Verdict · Help Desk

Tidio

A chat first support tool built around an AI agent, well suited to small online stores that live in live chat.

Tidio centers on live chat, chatbots and Lyro, an AI agent that answers common questions on its own. For small ecommerce and service sites that want a friendly chat widget and some automation, it is quick to set up and pleasant to use. Two things hold it back: the plan ladder jumps sharply from the mid tier to the top tier with little in between, and Lyro AI conversations are metered, so heavier automation use raises the bill faster than the headline price suggests.

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Reviewed by M. HALLORAN·Updated MARCH 2026·How we vet
In one line
Tidio fits a small store that wants live chat and an AI agent answering the first questions for them.
What we found

In its favour

+ Fast to install live chat and chatbots
+ Lyro AI agent resolves many routine questions
+ Clean, approachable interface for small teams
+ Free tier to test chat and basic flows
+ Good fit for small online stores

Held against it

Plan ladder jumps sharply with little in the middle
Lyro AI conversations are metered and add to cost
Lighter ticketing depth than dedicated desks
Conversation and seat caps on lower tiers
The scorecard

A friendly chat desk with a steep step at the top

Tidio scores well on ease of use and quick setup for small teams. It scores lower on value and depth, where metered AI and a steep jump to the top tier make costs harder to predict.

Scored against the same five weighted criteria we use across help desk software. See the rubric →

Ease of use 88
Features and depth 76
Value for money 78
Integrations 80
Support and onboarding 80
Buy it if you’re…

a small online store or site that wants an easy live chat widget plus an AI agent handling routine questions.

Skip it if you’re…

a team that needs deep, predictable ticketing across many channels or wants flat costs as volume grows.

What it costs

Per account / month, billed monthly

Pricing as of June 2026 · check the vendor for current pricing. Figures are per account per month; annual billing saves roughly seventeen percent. Lyro AI conversations are metered, sold as an add on from about thirty nine dollars a month, and the Plus tier starts near seven hundred forty nine dollars by quote, so the ladder jumps steeply at the top.

Free
$0
Live chat basics for a brand new site.
+Live chat widget
+Limited conversations a month
+Basic chatbots
+A small one time Lyro trial
Starter
$29
Entry plan for small support teams.
+Up to fifty billable conversations
+Email and live chat
+Basic analytics
+Flows and chatbot triggers
★ Our pick
Growth
$59
More volume and automation as you grow.
+Everything in Starter
+Higher conversation limits
+More flow triggers
+Advanced analytics
Plus
From $749
Custom volume and AI for larger operations.
+Everything in Growth
+Custom conversation limits
+Higher Lyro AI quota
+Priority support and onboarding