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Best Shopify Live Chat App

Live Chat for Shopify Stores

Shopify Inbox is free. It is also bare-bones: no AI, no product recommendations, no WhatsApp, and it stops working when you close the app. Boei gives your Shopify store live chat with AI that knows your product catalog, answers sizing and shipping questions, and keeps working at 3am. Install from the Shopify App Store in one click.

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Andrew Lee David S. Vance W. Grant Nitesh Manav
from 159 reviews

Try the Shopify Live Chat AI

Why Shopify Inbox Is Not Enough

Shopify includes a free chat tool called Shopify Inbox. It sounds good on paper. In practice, most Shopify store owners stop using it within weeks. Here is why:

  • No AI answers. Shopify Inbox shows automated "quick replies" you write yourself. It does not understand product questions. A shopper asks "do you have this in blue?" and Shopify Inbox shows a generic message you wrote months ago
  • You must be online. When nobody is logged into the Shopify Inbox app, messages go unanswered. No AI fallback, no after-hours coverage. For most small Shopify stores, that means 16+ hours of silence per day
  • No WhatsApp, no Messenger, no channels. Shopify Inbox only works as a website chat bubble. Your customers use WhatsApp, Instagram DMs, and SMS. Shopify Inbox ignores all of those
  • No product knowledge. Shopify Inbox cannot look up your product catalog, check variant availability, or compare items. It is a basic messaging window, not a sales tool
  • Limited on mobile. The Shopify Inbox mobile app is slow and unreliable. Push notifications are delayed. Many store owners miss messages entirely

Boei replaces Shopify Inbox with AI-powered live chat that actually understands your products. It answers questions 24/7, recommends items from your Shopify catalog, and works across WhatsApp, Messenger, and 50+ other channels. Install from the Shopify App Store.

Boei AI product recommendations for Shopify

AI That Knows Your Shopify Product Catalog

Boei's AI trains on your entire Shopify store. Products, collections, descriptions, pricing, variants, shipping policies, return info. When a shopper asks 'do you have running shoes under $100?', the AI pulls matching products from your catalog and shows them as product cards with images, prices, and direct links to the product page.

  • Train AI on your Shopify products via CSV upload or auto-crawl
  • Product cards in chat: thumbnail, price, availability, and 'View Product' link
  • Answers variant questions: sizes, colors, materials, stock levels
  • Explains your shipping rates and delivery times from your Shopify policies
  • Handles returns and refund questions using your store's policy pages

Built for E-commerce Conversations

Live chat on a Shopify store is different from live chat on a services website. Shoppers have specific questions: What size should I order? Is this item in stock? When will it arrive? Can I return it? Boei's AI handles these product-focused conversations using your actual Shopify data instead of generic chatbot scripts.

  • Pre-purchase: sizing guides, product comparisons, material details
  • Checkout: shipping costs, delivery times, payment methods, discount codes
  • Post-purchase: order tracking guidance, return process, exchange options
  • Captures email from visitors not ready to buy (for follow-up campaigns)
  • Tracks which Shopify product pages generate the most chat conversations
Boei e-commerce live chat for Shopify

Why Shopify Stores Pick Boei

What You Get That Shopify Inbox Does Not Offer

🛒

Product Recommendations in Chat

Shopify Inbox shows text replies. Boei shows product cards with images, prices, and links. Shoppers click through to the product page and buy. It is the difference between a FAQ and a sales assistant.

🌙

24/7 Without Staffing

Most Shopify stores are run by 1-3 people. You cannot monitor chat all day. Boei's AI covers nights, weekends, and holidays. It answers product questions and captures leads while you sleep.

📱

WhatsApp for Shopify Customers

Shoppers close the browser tab and your Shopify Inbox conversation dies. With Boei, they continue on WhatsApp. Same AI, same conversation history. You reply from your phone when you are ready.

💸

Flat Pricing, Not Per-Ticket

Gorgias charges per ticket. A busy Shopify store spends $300+/mo. Boei is a flat $11/mo with unlimited conversations. Your costs stay the same whether you get 10 chats or 10,000.

Shopify Setup

How to Add Live Chat to Shopify

One-click install from the Shopify App Store. No code editing needed

1

Copy installation code

In your Boei dashboard, open your widget and click the Install tab. Select Shopify and copy the installation code.

Tip: The Install tab also offers a landing page link, QR code, and iframe embed.

Copy installation code
2

Log in to Shopify

Open Shopify and click on "Apps" and search for "xo insert code".

We will use the plugin XO insert code to install Boei. It is a free and easy plugin.

Log in to Shopify
3

Install the plugin

Press install.

Confirm installation in Shopify.

Install the plugin
4

Install the Boei code

Click add new code

Name the code "Boei" and enable it on the entire store.

Place the script from step two in place of the "code in footer" textbox.

Press save.

Install the Boei code
5

Enable the plugin

Now, we enable the plugin by clicking the theme customizer link.

Enable the checkbox and press save.

Congrats, you are done! You now have the Boei live chat Shopify installed.

Enable the plugin

Shopify Features

Everything a Shopify Store Needs

Features built for e-commerce, not generic chat

🏷️

Product Catalog Training

Upload your Shopify product CSV or let AI crawl your store. It learns product names, descriptions, prices, variants, and stock status.

🤖

AI Model Selection

Pick from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or Mistral. Switch models anytime. All models learn your Shopify store content automatically.

