10 Free Shopify Live Chat Apps to Boost Sales & Support [2024 Reviewed]

So, you’ve set up your Shopify store, and now you’re looking to elevate your customer support and sales game. What’s the first thing that comes to your mind? 

A free Shopify live chat app. 

If you search for any app on the Shopify app store, trust me, it’s like finding a needle in a haystack. 

Don’t worry, I know why you’re here. I already did the digging and hunting for you. Here’s an accumulated list of the 10 free Shopify chat apps –

What is a Free Live Chat App for Shopify?

A live chat app for Shopify integrates with your Shopify store to enable real-time communication between your team and customers. These apps enhance customer service by answering visitor questions, providing product information, or assisting with purchases 24/7.

Simply put, a live chat app for Shopify isn’t different from your regular live chat platform. 

The next question is – What’s a free live chat app for Shopify?

Well, it’s a software system that comes with a forever-free plan or a free trial. This lets you test it by integrating it with your Shopify store and then doing what live chat software does—providing customer support 24/7, generating leads, and boosting sales.

List of the 10 Best Shopify Chat Apps for Free

Finding the list of free Shopify live chat tools was not an easy job, I must agree. Shopify’s app store has a pool of different tools, and most of them aren’t diverse in their functionalities. 

It took me nearly two months to test most of them and shortlist the best ones. From my personal experience with the shortlisted tools, I prepared this exhaustive comparison for you. Let’s go,

1. ProProfs Chat

Best for 24/7 Delightful Customer Support With AI Chatbots

ProProfs Chat is a feature-rich live chat platform designed to enhance customer support and engagement of your Shopify business. 

I like its intuitive interface and AI chatbot. This lets you assist customers in real time, 24/7, largely improving their overall experience on your site. The software offers robust analytics, customization options, and integrations with various CRM and helpdesk tools. 

I noticed the software offers proactive chat invitations, ensuring you reach out to customers before they even ask for help. Whether you’re looking to increase sales or provide top-notch support, ProProfs Chat can be a good option for your Shopify store.

Read Customer Success Story

What you’ll like:

• Customizable chat widgets to align with your branding
• Targeted chat campaigns to engage customers at the right time
• Proactive chat triggers to initiate conversations based on visitor actions
• Agent collision detection to avoid multiple agents responding to the same chat
• Post-chat surveys to understand customer feedback

What you may not like:

• No downloadable or onpremise version
• No dedicated account manager for the free plan, unlike paid

Pricing: A freemium plan is available for a single operator. Paid options start from $19.99/operator/month.

2. Tawk.to

Best for Free Live Chat With Basic Features, Good for Small Businesses

Tawk.to is a free live chat application that offers robust features without costing a fortune. 

Aimed at small to medium-sized businesses, the platform helps you engage with Shopify visitors in real time. Its user-friendly interface and powerful backend allow you to track and monitor visitors’ activities, which is great, in my opinion. 

The customization options are also quite helpful, enabling you to effortlessly match the chat widget to your brand’s aesthetics. Did I mention it also supports multiple languages? Yeah, it’s pretty global-friendly, in that case.

What you’ll like: 

• Collaborative chat management with agent assignment
• Real-time visitor tracking to understand customer behavior
• Canned messages for efficient response to common inquiries
• File-sharing capabilities for enhanced troubleshooting and product demos
• Mobile app for on-the-go customer support

What you may not like: 

• Not a completely free platform as branded
• The setup process, especially for chat triggers, may require a learning curve

Pricing: A free plan is available without the AI chatbot. Paid options start from $29/month.

3. Tidio

Best for Live Chat With Ticketing Functionality

Tidio is a sleek, modern live chat app that seamlessly integrates with Shopify. It helps you deliver exceptional customer service and boost your sales. 

I used it and found that it combines live chat, chatbots, and email marketing to create a powerful customer communication tool. Its easy setup means you can start engaging with customers in minutes. 

Plus, I also found its chatbot can be automated to free up your time to focus on more complex queries. Whether you’re a solopreneur or part of a larger team, the software scales with your needs.

What you’ll like: 

• AI-powered chatbots to answer basic questions and qualify leads
• Customizable greetings for a personalized customer experience
• Ticketing system for managing complex customer support requests
• Comprehensive analytics to track chat performance and customer behavior
• Automated responses to frequently asked questions

What you may not like: 

• Some users report difficulty managing chat history or making changes to agent profiles
• No reports or analytics for the free plan

Pricing: A free plan is available with upto 50 handled conversations. Paid options start from $24.17/month.

4. Chatra

Best for Multichannel Messaging for Business Communication

Chatra is a versatile free live chat app for Shopify that offers real-time chat, chatbots, and even offline messaging. It’s designed to help you provide instant support to your Shopify customers, improving their shopping experience and boosting sales. 

The app’s clean interface and ease of use make it one of my favorites among Shopify store apps. With features like typing insights and read receipts, you can keep track of customer interactions effortlessly. 

