Zoko Alternative
MonoChat vs Zoko
If you sell on Shopify through WhatsApp with Zoko and now want AI agents, more channels or apps for other parts of your business, MonoChat is worth comparing. Here is an honest side-by-side.
Or start with $150 of credit, enough for a first month of Growth
MonoChat vs Zoko: the short answer
Zoko is a WhatsApp and Instagram CRM built for Shopify stores: catalog sync, broadcasts to Shopify segments, abandoned cart and order flows, and a shared inbox. MonoChat covers the same Shopify jobs with its Shop Assistant app, adds AI agents on the model you choose, and brings WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, TikTok, Telegram, web chat, SMS and voice into one team inbox.
- Who MonoChat is for
- Shopify brands that want AI agents on their own LLM keys, a shop desk with returns and reports, every channel in one inbox and a free plan to start on.
- Who Zoko is for
- Shopify-only stores that want pre-built WhatsApp flows, unlimited agents on the entry plan and tools such as COD verification and Judge.me reviews.
- Pricing in short
- MonoChat: Plan price + $30 per extra agent or channel; only outgoing messages count. Zoko: Plans from $49.99/month with included conversations and agents; add-ons per channel, flow and AI bot.
MonoChat vs Zoko: Feature Comparison
Selling, channels, AI and pricing model side by side
Selling on Shopify
| Feature | MonoChat | Zoko |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify catalog and orders | Shop Assistant app: products, orders and abandoned checkouts sync every 30 minutes | WhatsApp catalog synced from Shopify, buying inside WhatsApp |
| Abandoned carts and order updates | ✔ With consent checks and a weekly limit | |
| Returns in chat | Return requests checked against your policy, approved on the desk | Not listed |
| Other platforms | HTTP API or CSV for any store; apps for 12 industries | Built for Shopify |
Channels
| Feature | MonoChat | Zoko |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp Business API | Incl. coexistence, calls and Flows | Incl. WhatsApp calls and voice notes |
| ✔ Included | Add-on, $9.99/month | |
| Facebook Messenger | ||
| Other channels | TikTok, Telegram, web chat, Twilio SMS, voice (SIP) | Not listed |
AI and Automation
| Feature | MonoChat | Zoko |
|---|---|---|
| AI agents | ✔ Included on every plan | AI bots add-on, from $24.99/month per bot |
| LLM choice | Bring your own key: OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, OpenRouter, DeepSeek, Ollama and more | Managed AI |
| Workflow builder | Visual flows + event-driven automation, no per-flow fee | Pre-built Shopify flows; custom flows $5.99 per flow/month |
| API and custom code | Custom functions, MCP integration, API, custom views | Shopify and checkout-app integrations |
Pricing
| Feature | MonoChat | Zoko |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Plan price + $30 per extra agent or channel; only outgoing messages count | Plans from $49.99/month with included conversations and agents; add-ons per channel, flow and AI bot |
| Free plan | Free forever: 1 user, 1 channel, 1,000 outgoing messages/month | 7-day free trial |
| WhatsApp (Meta) fees | Charged separately at Meta rates | Charged separately at Meta rates |
Competitor information verified from Zoko’s Shopify App Store listing in October 2026.
Most requested features, built in
Features teams often ask for when they compare tools, all included in MonoChat.
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WhatsApp Coexistence with chat history
Keep the WhatsApp Business app on your phone and bring up to about six months of one-to-one chats and your contacts into MonoChat.
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Facebook & Instagram Lead Ads
Lead form answers reach MonoChat, and the Lead Ads Follow-up app messages each lead on WhatsApp within minutes.
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WhatsApp Flows
Create and publish WhatsApp Flows for your number, send them with a template button and get the answers in the chat.
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Custom roles
Create your own roles and choose what each one can see and do, down to an agent seeing only their own conversations.
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Appointment booking
Ready-made apps book appointments, classes, viewings and test drives, with calendars and reminders inside MonoChat.
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Your own AI key and agent harness
Use your own key for OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini and more, and run agents on MonoChat’s harness, the OpenAI Agents SDK, the Claude Agent SDK or your own endpoint.
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Bulk actions in the inbox
Assign, close, archive or pin many conversations in one go, and update profile fields such as your own stages for many contacts at once.
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Triggers, timers and no-reply follow-ups
Start flows on messages, sessions, payments and your own events, wait minutes to days and take a different path when nobody replies.
