Dispatch
Comparisons

How Dispatch compares

Most AI agents bill per resolution or per conversation, on top of a helpdesk plan. Dispatch runs on your own AI key at your provider's prices, and works with the helpdesk you already have. Here is how the options line up, including where others are the better choice.

Install on Shopify Talk to us

Bring your own AI key and pay your provider at cost — no per-resolution fees. Dispatch plan pricing: see dispatch.osroc.io.

Pricing models side by side

What you pay for the AI itself, as published by each vendor. Some require a separate helpdesk or chat plan as well.

ToolHow the AI is billedPublished AI priceAlso requires
Gorgias AI AgentPer automated interaction, on top of a helpdesk plan$0.90 per automated interaction (annual) or $1.00 (monthly); $1.50 above the plan's included allowance. Each AI interaction also counts as a helpdesk ticketA Gorgias helpdesk plan (from $10/month Starter; Basic $50/month annual or $60 monthly)
Zendesk AI agentsPer automated (verified) resolution, drawn from a per-seat allowance, on top of Suite or Support seatsIncluded allowance of $2 to $10 per agent seat per month depending on plan; resolutions beyond it are bought separately. We couldn't verify the per-resolution list price on an official pageZendesk Suite or Support seats (Team, Professional, Enterprise and up)
Intercom FinPer outcome$0.99 per outcome (resolutions, handoffs to a procedure and similar); $9.99 per qualification. Standalone minimum 50 outcomes per monthIntercom seats (from $29/seat/month), or standalone on your current helpdesk
Tidio LyroPer Lyro conversation, in monthly tiers, on top of a Tidio planLyro from $32.50/month billed annually for 50 conversations (vendor page); $39/month on the Shopify App Store listing. Premium tier billed per resolution (price not published)A Tidio plan (free plan available; Starter $29/month on the Shopify listing)
Shopify InboxFreeFree app; the Inbox AI agent has no listed priceA Shopify plan; the AI agent needs new customer accounts and Basic or higher
Rep AIFlat plan by monthly store visitorsStarter $104/month (up to 10K visitors), Basic $209 (25K), Standard $368 (50K); $12 per extra 1,000 visitorsNothing else (hands off to Gorgias or Zendesk)
Redo AI Support AgentPer resolution$0.99 per resolution for Support AI Agents; Redo's helpdesk is $0.20 per resolutionNothing else; can be added to other support tools
Zipchat AIFlat plan by AI repliesStarter $80/month (750 replies), Pro $300 (3,000), Scale $600 (6,000); extra $49 per 250 repliesNothing else
Alhena AIFlat plan by credits (1 conversation = 1 credit)Essentials $199/month billed annually (200 conversations); overage $1.20 per creditNothing else
Octane AIFlat plan by quiz creditsBasic $50/month (400 credits), Plus $200 (2,200); $0.10 per extra credit. A quiz tool rather than a support chatNothing else
DispatchYour own AI key, at your provider's pricesModel cost only, about 3.7¢ to 11¢ per conversation on certified models (see the math)A Dispatch plan. Works with your existing helpdesk, or email

Prices checked 17 October 2026. Sources are listed on each comparison page and in the notes below. Check vendor sites for current pricing.

Redo AI Support Agent: redo.com/pricing · Zipchat AI: zipchat.ai pricing · Alhena AI: alhena.ai/pricing · Octane AI: octaneai.com/pricing

Detailed comparisons

Dispatch vs Gorgias AI AgentFull ecommerce helpdesk with a per-interaction AI add-onDispatch vs Zendesk AI agentsEnterprise helpdesk with AI agents billed per verified resolutionDispatch vs Intercom FinPer-outcome AI agent that works on many helpdesksDispatch vs Tidio LyroAffordable live chat with an AI add-on billed by conversation tierDispatch vs Shopify InboxFree, native store chat with an opt-in AI agentDispatch vs Rep AIAI sales associate priced by store visitors

What's different about Dispatch

No per-resolution bill

Bring a key from Anthropic, OpenAI, OpenRouter or DigitalOcean and pay your provider at cost. No per-resolution fees.

Keeps your helpdesk

Hands off to Gorgias, Zendesk, Slack or email with a summary and transcript, and your team's replies show up in the shopper's chat.

Support that sells

Product cards with add to cart, answers from your real catalog and policies, and order status with proof of ownership (beta).

Questions

Why do most AI support tools charge per resolution?

It ties price to the work the AI does. The catch is that your bill grows exactly as automation succeeds, and busy months (like Black Friday) cost the most. Dispatch on your own key costs what the model costs: about 3.7¢ to 11¢ per conversation on certified models.

Is Dispatch a helpdesk?

No. Dispatch is the AI front door on your storefront. It answers and sells, then hands conversations to the helpdesk you already use (Gorgias, Zendesk, Slack or email) with a summary and transcript. Your team keeps working where they work today.

How current are these prices?

Prices checked 17 October 2026, from each vendor's public pricing page or documentation, linked on each comparison. Vendors change prices; check their sites before deciding, and tell us at support@osroc.io if something is out of date.

What will AI support cost you?Compare per-resolution AI agents at your volume with Dispatch on your own AI key, where a conversation costs the raw model price.Fewer “where is my order?” tickets. Better handoffs for the rest.Dispatch answers order-status, shipping and policy questions on your storefront, then hands the rest to Gorgias, Zendesk, Slack or email with full context.An AI shopping assistant that knows your storeAn AI shopping assistant that answers from your Shopify catalog and policies, shows products with add to cart, reaches out first and hands off to your team.

The AI front door to your helpdesk

Answers shoppers instantly, sells while it helps, and hands the hard ones to your team in the tools they already use.

Install on Shopify Talk to us