The best Verloop alternatives for customer support in 2026

In this article, we will go over the best Verloop alternatives to use in 2026
Ruben Boonzaaijer
Written by
Ruben Boonzaaijer
Maurizio Isendoorn
Reviewed by
Maurizio Isendoorn
Last edited 
February 23, 2026
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In this article

Verloop.io has built a solid reputation as a conversational AI platform for customer support. But here's the catch: many teams outgrow it.

The pricing isn't transparent, workflows can feel rigid, and scaling up often means more maintenance than you bargained for.

If you're shopping for alternatives, you're not alone. We've researched and tested the leading options to help you find a platform that actually fits your needs.

Whether you're looking for better phone support, more flexible chat automation, or just clearer pricing, this guide covers 7 Verloop alternatives worth considering in 2026.

Editor’s note: Want to hear some sample AI support calls made for your Shopify store?
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What is Verloop?

Verloop.io is an automation platform offering customer support and engagement through AI-powered chatbots and voice AI.

It provides omnichannel support across websites, in-app, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and other channels.

The platform handles lead acquisition, customer engagement through conversational AI, multilingual bots, automated workflows like abandoned cart sequences, and analytics dashboards. For many businesses, it works well enough, until it doesn't.

Common complaints include:

  • Pricing isn't displayed publicly (you need to contact sales)
  • The interface has a learning curve
  • Analytics are basic and don't provide deep marketing insights
  • No mobile app for staying connected on the go
  • Intent-based flows become limiting when workflows change frequently

If any of these sound familiar, it's worth exploring what else is out there.

How we evaluated these Verloop alternatives

We looked at platforms that solve the problems Verloop users report most often. Our criteria included:

  • Pricing transparency: Clear, public pricing without requiring sales calls
  • Ease of use: Intuitive interfaces that don't require extensive training
  • AI capabilities: Quality of automation and resolution rates
  • Integrations: How well the platform connects with your existing tools
  • Scalability: Whether the platform grows with you or creates bottlenecks

We focused on solutions that work well for e-commerce and customer support teams, since that's where Verloop is most commonly used.

Verloop alternatives at a glance

Platform Starting Price Free Trial Best For Key Strength
Ringly.io $99/mo 14 days E-commerce phone support AI phone agent with 73% resolution rate
Crisp $0 (free plan) 14 days Small teams Flat pricing, unlimited agents
Tidio $0 (free plan) Available Quick AI deployment Lyro AI with predictable pricing
Intercom $29/seat/mo 14 days High-volume support Fin AI with 50-65% resolution
Yellow.ai Custom Contact sales Enterprise multilingual 135+ languages, 15+ LLMs
Cognigy.AI Custom Contact sales Contact centers 4.8/5 Gartner rating
Zendesk $55/agent/mo Available Proven scalability Established ecosystem

1. Ringly.io

Ringly.io takes a different approach from most Verloop alternatives. Instead of focusing on chat, it specializes in AI-powered phone support for e-commerce stores.

Seth, their AI phone agent, answers calls 24/7, looks up orders, processes returns and exchanges, and escalates to your team only when necessary.

The platform integrates natively with Shopify and resolves around 73% of calls without human intervention.

What makes it stand out is the phone-first approach.

While most competitors treat voice as an afterthought, Ringly.io built their entire platform around handling phone calls effectively. For e-commerce stores receiving significant call volume, this matters.

Key features:

  • 24/7 AI phone support
  • Order lookup and status updates
  • Returns and exchanges automation
  • Native Shopify integration
  • 40 languages supported
  • Call recordings and analytics

Pricing:

Plan Monthly Price Call Minutes Key Features
Start $99/mo 250 Basic chat support
Grow $349/mo 1,000 Self-learning AI, store data integration
Scale $1,099+/mo 3,000+ Private Slack channel, custom integrations

Best for: E-commerce stores using Shopify that want to automate phone support without losing the human touch.

2. Crisp

Crisp positions itself as an all-in-one customer messaging platform.

It combines live chat, a shared inbox, knowledge base, and AI agents into one unified workspace.

The platform emphasizes flat pricing and team collaboration.

Unlike per-seat models that punish growth, Crisp's Business plan includes 20 seats for $95 per month.

This makes it attractive for growing teams that don't want costs to spiral as they add agents.

Crisp also offers features you won't find everywhere, like co-browsing (guiding users through their screen without plugins) and built-in video calls.

The free plan is genuinely usable for small teams just getting started.

