Tidio Alternative: Multi-Channel AI Agents Without Conversation Limits
Multiple AI agents for support and sales, WhatsApp-first delivery, and no conversation caps.
TL;DR
Tidio is affordable and great for Shopify stores, but has conversation limits on all plans, basic WhatsApp support, and gives you one chatbot—not a platform.
Andy lets you create multiple AI agents (support, sales, internal), deploy to WhatsApp as a first-class channel, and doesn't nickel-and-dime you with conversation caps.
Choose Tidio if: You run a small Shopify store and need basic live chat with a free tier.
Choose Andy if: You need WhatsApp support, multiple agents for different use cases, or you're outgrowing Tidio's limits.
Why Teams Look for Tidio Alternatives
Tidio is a solid choice for small e-commerce stores. But as teams grow, they hit limitations:
The Conversation Limit Problem
Every Tidio plan has conversation limits:
- Free: 50 conversations/month
- Starter ($29): 100 conversations/month
- Growth ($59): 250 conversations/month
Once you exceed those, costs jump. A growing business can quickly find themselves paying $749/month for Tidio+ just to remove limits.
The "One Bot" Problem
Tidio gives you one chatbot. But businesses often need:
- A support bot on the website (helpful, resolves issues)
- A sales bot on WhatsApp (friendly, captures leads)
- An internal bot in Slack (answers team questions)
One bot can't wear all those hats well. Different contexts need different personalities and knowledge bases.
The WhatsApp Problem
Tidio has WhatsApp integration, but it's limited:
- Not a first-class channel
- Basic functionality compared to web widget
- WhatsApp-specific features are lacking
If your customers primarily use WhatsApp, Tidio treats them as second-class citizens.
The AI Upsell Problem
Tidio's AI features (Lyro) cost extra on top of your plan:
- Lyro AI Chatbot starts at $39/month additional
- Conversation limits apply
- Full AI features require higher tiers
You end up paying for your plan + AI + overages.
Andy: Multi-Agent Platform with WhatsApp at the Core
Andy isn't a chatbot—it's a platform for creating AI agents. Different agents for different jobs, all feeding into unified analytics.
What Makes Andy Different
1. Multi-Agent Architecture
Create separate agents for separate purposes:
| Agent | Channel | Personality | Knowledge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support Agent | Website | Helpful, efficient | Product docs, FAQs |
| Sales Agent | Friendly, consultative | Pricing, use cases | |
| Internal Agent | Slack | Casual, thorough | Company wiki, SOPs |
Each agent has its own knowledge base and tone. No overlap. No confusion.
2. WhatsApp as First-Class Channel
On Andy, WhatsApp isn't an afterthought:
- Deploy in minutes
- Full AI capabilities (same as web)
- Lead capture mid-conversation
- No extra per-message fees
- Unified conversation history
If your customers live on WhatsApp, Andy treats them like VIPs.
3. No Conversation Limit Gotchas
Andy uses message-based pricing, not conversation limits with sudden tier jumps. You know what you're paying. Always.
4. AI Included (Not Upsold)
AI isn't an add-on. Every Andy agent is AI-powered from the start. No "upgrade to unlock AI" friction.
Feature Comparison: Andy vs Tidio
Core Features
| Feature | Andy | Tidio |
|---|---|---|
| Website chat widget | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI chatbot | ✓ Included | ⚠️ Extra cost (Lyro) |
| ✓ First-class | ⚠️ Limited | |
| Slack | ✓ Full integration | ⚠️ Basic |
| Multiple agents | ✓ Native | ✗ One bot |
| Shopify integration | ✓ | ✓ Strong |
| Lead capture | ✓ With intent detection | ✓ Basic |
Pricing & Limits
| Andy | Tidio | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | ✓ Trial | ✓ 50 conversations |
| Conversation limits | ✗ None | ✓ All plans |
| AI included | ✓ Yes | ✗ Extra $39+/mo |
| WhatsApp fees | ✗ None | ⚠️ May apply |
Use Case Fit
| Use Case | Andy | Tidio |
|---|---|---|
| Small Shopify store | Good | Great |
| WhatsApp-first business | Great | Limited |
| Multiple use cases (support + sales) | Great | Limited |
| Growing team (500+ conversations) | Great | Expensive |
| Internal knowledge bot | Great | Not ideal |
Who Should Choose Tidio
Tidio is genuinely a good choice for:
- Small Shopify stores — Tight Shopify integration, affordable entry point
- Very low volume — If you're under 50 conversations/month, free tier works
- Website-only — If you don't need WhatsApp or Slack
- Visual bot builder fans — Tidio's flow builder is clean
Tidio's sweet spot: Small e-commerce stores with low conversation volume who only need website chat.
Who Should Choose Andy
Andy is built for teams who:
- Need WhatsApp — Customers expect instant responses on WhatsApp
- Are outgrowing limits — Conversation caps are strangling growth
- Need multiple agents — Support ≠ sales ≠ internal—different bots for different jobs
- Want AI included — Not paying extra for the core feature
- Value simplicity — Create agent → upload knowledge → deploy
Andy's sweet spot: Growing businesses, WhatsApp-first markets, and teams who've outgrown single-bot solutions.
Switching from Tidio to Andy
What You Can Bring
- FAQ content
- Knowledge base articles
- Customer contact data (export as CSV)
What Needs Rebuilding
- Chatbot flows (Andy uses AI, not rule-based flows)
- Integrations (reconnect via Andy)
- Triggers and automations
Timeline
Most teams migrate in 3-5 days:
- Export Tidio knowledge content
- Create Andy agents
- Upload knowledge base
- Test on staging
- Switch over
Last updated: February 2026
Case Studies
See real results from businesses using Andy.
FAQ
Is Andy more expensive than Tidio?
Depends on your usage. Tidio's entry price is lower, but conversation limits and AI add-ons can make it more expensive as you grow. Andy's pricing is more predictable without per-conversation surprises.
Does Andy integrate with Shopify?
Shopify integration is on our roadmap (see GitHub issue #155). Currently, you can connect Andy to Shopify via custom API tools. Full native integration is coming.
Can I use Andy just for WhatsApp?
Yes. Many customers use Andy primarily for WhatsApp. You can deploy to any single channel or combination.
Does Andy have a visual bot builder like Tidio?
Andy uses AI instead of rule-based flows. You train your agent with knowledge (documents, URLs, FAQs), and the AI handles conversations naturally. No flow-building required.
Can I try Andy without canceling Tidio?
Absolutely. Run them side by side—maybe Andy on WhatsApp, Tidio on web—then migrate fully when ready.
Compare Andy to Other Platforms
Ready to Try a Tidio Alternative?
If you're hitting Tidio's limits—conversation caps, WhatsApp constraints, or the single-bot ceiling—Andy was built for your next chapter.