Support is has become a very important part of running a Shopify store.
But it can become a very expensive cost center, especially if you are not using the right tools.
In this guide, we will have a look at some alternatives to Tidio, a popular support tool.
In the end, I'll also give you my favourite, based on your situation.
After reading this post, you'll know exactly which tool is best for your ecommerce business, so you can have:
- better communication with customers
- a better customer experience
- a faster response time than your competitors.
In the TLDR table, you'll find the 11 best options with features you should know.
TLDR of Tidio alternatives
1. Ringly.io: AI phone support for Shopify stores
Best for: Shopify stores looking for the best way to offer 24/7 AI phone support. Ringly resolves on average ~70% of support calls on its own.
Did you know that 83% of your customers want to call you when they need help? People are less likely to buy when they cannot reach you.
Features:
- AI resolves an average of 73% of calls without human intervention
- Automated order tracking, returns/exchanges, and more to automate repetitive calls
- Integrates with 7,000+ tools
- 30+ languages supported
- Only pay when at least 60% of your calls are resolved (results based pricing)
Pros:
- Makes your support way cheaper and more effective
- Analyzes every call, so you don't need to track CSAT
- Speaks 30 languages and is available 24/7. (this alone is groundbreaking for ecommerce stores)
- Scales with you on autopilot.
Cons:
- Focused on phone support (you still need an extra tool if you want more channels)
Built for Shopify, you can install Ringly from the Shopify app store. It lets the AI phone support rep find info about your customers before the call even starts.
Ideal for: Shopify stores that want to "wow" customers on the phone (= common reaction for people who try Ringly). And also save a lot of money on support.
What's unique about Ringly.io: currently the only AI phone support tool for e-commerce (73% average resolution rate on over 2,100 Shopify stores).
They also have the most risk-free offer, where you only pay when the AI does its job. Ringly is the first option for brands that want to offer personalized support through voice.
Editors note: Ringly.io opened 5 spots for Shopify stores to pay $0 until AI resolves 60% of your support calls. You can book a call to claim it.
2. Intercom: proactive, product-led customer engagement
Best for SaaS products and product-led companies.
Features:
- Very good conversational AI and automation
- Product tours and onboarding flows
- Behavioral-based messaging and segmentation
- Good analytics and reporting
Pros:
- Prevents tickets with proactive support
- Modern UI
- Good product usage data (Fin.ai)
Cons:
- Expensive for multiple users
- A lot of features are locked behind higher tiers
Pricing starts at $39 per seat/month
Shopify integration: syncs customer data and triggers messages based on store behavior
Ideal for SaaS and product-led businesses that want engagement through product experiences.
What's unique about Intercom is that it merges support, sales, and onboarding into one tool.
3. Zendesk: Enterprise-grade support infrastructure
Best for medium to large e-commerce businesses that need reliability.
Features:
- Multi-channel support (email, chat, phone, social)
- Good reporting & analytics
- Custom help center and knowledge base
- AI-powered automation
- A lot of third-party integrations
Pros:
- Very scalable
- Older and proven platform
- A big ecosystem
Cons:
- Can be complex for small teams
- Per-agent pricing can get expensive fast
Pricing: from $55 per agent/month (Suite Team), higher tiers are available for advanced features.
Shopify integration: a native app that syncs order/customer data into tickets.
Ideal for: e-commerce orgs that need more enterprise functionality.
What's unique about Zendesk: scalable (you will probably never grow out of Zendesk)
4. Freshworks: Affordable automation for growing teams
Best for growing teams that need good automation on a budget.
Features:
- AI-powered chatbot (Freddy AI)
- Omnichannel support
- Automated ticket routing
- Ticketing collaboration
- A big app marketplace
Pros:
- AI and phone support included in lower tiers
- Good automation flexibility
- Gamification features
Cons:
- Interface can feel chaotic
- Not a lot of customization in cheaper plans
Pricing: free plan available, paid plans start at $15 per agent/month
Shopify integration allows ticket creation and order updates directly from Shopify
Ideal for: support teams scaling and that need AI and workflow automation.
What's unique about Freshworks is that it offers enterprise level automation to SMB budgets.
5. LiveChat: Conversion focused chat solution
Best for: teams that use chat as a sales channel and need conversion tracking.
Features:
- Live chat with product cards/images
- Chatbot for after-hours
- Cart abandonment tracking
- Reporting & analytics
Pros:
- Good sales assistance inside chat
- Very good agent and visitor experience
- Solid handoff from bot to human
Cons:
- More reliant on chat instead of a full helpdesk
- Add-ons will increase cost a lot
Pricing starts from $20 per agent/month (14-day free trial).
