vsZThe Zoko alternative for Shopify, from $19 with AI included
Zoko is a WhatsApp app for Shopify brands, on the App Store since 2020, with catalog selling, broadcasts, flows, a shared inbox and add-on AI agents, priced from $49.99 a month plus usage. Recoverly is a Built for Shopify app that starts at $19 a month with every automation and the AI chatbot included, no fees per conversation, and coexistence so you keep the WhatsApp Business app.
Facts checked against Zoko's public website on September 29, 2026. Zoko is a trademark of its owner; Recoverly is not affiliated. Spotted something outdated? Tell us.
Why teams move from Zoko to Recoverly
Automations and AI from $19
Zoko Starter is listed at $49.99/month on the Zoko pricing page, Sep 2026; AI agents cost $24.99/month each plus usage, and edited or custom flows are $5.99/month per flow. Recoverly Lite is $19/month with every automation and the AI chatbot included.
Keep the WhatsApp Business app
Zoko's pricing FAQ says a number set up on its API cannot be used on a phone again. Recoverly connects in coexistence mode, so the app on your phone keeps working on the same number.
No per-conversation fees
Zoko Starter adds $0.015 per conversation, and higher plans charge a smaller fee once their included conversations run out. Recoverly adds nothing per message; Meta bills its own fees at cost.
Recoverly vs Zoko
Checked against Zoko's public pricing page and Shopify App Store listing on September 29, 2026. Prices are in US dollars. Check both before deciding.
| What matters | Recoverly | Zoko |
|---|---|---|
| Plan price | Free; Lite $19/mo; Pro $49/mo | Starter $49.99, Plus $79.99, Elite $139.99, Max $499.99/mo |
| Fees on top of Meta's | None | $0.015 per conversation on Starter; Plus and up include 5K to 5M conversations, then $0.00049 to $0.00199 each |
| Keep the WhatsApp Business app on the same number | Yes, coexistence by default | No: Zoko's FAQ says an API number cannot be used on a phone |
| Ready-made e-commerce flows | Cart recovery, COD confirmation, order and shipping updates, back in stock, reviews, appointments | 11 free flows, including cart recovery, COD confirmation, reviews and order notifications |
| Custom or edited flows | Included in Lite, no step metering | $5.99/mo per flow; 500K steps/mo included, then $0.0002 per step |
| AI | AI chatbot included from Lite | AI agents $24.99/mo each, plus $0.09 per resolution or 3% of order value after free allowances |
| Agents | No per-seat pricing | Unlimited on Starter; 5 to 30 included on higher plans, then $9 to $15 each |
| WhatsApp catalog and ordering in chat | Not offered; messages link to your store | Shopify catalog synced to WhatsApp, with orders placed in chat |
| Instagram and calling | WhatsApp messaging only | Instagram DMs ($9.99/mo platform fee) and WhatsApp calling minutes |
| Shopify track record | Built for Shopify, 5.0★ from 28 reviews | Listed since December 2020, 4.9★ from 449 reviews |
| Free plan | Yes, forever (chat widget) | 7-day free trial |
Zoko prices are listed on zoko.io/pricing, and ratings on its Shopify App Store listing (Sep 2026). Zoko bills subscriptions in advance, with prepaid credits for conversations. Meta's message fees apply with every provider.
Who Zoko is right for
Zoko has been on the Shopify App Store since December 2020 and has 449 reviews from merchants, far more than Recoverly. It is strongest where selling happens inside WhatsApp: your Shopify catalog synced to WhatsApp, orders placed in chat, WhatsApp calling, and Instagram DMs in the same inbox. Its Sello AI agent takes orders in chat for a share of order value, and plans with up to 30 included agents suit larger support teams. If you want customers to browse and buy without leaving WhatsApp, or you need Instagram and calling alongside it, Zoko is a strong option.
Who switches to Recoverly
Shopify merchants who want the core WhatsApp automations without stacking add-ons. Stores that find a $49.99 plan plus per-conversation fees hard to predict, or that want to edit flows without each one becoming a paid flow. Owners who want to keep chatting from the WhatsApp Business app on their phone. COD-heavy stores that want confirmation with automatic Shopify order tags and optional auto-cancel on decline, included in Lite.
- Lite, $19/mo: cart recovery, COD confirmation, order and shipping updates, back in stock, reviews, appointments, the AI chatbot and the shared inbox.
- Pro, $49/mo: campaigns plus Klaviyo, Shopify Flow, Shiprocket, Judge.me and Loox integrations.
- Coexistence: connect the number you already use and keep the phone app.
- Free forever: the WhatsApp chat widget with unlimited clicks and opt-in capture.
See Recoverly, Zoko, WATI, Interakt and Dondy side by side in our Shopify WhatsApp app comparison, or read more about the Recoverly Shopify app.
What you give up
Recoverly does not offer WhatsApp catalog selling or in-chat ordering; its messages and AI replies link shoppers back to your store to check out. It handles WhatsApp messaging only, with no Instagram inbox or WhatsApp calling, and it is newer, with far fewer reviews than Zoko. If in-chat commerce, Instagram or calling matter most, Zoko is the better fit. If you want automations and AI at a low flat price while keeping your phone app, Recoverly is the simpler choice.
How to move from Zoko without losing a conversation
Install and sync
Install Recoverly from the Shopify App Store. Carts, orders, customers and products sync from Shopify automatically, with no store data to import.
Move your number
Disconnect your number from Zoko and release it from Zoko's WhatsApp Business Account, then connect it to Recoverly through Meta's Embedded Signup. Meta's migration rules apply, and Recoverly support can walk you through them.
Turn on your flows
Switch on cart recovery, COD confirmation, order and shipping updates and review requests from ready-made templates, then submit any custom Zoko templates you still need for Meta approval. Each flow takes a few minutes.
Zoko alternative: your questions
Switch from Zoko in an afternoon.
Install on Shopify, switch on cart recovery and COD confirmation, and pay $19 a month with the AI chatbot included.