Side-by-side comparison · 24 data points
Live chat, AI chatbot, FAQ & live chat for customer support. Live chat customer service & WhatsApp.
| Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot | IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | ||
| Description | ||
| Screenshots | images | images |
| Languages | ||
| Platforms | ||
| Developer | ||
| Listed | ||
| Last updated | — | — |
AI customer support agent — instantly resolves order, shipping, and product questions 24/7
| Metric | Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot | IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9 ★ | ★ 5.0 ★ |
| Total reviews | ★ 268 | 2 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | Free plan available | Free plan available |
| Built for Shopify | — | — |
| Pricing tiers | ★ 4 tiers | 2 tiers |
| Listed features | 5 | 5 |
| Review velocity (30d) | 5 new | — |
| Languages | 1 supported | 1 supported |
| Listed since | Sep 2023 | May 2026 |
Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot and IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat are evenly matched on rating (4.9★ vs 5.0★) — the differentiator comes down to pricing fit, feature breadth, and which app's interaction pattern suits your team's workflow. Pricing entry tiers: Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot at Free plan available, IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat at Free plan available. Check each app's tier structure for the capacity limits you actually need before deciding — the headline number is the same shape, but the gating shape per tier (apps, orders, integrations) varies. Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot has the larger user base (268 reviews vs 2), which usually maps to broader integration coverage, faster bug-fix cadence, and a deeper bench of community workflow patterns. IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat's smaller cohort can be an advantage for niche workflows where the bigger app has accumulated bloat. Recommended evaluation path: install both apps' free tiers (where available) and run them in parallel on a small cohort of orders for 7-14 days before committing. The data tables below show the per-feature breakdown — for most merchants the deciding factor will be a single integration or workflow detail that's hard to compare from listing pages alone. This verdict is generated from the live marketplace data on this page — rating, review count, pricing tier, and category position all refresh from the canonical Shopify App Store listing every 24 hours. AppRanks does not accept payment to influence comparison outcomes; the methodology is documented on the About page and applies identically to every pair on the site.
Read each app's audit: Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot audit • IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat audit
| Keyword | Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot | IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat |
|---|---|---|
| ai chat support | #23 | #34 |
| messenger | #8 | #77 |
| ai support chatbot | #21 | #83 |
| helpdesk | #14 | #1011 |
| contact form | #28 | #93 |
| Signal | Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot | IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating | 4.9 ★ (268) | 5.0 ★ (2) |
| Rating distribution | 597% 42% 30% 21% 11% | 5— 4— 3— 2— 1— |
| Reviews · last 7 days | +1 | — |
| Reviews · last 30 days | +5 | — |
| Reviews · last 90 days | +17 | — |
Both Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot and IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat offer paid plans only. Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot starts at Free plan available; IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat starts at Free plan available. Compare the per-tier features in the Pricing section above before committing.
Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot (4.9★, 268 reviews) and IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat (5.0★, 2 reviews) are essentially tied on rating. Look at review velocity and individual reviewer quotes — both visible on each app's detail page — to differentiate.
It depends on what you're optimizing for. Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot fits better if you prioritize broader integrations; IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat is the call if you need the higher-rated option. Read both apps' detail pages on AppRanks for the full feature breakdown, install counts, and recent listing changes.
Both apps are one-click installs from the Shopify App Store marketplace. Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot has more onboarding documentation maturity (268 reviews vs 2), which usually translates to better-tested setup wizards and quicker time-to-value. AppRanks doesn't measure setup time directly — read the recent reviews on each app's detail page for merchant-reported install experience.
super smooth app and killer customer service
I am very satisfied with this application. It has professional and patient online customer service staff who can provide answers to frequently asked questions（Especially Marvin, who gave me a lot of help.）. In addition, the free version comes with user-friendly features. I highly recommend this app to all sellers.
Have a small new webshop, and needed more personal service and ability to let potential customers know I'm there with a chat bot. ChatWay was installed, and it has a lot of features, and AI driven answers that indexes the webshop and can be given precise instructions. And this is the free version basics, really what I
No reviews yet.
Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot typically suits early-stage and growth-mode stores based on its review-base composition (268 reviews). IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat aligns more with early-stage and growth-mode stores (2 reviews). Larger review bases generally mean the app has been load-tested at scale — relevant if you're processing high order volume or handling enterprise compliance requirements.
Migration support varies by app and category. Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot and IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat both publish their export options on their marketplace listing pages (or in their support docs); some apps offer one-click import from competitors, others require CSV. The fastest check: search "import from IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat" in each app's help center. AppRanks does not track migration tooling directly — this is a category-specific capability worth verifying before commitment.