The software also offers group chats, allowing multiple agents to assist a single customer, ensuring that complex queries are resolved efficiently.

What you’ll like:

• Lightweight chat window for a seamless user experience
• Powerful targeting options to engage relevant customers with the right message
• Geo-targeting capabilities to personalize messages based on visitor location
• Typing insights to see what visitors are typing before they send
• Pre-built chat greetings to set the tone for the interaction

What you may not like:

• Chatbots are not available in the free plan
• Some user reviews suggest notifications don’t show up promptly

Pricing: A free plan is available for a single agent. Paid options start from $17/agent/month.

5. JivoChat

Best for Mobile-Friendly Customer Support

JivoChat is an all-in-one business messenger that supports live chat, phone calls, emails, and social media messages in a single platform. I believe this versatility makes it one of the best free Shopify live chat apps to streamline customer communication.

The software has an intuitive interface and a robust feature set, including proactive invitations and real-time visitor monitoring. These features helped me effectively engage customers. 

I also found that the app supports multiple languages, making it ideal for businesses with a global customer base. Plus, if you need a mobile app to provide support on the go, yes, you got it.

What you’ll like:

• Proactive chat invitations to engage website visitors
• Visitor tracking and behavior analytics to understand customer journeys
• File sharing and screen sharing for enhanced customer support
• Detailed chat transcripts for record-keeping
• Chat transfer between agents for efficient support

What you may not like:

• Free plan restricts features like canned responses, agent ratings, Google Analytics integration, etc.
• Some users find the interface a bit cluttered

Pricing: A free plan is available with limited features. Paid options start from $19/agent/month.

6. Crisp

Best for Creating Engaging Dialogues With Cutting-Edge Chatbot Technology

Crisp is another versatile tool that combines live chat with features like shared inbox, team collaboration, and website analytics. It offers a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy for both you and your customers to use. 

In my experience, its standout feature is multi-channel messaging. Using it, I could handle emails, live chats, and even social media messages from one platform. 

Its robust chatbot capabilities allow you to automate repetitive tasks and respond instantly to common queries. The app also offers detailed analytics, helping you track performance.

What you’ll like:

• Shared inbox for managing multiple communication channels
• Team collaboration features for efficient internal communication
• Website analytics to track visitor behavior and engagement
• Customizable chat interface to match your brand
• Offline messaging to capture leads when you’re unavailable

What you may not like:

• No chatbots in the free plan
• A few reviewers mention occasional glitches with chat notifications

Pricing: A free plan is available for up to 2 users. Paid options start from $25/workspace/month.

7. HubSpot

Best for Converting Sales & Engaging Customers With Free Live Chat

HubSpot’s live chat software is part of its free CRM. I think that’s a great way to engage with Shopify store visitors and convert leads. 

Designed for businesses of all sizes, the tool integrates perfectly with its CRM, allowing you to keep track of all customer interactions in one place. Seamlessly integrated with your existing HubSpot data, you can access valuable customer information during chats, qualify leads, and nurture them through the sales pipeline.

The app’s robust feature set, including targeted messages and automated workflows, makes it a powerful tool for boosting customer engagement and sales. Plus, with HubSpot’s powerful analytics, you can continuously refine your strategies to improve performance.

What you’ll like:

• Deep integration with HubSpot CRM and marketing tools
• Access to customer information and purchase history during chats
• Chatbots and automated messaging for efficient lead qualification
• Comprehensive analytics to track chat performance and ROI
• Mobile app support keeps teams connected on the go

What you may not like:

• Only 3 reporting dashboards in the free plan
• Some users find the user interface challenging to learn

Pricing: A free plan is available for up to 5 users. Paid options start from $15/seat/month.

8. Gorgias

Best for Real-Time Customer Support & Automated Self-Service

Gorgias is a powerful helpdesk and live chat app designed for eCommerce businesses. Its deep integration with Shopify allows you to manage all customer interactions in one place, providing a seamless support experience. 

The software stands out with its ability to centralize communication from various channels, including email, social media, and live chat. I also found that it offers handy features like order management, inventory tracking, and returns processing. 

With detailed analytics, Gorgias enables you to track performance and continuously improve support strategies.

What you’ll like:

• Automated responses and chatbots for efficient customer support
• Customizable chat interface to match your brand
• Comprehensive analytics to track chat performance and customer satisfaction
• Chat transfer between agents for better support
• Canned responses for quick replies

What you may not like:

• Only 50 billable tickets included in the starter plan
• Some users have experienced being charged incorrectly and faced challenges in getting refunds or adjustments

Pricing: Starts at $10/month/3 users (free trial available).

9. BestChat

Best for Support, Lead Generation & User Experience

Next on the list, I have BestChat – another versatile live chat app for Shopify that offers a range of features designed to enhance customer support and engagement. 

I found its integration with Shopify pretty straightforward. That means you can start chatting with your store visitors in no time. I think you’ll also like the app’s clean interface and robust feature set. Features like real-time visitor monitoring and proactive chat invitations make it a powerful tool for boosting customer satisfaction and sales. 

