FormalChat 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 Oct 14, 2026.
The short answer
- Both list a free plan. Paid plans start at $23/month for FormalChat and $9.99/month for HiveChat.
- HiveChat lists 10 features FormalChat’s listing doesn’t mention, including Agent analytics, Behavior tracking, Callback.
Head to head
Try LiveChat Free
- · 1 operator
- · 3 knowledge entries
- · 5 canned replies
- · 50 AI messages/mo
Growth
- · 1,000 AI messages/mo
- · 20 knowledge entries
- · 25 canned replies
- · 3 operators
- · 5 GB storage
Pro
- · 10 operators
- · 100 knowledge entries
- · 20 GB storage
- · 5,000 AI messages/mo
- · Unlimited canned replies
Business
- · 100 GB storage
- · 25,000 AI messages/mo
- · Email + push notifications
- · Priority support
- · Unlimited canned replies
- · Unlimited operators
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 featureFormalChat adds an AI-powered chat widget to your Shopify store in minutes. The AI is automatically trained on your product catalog so it can answer customer questions accurately from day one. When a shopper wants to speak with a person, the AI hands them off to your team in real time.
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…
- AI trained on your products answers customer questions automatically, 24/7
- Handoff connects shoppers to your team when they want to speak with a person
- Manage all chats from a web dashboard or iOS and Android mobile app
- Push notifications alert you on your phone when a customer is waiting
- 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 |  FormalChat |  HiveChat |
|---|---|---|
| Detected stores | Not published | 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 | Not published | Not published |
| Top store countries | Not published | Not published |
Reviews
| Measure | FormalChat | HiveChat |
|---|---|---|
| App Store rating | Not published | 5.0 ★ |
| App Store reviews | Not published | 1 |
| New reviews, 28 days | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Reviewers a year or more in | Not enough data | Not enough data |
Pricing
| Measure | FormalChat | HiveChat |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Lowest paid monthly plan | $23/month | $9.99/month(ahead) |
| Longest free trial | Not listed | 14 days |
| Plans listed | 4 | 3 |
Listing
| Measure | FormalChat | HiveChat |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify category rank | #1018 | Not enough data |
| Shopify App Charts | Not on this week’s charts | Not on this week’s charts |
| Built for Shopify | No | No |
| Launched | May 21, 2026 | May 8, 2026 |
| Languages | 1 | 6 |
| Developer | FirasCodes | Hive Interactive |
FAQ
FormalChat and HiveChat: common questions
- Is FormalChat or HiveChat cheaper?
- Both list a free plan. Paid plans start at $23/month for FormalChat 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.
- What features does each app list that the other doesn’t?
- FormalChat lists 5 the others don’t mention, such as AI chatbots, Emojis and stickers, Push notifications, Real-time translation. HiveChat lists 10 the others don’t mention, such as Agent analytics, Behavior tracking, Callback, Chat buttons. 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 Oct 14, 2026; 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 Oct 14, 2026. 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.