BestChat: AI Chatbot+Live Chat vs HiveChat ‑ Live Chat & Chatbot
Two Shopify apps, side by side: detected stores, momentum, reviews, plans, listed features and who runs each. Store counts as of Nov 8, 2026 for BestChat, Oct 14, 2026 for HiveChat.
The short answer
- On the Shopify App Store: BestChat 4.7 from 139 reviews and HiveChat 5.0 from 1 reviews.
- Both list a free plan. Paid plans start at $10/month for BestChat and $9.99/month for HiveChat.
- HiveChat lists 9 features BestChat’s listing doesn’t mention, including Callback, Chat assignment, Chat flows.
Head to head
The efficiency bridge between you and your customers.
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Australia
Momentum
New reviews each month
Review pace is the clearest public read on how fast an app is winning new merchants.
Free
- · 1 agent seat
- · 20 AI knowledge entries
- · 80 AI chats per month
- · 80 Products AI learning
- · AI Insights feature
- · AI help me write feature
Starter
- · 1 agent seat
- · 100 AI knowledge entries
- · 300 AI chats per month
- · 300 Products AI learning
- · AI Insights feature
- · AI help me write feature
Basic
- · 1,000 AI chats per month
- · 1,000 Products AI learning
- · 3 agent seat
- · 400 AI knowledge entries
- · AI Insights feature
- · AI help me write feature
Growth
- · 3,000 AI chats per month
- · 3,000 Products AI learning
- · 6 agent seat
- · AI Insights feature
- · AI help me write feature
- · Unlimited AI knowledge entries
Free
- · 1 supported language
- · 90 days chat history
- · Advanced analytics
- · Highly customizable
- · Unlimited conversations
- · Up to 3 automation rules
Basic
- · 3 supported languages
- · 365 days chat history
- · Custom email templates
- · Up to 20 automation rules
- · Up to 20 canned responses
Pro
- · 5 supported languages
- · Unlimited automation rules
- · Unlimited canned responses
- · Unlimited chat history
Coverage counts what each App Store listing names. Every feature, checked off app by app, is in Shoplist.
See every featureBestChat is a next-generation AI-powered live chat and chatbot solution for Shopify. Our intelligent chatbot provides 24/7 customer support, boosting sales and satisfaction. Seamless Shopify integration and self-learning AI ensure a smooth customer experience with a customizable live chat interface.
HiveChat helps merchants answer shopper questions through a storefront chat widget and manage every conversation in Shopify admin. Merchants can customize the widget, set business hours and quick replies, create rule-based answers for common questions, recommend products in chat, hand conversations to staff, send follow-up emails when customers are offline, and review conversation, resolution, and satisfaction…
- Intelligent AI chatbots learn products and orders, making chatbots smarter.
- AI-driven insights enhance data analysis and support decision-making.
- Smooth chatbot to agent takeover ensures seamless live chat support.
- 24/7 AI assistance chatbots handle routine queries, freeing support agents.
- Answer common questions automatically with rule-based chat replies
- Recommend products directly inside chat
- Manage chats with assignment, notes, and canned replies
- Follow up by email when customers leave the chat
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 |  BestChat |  HiveChat |
|---|---|---|
| Detected stores | 593 | Not published |
| Net store change, 28 days | −2 | 0 |
| Stores added, 28 days | 4 | Not enough data |
| Big-brand share | 8% | Not enough data |
| Top store categories | Apparel & Accessories, Home & Garden, Health & Beauty | Not published |
| Top store countries | United States, United Kingdom, Australia | Not published |
Reviews
| Measure | BestChat | HiveChat |
|---|---|---|
| App Store rating | 4.7 ★ | 5.0 ★(ahead) |
| App Store reviews | 139(ahead) | 1 |
| New reviews, 28 days | 0 | Not enough data |
| Reviewers a year or more in | Not enough data | Not enough data |
FAQ
BestChat and HiveChat: common questions
- Is BestChat or HiveChat cheaper?
- Both list a free plan. Paid plans start at $10/month for BestChat and $9.99/month for HiveChat. Shoplist compares base prices only between monthly plans in the same currency; usage charges and annual plans vary, so check each plan’s limits.
- Which has better reviews, BestChat or HiveChat?
- On the Shopify App Store: BestChat 4.7 from 139 reviews and HiveChat 5.0 from 1 reviews.
- What features does each app list that the other doesn’t?
- BestChat lists 6 the others don’t mention, such as Agent avatar, AI chatbots, Discounts, Emojis and stickers. HiveChat lists 9 the others don’t mention, such as Callback, Chat assignment, Chat flows, Customer insights. 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 8, 2026 for BestChat, Oct 14, 2026 for HiveChat; 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 8, 2026 for BestChat, Oct 14, 2026 for HiveChat. 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.