What you’ll like:

• Basic chat features like history, file sharing, and visitor tracking
• Customizable chat window to match the widget to your company’s persona
• Detailed analytics for performance tracking
• File transfer support for sharing documents
• Multi-language support to cater to a global audience

What you may not like:

• Only 80 AI chats are allowed in the free plan
• Some users have reported problems with notifications, particularly on iOS devices

Pricing: A free plan is available for a single agent. Paid options start from $10/month/300 chats.

10. LiveChat

Best for Boosting Sales & Customer Engagement With Live Chat

LiveChat seamlessly integrates a chat widget into your Shopify store, allowing you to connect with customers in real time and address their inquiries. 

I tested their built-in AI chatbot, aptly named “One.” It tackles FAQs, freeing up your team to focus on more complex issues. You can leverage pre-set messages to engage website visitors and proactively initiate conversations automatically.

In my limited usage, I also noticed the tool’s functionality extends beyond basic customer support. You can generate leads, qualify them based on their interactions, and ultimately convert them into paying customers.

What you’ll like:

• AI-powered handles routine inquiries and qualifies leads
• Canned responses ensure quick replies to common questions
• Chat ticketing system streamlines complex customer support requests
• Customizable chat widgets match your brand and website design.
• Robust security features ensure data privacy and PCI compliance

What you may not like:

• AI chatbot support comes with additional monthly costs and is not included in pricing plans
• Some users have experienced glitches with the notification system

Pricing: Starts at $20/person/month (free trial available).

Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation of products or tools chosen for this article follows an unbiased, systematic approach that ensures a fair, insightful, and well-rounded review. This method employs six key factors:

1. User Reviews / Ratings: Direct experiences from users, including ratings and feedback from reputable sites, provide a ground-level perspective. This feedback is critical in understanding overall satisfaction and potential problems.
2. Essential Features & Functionality: The value of a product is ascertained by its core features and overall functionality. Through an in-depth exploration of these aspects, the practical usefulness and effectiveness of the tools are carefully evaluated.
3. Ease of Use: The user-friendliness of a product or service is assessed, focusing on the design, interface, and navigation. This ensures a positive experience for users of all levels of expertise.
4. Customer Support: The quality of customer support is examined, taking into account its efficiency and how well it supports users in different phases – setting up, addressing concerns, and resolving operational issues.
5. Value for Money: Value for money is evaluated by comparing the quality, performance, and features. The goal is to help the reader understand whether they would be getting their money’s worth. 
6. Personal Experience / Expert’s Opinion: This part of the evaluation criteria draws insightful observations from the personal experience of the writer and the opinions of industry experts.

Why Free Live Chat Apps Are Important for Shopify Store Owners?

Free live chat apps are essential tools for Shopify store owners to enhance customer experience, boost sales, drive business growth, and more. Let’s take a closer look.

1. Real-time customer support: Instantly answer customer questions and resolve issues, improving satisfaction and loyalty.
2. Increased sales conversions: Guide Shopify customers through the purchasing process, offer personalized recommendations, and overcome purchase objections.
3. Enhanced customer engagement: Build relationships with customers by providing helpful interactions and using automated greetings and pre-chat invitations.
4. Valuable customer insights: Gather feedback and understand customer needs to refine products and marketing strategies.
5. Cost-effective solution: Having a free plan or trial is always a great way to save money on customer support and engagement.
6. Increased website traffic: Attract and retain Shopify visitors by offering immediate assistance.
7. Data-driven decision-making: Track customer interactions and analyze performance metrics to optimize your store.

Suggested read: 14 Convincing Benefits of Live Chat for eCommerce

How to Integrate a Free Live Chat App on Shopify

Integrating a free live chat app on your Shopify store is a straightforward process. 

For now, let’s assume you signed up for ProProfs Chat’s freemium plan. So, what’s next?

Step 1: Log into your ProProfs Chat Account. Go to Settings > Installation. Copy the ProProfs Live Chat Installation code.

Step 2: Log into your Shopify account. Go to Online Store > Themes. Click the More (three-dot menu) button and select “Edit code.“

Step 3: Navigate to “theme.liquid.” Paste the ProProfs Livechat code after the <body> tag or before the </body> tag in the code editor. Click Save to apply the changes. 

Support Online Shoppers with a Shopify Live Chat App

Free Shopify live chat apps are an invaluable asset for Shopify store owners. They enhance customer support, boost sales, reduce operational costs, and provide valuable insights into customer behavior. 

By integrating a live chat app into your Shopify store, you can create a more engaging and efficient shopping experience. Your customers—and your bottom line—will thank you.

Personally, of all the tools on the list, I prefer software solutions like ProProfs Chat.

The most obvious reason is that the software offers a freemium plan that includes all premium features. The UI is easy to understand, so your support team won’t have to worry about learning curves. 

To get started, you just need to sign up for free, and…that’s all you need to give your Shopify store the boost it deserves.