastructure
- Hybrid Flow + Playbook approach balances control with flexibility
- Built-in evaluation and testing tools
- Strongest multi-channel capability
Cons:
- Requires technical resources to implement
- Not ecommerce-specific (no pre-built WISMO or returns workflows)
- Longer setup time than specialized tools
- Learning curve for Flows vs. Playbooks
Best for: Technical teams with development resources wanting maximum customization and Google Cloud integration.
6. Vapi
Vapi is a developer-first voice AI platform.
It's not a plug-and-play solution. Instead, it provides the infrastructure layer for building custom voice agents.
The platform has powered 150M+ calls with 1.5M+ assistants launched across 350K+ developers.
It emphasizes sub-500ms latency, which matters for natural phone conversations.
Key features:
- API-first approach with thousands of configuration options
- Supports OpenAI, Anthropic, Groq, Perplexity, and custom models
- Bring your own LLM, STT, and TTS provider API keys
- 100+ languages supported
- A/B testing for prompts, voices, and flows
- SOC 2, HIPAA, and PCI compliant
Pricing:
Pros:
- Maximum flexibility with bring-your-own-models
- Sub-500ms latency for natural conversations
- Enterprise compliance (SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI)
- Pre-production testing built in
Cons:
- Requires development resources (not no-code)
- No pre-built ecommerce workflows
- Must build all integrations from scratch
- Steeper learning curve
Best for: Technical teams building custom voice solutions who want full control over models, integrations, and workflows.
7. Siena
Siena is an AI customer service platform with a unique focus: brand intelligence.
The platform emphasizes empathic responses and consistent brand tone across all interactions.
Rather than replacing your helpdesk, Siena works alongside platforms like Zendesk, Gorgias, Kustomer, and Gladly.
It's more of an AI layer than a standalone solution.
Key features:
- Customer Service Agent with brand voice consistency
- Reviews Agent for managing customer feedback
- Deep sentiment analysis for emotional understanding
- Works alongside existing helpdesks (Dixa, Gladly, Gorgias, Kustomer, Zendesk)
- Shopping Agent and Insights Agent coming soon
Pricing:
Custom enterprise pricing (contact for quote). No transparent pricing published on the website.
Pros:
- Strong brand voice preservation across interactions
- Excellent sentiment understanding
- Works alongside existing helpdesk investments
- Empathic response generation
Cons:
- No transparent pricing
- Voice/phone capabilities are limited (text-focused)
- Some features still "coming soon"
- Less established than competitors
Best for: Brands prioritizing consistent tone and empathic responses who already use major helpdesk platforms.
Comparison table: NLPearl AI alternatives at a glance
Here's how all seven alternatives stack up across the key factors that matter for ecommerce phone support:
The pattern is clear: ecommerce-specific platforms (Ringly.io, Gorgias, DigitalGenius) offer faster setup and deeper automation.
General platforms (Dialogflow, Vapi) provide more flexibility but require technical resources.
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How to choose the right NLPearl alternative for your store
The best choice depends on your store size, technical resources, and which channels matter most. Here's a decision framework:
Choose Ringly.io if:
- You run a Shopify store and want fast, no-code setup
- Phone support is a primary channel for your customers
- You need high automation rates (70%+) without technical work
- Transparent pricing matters to your budgeting process
Try Ringly.io free for 14 days and see how Seth handles your customer calls. Setup takes just 3 minutes with your Shopify store.
Choose Brilo AI if:
- Budget is tight and you want a free plan to start
- Sentiment analysis is important for understanding customer emotions
- You want to test voice AI before making a larger commitment
Choose DigitalGenius if:
- You're mid-market to enterprise scale with complex support needs
- You need deep automation that actually issues refunds and replacements
- You can work with custom pricing and longer implementation timelines
Choose Gorgias AI Agent if:
- You already use Gorgias as your helpdesk
- Chat and email are bigger channels than phone for your store
- Pay-per-resolution pricing appeals to your cost model
Choose Dialogflow if:
- You have technical resources and developers on staff
- You need maximum customization beyond ecommerce
- Multi-channel deployment across web, mobile, voice, and social matters
Choose Vapi if:
- You're building custom voice solutions with specific requirements
- Developer control and model flexibility are priorities
- Voice quality and sub-500ms latency are critical
Choose Siena if:
- Brand voice consistency is critical to your customer experience
- Empathic, emotionally-aware responses matter for your brand
- You prioritize text channels and already use a major helpdesk
Start automating your ecommerce phone support today
The right NLPearl AI alternative depends on what you value most: ecommerce depth, voice quality, pricing transparency, or technical flexibility.
For general-purpose voice AI with sentiment tracking, Brilo AI offers a free starting point.
For enterprise-grade automation with real action-taking, DigitalGenius leads the pack. For maximum developer control, Vapi provides the infrastructure.
But for Shopify stores specifically, Ringly.io offers the fastest path to high-resolution phone support.
Seth pulls your order data automatically, handles returns and WISMO questions, and resolves 73% of calls without human intervention. Setup takes 3 minutes.
Start your free 14-day trial and see how AI phone support works for your store.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best NLPearl AI alternatives for Shopify stores?
For Shopify stores, Ringly.io and Gorgias offer the deepest integrations. Ringly.io is phone-focused with 73% resolution rates and 3-minute setup. Gorgias covers chat, email, and phone with pay-per-resolution pricing. Both pull real-time order data from Shopify without custom API work.
Which NLPearl AI alternatives have transparent pricing?
Ringly.io ($99-$1,099/month), Brilo AI (free to $499/month), Vapi ($0.05/minute), and Gorgias ($0.90/resolution) publish their pricing. DigitalGenius and Siena require sales conversations for custom quotes.
What NLPearl AI alternatives offer a free plan?
Brilo AI offers a free plan with 10 minutes/month and 1 agent. Dialogflow provides $600-$1,000 in free credits. Vapi includes $10 in free credits. Ringly.io offers a 14-day free trial with full features.
Which NLPearl AI alternatives can actually take actions like issuing refunds?
DigitalGenius, Gorgias, and Ringly.io can take real actions beyond just answering questions. DigitalGenius can issue refunds, approve warranty claims, and send replacements. Gorgias can edit orders and update subscriptions. Ringly.io handles returns and exchanges through Shopify.
What NLPearl AI alternatives work best for enterprise ecommerce?
DigitalGenius and Dialogflow are best for enterprise. DigitalGenius offers deep ecommerce automation with a hybrid AI approach since 2019. Dialogflow provides Google Cloud infrastructure with SOC 2 compliance. Vapi offers enterprise SLAs with SOC 2, HIPAA, and PCI compliance for custom builds.
How do NLPearl AI alternatives compare on voice quality?
Vapi emphasizes sub-500ms latency for natural conversations. Brilo AI focuses on human-like voices with sentiment detection. Dialogflow offers HD voice synthesis in 40+ languages. Ringly.io supports 40+ languages with natural conversation flow. Voice quality varies, so testing with free trials is recommended.
Which NLPearl AI alternatives support multiple languages?
All seven alternatives support multiple languages. Dialogflow and Ringly.io offer 40+ languages. Vapi supports 100+ languages. Brilo AI includes Spanish-speaking agents specifically. NLPearl itself supports 20+ languages. For global ecommerce, language support is largely a commodity feature across these platforms.
