Comparison

OpenAgent vs Pure Chat

Pure Chat wins on simplicity: the widget is quick to install, unlimited-agent plans are refreshingly straightforward, and small teams appreciate that it doesn't try to do everything. What it can't do is handle a customer query without a human on the other end. Every conversation sits in the queue until an agent is available — there is no AI resolution, no autonomous order-status lookup, and no after-hours coverage beyond an offline form. OpenAgent brings the AI layer that Pure Chat lacks: the agent resolves the majority of ecommerce tickets on its own, 24/7, and only escalates when a human is genuinely needed.

Book a demo See pricing

OpenAgent vs Pure Chat at a glance

Feature	OpenAgent	Pure Chat
AI ticket resolution	Yes — majority handled automatically	No — human-staffed only
Native Shopify order actions	Built in (track, return, refund)	None
Pricing model	Flat plans from $149/month	Flat per-plan, unlimited agents ($39–$79/month)
24/7 autonomous coverage	Yes	No — offline form when agents away
Human handoff + shared inbox	Included	Included
Visitor tracking / analytics	Basic	Visitor analytics included
Knowledge base AI training	Yes	Not available
Product recommendations	Built in	Not available
Chatbot / automation	Full conversational AI	Basic triggers only

Why ecommerce teams choose OpenAgent over Pure Chat

AI resolves tickets without staff

OpenAgent's AI handles order-status queries, return requests, refund questions, and FAQs autonomously. Pure Chat routes every message to a human — if no agent is available, customers wait or leave a message.

Native Shopify order actions

OpenAgent connects directly to Shopify and executes order lookups, return initiations, and refunds in the conversation. Pure Chat has no ecommerce order-data integration.

True 24/7 coverage

OpenAgent's AI never goes offline. Pure Chat displays an offline form when agents are unavailable — a real frustration for shoppers needing an immediate answer about their order.

Revenue from support

OpenAgent's agent recommends products and helps recover carts proactively. Pure Chat is a reactive messaging tool with no proactive sales features.

Pricing compared

OpenAgent

Flat plans as of August 2026: free tier, Desk at $149/month, Front Desk at $399, Concierge at $1,200. Unlimited text conversations included — no per-seat charge for the AI agent.

Pure Chat

Growth plan at $39/month (unlimited operators). Pro at $79/month. Each is a flat plan not per-seat, but no AI resolution is included.

Pure Chat and OpenAgent have similar flat-plan structures. OpenAgent's $149 Desk plan adds conversational AI, Shopify order actions, and 24/7 autonomous coverage that Pure Chat's plans don't include at any tier.

Choose OpenAgent when

You want AI to resolve order, return, and refund queries without staffing agents around the clock
You need Shopify-native order actions in-chat
You serve customers across time zones and need genuine after-hours coverage
You want support conversations to generate product recommendation revenue

Choose Pure Chat when

You have a dedicated team that handles all chats in real time and just needs a clean, affordable widget
Visitor tracking and analytics alongside live chat are important features
Your support volume is very low and automation isn't a priority yet

Switching from Pure Chat

Switching from Pure Chat to OpenAgent is a widget swap with a short training step. Import your FAQ content and store policies into OpenAgent's knowledge base, connect Shopify, and replace the Pure Chat snippet. The AI starts handling conversations immediately, and your team transitions to reviewing only the escalations in OpenAgent's shared inbox.

Frequently Asked Questions

Pure Chat is a simple human-staffed live-chat widget. OpenAgent is an AI agent that resolves the majority of ecommerce support tickets — order status, returns, refunds — automatically, escalating only the cases that need human judgment.

Pure Chat can be added to a Shopify store as a widget but has no native order-data or order-action integration. Agents must look up orders in Shopify manually. OpenAgent connects natively to Shopify and the AI executes order actions inside the conversation.

Yes — Pure Chat's paid plans include unlimited agents, which is a genuine advantage for teams that want to avoid per-seat fees. OpenAgent also uses flat pricing but adds AI resolution, Shopify order actions, and 24/7 autonomous coverage that Pure Chat's unlimited-agent plans lack.

Pure Chat shows an offline form for visitors to leave a message. With OpenAgent, the AI answers and resolves most queries regardless of the time — no waiting, no offline form for order-status questions.

Very straightforward. Import your knowledge sources, connect Shopify, and replace the widget snippet. Most stores are live in a few hours. Existing canned replies and FAQ content feed directly into OpenAgent's AI training.

More comparisons

OpenAgent vs tawk.to OpenAgent vs Chatra OpenAgent vs LiveChat OpenAgent vs Tidio OpenAgent vs Crisp Best Pure Chat alternatives

Ready to switch from Pure Chat?

Join the ecommerce teams resolving more tickets, answering 24/7, and turning support into a revenue channel with OpenAgent.