Shopify integration: app available that will share product links/cards from the Shopify catalog.
Ideal for: ecom teams that want to combine support + guided selling.
What's unique about LiveChat is that they offer a chat product with tools built for sales assistance.
6. Gorgias: Purpose-built support for Shopify stores
Best for Shopify brands that need a native Shopify tool.
Features:
- Automated replies
- Revenue tracking tied to tickets
- Social media integration
- Order management within tickets
Pros:
- Built specifically for e-commerce workflows
- Tracks ROI from support interactions
- Easy Shopify setup
Cons:
- Limited reporting flexibility
- Can get expensive with high ticket volume
Pricing starts at $10/month for 50 tickets
Shopify integration: Native and has real-time sync with Shopify order data and customer info
Ideal for Shopify stores that need end-to-end order management inside their helpdesk.
What's unique about Gorgias is that it ties support directly to revenue, which makes it easy to measure the ROI of every customer interaction.
7. Crisp: budget-friendly all-in-one solution
Best for teams on a budget that need chat, bots, inbox, and KB in one place.
Features:
- Live chat
- Chatbot builder
- Shared team inbox
- Knowledge base integration
- Video/audio calling
Pros:
- A generous free tier (unlimited conversations)
- A lot of channels covered for the price
Cons:
- Advanced analytics/workflows are less advanced
- Feels more like “all-in-one” instead of best-in-class
Pricing: free (unlimited conversations), paid from $25/workspace/month.
Shopify integration: app available that syncs customer/shop data from Shopify.
Ideal for: value hunters and high-volume chat use cases.
What's unique about Crisp is that it offers unlimited conversations for free.
8. Re:amaze: Affordable, eCommerce-focused multi-channel support
Best for smaller to medium ecommerce brands that need affordable multichannel support.
Features:
- Support via email, chat, social, SMS
- Built-in chatbots and automations
- Shopify and WooCommerce integrations
- CSAT surveys and reporting
- Status page for store updates
Pros:
- Affordable multi-channel support
- Very good Shopify and WooCommerce integrations
- SMS support
Cons:
- Limited AI or enterprise automation
- Interface is not as good as tools like Intercom or Gorgias
Pricing starts at $29 per staff/month
Shopify integration allows to view and edit order info directly from tickets
Ideal for smaller ecommerce teams that need everything connected in one platform.
What's unique about Re:amaze is that it combines chat, SMS, and order management at a fraction of the cost.
9. Gladly: Customer-obsessed, conversation-based support
Best for customer focused ecommerce brands.
Features:
- One single conversation timeline across channels
- Email, SMS, chat, and voice in one thread
- Customer context at every interaction
- Internal collaboration tools
Pros:
- A customer-centric model (no tickets)
- Omnichannel history
- Very good personalization and retention features
Cons:
- More expensive than most SMB tools
- Overkill for smaller teams
Pricing: Custom pricing based on conversation volume
Shopify integration: syncs orders, refunds, and customer details in real time
Ideal for premium DTC and service brands that want to compete on experience.
What's unique about Gladly is that it organizes communication by customer, not ticket.
What to look for in a Tidio alternative (5 things)
- Make sure the tool you pick connects to your ecommerce platform.
- Does the tool offer multiple channels?
- Think of how much of your support AI can take over, and what tool offers that capability.
- Can the tool you pick scale without having to hire more humans?
- Does the pricing model fit your business?
Some context on Tidio: Tidio is primarily a support tool via chat. It allows you to put an AI/normal chat widget on your website, so your customers can reach you on the website directly.
Tidio is an excellent tool but lacks features like for instance, AI phone support.
Conclusion: choose the right alternative to Tidio for your ecom store
Switching from Tidio is not just about finding a cheaper alternative. The goal should be to give your customers the best experience possible.
If you want AI phone support, Ringly.io is your best option.
If you want live chat, I would personally go with Intercom.
If you are a large brand: Zendesk or Gorgias might be the best option for you.
While deciding, keep your specific ecommerce use cases in mind and make sure the support platform you pick will:
- Make your customers happier
- Not cost you a fortune
That's it!
Want to bring your support to the next level? Pick one of the best Tidio alternatives above to find the tool for your customer support needs.
Have questions about automating your phone support or integrating with Shopify? Discover how Ringly.io is helping merchants like you save time, cut costs, and help every caller.