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Where MonoChat Stands Out
What Shopify brands usually gain when they move from a WhatsApp-only tool
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A Shop Desk, Not Just Flows
Shop Assistant shows products with a checkout link, tracks orders, recovers carts and handles returns, with a desk and reports for your team.
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AI Agents on Your Own Model
Connect OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, OpenRouter, DeepSeek or Ollama with your own key. MonoChat adds no markup and no per-bot fee.
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Every Channel Included
WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, TikTok, Telegram, web chat, Twilio SMS and SIP voice in one inbox, with no channel add-ons.
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Start Free
The free plan includes 1,000 outgoing messages a month. Incoming messages are never counted.
When Zoko Is the Better Choice
MonoChat is not the right fit for everyone. Zoko may suit you better if:
- You run only a Shopify store and want a WhatsApp tool made just for it, with pre-built Shopify flows included at no extra cost.
- You want unlimited agents on the entry plan: Zoko’s Starter plan has no per-seat fee and charges per conversation instead.
- You rely on Zoko features such as COD verification, Judge.me review requests and real-time translation in the inbox.
- Your flows, catalog and broadcasts already run well in Zoko and you do not need more channels or AI agents.
How to Switch from Zoko to MonoChat
A typical migration in four steps
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Move your WhatsApp number
Your WhatsApp Business API number is registered with Meta, not locked to Zoko. Disconnect it from Zoko and connect it to MonoChat through Meta’s onboarding flow, and plan a short window without campaigns while the switch completes.
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Connect your Shopify store
Install Shop Assistant and connect Shopify with an Admin API access token or a Dev Dashboard app. Products, orders and abandoned checkouts come in by themselves.
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Bring over templates and contacts
Export your contacts with tags and opt-in status as a CSV and import them. Approved templates either stay with your WhatsApp Business Account or are resubmitted to Meta from MonoChat.
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Rebuild flows and your AI agent
Turn on Shop Assistant’s cart, order and campaign messages, add any custom flows, connect your AI provider key and test with the sample shop before going live.
FAQ
MonoChat vs Zoko: FAQ
Common questions from teams comparing the two platforms
Is MonoChat a good Zoko alternative?
It can be, especially if you want AI agents, more channels or apps for other parts of your business. MonoChat’s Shop Assistant covers Shopify catalog, orders, carts and returns, and the same team inbox handles WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, TikTok, Telegram, web chat, SMS and voice. If you only need Shopify flows on WhatsApp, Zoko may already cover your needs.
Does MonoChat work with Shopify?
Yes. The Shop Assistant app connects Shopify and brings in products, orders and abandoned checkouts every 30 minutes. Stores on other platforms can send products, orders and carts through the HTTP API or a CSV file.
Can I keep my WhatsApp number when switching from Zoko?
Yes. The number belongs to your business and is registered with Meta. You disconnect it from Zoko and connect it to MonoChat through Meta’s onboarding. Export any chat history you want to keep before you switch.
How does MonoChat pricing compare to Zoko?
Zoko’s plans start at $49.99/month, include a set number of conversations and agents, and sell Instagram, custom flows and AI bots as add-ons. MonoChat has a free plan, a Growth plan at $120/month with 2 agents, 1 channel and 100,000 outgoing messages included ($30 per extra agent or channel), and custom Enterprise pricing. Meta’s WhatsApp fees apply separately on both platforms.
Are AI agents extra in MonoChat?
No. AI agents are part of every plan. You can bring your own key for OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, OpenRouter, DeepSeek, Ollama and other providers with no markup from MonoChat, or use MonoChat’s AI APIs, billed by token usage.
Does MonoChat support WhatsApp calls and coexistence?
Yes. MonoChat supports WhatsApp calls, interactive WhatsApp Flows, carousel and template messages, bulk messaging, and coexistence, so you can keep using the WhatsApp Business App and the API on the same number.
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MonoChat vs Trengo
Messaging-first inbox with AI on your own LLM keys.
Switching? Start with $150 of credit.
One code per business, 30 days to redeem, no card needed — enough to run a real month on your own channels.
First month of Growth on us
Try MonoChat Alongside Zoko
Start on the free plan, install Shop Assistant with its sample shop and test an AI agent on your own LLM key before you move your WhatsApp number.
One code per business • 30 days to redeem • No card needed