Gorgias leads with AI-powered autonomous ticket resolution and deep Shopify order management, ideal for growth-focused stores. Tidio suits small teams wanting chat-first support with strong AI automation, whilst Zendesk serves enterprise brands requiring scalability and multilingual capabilities.
RANKENTRYSCORETRENDFROM
1GorgiasAI Agent can resolve tickets autonomously and agents can refund, cancel or edit orders directly from ticket view.95.0NEW$10/month 2TidioLyro AI chatbot can solve up to 67% of customer problems automatically.91.5NEW$24.17/month 3ZendeskEnterprise-ready platform trusted by Airbnb, Uber, Shopify and Slack with robust ticketing and scalable workflows.88.0NEW$49/agent/month 4FreshdeskKnown for strong automation via Freddy AI, omnichannel support and workflow customisation across email, chat, phone and social channels.85.5NEW$15/user/month 5Help ScoutBeacon widget embeds on Shopify stores and suggests relevant articles before customers open a conversation.82.0NEW$20/user/month 6RichpanelSelf-service Customer Portal lets shoppers track orders, initiate returns and process exchanges independently.79.5NEW$99/month 7GladlyOrganises every interaction as a single lifelong conversation thread spanning voice, email, SMS and chat rather than tickets.77.0NEW$15/agent/month 8eDeskAI Agent resolves over 70% of routine inquiries and consolidates Shopify Plus data with 200+ global marketplaces.75.5NEWCustom pricing 9DelightChatConnects unlimited team members and Shopify stores across WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, email and live chat.75.0NEW$49/month 10HappyFoxNative asset management for hardware and software plus ITIL workflows and strong SLA controls.74.0NEW$24/user/month The ranking, in detail
01
AI-first support platform purpose-built for Shopify
Gorgias combines an intelligent AI Agent that resolves tickets autonomously with deep Shopify integration, allowing support agents to manage refunds, cancellations and order edits directly from ticket threads.
From $10/monthBest for Growing stores wanting AI-first support and deep Shopify integration
95.0
02
Chat-centric helpdesk with powerful AI chatbot
Tidio combines live chat, ticketing and AI-powered chatbot capabilities, with Lyro AI capable of solving up to 67% of customer problems automatically whilst maintaining seamless handoff to human agents.
From $24.17/monthBest for Small to medium Shopify stores wanting chat-centric support with AI automation
91.5
03
Enterprise-ready customer support platform
Zendesk is a mature, scalable ticketing and support platform trusted by global brands including Airbnb, Uber, Shopify and Slack. It offers robust customisation, multilingual support and enterprise-grade features.
From $49/agent/monthBest for Brands needing enterprise scale, deep customisation and multilingual support
88.0
04
Flexible general-purpose customer support with AI automation
Freshdesk provides broad omnichannel coverage across email, chat, phone and social media with strong automation through Freddy AI and flexible workflow customisation at accessible pricing.
From $15/user/monthBest for Small businesses seeking general-purpose customer support with broad channel coverage
85.5
05
Conversational helpdesk designed for personal service
Help Scout focuses on building meaningful customer relationships through a clean, intuitive interface. Its Beacon widget embeds on Shopify stores with intelligent article suggestions before conversations open.
From $20/user/monthBest for Businesses valuing simplicity, personal customer relationships and clean interface; DTC brands
82.0
06
Self-service automation platform for e-commerce support
Richpanel empowers customers to resolve issues independently through a self-service portal, allowing shoppers to track orders, initiate returns and process exchanges without agent intervention.
From $99/monthBest for E-commerce brands wanting to reduce human intervention with self-service automation whilst scaling support
79.5
07
Relationship-focused support platform
Gladly organises every customer interaction as a single lifelong conversation thread across voice, email, SMS and chat, prioritising personalised relationships over transactional ticket-based support.
From $15/agent/monthBest for Brands prioritising personalised customer relationships; mid-market and enterprise Shopify stores
77.0
08
Multichannel support for Shopify Plus merchants
eDesk consolidates support across Shopify Plus with over 200 global marketplaces, featuring an AI Agent that resolves more than 70% of routine inquiries across integrated channels.
From Custom pricingBest for Merchants with Shopify Plus as part of a larger multichannel strategy
75.5
09
Social-first helpdesk for D2C brands
DelightChat enables D2C brands to manage customer queries across WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, email and live chat with unlimited team members across unlimited Shopify stores.
From $49/monthBest for D2C brands managing customer queries across WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, email and live chat
75.0
10
Flexible helpdesk with advanced AI and multi-brand support
HappyFox offers unlimited tickets at affordable per-user pricing, with native asset management, ITIL workflows and strong SLA controls suitable for businesses managing multiple brands.
From $24/user/monthBest for Businesses wanting flexible pricing with unlimited tickets, superior multi-brand support and advanced AI tools
74.0
Frequently asked questions
Which help desk is best for small Shopify stores just starting out?
Tidio and Gorgias are excellent starts. Tidio from GBP16/month offers chat and AI chatbot, solving 67% of issues automatically. Gorgias at GBP7/month provides deeper Shopify integration with autonomous ticket resolution, making it ideal for stores prioritising order management efficiency.
What's the difference between ticket-based and conversation-based helpdesks?
Ticket-based systems (Zendesk, Freshdesk, Help Scout) organise each customer issue separately for efficiency. Conversation-based systems like Gladly create a unified lifelong customer thread across all channels, prioritising relationship continuity. Choose tickets for high volume, conversations for personalised support.
Do these help desks include AI automation?
Yes, most include AI. Gorgias and Tidio lead with autonomous resolution (over 67-70%). Freshdesk offers Freddy AI, Gladly includes basic AI, whilst Help Scout focuses on self-service suggestions rather than automation. eDesk and DelightChat have AI but less emphasis. Consider AI resolution percentage when evaluating.