Alternatives / Tidio
A Tidio alternative for teams that want the AI agent to carry the load
Tidio is popular with ecommerce stores for good reasons: a free plan, a visual flow builder, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp integrations, and Lyro, an AI agent priced by conversation. If you run a Shopify store and want chat plus automation on a budget, Tidio is a credible pick.
The friction shows up in the quotas. Tidio meters both human conversations ("billable conversations") and Lyro AI conversations, with small allowances on the entry plans and higher tiers that start at hundreds of dollars a month. SupportHQ has one number: conversations per month, thousands of them, on a flat plan, with the AI agent included.
The comparison below quotes Tidio's pricing page as of the date shown. Where a Tidio number depends on a sales conversation, this page says so rather than estimating.
Tidio pricing quoted from its pricing page as of September 6, 2026. Prices change. Check the source before deciding.
SupportHQ vs Tidio at a glance
Tidio is chat plus automation for stores. SupportHQ is an AI agent plus inbox for teams whose customers live on the web, Telegram, and Discord.
| SupportHQ | Tidio | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat monthly plan. No per-seat fees, no per-resolution fees. | Tiered plans with metered "billable conversations" and a separate Lyro AI conversation quota. |
| Entry price | Starter $29/month or $290/year. Growth $49/month or $490/year. | Starter $24.17/month (annual, $290.04/year) with 100 billable conversations/month. Growth from $49.17/month with 250+ billable conversations. Plus from $300/month plus usage. |
| Team seats | Unlimited team members on every plan. | 10 seats on Starter and Growth. |
| AI agent pricing | Included. 2,000 conversations/month on Starter, 3,000 on Growth. Resolving more costs nothing extra. | Lyro AI: 50 conversations one-off on Free and Starter; a quota on Growth; custom rates on Plus; from 3,000/month on Premium (contact sales). |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial. Card required, not charged if you cancel before it ends. | 7-day free trial, no card, then downgrades to the Free plan (50 billable conversations/month). |
| Channels | Website widget, Telegram (chats and groups), Discord (servers). WhatsApp coming soon. | Website chat, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, email. Telegram and Discord are not listed. |
| Human handoff | On every plan. The agent escalates with its own reason, urgency, and summary into a unified inbox. Team notified by email, Telegram, or SMS. | Shared inbox with seats; Lyro hands to operators. |
| How the AI answers | Answers only from approved content: files, synced website, articles, past conversations. Says when it does not know. | Lyro answers from your uploaded content and website. |
Feature by feature
| Feature | SupportHQ | Tidio |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat monthly plan | Metered billable conversations + Lyro quota |
| Entry paid price | Starter $29/month | Starter $24.17/month (annual) |
| Conversations included at entry | 2,000/month, AI included | 100 billable/month + 50 Lyro one-off |
| Team seats | Unlimited | 10 |
| Free plan | No (7-day trial) | Yes, 50 billable conversations/month |
| Website chat widget | Yes | Yes |
| Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp | WhatsApp coming soon; others not supported | Yes |
| Telegram and Discord | Yes, both | Not listed |
| Visual flow builder | No (plain-English rules per channel) | Yes |
| Agent escalates with reason, urgency, summary | Yes, and your team is notified by email, Telegram, or SMS | Lyro hands off to operators |
When Tidio is the better choice
- You run an ecommerce store and want Messenger, Instagram, or WhatsApp with a visual flow builder.
- Your volume is small enough for the free plan or the Starter quotas.
- You want to build scripted flows (cart recovery, discount prompts) alongside AI.
- You need email as a support channel.
When SupportHQ is the better choice
- You expect the AI agent to handle most conversations and do not want to watch two quotas.
- You want unlimited team members and a predictable bill as volume grows.
- Your customers are on your website, in Telegram, or in Discord.
- You would rather write rules in plain English than build flows.
Switching from Tidio
- Bring your content. Point SupportHQ at your public help center or website to sync it, upload exported articles as files, or write articles directly. The agent answers only from what you approve.
- Add the widget. One script tag on your site. Connect Telegram and Discord in a few clicks if your customers are there.
- Set escalation rules. Plain English, per channel. Start strict and relax as the knowledge base covers more.
- Run both during the trial. Keep Tidio live for 7 days while you compare answers, handoffs, and the bill.
For the reasoning behind flat pricing, read how AI support pricing models compare. For the full plan detail, see pricing.
FAQ
Is Tidio cheaper than SupportHQ?
At the entry level the sticker prices are close: Tidio Starter is $24.17 per month on annual billing and SupportHQ Starter is $29. The difference is what is included. Tidio Starter has 100 billable conversations per month and 50 Lyro AI conversations one-off; SupportHQ Starter has 2,000 conversations per month with the AI agent included. Prices as of the date on this page.
What is a billable conversation in Tidio versus a conversation in SupportHQ?
Tidio meters human-handled conversations and Lyro AI conversations separately, each with its own quota. SupportHQ has one allowance (2,000 on Starter, 3,000 on Growth) that covers both agent and human conversations, with no per-resolution fee.
Does SupportHQ support Messenger, Instagram, or WhatsApp?
Not today. WhatsApp is coming soon. SupportHQ supports a website widget, Telegram, and Discord. If Meta channels are essential, Tidio covers them.
Does SupportHQ have a flow builder like Tidio?
No. SupportHQ uses an agent that decides what to do from your knowledge base and plain-English rules per channel, and escalates on its own. If you want scripted flows for marketing, Tidio is built for that.
Do both offer a free trial?
Tidio offers a 7-day trial with no card, then a free plan. SupportHQ offers a 7-day trial on every plan, card required, not charged if you cancel before it ends.