If you're running an eCommerce store and considering customer support outsourcing, you've probably come across PartnerHero.
They've built a reputation for quality-focused support teams, but they might not be the right fit for every business.
Some stores need more flexible pricing, faster deployment, better AI automation, or simply want to compare options before committing.
This guide breaks down seven PartnerHero alternatives specifically for eCommerce businesses.
We'll cover pricing, features, and ideal use cases so you can make an informed decision.
What is PartnerHero and why look for alternatives?
PartnerHero is a customer support outsourcing company that was recently acquired by Crescendo.
The combined company now offers a hybrid model blending AI technology with human support teams.
Their pricing starts at $2,900 per month plus $1.25-$2.25 per resolution, depending on whether you need AI-only or AI plus human support.
They support 50+ languages through AI and provide 24/7 coverage with real human agents.
There are several reasons eCommerce businesses look for alternatives.
The per-resolution model can get expensive at scale, especially for stores with high ticket volumes.
Starting at $2,900/month puts PartnerHero out of reach for smaller stores.
While they offer voice support, their primary strength is chat and email.
Some businesses need month-to-month options rather than longer commitments, and Shopify-native solutions may offer deeper order and product data access.
Criteria for choosing a PartnerHero alternative
Before diving into specific alternatives, here's what matters most for eCommerce support outsourcing.
Channel coverage is critical. Your customers might call, email, chat, or reach out on social media. The best providers handle all these channels seamlessly.
eCommerce integration separates generic BPOs from specialized providers. Look for native Shopify, WooCommerce, or Magento connections that pull order data directly.
Pricing model varies widely. Some charge hourly, others per-agent, per-ticket, or per-minute. Match the model to your volume patterns.
Scalability matters especially for seasonal businesses. Can they handle Black Friday spikes without long lead times?
AI and automation capabilities have become table stakes. The best providers now blend human agents with AI to handle routine queries automatically.
For more options in this space, check out our comparison of Peak Support alternatives as well.
Quick comparison of PartnerHero alternatives
Pricing varies 25x between options, so matching your volume and needs to the right model matters most
The table above gives you a quick snapshot. Prices range from $99/month for AI-only solutions to $4,000+ for premium dedicated agents.
Your choice depends on volume, complexity, and whether you want humans, AI, or both.
7 best PartnerHero alternatives for eCommerce
1. Ringly.io
Best for: eCommerce stores wanting AI-powered phone support automation
Ringly.io takes a different approach than traditional BPOs.
Instead of outsourcing to human agents, their AI phone agent Seth handles inbound calls 24/7.
Seth answers questions, looks up orders directly from your Shopify store, processes returns, and only escalates to humans when necessary.
The deep Shopify integration means Seth can tell customers exactly where their order is without any manual lookup.
The numbers back up the approach. Ringly.io reports that Seth resolves around 70-73% of calls without human intervention across their 2,100+ Shopify store deployments.
Setup takes about 3 minutes with no coding required.
Overage minutes cost $0.19/min beyond your plan allowance. They support 40 languages.
Pros:
- 24/7 availability without staffing costs
- Deep Shopify integration pulls real-time order data
- Transparent pricing with pay-for-performance guarantee (billing starts after Seth resolves 60% of calls)
- Fast deployment in minutes, not weeks
Cons:
- Phone-focused, not a full omnichannel BPO
- Best suited for Shopify stores currently
- Complex issues still need human escalation
The 14-day free trial lets you test whether AI phone support works for your customer base before committing.
2. SupportNinja
Best for: Mid-market eCommerce brands needing scalable human support teams
SupportNinja is a full-lifecycle customer experience outsourcing company.
They offer three service models: Talent-as-a-Service (you manage), Management-as-a-Service (they manage), and custom CX transformation packages.
What stands out is their focus on agent quality. They report a 21.4% attrition rate, which beats typical BPO industry averages.
Lower turnover means agents learn your brand better and provide more consistent service.
For eCommerce stores handling payment data, these matter.
Pricing requires a custom quote, but industry estimates put dedicated agents at $18-25/hour.
Notable clients include Midjourney and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Pros:
- Strong agent retention leads to better brand knowledge
- Full omnichannel support across phone, email, chat, and social
- AI-enabled workflows included in managed plans
- SOC 2 and HIPAA certified for security
Cons:
- Custom pricing lacks upfront transparency
- Higher cost than offshore alternatives
- Requires quote process to get started
3. Influx
Best for: Startups and growing eCommerce brands needing flexible, month-to-month support
Influx serves 750+ global brands with a focus on flexibility.
