The Zipchat alternative with more messages, a free plan, and revenue analytics.
Zipchat is a solid Shopify AI chatbot. Chatkit gives you three times the Starter volume at a lower price, a free plan you can keep, Engage targeting, and analytics that tie chats to revenue.
Free plan · $29 Starter · Every paid feature unlocked
What Zipchat does well — and why merchants still switch.
Zipchat is a capable Shopify AI chatbot for sales and support. Plans start at $49/mo for 500 replies, with extra replies at $49 per 250.
Chatkit Starter is $29 for 1,500 messages — three times Zipchat Starter volume, for less. There is a real free plan (150 messages), every paid feature is unlocked, and analytics attribute orders and revenue to conversations. No $49 packs when you run hot.
Pricing, Engage, and analytics — without the extras.
Every paid plan unlocks the full product. You only scale messages and catalog size.
Pricing you can explain
Free for 150 messages. Starter is $29 for 1,500. Growth is $79 for 5,000. Scale is $199 for 15,000. Overage is $15 per 500 — billed through Shopify.
Engage popups
Nudge shoppers above the widget — on every page, or targeted to a product, collection, or URL. A click opens chat with the message already in the thread.
Revenue analytics
Conversations, product card clicks, add-to-cart, knowledge gaps, and orders attributed to the agent. See what chat actually sold.
All features unlocked
No $300 branding tier. No AI add-on. No session meter. Paid plans include Engage, analytics, the inbox, and an on-brand widget.
Side by side.
Same job — a Shopify AI chatbot that sells and supports. Chatkit wins on price, included volume, and the analytics Zipchat leaves thin.
| Feature | Chatkit | Zipchat |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free, or $29/mo | $49/mo |
| Free plan | 150 messages/mo | Trial only |
| Starter volume | 1,500 messages | 500 replies |
| Overage | $15 per 500 messages | $49 per 250 replies |
| Engage popups | Product, collection, or URL | Proactive chat |
| Revenue analytics | – | |
| All features on paid plans | ||
| Human handoff inbox | ||
| Shopify catalog training |
Competitor prices are published starting points and can change. See Chatkit pricing.
Engage shoppers. Then prove what sold.
Two features most Zipchat plans either gate, meter, or skip.
The right nudge on the right page
Popup messages above the floating widget. Show them everywhere, or target a product, a collection, or a custom URL. Shoppers click through into a pre-filled chat.
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Sitewide defaults
Up to three messages on every page.
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Product & collection
A different nudge on the PDP than on the collection.
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URL rules
Contains, exact, starts with, or regex.
Conversations tied to revenue
Overview, conversations, products, knowledge, and conversion — 7 / 30 / 90 day ranges. Attributed orders, AOV, and the products the agent actually recommended.
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Overview
Conversations, visitors, attributed revenue.
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Products
Cards shown, clicks, add-to-cart, CTR.
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Conversion
Orders, AOV, and attribution source.
Zipchat alternative, answered.
Straight answers if you are comparing Chatkit to Zipchat.
Is Chatkit a Zipchat alternative?
Yes. Both are Shopify AI chatbots for sales and support. Chatkit is the better fit if you want a free plan, more messages per dollar, Engage targeting by product or collection, and revenue attribution.
How does Chatkit pricing compare to Zipchat?
Zipchat Starter is $49/mo for 500 replies ($49 more per 250 extras). Chatkit Starter is $29/mo for 1,500 messages, with overage at $15 per 500. Chatkit also has a free plan; Zipchat’s published plans start at $49 after a 7-day trial.
Does Chatkit have a free plan?
Yes — 150 messages a month, catalog sync, product recommendations, and an on-brand widget. No credit card. You only pay when you need more volume.
What is Engage?
Popup messages above the chat widget that nudge shoppers. Show them on every page, or target a product, collection, or URL. A click opens chat with the message already in the thread.
Does Chatkit show revenue from chat?
Yes. Analytics tracks conversations, product card clicks, add-to-cart, and orders attributed to the agent — so you can see what chat actually sold.
Related: Gorgias Alternative · Rep AI Alternative · Tidio Alternative · Pricing · Chatbot for Shopify
More messages. Lower price. Same Shopify job.
Install Chatkit free and see why merchants pick it over Zipchat — no credit card, live in minutes.
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