Key features:

  • Shared inbox for all channels
  • Live chat with triggers
  • Knowledge base builder
  • Co-browsing and screen control
  • Video and audio calls
  • Mobile apps for iOS and Android

Pricing:

Plan Monthly Price Seats Key Features
Free $0 2 Basic live chat
Pro $25 4 Unlimited history, triggers
Business $95 20 AI features, co-browsing
Enterprise Custom Unlimited Dedicated support

Best for: Small to medium teams wanting unified customer communication without per-agent pricing headaches.

3. Tidio

Tidio combines live chat, AI agents, and helpdesk tools into a single platform.

Trusted by over 300,000 businesses, it focuses on making AI accessible to teams without technical expertise.

The standout feature is Lyro AI, a conversational AI agent that learns from your website content, knowledge base, and previous conversations.

Unlike rule-based bots that follow scripts, Lyro handles natural language queries and improves over time.

Tidio's pricing is straightforward, with a generous free tier and predictable costs as you scale.

The platform integrates well with e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento.

Key features:

  • Lyro AI Agent for automated responses
  • Live chat with real-time visitor monitoring
  • Helpdesk ticketing system
  • Multichannel support (email, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp)
  • Visual automation builder
  • Mobile apps for agents

Pricing:

Plan Monthly Price Conversations Key Features
Free $0 50 3 operators, basic chat
Starter $29 100 Live visitors list
Growth $59 2,500 Lyro AI (50 convos included)
Plus $749 Custom Multichannel, priority support

Best for: E-commerce businesses wanting quick AI deployment with predictable pricing.

4. Intercom

Intercom has repositioned itself as an AI-first customer service platform.

The centerpiece is Fin AI Agent, which the company claims is the highest-performing AI agent for customer service.

Fin resolves 50-65% of customer queries without human involvement.

It's powered by the proprietary Fin AI Engine, built specifically for customer service rather than general-purpose AI.

This shows in the quality of responses and the ability to handle complex queries.

The catch is pricing. Intercom uses a resolution-based model ($0.99 per resolution) on top of seat fees.

For high-volume businesses, costs can escalate quickly. But for companies where support quality directly impacts revenue, the ROI often justifies the investment.

Key features:

  • Fin AI Agent for automated resolutions
  • Shared inbox and ticketing
  • Proactive support campaigns
  • Copilot AI assistant for human agents
  • Extensive integration ecosystem (450+ apps)
  • Works with existing helpdesks (Zendesk, Salesforce)

Pricing:

Plan Seat Price AI Resolution Key Features
Essential $29/mo $0.99 each Shared inbox, help center
Advanced $85/mo $0.99 each Workflows, 20 Lite seats
Expert $132/mo $0.99 each SSO, HIPAA, SLAs

Best for: Mid-market companies with high support volume that can justify resolution-based pricing through efficiency gains.

5. Yellow.ai

Yellow.ai is an enterprise-grade conversational AI platform powering customer and employee experiences.

With 1,300+ global brands using the platform, it's built for scale.

The platform uses 15+ LLMs to power its Dynamic AI Agent, enabling human-like conversations across 135+ languages.

This makes it particularly strong for global enterprises needing multilingual support at scale.

Yellow.ai emphasizes its Agentic AI capabilities, meaning the AI doesn't just respond to queries but can take actions, integrate with backend systems, and complete tasks autonomously.

Key features:

  • Dynamic AI Agent with 15+ LLMs
  • Voice AI for natural conversations
  • 135+ language support
  • 150+ prebuilt integrations
  • No-code conversation builder
  • Advanced analytics and insights

Pricing:

  • Custom enterprise pricing (contact sales)
  • No public pricing tiers

Best for: Large enterprises needing multilingual voice and chat automation at scale.

6. Cognigy.AI

Cognigy.AI is an enterprise conversational AI platform with a 4.8/5 rating on Gartner (from 139 reviews).

It specializes in contact center AI and voice automation.

The platform offers both cloud and on-premise deployment options, making it suitable for industries with strict data requirements.

Its voice capabilities are particularly strong, with natural-sounding conversations and seamless handoffs to human agents.

Cognigy integrates deeply with major contact center platforms, allowing enterprises to augment existing infrastructure rather than rip and replace.

Key features:

  • Enterprise-grade voice AI
  • Contact center integrations
  • Agent Assist for real-time coaching
  • Low-code conversation design
  • On-premise deployment options
  • SOC 2 and GDPR compliance

Pricing:

  • Custom enterprise pricing (contact sales)

Best for: Large organizations with complex automation needs, especially in regulated industries.