📋

Lead Capture in Chat

Collect email addresses from Shopify visitors who browse but do not buy. Set up lead flows that ask for name, email, and product interest during the conversation.

👥

Team Handoff with Context

AI handles the first response. When a shopper needs human help (custom orders, bulk pricing), it passes the chat to your team with the full product discussion.

📊

Product Page Analytics

See which Shopify product pages generate the most chats, leads, and conversions. Find products that need better descriptions or more details.

🎨

Matches Your Shopify Theme

Works with Dawn, Debut, OS 2.0, and every custom Shopify theme. Three widget styles, dark mode, and custom CSS to match your store design.

Compare

Shopify Live Chat Apps Compared

Honest feature and pricing comparison for Shopify store owners

Boei Shopify Inbox Gorgias Tidio
Price from $11/mo Free from EUR 60/mo EUR 39/mo
AI that understands products ✓ Yes Paid add-on Paid add-on
Product cards in chat ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Works when you are offline Yes (AI replies) Yes (extra cost) Yes (extra cost)
WhatsApp + 50 channels Included ✗ Limited Extra cost
Pricing model Flat monthly Free Per ticket Per agent
All Shopify themes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
EU servers (GDPR) Yes (Amsterdam)

Bottom line: Shopify Inbox is free but has no AI and no channels. Gorgias is powerful but charges per ticket, which adds up fast. Tidio charges per agent with AI as an add-on. Boei gives you AI, product training, WhatsApp, and flat pricing from $11/mo.

How Shopify Store Owners Use Boei Live Chat

Fashion and Apparel

Sizing is the number one reason shoppers hesitate on fashion Shopify stores. AI answers "will this fit me if I am a US 8?" using your size guide. Fewer returns, more confident buyers. When a shopper is between sizes, AI can collect their email so you follow up with a personal recommendation.

Home and Garden

Customers want to know if a couch fits their space, what wood finish looks best, or whether plants ship safely. AI answers from your Shopify product descriptions. Detailed product questions that used to require an email back-and-forth get resolved in 30 seconds.

Health and Beauty

Shoppers ask about ingredients, skin types, and product compatibility. AI pulls answers from your product pages and ingredient lists. For regulated products, it stays within what your Shopify store actually states. No made-up health claims.

B2B and Wholesale on Shopify

Running a B2B Shopify store? Wholesale buyers want to discuss bulk pricing, MOQs, and custom orders. AI qualifies them (company name, order size, timeline), then hands the conversation to your sales team with all the details. No more playing email tag.

What Shopify Store Owners Say

FAQ

Shopify Live Chat Questions

How is Boei different from Shopify Inbox?

Shopify Inbox is a basic messaging tool with no AI, no product understanding, and no external channels. Boei adds AI that trains on your product catalog, answers questions 24/7, shows product cards in chat, and works on WhatsApp, Messenger, and 50+ channels. Shopify Inbox only works when you are online.

How do I install Boei on my Shopify store?

Find Boei in the Shopify App Store and click Install. One click, no code. Boei automatically adds itself to your Shopify theme. Works with Dawn, Debut, OS 2.0, and all custom themes. Takes about 2 minutes. Full Shopify install guide.

Can the AI recommend products from my Shopify catalog?

Yes. Upload your product CSV or let AI crawl your Shopify store. When a shopper asks for a recommendation, AI shows matching products as cards with images, prices, and direct links. Shoppers click through and buy.

Will this slow down my Shopify store?

No. Boei loads asynchronously after your Shopify store renders. The script is under 50KB and delivered via CDN. It does not affect page speed, Lighthouse scores, or checkout performance.

How much does Boei cost compared to Gorgias?

Boei is flat pricing from $11/mo with unlimited conversations. Gorgias starts at EUR 60/mo and charges per ticket. A Shopify store handling 500 tickets/month could pay EUR 200+/mo on Gorgias. With Boei, AI handles most of those conversations at no extra cost.

Does it work with Shopify Plus?

Yes. Boei works on all Shopify plans: Basic, Shopify, Advanced, and Plus. The installation and features are the same across all plans.

Can shoppers continue the conversation on WhatsApp?

Yes. Shoppers who start a chat on your Shopify store can switch to WhatsApp with one tap. The conversation continues with the same AI. When they message back on WhatsApp days later, you see the full history in your Boei inbox.

What happens with after-hours messages?

AI handles them. Unlike Shopify Inbox which goes silent when nobody is online, Boei's AI answers product questions, explains shipping, and captures lead details 24/7. You see a summary of overnight conversations in the morning.

Can I use Boei alongside Shopify Inbox?

Technically yes, but we recommend replacing Shopify Inbox with Boei. Running two chat widgets on the same Shopify store confuses visitors. Boei does everything Shopify Inbox does, plus AI, product cards, and 50+ channels.

Is Boei GDPR compliant for EU Shopify stores?

Yes. Boei is a Dutch company with EU servers in Amsterdam. The widget runs without cookies by default. We provide a DPA on request. Important for Shopify stores selling to European customers.

More for Shopify Stores

Your Shopify Store Deserves Better Than Shopify Inbox

One-click install. AI that knows your products. Flat pricing from $11/mo.

7-day free trial • No credit card required • Works with every Shopify theme • AI trained on your products
Andrew Lee David S. Vance W. Grant Nitesh Manav
from 159 reviews