The short answer
Most stores look at alternatives because Gorgias charges by ticket and again for each AI interaction, so the bill climbs with volume. The alternatives below fall into three groups:
- Shopify-first helpdesks with simpler pricing: Fyncall, Commslayer, Richpanel, Re:amaze and Tidio.
- General helpdesks priced per agent: Zendesk, Freshdesk, Help Scout and Intercom.
- Add-ons rather than replacements: Siena adds AI on top of a helpdesk, and Shopify Inbox is free storefront chat.
A note on fairness
We make Fyncall, so it is listed first and we have an obvious interest. Its profile lists what it does not do, the same as every other tool. Every competitor fact links to that vendor's own pricing page, checked on 7 November 2026. No vendor paid to be included.
Why stores look beyond Gorgias
Gorgias is a capable, Shopify-focused helpdesk. These are the pricing points that most often send people looking, based on Gorgias's pricing page.
The bill follows your ticket count
Gorgias plans are sized by tickets a month, with a fee for each ticket over the plan. A busy season or a delayed shipment raises the bill even if your team stays the same size.
AI is charged per interaction
Each automated interaction costs $0.90 to $1.00, and $1.50 above the plan allowance. It also counts as a ticket, so AI and ticket fees can stack on the same conversation.
Voice and SMS are extra
Both are add-ons priced by usage, and the rates were not published on the pricing page when we checked.
The entry plan is small
The $10 Starter plan covers 50 tickets a month and is monthly only, so most growing stores start on a higher plan.
The pricing page also shows a second, different set of monthly prices. We used the detailed plan figures, which match the Shopify App Store listing.
At a glance
Gorgias first as the baseline, then the alternatives.
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | You pay per | AI pricing | Free plan or trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gorgias | The baseline | From $10/mo (Starter, 50 tickets, monthly only). Basic is $50/mo annual or $60/mo monthly for 300 tickets | Plan sized by tickets per month. Extra tickets cost $0.36 to $0.40 each | $0.90 (annual) or $1.00 (monthly) per automated interaction, $1.50 above the plan allowance. Each one also counts as a ticket | 7-day free trial |
| FyncallOur product | Shopify stores that want flat pricing and AI they control per channel | Free plan. Pro is $34/mo, or $370/yr | Flat plan. Unlimited team members on Pro | 500 AI messages/mo on Pro, counted per AI reply. No per-resolution fee. Top-up packs from $5 for 100 | Free plan, plus a 14-day trial of Pro |
| Commslayer | Small Shopify teams that want bundled AI and unlimited seats | Free plan. Plus from $39/mo (700 conversations) | Plan sized by billable conversations, unlimited seats. $0.15 per extra conversation | AI messages included (300 to 9,000/mo by plan), then $0.075 per AI message | Free plan, plus a 14-day trial of paid plans |
| Richpanel | Growing DTC brands automating returns and refunds | One plan: $99 per seat/mo billed annually, $119 billed monthly | Per seat, plus a metered AI meter. No per-ticket fees | About $0.20 per AI-handled conversation, with a $200/mo AI minimum | None on the pricing page. The App Store listing shows a 14-day trial |
| Re:amaze | Small stores that want cheap seats and simple AI | $29 per team member/mo, or $26.10 annual. Flat Starter plan $59/mo (500 conversations) | Per team member, or flat rate with unlimited members on Starter | 5 to 20 AI resolutions per user/mo by plan, then $0.85 each | 14-day free trial |
| Zendesk | Large teams that need enterprise ticketing and routing | Support Team $19 per agent/mo annual ($25 monthly). Suite Team $55 annual ($69 monthly) | Per agent | 5 to 10 automated resolutions per agent/mo, then $1.50 to $2.00 each. Copilot $50 per agent/mo | 14-day free trial |
| Freshdesk | Budget email ticketing outside Shopify-specific work | Growth $19 per agent/mo, billed annually | Per agent | First 500 AI sessions free once, then $49 per 100 sessions. Copilot $29 per agent/mo (Pro and above) | 14-day free trial, no free plan |
| Help Scout | Small teams that want a simple, friendly shared inbox | Free plan. Standard $25 per user/mo | Per user. Light users don’t take a full seat | AI Answers $0.75 per resolution, with an optional cap. Drafting and summaries included | Free plan, plus a 15-day trial |
| Intercom (Fin) | Brands that put a top-tier AI agent first | Essential $29 per seat/mo, shown as $19 for new customers | Per seat, plus usage | Fin: $0.99 per outcome. A monthly minimum applies when used with another helpdesk | 14-day free trial |
| Tidio | Small stores starting with live chat and an AI chatbot | Free plan. Starter $29/mo, or $24.17/mo billed yearly (100 conversations). Lyro AI from $39/mo ($32.50 billed yearly) | Plan sized by conversations a human replies to. Up to 10 seats on self-serve plans | Lyro billed by conversation quota, from 50 a month for $39 ($32.50 billed yearly) | Free plan, plus a 7-day trial |
| Siena AI | High-volume brands adding AI on top of an existing helpdesk | $750/mo platform fee | Platform fee plus a fee per automated ticket | $0.90 per automated ticket | None published |
| Shopify Inbox | New stores that want free storefront chat | Free | Free app | AI shopping assistant included at no published charge | Free |
Channels compared
"Not stated" means the vendor's pricing page did not say, not that the channel is missing.
