Alternatives · Help Desks
Zipchat alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the best Zipchat alternative for most people is Tidio (3.2 GPA), second in our ranking of help desk and live chat tools. It's also the best free one.
Zipchat compared with 5 alternatives: Tidio, Gorgias, Chatbase, Eesel AI and Siena AI.
Zipchat is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $64 per month for 750 replies, billed annually ($80 billed monthly). 1 of the 5 alternatives is free or has a free plan. 3 more offer a free trial.
Listings checked up to Nov 12, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a Zipchat sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZipchatThis tool | Free trial · from $64/mo | Trial only | Web |
| Tidio | Free plan · from $24.17/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Gorgias | Free trial · from $10/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Chatbase | Free trial · from $32/mo | Trial only | Web |
| Eesel AI | Free trial · from $299/mo | Trial only | Web, Browser extension |
| Siena AI | From $750/mo | No | Web |
Price against what you get
Zipchat starts at $64 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 2 of the 5 alternatives on this chart score higher and start lower: Tidio and Gorgias.
Chatbase starts lower without scoring higher.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Zipchat
Tidio
Live chat, ticketing and the Lyro AI agent priced by conversations
- Tidio starts at $24.17 per month for 100 conversations, billed annually ($29 monthly).
- Tidio has a free plan, which Zipchat lacks.
- Tidio also lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Tidio also covers help desk and live chat.
- Tidio does not cover whatsApp messaging and chatbots, which Zipchat does.
Suits: Small online stores, especially on Shopify or WordPress
Gorgias
Ecommerce help desk priced by tickets, with a paid-per-use AI agent
- Gorgias starts at $10 per month for 50 tickets, billed monthly.
- Gorgias also lists iOS and Android apps.
- Gorgias also covers reports, help desk, live chat and help center.
- Gorgias does not cover whatsApp messaging and chatbots, which Zipchat does.
Suits: Shopify and other online stores handling order questions
Chatbase
Build AI support agents trained on your content, priced by credits
- Chatbase starts at $32 per month for 700 message credits, billed annually ($40 billed monthly).
- Chatbase also covers help desk.
- Chatbase does not cover whatsApp messaging and chatbots, which Zipchat does.
Suits: Businesses adding an AI agent to their website or messaging apps
Eesel AI
AI agents for your help desk, priced by monthly credits
- Eesel AI starts at $299 per month for 500 credits, billed monthly.
- Eesel AI also lists a browser extension.
- Eesel AI also covers reports and help desk.
- Eesel AI does not cover whatsApp messaging, which Zipchat does.
Suits: Teams that want AI on top of the help desk they already use
Siena AI
AI customer service agent for ecommerce and consumer brands
- Siena AI starts at $750 per month platform fee, plus $0.90 per automated ticket.
- Siena AI does not cover whatsApp messaging and chatbots, which Zipchat does.
Suits: Shopify-style consumer brands with a high volume of repeat order questions
Limits worth knowing in Zipchat
- There is no free plan; every plan starts with a 7-day trial.
- Starter covers 750 AI replies a month, and extra replies cost $49 per 250 (500 on Scale Plus).
- It is built for online stores, with Shopify, WooCommerce and BigCommerce listed as store platforms.
- Meta charges a per-chat fee for WhatsApp marketing campaigns; the page gives $0.02 per chat started in the US.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Zipchat?
The alternatives to Zipchat in this directory are Tidio, Gorgias, Chatbase, Eesel AI and Siena AI. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Zipchat.
Is there a free alternative to Zipchat?
Yes. Tidio has a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Zipchat alternatives work on Windows?
The Zipchat listing does not include a Windows app. Tidio lists one.
Which Zipchat alternatives work on macOS?
The Zipchat listing does not include a macOS app. Tidio lists one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 17, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.