Live chat apps for Shopify range from free chat widgets to full helpdesks. The questions that matter are whether agents see order and product context, how the app prices seats and conversations, and what happens when a chat ends without a sale. Emailwish live chat sits in the same app as your email flows: the inbox shows the products and orders behind each conversation, and a shopper who asks about a product but doesn’t buy can get a follow-up email. AI chatbot answers are on the Emailwish roadmap; helpdesks such as Gorgias already offer them.
How we compare
We compare every app on the same criteria, using each vendor’s public pricing page, documentation and Shopify App Store or WordPress.org listing, and we record every price and feature with its source and the date we checked it. Each comparison prices both apps at 50, 300 and 2,000 tickets a month, lines up the main features in an at-a-glance table, quotes ratings with their review counts and has a section on where the other app is stronger. Emailwish is our product, and we earn no affiliate commissions. Read our editorial policy for the full method.
Emailwish vs other live chat apps
- Gorgias vs. EmailwishFeatures, pricing and switching, side by side
- Zendesk vs. EmailwishFeatures, pricing and switching, side by side
- Intercom vs. EmailwishFeatures, pricing and switching, side by side
- LiveChat vs. EmailwishFeatures, pricing and switching, side by side
- Freshchat vs. EmailwishFeatures, pricing and switching, side by side
- Crisp vs. EmailwishFeatures, pricing and switching, side by side
- Tawk.to vs. EmailwishFeatures, pricing and switching, side by side
- Chatra vs. EmailwishFeatures, pricing and switching, side by side
- JivoChat vs. EmailwishFeatures, pricing and switching, side by side
- Olark vs. EmailwishFeatures, pricing and switching, side by side
- Chaport vs. EmailwishFeatures, pricing and switching, side by side
- SnapEngage vs. EmailwishFeatures, pricing and switching, side by side
- Chatty vs. EmailwishFeatures, pricing and switching, side by side
- Carti vs. EmailwishFeatures, pricing and switching, side by side
Roundups: the best live chat apps
Live chat apps at a glance
| App | Best for | Free plan | Paid plans from | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emailwish | Stores that want chat tied to email marketing | Yes: Seed, 1,000 emails, 100 contacts | $35/month (Launch, includes email marketing) | 4.1 (7 reviews) |
| Carti | Stores that want an AI assistant answering shoppers | Yes: 50 AI conversations a month | $49/month (Starter, 250 AI conversations) | 5.0 (5 reviews) |
| Chaport | Teams that want multichannel chat and chatbots | Yes: 2 operators, unlimited chats, 60-day history | $39/month (Pro, 4 operators) | No rating yet |
| Chatra | Stores that want a dedicated chat and messaging inbox | Yes: 1 agent, 5 chats a month | $31/month per agent (Essential) | 4.5 (306 reviews) |
| Chatty | Stores that want an AI chatbot and helpdesk inbox | Yes: 50 AI conversations a month, 1 team member | $19.99/month (Basic) | 4.9 (1,869 reviews) |
| Crisp | Support teams running an omnichannel helpdesk | Yes: 2 seats, website chat, 100 customer profiles | $45/month (Mini, 4 seats) | 4.0 (34 reviews) |
| Freshchat | Support teams on many messaging channels | Yes: up to 10 agents, chat and shared inbox | $23 per agent a month (Growth) | No rating yet |
| Gorgias | Support teams running a multichannel helpdesk | No: 7-day free trial | $10/month (Starter, 50 tickets) | 4.3 (706 reviews) |
| Intercom | Support teams running a helpdesk with ticketing | No: 14-day free trial | $39 per seat a month (Essential) | 3.7 (18 reviews) |
| JivoChat | Teams chatting on website, messengers and phone | Yes: website chat and messengers, 2-month history | $40 per agent a month (Basic) | No rating yet |
| LiveChat | Dedicated chat and support teams | No: 14-day free trial | $25/month (Starter, 1 user) | 4.4 (49 reviews) |
| Olark | Teams using website chat for lead capture | No: 14-day free trial, no card needed | $29 per agent a month (Live Chat, monthly) | No rating yet |
| SnapEngage | B2B and healthcare support teams | No: three paid plans, bought through a quote | $29 per user a month (Starter) | No rating yet |
| tawk.to | Businesses that want free chat, tickets and a CRM | Yes: chat, ticketing, CRM, unlimited agents | Add-ons from $29/month | 3.6 (89 reviews) |
| Zendesk | Support teams running omnichannel ticketing | No: 14-day free trial | $25 per agent a month; live chat from $69 (Suite Team) | 3.2 (93 reviews) |
Frequently asked questions
Is Emailwish a helpdesk like Gorgias?
No. Gorgias is a multichannel helpdesk for support teams, with email, chat, social messages and help-centre requests in one inbox and Shopify order actions inside the ticket. Emailwish is live chat built into your marketing: chats feed the customer profile and can trigger follow-up emails.
Is live chat included in every Emailwish plan?
Yes. Live chat is included in every plan, including the free Seed plan, with unlimited conversations; the number of team seats depends on the plan. Plans are priced by the emails you send each month.
Does Emailwish have an AI chatbot?
Not yet. AI chatbot answers are on the Emailwish roadmap. Gorgias’s AI Agent is available today and billed per resolved conversation.
What happens after a chat that doesn’t end in a sale?
Emailwish can send a timed follow-up email through its chat follow-up flow, which is set up for you at install.