| Tool | Web chat | SMS | Phone | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fyncall | Yes (Gmail, Outlook) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Commslayer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not yet (listed as coming soon) | Add-on ($0.20/min plus call costs) |
| Richpanel | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (AI answers calls) |
| Re:amaze | Yes | Yes | Social channels listed, networks not named | Not stated | Pro and Plus | Pro and Plus |
| Zendesk | Yes | Suite plans | Suite plans | Suite plans, extra fees | Add-on | Suite plans, numbers extra |
| Freshdesk | Yes | Not stated on the pricing page | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Help Scout | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Through integrations |
| Intercom (Fin) | Yes | Yes | Not stated on the pricing page | Add-on, per message | Add-on | Add-on, usage-based |
| Tidio | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not stated | Not stated |
| Siena AI | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Shopify Inbox | Unclear | Yes | Unclear | Not stated | Not stated | No |
Estimate your own bill
Headline prices hide the difference between per-ticket, per-seat and per-AI-reply pricing. Put in your monthly volume and team size to see what changes.
Each alternative, in detail
1. Fyncall
Our productBest for: Shopify stores that want flat pricing and AI they control per channel
- Starting price
- Free plan. Pro is $34/mo, or $370/yr
- You pay per
- Flat plan. Unlimited team members on Pro
- AI pricing
- 500 AI messages/mo on Pro, counted per AI reply. No per-resolution fee. Top-up packs from $5 for 100
- Free plan or trial
- Free plan, plus a 14-day trial of Pro
- Shopify
- App Store app. The AI can look up orders, change the address or cancel an unfulfilled order after the customer confirms, and start a return
- Shopify App Store
- No reviews yet
Good at
- One flat price, and human replies never count
- Nothing is charged automatically: when AI messages run out, the AI pauses and your team keeps replying
- Auto-reply, draft-and-review or off, set per channel
Watch out for
- Shopify only
- No phone, SMS or Facebook Messenger
- A newer product with no App Store reviews yet
Skip it if: Teams that support customers by phone or SMS, or sell on more than Shopify.
2. Commslayer
Best for: Small Shopify teams that want bundled AI and unlimited seats
- Starting price
- Free plan. Plus from $39/mo (700 conversations)
- You pay per
- Plan sized by billable conversations, unlimited seats. $0.15 per extra conversation
- AI pricing
- AI messages included (300 to 9,000/mo by plan), then $0.075 per AI message
- Free plan or trial
- Free plan, plus a 14-day trial of paid plans
- Shopify
- App Store app. Refunds and order edits from the helpdesk
- Shopify App Store
- 4.9 from 243 reviews
Good at
- Unlimited seats on every plan, including Free
- Low published rates for extra AI messages
- You can set a spending cap
Watch out for
- SMS is not live yet
- Voice is billed per minute on top of call costs
- The Free plan stops at its cap
Skip it if: Teams that need SMS today.
3. Richpanel
Best for: Growing DTC brands automating returns and refunds
- Starting price
- One plan: $99 per seat/mo billed annually, $119 billed monthly
- You pay per
- Per seat, plus a metered AI meter. No per-ticket fees
- AI pricing
- About $0.20 per AI-handled conversation, with a $200/mo AI minimum
- Free plan or trial
- None on the pricing page. The App Store listing shows a 14-day trial
- Shopify
- App Store app. The AI handles returns, refunds and cancellations within limits you set
- Shopify App Store
- 4.9 from 136 reviews
Good at
- The AI can cancel unshipped orders, edit items and change addresses, with approval per action
- No per-ticket fees
- Importers for Gorgias, Zendesk, Kustomer and Help Scout
Watch out for
- Its terms say fees are non-cancelable and contracts renew automatically, with a 6% yearly increase
- Returns & Exchanges is a paid add-on from $99/mo
- One helpdesk seat plus the AI minimum starts at $299/mo on an annual commitment
Skip it if: Small stores that want to stay well under $300 a month.
