A good Shopify chatbot does three jobs: answers “where is my order”, helps shoppers choose the right product and recovers sales that would otherwise be abandoned. Here is how five popular options compare.
Last updated: October 17, 2026. Prices and features change often, so always confirm on the official website before you buy.
Key takeaways
- Best for AI selling: Text, with product cards and add to cart in chat.
- Best free start: Tidio or Shopify Inbox.
- Best for high ticket volume: Gorgias.
What to look for in a Shopify AI chatbot
- Reads your live catalog and order data
- Recommends products and lets shoppers add to cart in chat
- Answers order status without human help
- Hands off to a person with cart and order context
- Pricing that fits your chat volume
Comparison
| App | AI selling | Order status | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text | Product cards + add to cart, cart recovery | Yes | From $25/month via Shopify |
| Tidio | Lyro AI + Flows | Yes | Free plan; Lyro add-on |
| Gorgias | Support-first AI | Yes | About $10/month (reported) |
| Shopify Inbox | Basic suggestions | Basic | Free |
| Chatbase | Content-trained bot | Via actions | Free plan; Hobby $32/month (reported) |
1. Text – best AI sales assistant
Best for: Shopify stores focused on conversion
Starting price: From $25/month via Shopify
Text pulls your catalog and order data, recommends products as cards with variant selection and add to cart, shows returning visitors their saved cart and answers order questions. Text reports that shoppers who engage with its AI order at up to 266% higher rates (a vendor figure). Setup: connect Text to Shopify.
2. Tidio – best free start
Tidio is easy to install and has a free plan. Its Lyro AI handles FAQs, and Flows automate welcome messages and cart nudges.
3. Gorgias – best for large support teams
Gorgias is a full ecommerce help desk with AI that resolves tickets using order data. See Text vs Gorgias.
4. Shopify Inbox – best basic free option
Shopify’s own chat app is free and simple. It suits very small stores that answer chats manually most of the time.
5. Chatbase – best custom FAQ bot
Chatbase trains a chatbot on your content. It is flexible, but you build more of the ecommerce logic yourself.
Related guides
- How to Set Up the Text AI Agent (Step-by-Step)
- How to Train an AI Agent on Your Website, Files and FAQs
- How to Write AI Agent Instructions (With Prompt Templates)
- How to Add the Text Chat Widget to Your Website or WordPress
- How to Connect the Text AI Agent to Shopify
- How to Create a Custom Skill for the Text AI Agent
- Best AI Customer Service Agents for Small Businesses (2026)
- Text AI Agent Pricing 2026: Plans, AI Resolutions and Real Costs
- Text vs Tidio (2026): Which AI Chat Platform Is Better?
- Text vs Intercom Fin (2026): AI Customer Service Compared
Frequently asked questions
Do AI chatbots really increase Shopify sales?
They can, mainly by answering questions instantly and recommending products. Measure orders from chat before and after launch rather than relying on vendor numbers.
Which Shopify chatbot works on the checkout page?
Chat on the Shopify checkout page generally requires Shopify Plus; Text notes this for its widget.
Final verdict
For stores that want AI to actively sell, Text is our top pick. Start with Tidio or Shopify Inbox if you only need basic free chat.
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