The Best Shopify Apps to Automate Customer Support and Save Time
Running a Shopify store is a rewarding challenge, but it can often feel like you're running a 24/7 helpdesk. Repetitive customer questions about shipping, returns, and products can fill your inbox, stealing time away from the tasks that actually grow your business.
The solution isn't to work harder—it's to work smarter. By leveraging the power of automation, you can provide instant, high-quality support to your customers while freeing up hours of your time each week. Here are our top picks for the best Shopify apps to help you do just that.
The Top Customer Support Automation Apps for Shopify
1. SmartFAQs.io
Best for: Proactive & Automated FAQ Pages
The best way to handle a support ticket is to prevent it from ever being created. SmartFAQs.io is an essential first line of defense. Instead of you manually writing out answers, this app uses AI to automatically scan your products and store policies to generate a comprehensive, SEO-friendly FAQ page in minutes. It's the ultimate "set it and forget it" tool for answering common questions before they hit your inbox.
2. Gorgias
Best for: All-in-One Helpdesk & Live Chat
Gorgias is a powerhouse helpdesk built specifically for e-commerce. It centralizes all your customer communications—email, social media, live chat—into one dashboard. Its automation magic comes from "Macros" (canned responses for common questions) and "Rules" that can automatically tag, assign, or even respond to tickets. For instance, it can auto-reply to "Where is my order?" questions with real-time shipping info.
3. Tidio
Best for: AI-Powered Chatbots
Live chat is great, but you can't be online 24/7. Tidio solves this with powerful and easy-to-use chatbots. You can set up automated flows to greet visitors, answer common questions, offer discounts, and qualify leads even while you sleep. Their visual editor makes building a custom chatbot simple, no coding required. It's perfect for engaging customers instantly and automating initial conversations.
4. AfterShip Returns Center
Best for: Automating Product Returns
Processing returns and exchanges is one of the most time-consuming support tasks. AfterShip Returns Center automates the entire process. It provides your store with a branded, self-service returns portal where customers can submit requests based on the rules you set. It reduces back-and-forth emails and makes a potentially negative experience smooth and professional for your customers.
Your First Step to a Quieter Inbox
While all these apps are fantastic, the simplest and most impactful place to start is by answering questions before they're even asked. An intelligent FAQ page reduces the workload for all your other support channels.