# Cancel and refund without writing a skill.

Zipchat's built-in Shopify skill looks orders up. Aide's AI cancels, refunds and changes addresses out of the box, and works inside Zendesk, Gorgias or Front.

Aide is a Zipchat alternative for Shopify merchants who need the AI to cancel orders, change addresses and refund without a custom skill, with a teammate signing off on refunds by default. Both bill per AI reply; Aide includes 150 free a month, and Starter is $39 for 1,000.

Source: https://aide.app/compare/zipchat · Updated 2026-11-03 · By Ziyad Basheer

| | |
|---|---|
| Pricing unit | Both per AI reply. Zipchat sells extra replies at $49 per 250. |
| Free AI | Aide: 150 AI replies a month. Zipchat: 120 a month. |
| Entry paid plan | Aide: $39 for 1,000 replies. Zipchat: $80 for 750, billed monthly. |
| Built-in order skill | Zipchat: read-only order lookup. Cancels and edits need a custom skill. |
| App Store reviews | Zipchat: 4.9 stars, 209 reviews. Aide: 5.0 stars, 3 reviews. |
| Checked | November 3, 2026, using Zipchat's pricing page, skills pages and App Store listing. |

## A chipped planter, refunded on approval.

Aide matches the shopper to order

Zipchat's refund page says its AI explains the policy, checks eligibility and routes the request to your team, unless you connect a refund tool yourself.

> Customer: The ceramic planter in #1049 showed up chipped. Could I get a refund?
>
> Aide: I'm sorry it arrived damaged. A $46.00 refund for the planter, back to your original card, is now with our team to approve. You'll get an email the moment it's sent.
>
> Order #1049 verified · Refund of $46.00 sent for approval

## Side by side

| | Aide | Zipchat |
|---|---|---|
| Look up an order | Built in | Built in, read-only |
| Cancel an order | Built in | A custom skill you write against Shopify's API |
| Change a placed order's address | Built in | A custom skill you write |
| Refunds | Built in; a teammate approves by default | Routed to your team unless you connect a refund tool |
| Discount codes in chat | Not offered | Single-use codes, off by default |
| Helpdesks | Drafts and replies in Zendesk, Gorgias and Front | Lists Gorgias, Zendesk and Re:amaze; its Zendesk template escalates to a person |
| WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger | Not available for new accounts today | On every plan |

*Checked November 3, 2026 against Zipchat's own site and listing. Sources below.*

## The bill at 1,000 and 3,000 replies

Both tools count AI replies, so last month's volume converts straight into a bill.

- 1,000 replies: Aide's Starter plan covers them for $39. Zipchat Starter at $80 includes 750, and one $49 pack adds 250, so $129. Billed yearly, Zipchat Starter is $64, or $113 with the pack.
- 3,000 replies: Aide's Pro plan, $149 a month, includes 4,000. Zipchat Pro is $300 monthly, or $240 a month billed yearly.

The units differ slightly. Zipchat counts each AI message it sends. Aide counts every customer message it answered or wrote a draft for, handoffs too, and replies your team writes cost nothing.

## Sources

Zipchat facts come from its [pricing page](https://www.zipchat.ai/pricing), [Agentic Skills page](https://www.zipchat.ai/agentic-skills), [refund assistant page](https://www.zipchat.ai/capabilities/order-refund-assistant), [Shopify integration page](https://www.zipchat.ai/integrations/shopify) and its [listing on the Shopify App Store](https://apps.shopify.com/zipchat), all read on November 3, 2026. For Aide, we used the live product, [aide.app/pricing](https://aide.app/pricing) and our [own listing](https://apps.shopify.com/aide). Aide wrote this comparison. If a Zipchat detail is out of date, email support@aide.app.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can Zipchat cancel a Shopify order?

Its built-in skills can't. Zipchat's Agentic Skills page, checked November 3, 2026, says its Shopify order lookup is read-only and never cancels, edits or refunds. Cancellations and address changes run through custom skills you describe and connect with your own API keys. Aide cancels and changes addresses for verified shoppers with nothing to build.

### How does Zipchat count AI replies?

Each outbound AI message counts as one reply, on chat, email, WhatsApp or Instagram. Its Shopify listing includes 120 a month on Free, 750 on Starter ($80), 3,000 on Pro ($300) and 6,000 on Scale ($600), with 20% off yearly and extra packs at $49 for 250.

### When is Zipchat the better fit?

When you want AI on WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger today, WhatsApp marketing campaigns, single-use discount codes created in chat, unlimited seats on every plan, or a store on Magento, Wix or Webflow. Custom skills also reach tools Aide doesn't connect to, such as a loyalty program or an ERP, and its App Store review history is much longer.

### When is Aide not the right fit?

Stores that take support calls should look elsewhere, because Aide has no phone channel. A WooCommerce store gets order lookups and answers from Aide, but cancellations and refunds are Shopify features.

### Does Aide work with Gorgias or Zendesk?

Yes, on every plan, and with Front. Aide reads every ticket and writes a draft for your team. Switch an inbox to live replies and it answers by email in all three, plus Gorgias live chat. Your team keeps its helpdesk and macros.

### Can I move from Zipchat to Aide?

Point Aide at your site and it reads up to 300 pages. It also pulls in a Zendesk, Gorgias, Intercom, Help Scout or Front help center and keeps your Shopify catalog in sync. Aide Chat goes on your theme from the theme editor, with no code.

## Related
- [Aide vs Manifest AI](https://aide.app/compare/manifest-ai)
- [AI that resolves the order, not only the chat.](https://aide.app/compare/tidio)
- [Pay for the replies, not the traffic.](https://aide.app/compare/rep-ai)

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