OpenAgent vs Chatling at a glance
| Feature | OpenAgent | Chatling |
|---|---|---|
| Built for ecommerce | Yes — Shopify-first | General-purpose no-code chatbot builder |
| Credit model | No credits — text is unlimited on paid plans | 0.5 to 14 credits per reply depending on model |
| Plan pricing (July 2026) | Free, $149 Desk, $399 Front Desk, $1,200 Concierge (as of August 2026) | Free, $40 Standard, $140 Plus (annual $32 / $112) |
| Included volume | Unlimited text; 500 / 1,500 voice minutes on phone plans | 100 / 3,000 / 15,000 credits by tier |
| Native order actions | Track, return, exchange, refund, subscriptions | Widget install documented; deeper actions not documented |
| Help desk / shared inbox | Included on every paid plan | Not included — teams add a separate tool |
| Seats | 5 on Desk, 15 on Front Desk | 1 / 2 / 3 by tier, extra seats $10 each |
| Remove vendor branding | Never a paid add-on | $35 a month add-on |
| Channels | Chat, email, WhatsApp, IG, Messenger, SMS; voice on Front Desk | Web, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, Messenger |
| Product recommendations & cart recovery | Built in | Not an ecommerce-specific capability |
| Best fit | Online stores automating the support queue | Small sites wanting an inexpensive no-code agent |
Why ecommerce teams choose OpenAgent over Chatling
No credits to count, on any model
Chatling's credit consumption varies from around 0.5 to 14 credits per response depending on the model selected. OpenAgent does not meter text at all — conversations are unlimited on every paid plan, so the bill stays flat whatever model serves the reply.
Native post-purchase actions
Returns and exchanges with label generation, refunds inside merchant-set caps, subscription changes, and live order tracking work across Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce as soon as the store is connected.
Built-in help desk and human handoff
OpenAgent includes a shared inbox on every paid plan with routing, availability rules, and full transcript and order context on escalation, so you do not need a second support tool.
Fewer add-ons to stack
Seats, channels, and the help desk are bundled into each flat tier rather than priced individually, and there is no branding-removal fee to add on.
Revenue behaviour by default
Product recommendations, pre-purchase sizing and stock answers, and cart recovery come as standard, so support reports revenue influenced alongside resolution rate.
Pricing compared
Flat monthly plans as of August 2026: Free ($0, one AI agent on your website chat), Desk $149 (every text channel unlimited — website chat, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, SMS, email — plus the help desk, CRM, and 5 seats), Front Desk $399 (adds the AI receptionist on a real phone number, 500 voice minutes included then $0.25/minute behind a spend cap you set, 15 seats), and a done-for-you Concierge option at $1,200 (1,500 minutes then $0.25/minute). One plan per business, never per seat; the only meter is voice minutes.
As published in July 2026: Free ($0, 100 AI credits, 2 agents, 1 seat), Standard $40/mo or $32 annual (3,000 credits, 3 agents, 2 seats), Plus $140/mo or $112 annual (15,000 credits, 5 agents, 3 seats), with unlimited chats on all tiers. Credit consumption varies by model, from roughly 0.5 to 14 credits per response. Add-ons include extra credits at $10 per 1,000, extra seats at $10, extra agents at $3, branding removal at $35, and a custom domain at $10 a month. Confirm current figures on chatling.ai/pricing.
Chatling's headline prices are lower and its free tier is usable. The complication is that a credit is not a fixed unit — the same plan can stretch to thousands of replies or run out quickly depending on the model you pick — and the add-on stack adds up. OpenAgent trades a higher headline price for a flat bill: text conversations are unlimited, so the number you budget is the number you pay.
Choose OpenAgent when
- You run a Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce store
- You need returns, refunds, exchanges, and subscription changes handled autonomously
- You want a flat bill that does not change with volume or the model powering the reply
- You need a shared inbox for human handoff rather than a second support tool
- You want support conversations to recommend products and recover carts
Choose Chatling when
- You want an inexpensive no-code agent for a website rather than a support platform
- Your questions are informational and rarely require touching an order
- Telegram is a channel you specifically depend on
- You are comfortable running a cheaper model to make credits stretch
- Your volume is low enough that a free or $40 plan genuinely covers it
Switching from Chatling
Switching from Chatling to OpenAgent is quick because the knowledge layer moves cleanly. Import the same sources you trained Chatling on — your site, help centre, PDFs — connect your store with OAuth, swap the widget snippet, and set escalation and availability rules. Order actions work immediately. Two practical notes: check your seat count against OpenAgent's per-plan seats before choosing a tier, and if you have been running a cheap model to stretch Chatling credits, that whole calculation disappears, since OpenAgent does not meter text at all — conversations are unlimited on every paid plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to switch from Chatling?
Join the ecommerce teams resolving more tickets, answering 24/7, and turning support into a revenue channel with OpenAgent.