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 | ShieldDesk ‑ AI Support Inbox | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | ||
| Description | ||
| Screenshots | images | images |
| Languages | ||
| Platforms | ||
| Developer | ||
| Listed | ||
| Last updated | — | — |
Every customer message in one inbox, already drafted from your real order data.
| Metric | Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot | ShieldDesk ‑ AI Support Inbox |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9 ★ | ★ 5.0 ★ |
| Total reviews | ★ 281 | 2 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | Free plan available | Free plan available |
| Built for Shopify | — | — |
| Pricing tiers | 4 tiers | 4 tiers |
| Listed features | 5 | 5 |
| Review velocity (30d) | 6 new | — |
| Languages | 1 supported | 1 supported |
| Listed since | Sep 2023 | May 2026 |
Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot and ShieldDesk ‑ AI Support Inbox 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, ShieldDesk ‑ AI Support Inbox 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 (seats, usage volume, integrations) varies.
Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot has the larger user base (281 reviews vs 2), which usually maps to broader integration coverage, faster bug-fix cadence, and a deeper bench of community workflow patterns. ShieldDesk ‑ AI Support Inbox'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 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 • ShieldDesk ‑ AI Support Inbox audit
| Keyword | Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot | ShieldDesk ‑ AI Support Inbox |
|---|---|---|
| inbox | #6 | #23 |
| helpdesk | #13 | #59 |
| ai support chatbot | #19 | #90 |
| ai chat support | #19 | #95 |
| support chatbot | #40 | #118 |
| Signal | Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot | ShieldDesk ‑ AI Support Inbox |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating | 4.9 ★ (281) | 5.0 ★ (2) |
| Rating distribution | 597% 42% 30% 21% 11% | 5— 4— 3— 2— 1— |
| Reviews · last 7 days | +2 | — |
| Reviews · last 30 days | +6 | — |
| Reviews · last 90 days | +19 | — |
Both Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot and ShieldDesk ‑ AI Support Inbox offer paid plans only. Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot starts at Free plan available; ShieldDesk ‑ AI Support Inbox starts at Free plan available. Compare the per-tier features in the Pricing section above before committing.
Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot (4.9★, 281 reviews) and ShieldDesk ‑ AI Support Inbox (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.
ShieldDesk ‑ AI Support Inbox holds the higher average rating (5.0★ vs 4.9★). That is the one dimension AppRanks can separate them on here — read both apps' detail pages for the feature breakdown and recent listing changes.
Both apps are one-click installs from the Shopify App Store. Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot has the deeper published review base (281 vs 2), which often — though not always — accompanies better-tested setup docs. AppRanks doesn't measure setup time directly: read the recent reviews on each app's detail page for user-reported install experience.
Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot typically suits early-stage and growth-mode teams based on its published review base (281 reviews). ShieldDesk ‑ AI Support Inbox typically suits early-stage and growth-mode teams based on its published review base (2 reviews). A larger review base generally means the app has been exercised at scale — relevant if you are processing high volume or handling enterprise compliance requirements.
Highly valuable and intuitive tool which is crucial to my business - a big upgrade on an alternative chat bod provider.
"Really happy with Chatway on my Shopify store. The live chat works smoothly, and having the FAQ section built right in makes it so much easier for customers to find quick answers. Simple to set up and very useful. Thanks!"
support for this app is great, and we used it to replace shopify inbox once they messed up the customer view. This is a great addition to our support team.
No reviews yet.
Migration support varies by app and category. Chatway Live Chat & AI Chatbot and ShieldDesk ‑ AI Support Inbox 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 ShieldDesk ‑ AI Support Inbox" in each app's help center. AppRanks does not track migration tooling directly — this is a category-specific capability worth verifying before commitment.
