Agency AI: Meta & Google Ads vs Helmsman
Two Shopify apps, side by side: detected stores, momentum, reviews, plans, listed features and who runs each. Store counts as of Nov 9, 2026 for Agency AI, Oct 14, 2026 for Helmsman.
The short answer
- Paid plans start at $59/month for Agency AI and $125/month for Helmsman.
- Agency AI lists 17 features Helmsman’s listing doesn’t mention, including A/B testing, AI copywriting, Audience segments.
Head to head
- United States
- Germany
- Australia
Momentum
New reviews each month
Review pace is the clearest public read on how fast an app is winning new merchants.
Essentials
- · AI Design Studio: Banners & Copy
- · AI Strategist: 24/7 Ad Optimization
- · AI-Optimized FB, Instagram & Google Ads
- · Claude + ChatGPT MCP Connector
- · Full Funnel Ads Pack: Meta & Google
- · Launch & Optimize Ads on Your Approval
Helmsman Basic
- · AI product scoring
- · Auto-updated Meta product sets
- · Automated Meta ads
- · Instagram performance dashboard
Coverage counts what each App Store listing names. Every feature, checked off app by app, is in Shoplist.
See every featureRun Facebook, Instagram and Google Ads for your Shopify store without an agency. Speak to your AI Strategist and watch it work: it builds the plan, creates and launches new ads, cuts wasted ad spend and optimizes budget toward what's selling, every change on your approval. Genie designs 8 ad banners in one click, writes the ad copy and A/B tests it.
Helmsman is an AI agent designed to simplify advertising operations. By analyzing store data, AI identifies products with stronger advertising potential and generates product competitiveness scores. Analyze Instagram content, generate Meta product sets, and create Meta ad campaigns using AI-powered workflows and automation tools.
- Increase ROAS with automated Meta campaign optimization
- Reduce ad time spent by 80% with AI-powered setup & tuning
- Turn Shopify data into better targeting decisions instantly
- AI design studio for instant ad creative
- AI analyzes store data and scores product competitiveness
- AI analyzes Instagram posts and identifies engagement-based content insights
- Automatically create Meta ad campaigns in as little as 1 minute
- Optimize ad performance automatically with AI and automation rules
All the numbers
Every figure, side by side
A green dot marks the app ahead on a measured figure. Estimates, gaps and apps that leave no storefront trace never take the lead.
Adoption
| Measure |  Agency AI |  Helmsman |
|---|---|---|
| Detected stores | 9 | Not published |
| Net store change, 28 days | 0 | 0 |
| Stores added, 28 days | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Big-brand share | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Top store categories | Apparel & Accessories, Home & Garden, Animals & Pet Supplies | Not published |
| Top store countries | United States, Germany, Australia | Not published |
Reviews
| Measure | Agency AI | Helmsman |
|---|---|---|
| App Store rating | 5.0 ★ | Not published |
| App Store reviews | 5 | Not published |
| New reviews, 28 days | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Reviewers a year or more in | Not enough data | Not enough data |
FAQ
Agency AI and Helmsman: common questions
- Is Agency AI or Helmsman cheaper?
- Paid plans start at $59/month for Agency AI and $125/month for Helmsman. Shoplist compares base prices only between monthly plans in the same currency; usage charges and annual plans vary, so check each plan’s limits.
- What features does each app list that the other doesn’t?
- Agency AI lists 17 the others don’t mention, such as A/B testing, AI copywriting, Audience segments, Behavior. Helmsman lists 1 the others don’t mention, such as Social media. A feature missing from a listing may still be supported; this compares what each App Store listing says.
- Where does this comparison’s data come from?
- Shoplist crawls Shopify storefronts to detect which apps each store runs, and reads each app’s Shopify App Store listing for reviews, pricing, features and integrations. Store counts are as of Nov 9, 2026 for Agency AI, Oct 14, 2026 for Helmsman; estimated figures are labeled.
How Shoplist compares apps
Store counts come from Shoplist’s crawl of Shopify storefronts, which detects the apps each store runs; they are as of Nov 9, 2026 for Agency AI, Oct 14, 2026 for Helmsman. Reviews, ratings, plans, features and integrations come from each app’s Shopify App Store listing. 28-day figures are labeled when estimated, and a figure that is missing or estimated never decides who leads. Read the methodology.