4. Re:amaze
Best for: Small stores that want cheap seats and simple AI
- Starting price
- $29 per team member/mo, or $26.10 annual. Flat Starter plan $59/mo (500 conversations)
- You pay per
- Per team member, or flat rate with unlimited members on Starter
- AI pricing
- 5 to 20 AI resolutions per user/mo by plan, then $0.85 each
- Free plan or trial
- 14-day free trial
- Shopify
- App Store app. Manage, change and create orders
- Shopify App Store
- 4.5 from 181 reviews
Good at
- Low per-seat price
- Flat-rate option with unlimited team members
- SMS and voice included on Pro and Plus
Watch out for
- Starter is capped at 500 conversations a month
- No SMS or voice on Basic
- Small AI allowance before $0.85 each
Skip it if: Teams that need heavy AI automation.
5. Zendesk
Best for: Large teams that need enterprise ticketing and routing
- Starting price
- Support Team $19 per agent/mo annual ($25 monthly). Suite Team $55 annual ($69 monthly)
- You pay per
- Per agent
- AI pricing
- 5 to 10 automated resolutions per agent/mo, then $1.50 to $2.00 each. Copilot $50 per agent/mo
- Free plan or trial
- 14-day free trial
- Shopify
- App Store app. Refunds and cancellations from the sidebar
- Shopify App Store
- 3.2 from 96 reviews
Good at
- Mature, highly configurable ticketing
- Scales to large teams and complex workflows
- Large add-on ecosystem
Watch out for
- Social messaging and voice need a Suite plan
- Each automated resolution beyond the allowance costs $1.50 to $2.00
- Copilot is extra on top of the seat
Skip it if: Small Shopify teams that want to be live the same day.
zendesk.com/pricing redirected to a regional page when we checked. Prices may differ in your region.
6. Freshdesk
Best for: Budget email ticketing outside Shopify-specific work
- Starting price
- Growth $19 per agent/mo, billed annually
- You pay per
- Per agent
- AI pricing
- First 500 AI sessions free once, then $49 per 100 sessions. Copilot $29 per agent/mo (Pro and above)
- Free plan or trial
- 14-day free trial, no free plan
- Shopify
- No official Shopify App Store app found. Third-party connectors exist
- Shopify App Store
- No official listing
Good at
- Low per-agent entry price
- AI billed per session, not per seat
- Trial includes Enterprise features
Watch out for
- The 500 free AI sessions are one-time, not monthly
- No Copilot on Growth
- No native Shopify order actions
Skip it if: Stores that want order actions inside the helpdesk.
7. Help Scout
Best for: Small teams that want a simple, friendly shared inbox
- Starting price
- Free plan. Standard $25 per user/mo
- You pay per
- Per user. Light users don’t take a full seat
- AI pricing
- AI Answers $0.75 per resolution, with an optional cap. Drafting and summaries included
- Free plan or trial
- Free plan, plus a 15-day trial
- Shopify
- App Store app. Agents can edit, cancel and refund orders
- Shopify App Store
- 3.7 from 19 reviews
Good at
- A free plan you can actually use
- Clean inbox that is quick to learn
- Per-resolution AI with a spending cap
Watch out for
- Cost grows with every user
- Free plan limited to 100 contacts a month
- Pro tier needs a sales demo
Skip it if: Shopify teams that want the AI itself to act on orders.
The pricing page has a monthly/annual switch, and the page we read did not label which period $25 is for.
8. Intercom (Fin)
Best for: Brands that put a top-tier AI agent first
- Starting price
- Essential $29 per seat/mo, shown as $19 for new customers
- You pay per
- Per seat, plus usage
- AI pricing
- Fin: $0.99 per outcome. A monthly minimum applies when used with another helpdesk
- Free plan or trial
- 14-day free trial
- Shopify
- App Store app. Agents can refund, create orders and edit shipping details
- Shopify App Store
- 3.7 from 18 reviews
Good at
- Strong AI agent, usable alone or with another helpdesk
- Polished web and in-app messenger
- Everything included in the trial
Watch out for
- AI cost grows with every outcome
- WhatsApp, SMS and phone are all usage charges
- Higher tiers are $85 and $132 per seat
Skip it if: Stores watching cost per conversation closely.
