LiveChat vs Shopify
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of LiveChat and Shopify. We compare features, pricing, ease of use, and value for money to help you make the right choice in 2026.
Reviewed by the Ikaroa team · Last updated: March 2026
Quick Verdict
Shopify edges ahead overall with a rating of 4.5/5. However, LiveChat (4.1/5) may be the better fit if you prioritise Businesses wanting the best possible live chat experience for website visitors. Read on for the full breakdown.
LiveChat vs Shopify at a Glance
LiveChat
★ 4.1LiveChat is a dedicated live chat platform that helps businesses communicate with website visitors in real time. Unlike broader helpdesk tools, LiveChat focuses exclusively on delivering the best possible chat experience with features like chat routing, canned responses, file sharing, and detailed analytics.
Starting from: £16/agent/month
Best for: Businesses wanting the best possible live chat experience for website visitors
Read full review →Shopify
★ 4.5Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, powering millions of online stores globally. It provides everything needed to start, run, and grow an online business, from website building and product management to payment processing and shipping. Known for its ease of use and extensive app ecosystem.
Starting from: £24/month
Best for: Businesses wanting the easiest, most complete e-commerce platform with massive app ecosystem
Read full review →LiveChat vs Shopify Feature Comparison
Here is how LiveChat and Shopify compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | LiveChat | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | No | No |
| Starting Price | £16/agent/month | £24/month |
| Best For | Businesses wanting the best possible live chat experience for website visitors | Businesses wanting the easiest, most complete e-commerce platform with massive app ecosystem |
| Our Rating | 4.1/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
| Email Marketing | No | No |
| Automation | Limited | Limited |
| Reporting | Basic | Basic |
| Integrations | Limited | Limited |
| API Access | Limited | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
LiveChat vs Shopify Pricing
Pricing is often the deciding factor. Here is a full breakdown of what each platform charges at every tier:
LiveChat Pricing
Starter
£16/agent/month
- ✓60-day chat history
- ✓Basic widget customisation
- ✓Ticketing system
- ✓Data security
Team
£29/agent/month
- ✓Unlimited history
- ✓Full customisation
- ✓Basic reporting
- ✓Agent groups
Business
£42/agent/month
- ✓Advanced reporting
- ✓Staffing prediction
- ✓Work scheduler
- ✓Apple Business Chat
Enterprise
Custom
- ✓Dedicated account manager
- ✓Product training
- ✓Security assistance
- ✓HIPAA compliance
Shopify Pricing
Basic
£24/month
- ✓Online store
- ✓Unlimited products
- ✓2 staff accounts
- ✓Basic reports
Shopify
£59/month
- ✓Everything in Basic
- ✓5 staff accounts
- ✓Professional reports
- ✓Lower card rates
Advanced
£289/month
- ✓Everything in Shopify
- ✓15 staff accounts
- ✓Custom reports
- ✓Lowest card rates
Shopify Plus
From £1,750/month
- ✓Enterprise features
- ✓Unlimited staff
- ✓Dedicated support
- ✓Customisable checkout
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both LiveChat and Shopify for clients. We can help you decide based on your specific needs.
LiveChat Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Best-in-class live chat experience
- •Fast, reliable chat widget
- •Excellent analytics and reporting
- •200+ integrations
- •Good mobile app for agents
✗Cons
- •Focused on chat only (no full helpdesk)
- •Per-agent pricing adds up
- •Chatbot is a separate product (ChatBot)
- •No knowledge base included
- •Limited email support capabilities
Shopify Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Easiest e-commerce platform to use
- •Massive app ecosystem (8,000+ apps)
- •Excellent payment processing (Shopify Payments)
- •Scales from small to enterprise
- •Strong SEO capabilities
✗Cons
- •Transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments
- •Monthly costs add up with apps
- •Limited customisation without coding
- •Content management is basic compared to WordPress
- •Migrating away is difficult
Our Verdict: LiveChat vs Shopify
Both LiveChat and Shopify are solid options, but they serve different needs. Having implemented both for multiple clients, here is our recommendation:
Choose LiveChat if you need Businesses wanting the best possible live chat experience for website visitors. With a starting price of £16/agent/month and a rating of 4.1/5, it offers best-in-class live chat experience.
Choose Shopify if you need Businesses wanting the easiest, most complete e-commerce platform with massive app ecosystem. Starting at £24/month with a 4.5/5 rating, it excels at easiest e-commerce platform to use.
Still not sure? Talk to the Ikaroa team. We have helped hundreds of businesses make this exact decision, and we are happy to point you in the right direction.
🎁 Get either product at a discount through Ikaroa Partners
Consider Open Doors Instead
Why choose between LiveChat and Shopify? Open Doors gives you the best features of both in one platform, for less. It is an all-in-one CRM with email marketing, SMS, funnels, booking, invoicing, automation, and more, starting at just £97/month with unlimited contacts.
Need implementation help?
Ikaroa can set up LiveChat or Shopify for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.