Their standout feature is month-to-month contracts with no long-term lock-in.
If your business is seasonal or unpredictable, this matters. Deployment happens in about one week, which is fast for the BPO industry where typical onboarding takes 3-4 weeks.
They include training, management, and onboarding in all plans.
Their case studies show real results: Meshki achieved 95% CSAT while growing 589%, Blenders Eyewear maintained 94% CSAT while handling 20,000 ticket seasonality bursts, and ClassPass resolved over 250,000 tickets in a single month.
Influx also offers an AI Agent Management service. If you're already using Gorgias, Intercom, or similar tools, they'll optimize your existing AI agents rather than replacing them.
Pros:
- Fast deployment in 1 week
- Month-to-month flexibility with no lock-in
- High CSAT performance (94% average)
- Works with your existing helpdesk tools
Cons:
- Pricing requires custom quote
- Premium pricing compared to offshore options
- Less suited for enterprise-scale needs
4. Simply Contact
Best for: eCommerce businesses needing multilingual European support
Simply Contact positions itself as Europe's leading customer support provider.
They won the Gold Globee Award in 2025 for AI implementation and hold Stevie Awards for CX outsourcing.
The language coverage is extensive: 30+ languages with human agents and 50+ with AI assistance.
For eCommerce brands selling across Europe, this breadth is hard to match.
Their Wizz Air case study shows 80% of calls answered within 35 seconds and a 30% reduction in average handle time.
For Ditto Music, they improved CSAT from 51% to 88%.
Pricing ModelRateInternational per-minute$0.35-0.45US/Canada per-minute$0.75-0.85Per-agentCustom arrangement
Pros:
- Transparent per-minute pricing option
- Strongest multilingual capabilities (30+ languages)
- European timezone coverage
- Award-winning AI implementation
Cons:
- Less US presence than American BPOs
- Per-minute model may cost more at high volumes
- Pricing page requires direct contact
5. Peak Support
Best for: Quality-focused eCommerce brands willing to pay premium for top-tier service
Peak Support takes a premium approach. They only hire 1 in 30 applicants, which creates a highly selective agent pool.
Their average QA score is 95%. The employee satisfaction metrics back up their claims: 4.4 Glassdoor rating (highest in the BPO industry) and 96% CEO approval.
Happy agents tend to deliver better customer experiences.
They operate across Asia, Latin America, US, and EU, with services spanning customer service, technical support, trust and safety, back-office, accounting, and sales.
Pricing isn't publicly listed, but industry estimates put dedicated agents at $2,500-4,000 per month. That's premium territory.
Pros:
- Highest hiring standards in the industry (1 in 30)
- Consistent quality with 95% QA scores
- Strong cultural fit with US brands
- Live client dashboards for real-time oversight
Cons:
- Higher cost than alternatives ($2,500-4,000/agent)
- May be overkill for straightforward support needs
- Requires custom quote process
6. HelpLama
Best for: Shopify stores needing affordable per-ticket support
HelpLama was built specifically for Shopify merchants and eCommerce businesses.
They offer the most transparent pricing in this list, starting at $399/month.
Their agents are primarily US-based, which matters for stores with American customer bases.
They handle email, phone, live chat, and social media.
The pricing flexibility stands out. You can choose monthly retainers, per-ticket ($0.80-$2.50 based on complexity), or per-call ($0.70+/minute) models.
This lets you match costs to your actual volume.
Their zero-risk trial lets you test the service before committing.
They report CSAT progression from 90% in month one to 98% by month three as agents learn your brand.
Case studies include a 4x improvement in response time for Svaha USA (24 hours down to 6 hours) and 20% chat-to-sale conversion for YachtsBlue.
Pros:
- Shopify-specific expertise
- Most transparent pricing (starting $399/mo)
- US-based agent options
- Flexible per-ticket or per-call models
Cons:
- Smaller scale than major BPOs
- Limited channel options compared to full-service providers
- Best for SMB, may not scale to enterprise
7. Horatio
Best for: DTC brands wanting nearshore support with startup agility
Horatio takes a nearshore approach with LATAM-based teams. This gives you better timezone overlap with US customers than offshore providers, at lower costs than onshore.
Their client list includes Bilt, Lavazza, Bark, and other consumer brands.
