How much does an AI shopping assistant cost?
Real prices from public pricing pages, and how the pricing models differ.
Prices by tool
Swipe to see the full table.
| Tool | Free option | Paid plans | Usage counted as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talkom | 50 conversations a month | $19, $39, $109 a month | Conversations |
| Shopify Inbox | The app is free | None listed | Nothing listed |
| Tidio | First 50 Lyro conversations | Lyro from $32.50 a month; helpdesk plans from $24.17 | Lyro conversations, billable conversations |
| Zipchat | About 50 conversations a month, on its Shopify listing | $80, $300, $600, $1,200 a month. Unlimited from $2,100 | Replies |
| Gorgias | None | $10, $60, $360, $900 a month, plus AI fees | Tickets and AI interactions |
| Intercom Fin | 14-day trial | $0.99 per outcome, seats from $29 a month ($19 for new customers) | Outcomes |
| Alhena AI | 25 conversations a month | $239, $599, $1,199 a month, or $199, $499, $999 billed annually | Credits |
| Rep AI | Free to install on Shopify | Varies: its site and Shopify listing differ | Sessions or visitors |
| Octocom | None | €100, €200 a month, Scale by quote | Conversations |
| Manifest AI | Free to install | Not shown on its Shopify listing | Not stated |
The four pricing models
Fixed plan with a conversation limit
You pay a set price for a set number of conversations. Talkom works this way. It’s predictable, but you need to choose the right size.
Per reply
You pay for AI messages, as with Zipchat. Long conversations use more of your plan.
Per resolution or outcome
You pay when AI handles a question, as with Intercom Fin. You pay for results, but your bill grows with volume.
Helpdesk plus AI
You pay for a support platform and then for AI usage on top, as with Gorgias. This makes sense if you need the helpdesk anyway.
Example: cost at 250 conversations a month
Swipe to see the full table.
| Tool | Rough monthly cost | How we worked it out |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Inbox | $0 | Listed as free |
| Talkom | $39 | Growth plan: 250 conversations |
| Tidio | About $39 | Lyro on the Shopify listing, up to 200 conversations, so a little short of 250 |
| Zipchat | $80 | Starter plan: about 300 conversations |
| Alhena AI | $199 and up | Essentials: 200 conversations, billed annually ($239 billed monthly), plus $1.20 per extra credit |
| Intercom Fin | About $248 | 250 outcomes at $0.99, before any seats |
| Gorgias | About $280 to $390 | Basic at $60, plus about 220 AI interactions at $1.00 to $1.50 |
These are rough estimates, because tools count usage differently. A conversation on one tool isn’t the same as an outcome or a ticket on another.
Costs to check before you buy
- What you’re charged, if anything, above your limit
- Add-ons for AI, automation or more channels
- Annual billing that’s paid upfront
- Taxes, which are often excluded
- Removing vendor branding, on some plans
How to work out your budget
Multiply your monthly visitors by the share you expect to chat, then compare that with each plan’s limit. If you don’t know the share, start on a free plan and see what your store actually does. Then compare the cost with the results you measure.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an AI chatbot for Shopify cost?
From free to several hundred dollars a month for most stores. Shopify Inbox is listed as free, Talkom’s plans are $0 to $109 a month, and Zipchat’s paid plans start at $80 a month.
Is there a free AI shopping assistant?
Yes. Shopify Inbox is listed as free. Talkom has a Free plan with 50 AI conversations a month. Zipchat has a free plan with about 50 conversations a month, and Alhena has one with 25.
What is the cost per AI conversation?
On Talkom’s monthly plans it’s about $0.15 to $0.17 per included conversation. Zipchat Starter is about $0.27. Intercom Fin charges $0.99 per outcome. These units aren’t identical.
Are there hidden costs?
Check overage rules, separately priced AI add-ons, and annual billing. Talkom has no overage fees: it stops responding at your limit.
Sources
Checked on November 4, 2026. Vendors change prices and features, so confirm on their own sites before deciding.
- Talkom pricing
- Talkom on the Shopify App Store
- Gorgias: Gorgias pricing
- Tidio: Tidio pricing
- Tidio: Tidio on the Shopify App Store
- Zipchat: Zipchat pricing
- Zipchat: Zipchat product information
- Zipchat: Zipchat on the Shopify App Store
- Intercom Fin: Intercom pricing
- Intercom Fin: Fin for e-commerce
- Shopify Inbox: Shopify Inbox on the Shopify App Store
- Alhena AI: Alhena AI
- Alhena AI: Alhena AI pricing
- Rep AI: Rep AI
- Rep AI: Rep AI pricing
- Rep AI: Rep AI on the Shopify App Store
- Manifest AI: Manifest AI on the Shopify App Store
- Octocom: Octocom
- Octocom: Octocom pricing
- Octocom: Octocom on the Shopify App Store
Try Talkom on your store
Start on the Free plan, or try any paid plan free for 14 days.