7. Zendesk

Zendesk is the established leader in helpdesk software.

While not the newest platform on this list, it offers proven reliability and an extensive ecosystem of integrations.

Zendesk AI is now included in all plans, providing automated responses, intelligent routing, and agent assistance.

The platform's strength lies in its maturity: virtually any integration you need exists, and the system handles enterprise scale without breaking a sweat.

For teams already using Zendesk, the AI features provide a path to automation without switching platforms.

For new users, the learning curve is steeper than newer alternatives, but the depth of functionality is hard to match.

Key features:

  • Comprehensive ticketing system
  • Zendesk AI included in all plans
  • 1,000+ app integrations
  • Advanced analytics and reporting
  • Customizable workflows
  • Enterprise security and compliance

Pricing:

Plan Price per Agent Key Features
Suite Team $55/mo Ticketing, messaging, AI agents
Suite Growth $89/mo Multiple forms, light agents
Suite Professional $115/mo Custom reports, SLAs
Suite Enterprise Custom Advanced AI, sandbox

Best for: Teams needing proven, scalable helpdesk software with extensive customization options.

Which Verloop alternative should you choose?

The right choice depends on your specific situation:

For e-commerce phone support: Ringly.io is the clear choice if you handle significant call volume. The AI phone agent handles orders, returns, and FAQs while escalating complex issues to your team.

For small teams on a budget: Crisp offers the best free plan and flat pricing that doesn't penalize growth. The co-browsing feature is genuinely useful for technical support.

For quick AI deployment: Tidio gets you up and running fastest. Lyro AI learns from your existing content without complex training.

For high-volume support: Intercom delivers the highest resolution rates, but make sure you model the costs based on your volume.

For enterprise scale: Yellow.ai or Cognigy.AI handle the complexity and scale that large organizations require.

For proven reliability: Zendesk remains the safe choice if you prioritize stability and ecosystem breadth over cutting-edge AI.

Getting started with AI-powered customer support

Switching support platforms is a significant decision. Here are a few tips for a smooth transition:

  1. Start with a trial: All the platforms on this list offer free trials. Use them to test with real scenarios before committing.
  2. Map your workflows: Document your current support processes before evaluating alternatives. This helps you identify must-have features.
  3. Check integrations: Verify that your critical tools (CRM, e-commerce platform, email) integrate smoothly.
  4. Plan the migration: Most platforms offer migration assistance. Take advantage of it.
  5. Train your team: The best platform won't help if your team doesn't use it effectively. Invest in training.

If phone support is a significant channel for your business, Ringly.io offers a 14-day free trial where you can test Seth's capabilities with your actual call volume. Start your free trial here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do businesses look for Verloop alternatives?

Businesses typically switch from Verloop due to pricing opacity (no public pricing), rigid intent-based workflows that are hard to modify, limited analytics, and the lack of a mobile app for agents. As support needs evolve, teams need more flexibility than Verloop provides.

Which Verloop alternative is best for e-commerce?

For e-commerce businesses, Ringly.io stands out for phone support automation with native Shopify integration. Tidio and Crisp are strong options for chat-based support with good e-commerce platform integrations.

Are there free Verloop alternatives?

Yes, Crisp and Tidio both offer genuinely usable free plans. Crisp's free tier includes basic live chat for up to 2 agents, while Tidio offers 50 conversations per month at no cost.

How does Verloop alternative pricing compare?

Pricing varies significantly. Ringly.io starts at $99/month for phone support. Crisp starts at $0. Intercom uses resolution-based pricing ($0.99 per resolution) which can be cost-effective for low volume but expensive at scale. Enterprise options like Yellow.ai and Cognigy.AI require custom quotes.

Which Verloop alternative has the best AI resolution rates?

Ringly.io reports resolving ~73% of phone calls without human intervention. Intercom Fin AI resolves 50-65% of queries. Tidio Lyro AI claims up to 70% automation for common questions.

Can I use these Verloop alternatives with my existing helpdesk?

Some platforms integrate with existing helpdesks. Intercom Fin can work with Zendesk, Salesforce, and other platforms. However, most alternatives on this list are standalone platforms designed to replace Verloop entirely rather than augment it.

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Ruben Boonzaaijer
Article by
Ruben Boonzaaijer

Hi, I’m Ruben! A marketer, chatgpt addict and co-founder of Ringly.io, where we build AI phone reps for Shopify stores. Before this, I ran an ai consulting agency which eventually led me to start a software business. Good to meet you!

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