Side-by-side comparison · 24 data points
AI customer support agent — instantly resolves order, shipping, and product questions 24/7
| IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat | Kanal | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | ||
| Description | ||
| Screenshots | images | images |
| Languages | ||
| Platforms | ||
| Developer | ||
| Listed |
| Metric | IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat | Kanal: WhatsApp Marketing & AI |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5.0 ★ | 5.0 ★ |
| Total reviews | 2 | ★ 96 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | Free plan available | Free plan available |
| Built for Shopify | — | — |
| Pricing tiers | 2 tiers | ★ 3 tiers |
| Listed features | 5 | 5 |
| Languages | 1 supported | 7 supported |
| Listed since | May 2026 | Sep 2024 |
IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat and Kanal: WhatsApp Marketing & AI are evenly matched on rating (5.0★ 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: IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat at Free plan available, Kanal: WhatsApp Marketing & AI 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.
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: IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat audit • Kanal: WhatsApp Marketing & AI audit
| Last updated | — | — |
|---|
| Keyword | IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat | Kanal |
|---|---|---|
| ai chat support | #44 | #70 |
| chat | #211 | #29 |
| ai assistant | #223 | #29 |
| inbox | #227 | #30 |
| messenger chat | #222 | #41 |
Both IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat and Kanal: WhatsApp Marketing & AI offer paid plans only. IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat starts at Free plan available; Kanal: WhatsApp Marketing & AI starts at Free plan available. Compare the per-tier features in the Pricing section above before committing.
IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat (5.0★, 2 reviews) and Kanal: WhatsApp Marketing & AI (5.0★, 96 reviews) are essentially tied on rating. Look at review velocity and individual reviewer quotes — both visible on each app's detail page — to differentiate.
AppRanks cannot separate these two on rating — both sit at 5.0★. Kanal: WhatsApp Marketing & AI does carry the larger published review base (96 vs 2). Read both apps' detail pages for the feature breakdown and recent listing changes.
Both apps are one-click installs from the Shopify App Store. Kanal: WhatsApp Marketing & AI has the deeper published review base (96 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.
IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat typically suits early-stage and growth-mode teams based on its published review base (2 reviews). Kanal: WhatsApp Marketing & AI typically suits early-stage and growth-mode teams based on its published review base (96 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.
Migration support varies by app and category. IllumiChat ‑ AI Support & Chat and Kanal: WhatsApp Marketing & AI 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.
