helpyap vs tidio
The Tidio alternative
without the add-on stack.
Tidio gets you an AI agent for very little money, which is exactly why it is popular. The catch is the stack: the base plan, the Lyro AI add-on, and the Flows add-on are three separate lines, metered in billable conversations, and the real bill lands well above the headline. HelpYap is one number per seat with the AI included. Here is the honest comparison, published prices only.
the math
What a one-person team pays
One seat, one month. Tidio figures use its published annual-billing prices; Lyro tiers above 50 conversations are not published, so the example stays where the numbers are.
Tidio Starter + Lyro, published prices
- Starter plan
- $24.17
- Lyro add-on, 50 AI conversations
- $32.50
From$56.67/mo for 50 AI conversations
HelpYap Starter, per seat
- 1 seat × $19/mo
- $19
- 300 AI conversations
- Included
Total$19/mo for 300 AI conversations
Published prices from tidio.com, July 2026, annual billing: Starter at $24.17 per month with 100 billable conversations, Lyro AI add-on from $32.50 per month for 50 AI conversations (first 50 free, lifetime), Flows add-on from $24.17 per month. Lyro tier prices above 50 conversations are not published on the pricing page. HelpYap Starter is $19 per seat per month with 300 AI conversations included per seat.
side by side
Feature and pricing comparison
| HelpYap | Tidio | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $19/seat/mo, AI included | $24.17/mo (annual) plus add-ons |
| AI billing | Included: 300–2,500 conversations per seat by plan | Lyro add-on from $32.50/mo for 50 conversations |
| AI volume above the entry tier | Published for every plan | Tier prices not published |
| Automation | Workflow rules and agent tools included | Flows add-on from $24.17/mo |
| Metering | Conversations counted per seat pool | Billable conversations per plan tier |
| Free tier | 7-day trial, no free plan | Free plan: 50 conversations, 10 seats |
| Channels | Widget, in-app, email, SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram | Chat, email, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp |
| Ecommerce | Stripe-verified social proof widget | Deep Shopify apps and store integrations |
| Two-way Slack threads | Included on Pro and up | Not built in |
| Help center + public roadmap | Included | Not built in |
Being fair: Tidio's entry cost for a working AI agent is among the lowest anywhere, the first 50 Lyro conversations are free forever, and its Shopify integration is deeper than ours. For a small store testing whether AI support works at all, it is a sensible first step. The pattern to budget for is the stack: base plan plus Lyro plus Flows, each metered separately, and the Lyro tiers you will actually need at volume are not on the pricing page.
faq
Switching questions, answered
Is HelpYap a good Tidio alternative?
Yes, especially once AI volume grows. HelpYap Starter at $19 per seat includes 300 AI conversations, roughly six times Tidio's published entry Lyro tier, in one price with no add-ons. Tidio remains a reasonable entry point for very small stores that want to start near zero.
How much does Tidio Lyro cost?
Lyro is an add-on starting at $32.50 per month for 50 AI conversations on annual billing, on top of the base plan, and your first 50 conversations are free. Prices for higher Lyro tiers are not published on the pricing page.
Is Tidio cheaper than HelpYap?
The free plan is cheaper than anything paid. Once you pay, HelpYap usually wins on published numbers: $19 with 300 AI conversations included versus $56.67 for a base plan plus 50 Lyro conversations. Compare your own volume against both pricing pages.
What does Tidio have that HelpYap does not?
A permanent free plan, a lower absolute entry price for paid AI when volume is tiny, and deeper Shopify-specific integrations. If you run a small Shopify store and expect under 50 AI conversations a month, Tidio's free Lyro allowance may be all you need.
Comparing more tools? The best Intercom alternatives in 2026 covers the whole field, Tidio included.
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