AI Smart Search vs Always Awake
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 AI Smart Search, Oct 13, 2026 for Always Awake.
The short answer
- Only AI Smart Search lists a free plan. Paid plans start at $39/month for AI Smart Search and $99/month for Always Awake.
- AI Smart Search lists 7 features Always Awake’s listing doesn’t mention, including Custom dashboards, Custom filters, Filter usage.
Head to head
- United States
Free
Starter
Pro
Launch
- · 100 shopper conversations / month
- · AI Brain and private knowledge
- · Conversation inbox and CSV exports
- · Full brand and widget studio
- · Product recommendations and cart
Growth
- · 500 shopper conversations / month
- · Demand and objection intelligence
- · Everything in Launch
- · Priority support
- · Proactive journeys and targeted offers
Scale
- · 1,500 shopper conversations / month
- · Advanced conversion automations
- · Early access to sales features
- · Everything in Growth
- · Priority onboarding and support
Enterprise
- · 10,000 shopper conversations / month
- · Enterprise analytics command centre
- · Everything in Scale
- · External AI and automation access
- · Operations API and data exports
- · Private WhatsApp developer line
Coverage counts what each App Store listing names. Every feature, checked off app by app, is in Shoplist.
See every featureSmart Search adds an AI chatbot to your store that understands what customers are looking for. Instead of browsing and filtering, customers describe what they need in plain language and get instant product recommendations. The assistant knows your full catalog, answers questions about sizing and policies, compares products side by side, and guides customers through variant selection to add items directly to cart.
Always Awake helps shoppers find and compare products, ask store questions and add recommendations to their cart. Use your catalogue, policies and private guidance to shape replies. Your team can join conversations, pause AI and resume it when ready. Follow human requests and assisted cart activity, with opt-in browser notifications. Match the chat to your colours, logo and assistant name.
- Natural Language Product Search with AI product recommendations.
- In-Chat Add to Cart | Select variants and atc without leaving the conversation.
- Product Comparison | Compare products side by side.
- Brand Training | Teach the AI your policies, sizing, and product details.
- Recommend and compare products using your catalogue and store knowledge.
- Let your team take over a chat, pause AI and return the conversation to AI.
- Follow human requests and assisted cart activity with opt-in device alerts.
- Match the chat to your brand with your logo, colours and assistant name.
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 |  AI Smart Search |  Always Awake |
|---|---|---|
| Detected stores | 3 | 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 | Not published |
| Top store countries | United States | Not published |
Reviews
| Measure | AI Smart Search | Always Awake |
|---|---|---|
| App Store rating | Not published | Not published |
| App Store reviews | Not published | Not published |
| New reviews, 28 days | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Reviewers a year or more in | Not enough data | Not enough data |
Pricing
| Measure | AI Smart Search | Always Awake |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Not listed |
| Lowest paid monthly plan | $39/month(ahead) | $99/month |
| Longest free trial | 7 days | Not listed |
| Plans listed | 3 | 4 |
Listing
| Measure | AI Smart Search | Always Awake |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify category rank | #214 | #188(ahead) |
| Shopify App Charts | Not on this week’s charts | Not on this week’s charts |
| Built for Shopify | No | No |
| Launched | May 8, 2026 | Jul 16, 2026 |
| Languages | 1 | 1 |
| Developer | S1C | Neat Digital |
FAQ
AI Smart Search and Always Awake: common questions
- Is AI Smart Search or Always Awake cheaper?
- Only AI Smart Search lists a free plan. Paid plans start at $39/month for AI Smart Search and $99/month for Always Awake. 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?
- AI Smart Search lists 7 the others don’t mention, such as Custom dashboards, Custom filters, Filter usage, Instant search. 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 AI Smart Search, Oct 13, 2026 for Always Awake; 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 AI Smart Search, Oct 13, 2026 for Always Awake. 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.