The page we read did not label whether $29/$19 is monthly or annual billing.
9. Tidio
Best for: Small stores starting with live chat and an AI chatbot
- Starting price
- Free plan. Starter $29/mo, or $24.17/mo billed yearly (100 conversations). Lyro AI from $39/mo ($32.50 billed yearly)
- You pay per
- Plan sized by conversations a human replies to. Up to 10 seats on self-serve plans
- AI pricing
- Lyro billed by conversation quota, from 50 a month for $39 ($32.50 billed yearly)
- Free plan or trial
- Free plan, plus a 7-day trial
- Shopify
- App Store app. Shopify actions on Growth and higher
- Shopify App Store
- 4.8 from 1,356 reviews
Good at
- Free plan and low entry price
- AI and flow replies are not billable conversations
- Easy to start with chat alone
Watch out for
- Shopify actions need Growth or higher
- Self-serve plans stop at 10 seats
- AI priced separately from the helpdesk
Skip it if: Teams that already run a full ticketing workflow.
The page did not say whether $24.17 is the monthly or annual price. By the numbers it looks like annual billing.
10. Siena AI
Best for: High-volume brands adding AI on top of an existing helpdesk
- Starting price
- $750/mo platform fee
- You pay per
- Platform fee plus a fee per automated ticket
- AI pricing
- $0.90 per automated ticket
- Free plan or trial
- None published
- Shopify
- Shopify listed as an integration. Handles address changes, refunds, labels and replacements
- Shopify App Store
- No App Store listing found
Good at
- Runs on top of Gorgias, Zendesk, Intercom and others
- Handles post-purchase work such as replacements
- Two-part pricing
Watch out for
- $750 a month before any automation
- Not a helpdesk, so you pay for one as well
- Implementation is quote-only
Skip it if: Stores replacing Gorgias rather than adding to it.
11. Shopify Inbox
Best for: New stores that want free storefront chat
- Starting price
- Free
- You pay per
- Free app
- AI pricing
- AI shopping assistant included at no published charge
- Free plan or trial
- Free
- Shopify
- Built by Shopify. Discounts and order updates in replies
- Shopify App Store
- 4.5 from 5,819 reviews
Good at
- Free and built by Shopify
- AI answers from your own catalogue
- Tight storefront integration
Watch out for
- Chat only, not a ticketing helpdesk
- Email and social support unclear
- Few order actions
Skip it if: Anyone with more than a trickle of support messages across channels.
When Gorgias is still the right call
- You rely on phone, SMS or TikTok Shop. Gorgias offers them; several alternatives here do not.
- Your agents edit, duplicate and refund orders by hand all day. Gorgias builds those actions into the ticket view.
- You sell on more than Shopify. Gorgias lists other ecommerce platforms; some alternatives, including Fyncall, are Shopify only.
- Your setup already works and the bill is predictable. Rebuilding a helpdesk takes time. Switching for its own sake rarely pays off.
How to choose
- 1Pull one month of data. Count conversations, the share you expect AI to resolve, and how many people answer customers.
- 2Match the pricing unit to your shape. Big team, low volume: avoid per-seat. High volume, small team: avoid per-ticket. Heavy automation: watch per-resolution AI fees.
- 3List the channels you cannot drop. Phone and SMS rule out several tools straight away.
- 4Check what the AI can do with orders. Ask whether the AI itself can change an address or cancel, or only your agents.
- 5Run a short trial on one channel. Web chat is usually the easiest to test without disturbing your main inbox.
Switching from Gorgias
Whichever tool you pick, plan the move around your contract and your quietest week.
- Note your renewal date and any notice period.
- Export the macros and rules you want to rebuild.
- Start one low-risk channel in the new tool and run both side by side.
- Keep AI on draft-and-review at first, and compare its drafts with what your team would send.
- Move WhatsApp and Instagram connections during a quiet period.
- Keep Gorgias open until its last tickets are closed, then export what you need.
Moving to Fyncall? Read the migration guide. Fyncall has no importer for Gorgias history, so past tickets stay in Gorgias.