They focus specifically on DTC and eCommerce businesses rather than trying to serve every industry.
The startup-friendly culture means faster decision-making and more flexibility than enterprise BPOs.
They emphasize dedicated teams rather than rotating agents, which improves brand consistency.
Pros:
- Cost-effective nearshore option ($12-18/hr)
- Better timezone overlap than offshore
- Startup-friendly agility
- Strong DTC and eCommerce track record
Cons:
- Smaller company than enterprise BPOs
- Limited global footprint
- Pricing requires direct contact
How to choose the right PartnerHero alternative
The right choice depends on what you're solving for. Here's a decision framework.
Choose Ringly.io if:
- You want to automate phone support with AI rather than outsource to humans
- You're a Shopify store with high call volumes for order status, returns, and common questions
- You need 24/7 coverage without hiring or managing agents
- Budget is a concern (starting at $99/month)
Choose a traditional BPO (SupportNinja, Peak Support) if:
- You need full omnichannel human support across phone, email, chat, and social
- Your issues are complex and require human judgment and empathy
- You prefer managed teams with dedicated account management
- Quality metrics and agent training are top priorities
Choose per-ticket or per-minute options (HelpLama, Simply Contact) if:
- You want predictable, usage-based costs
- Your volume fluctuates significantly throughout the year
- You're testing outsourcing for the first time
- Budget transparency is a priority
Choose nearshore or flexible options (Influx, Horatio) if:
- You need quick deployment (1-2 weeks) and month-to-month flexibility
- Cost savings matter but quality can't suffer
- You're a startup or scaling rapidly
- Timezone overlap with US customers is important
One approach worth considering is hybrid automation. Use AI (like Ringly.io) for phone support to handle the 70%+ of calls that are routine, then add a human BPO for complex chat and email tickets that need more attention.
This balances cost efficiency with quality.
Start automating your eCommerce phone support today
The customer support outsourcing landscape has changed. Traditional BPOs still serve a purpose, but AI is handling an increasing share of routine customer interactions.
For eCommerce stores, phone support often involves the same questions repeated thousands of times. Where's my order? Can I return this? Do you have this in stock?
These are exactly the queries that AI handles well.
Ringly.io's Seth resolves over 70% of calls without human intervention in real Shopify deployments. Setup takes minutes, not weeks.
And you don't pay until Seth proves it works.
If you're evaluating PartnerHero alternatives, start by figuring out which parts of your support could be automated.
The right answer might be AI for routine calls plus humans for complex issues.
Try Ringly.io free for 14 days and see how AI phone support handles your customer calls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best PartnerHero alternative for small eCommerce stores?
For small stores, Ringly.io ($99/month) and HelpLama ($399/month) offer the most affordable entry points. Ringly.io works best if phone support is your main channel, while HelpLama is better for stores needing human agents across email, chat, and phone.
Which PartnerHero alternative offers the best AI automation?
Ringly.io leads on AI phone automation, resolving 70%+ of calls without humans. For chat and email AI, Influx offers AI Agent Management services that optimize your existing tools like Gorgias or Intercom.
What PartnerHero alternative is best for Shopify stores?
Ringly.io and HelpLama are both built specifically for Shopify merchants. Ringly.io has native Shopify integration that pulls order data directly for AI phone support. HelpLama offers human agents trained on Shopify workflows.
How much does a PartnerHero alternative cost for eCommerce support?
Costs range widely. AI-only solutions like Ringly.io start at $99/month. Human BPO options range from $399/month (HelpLama) to $2,500-4,000/agent (Peak Support). Per-minute models like Simply Contact run $0.35-0.85/minute depending on location.
Which PartnerHero alternative has the fastest deployment?
Ringly.io deploys in minutes since it's AI-powered. For human BPO alternatives, Influx deploys in about 1 week, while most others take 2-4 weeks for agent training and onboarding.
What PartnerHero alternative is best for multilingual eCommerce support?
Simply Contact leads with 30+ languages from human agents and 50+ with AI. Ringly.io supports 40 languages for phone automation. Most US-focused BPOs like HelpLama and SupportNinja offer 10+ languages but are stronger in English.
Can I use a PartnerHero alternative month-to-month without long contracts?
Yes, several options offer month-to-month flexibility. Influx has no lock-in contracts. HelpLama offers flexible terms. Ringly.io is month-to-month with a 14-day free trial. Traditional BPOs like SupportNinja and Peak Support typically require longer commitments.
