Tawk.to vs Tidio: which one should you use?
Last updated July 7, 2026
Tawk.to and Tidio are both aimed at smaller teams, but they optimize for different things. Tawk.to is free-forever and unmetered: unlimited agents, no conversation cap, funded by optional add-ons like badge removal. Tidio is AI-first: a genuine chatbot flow builder and Shopify integrations, but every tier, including free, meters how many conversations you can have per month.
If you’re choosing between them, the real question is whether unmetered simplicity (Tawk.to) or AI-driven ecommerce automation (Tidio) matters more for your site.
Pricing
Tawk.to’s core product costs nothing, ever, with badge removal, AI Assist, and video sold separately at $29/mo each. Tidio’s free plan allows 50 conversations/mo; paid tiers meter up to 2,000/mo on Growth at $59/seat, with a steep jump to Plus at $749/mo.
Feature comparison
Tawk.to includes ticketing and a knowledge base free, with no conversation limits. Tidio’s strength is automation: a purpose-built chatbot flow builder and deep Shopify integrations that Tawk.to doesn’t attempt to match.
What each one does well
If you want free, unmetered chat with ticketing and don’t mind a badge, Tawk.to delivers that with zero setup friction. If your traffic is ecommerce-heavy and repetitive, Tidio’s Lyro AI and flow builder can genuinely cut human workload, as long as volume stays within the caps.
Verdict
Tawk.to wins on cost predictability and unmetered volume. Tidio wins on ecommerce-specific automation. Neither is built around Telegram, so if that’s your actual workflow, it’s worth comparing both against something narrower.
Also see our full breakdowns: Tawk.to alternative, Tidio alternative, Tawk.to pricing, Tidio pricing.
Pricing at a glance
Feature comparison
| Feature | Tawk.to | Tidio |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier with unlimited agents | ||
| Conversation caps on every tier | ||
| AI chatbot / AI-assisted replies | ||
| Visual chatbot flow builder | ||
| Shopify / ecommerce integrations | ||
| Built-in ticketing | ||
| Knowledge base builder | ||
| Telegram integration | ||
| Badge-free by default | ||
| Flat, unlimited seats on paid tier |
What people like about Tawk.to
- Genuinely free forever with unlimited agents and sites
- Ticketing, knowledge base, and CRM included at no cost
- No conversation caps on any tier
- No seat-based pricing to plan around
Common complaints about Tawk.to
- "Powered by tawk.to" badge shown unless you pay $29/mo to remove it
- No chatbot flow builder or ecommerce-specific automation
- AI Assist is a separate $29/mo add-on, not built-in
- No native Telegram integration
What people like about Tidio
- Purpose-built chatbot flow editor with ecommerce triggers
- Deep Shopify integration: order status, cart abandonment, product recs
- No badge shown on any tier, including free
- Lyro AI can resolve common questions before a human sees them
Common complaints about Tidio
- Every tier, including paid ones, meters conversations
- Lyro AI is a separate add-on with its own per-conversation billing
- Growth-to-Plus jump goes from $59/mo to $749/mo with no middle tier
- No native Telegram integration
Tawk.to or Tidio?
Choose Tawk.to if you want free, unmetered chat with ticketing and a knowledge base and don't mind a badge. Choose Tidio if your priority is an AI chatbot deflecting ecommerce questions, especially on Shopify, and your volume fits the conversation caps. Neither is a great fit if you want simple chat with no badge and no metering.
Or consider a third option
Tawk.to trades a badge for free, unmetered chat; Tidio trades conversation caps for a badge-free, chatbot-driven experience. Neither routes replies to Telegram. If what you actually want is simple, unmetered chat that lands somewhere you already check, Bubblegram sends widget messages straight to a Telegram group: no badge, no caps, $10/mo flat for up to 10 sites.
Common questions
Which one is cheaper for a low-volume site?
Tawk.to, since its core product is free forever with no conversation cap, just a badge. Tidio's free tier caps at 50 conversations/mo, tight for anything beyond a very small site.
Which is better for a Shopify store?
Tidio, by a wide margin. Its flow builder and Shopify integrations pull order status and trigger flows from cart activity in ways Tawk.to doesn't attempt.
Does either show a badge on the free plan?
Tawk.to does, unless you pay $29/mo to remove it. Tidio's free plan has no badge.
Which handles growing conversation volume better?
Tawk.to, since it never caps conversations on any tier. Tidio raises its cap with each paid tier but never removes it below the custom Plus tier at $749/mo.
Can either reply from Telegram?
No. Neither Tawk.to nor Tidio has a native Telegram integration.
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