Every tool on this list says it uses AI. The useful question is what the AI actually does for a store: does it read your comments, does it know the order, and does it know when to hand over to you? Here is how six options stack up.
Updated 15 September 2026
Reads every comment, DM and email, scores it for buying intent, drafts a reply with order details, hides spam and escalates complaints. Auto-send is off by default. Best for: Shopify brands in Australia and New Zealand that sell through social and email.
A full helpdesk with deep Shopify actions in the ticket and an AI agent charged per resolution. Best for: Stores with a support team that lives in tickets and wants deep Shopify actions inside each ticket.
Live chat plus the Lyro AI assistant, with a free plan to start. Best for: Stores whose customers mostly ask questions through the website chat widget.
Enterprise-grade helpdesk with AI agents as an add-on. Shopify context via an app. Best for: Bigger teams that need enterprise features, strict permissions and a help centre, and have someone to run it.
Simple shared inbox with FAQ and chat, priced per seat. Lighter on AI. Best for: Small support teams that want a simple shared inbox with an FAQ and live chat included.
DM automation and comment-to-DM flows. Not a support inbox and no email. Best for: Creators and brands running growth campaigns like comment a keyword to get a link.
| Tool | Best for |
|---|---|
| Paperflower | Shopify brands in Australia and New Zealand that sell through social and email. |
| Gorgias | Stores with a support team that lives in tickets and wants deep Shopify actions inside each ticket. |
| Tidio | Stores whose customers mostly ask questions through the website chat widget. |
| Zendesk | Bigger teams that need enterprise features, strict permissions and a help centre, and have someone to run it. |
| Re:amaze | Small support teams that want a simple shared inbox with an FAQ and live chat included. |
| Manychat | Creators and brands running growth campaigns like comment a keyword to get a link. |
Most tools treat comments as noise. Paperflower reads every one, spots buying questions like “do you ship to NZ?” and makes sure they get answered before the customer moves on.
Every conversation gets a score so the people ready to buy come first. You see who to reply to now, and who can wait.
Order status, shipping and product details are pulled in automatically, so drafts are right the first time and private order details never go out in public.
AI drafts are on and auto-send is off by default. Complaints are escalated to you. Refunds and cancellations always need a human.
Paperflower is A$97 a month for 3,000 customer interactions, with a 7-day free trial. Human replies are always free. The first 9 founding brands get the same plan for A$49 a month for life while spots last.
Local time zones, local shipping questions, and support from people who know the market.
For a small brand where comments and DMs bring in sales, Paperflower. For a store with a support team and heavy email volume, Gorgias. For website-chat-first stores, Tidio.
Only for simple, safe questions and only once you have checked the drafts for a while. Refunds, cancellations and complaints should always go to a person. Paperflower is built around that rule.
Not unless you turn that on. By default it drafts a reply and you approve it. You can switch on auto-send for simple, safe questions once you trust the drafts.
Instagram and Facebook comments and DMs, support email through Gmail or Google Workspace, and Shopify for order details. TikTok is on the roadmap.
Yes, 7 days, no card needed to request access. You can cancel any time.
Connect Instagram, Facebook, email and Shopify in a few minutes. AI drafts every reply, you stay in control, and nothing is sent without your say-so unless you switch that on.