WhatsApp next to iMessage
Cobalt pairs iMessage with SMS and MMS. Kanal runs WhatsApp on every plan, so your customers without an iPhone get a rich conversation too, from the same Shopify data and the same inbox.
Kanal vs Cobalt.
The honest comparison.
A Kanal vs Cobalt comparison for Shopify stores choosing a tool to send iMessage.
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Detailed 2026 comparison
Cobalt is an iMessage and SMS marketing platform: campaigns, flows, popups and AI replies for online stores and service businesses, priced as a monthly plan plus each message sent. Kanal is a Shopify app for WhatsApp, with iMessage, SMS and RCS from the Scale plan: cart reminders, order updates, campaigns and an AI agent, from the same Shopify data. Here is how they compare for an online store, from Cobalt's own pages read on November 6, 2026.
Kanal vs Cobalt.Side by side.
Kanal vs Cobalt for Shopify: an iMessage and SMS platform priced per plan and per message, next to a Shopify app for WhatsApp, iMessage and SMS.
Comparison
Kanal
Cobalt
Marketing and automation
Abandoned cart recovery
Automated reminders on WhatsApp, iMessage and SMS, from your Shopify carts
Abandoned cart, abandoned checkout and win-back flows that send as iMessage, with SMS for other phones
Broadcast campaigns
Campaigns to your Shopify segments, on WhatsApp and on iMessage
Campaigns to a list or a segment, sent as SMS, MMS or RCS; iMessage carries flows and conversations
AI
AI agent
AI agent from the Scale plan: answers questions and recommends products, and your team takes over in the shared inbox
Cobalt AI answers routine questions in your brand voice and hands off to your team; AI commerce conversation skills on the Pro plan
Shopify and integrations
Shopify integration
Native app installed from the Shopify App Store
Shopify page marked Coming Soon on November 6, 2026; no Cobalt listing found on the Shopify App Store
Pricing, setup and support
Pricing model
Monthly plans from €89, iMessage from the Scale plan at €149, no commitment
$199, $499 or $999 a month, plus each message: iMessage $0.010 to $0.015, SMS $0.004 to $0.007 plus carrier fees (read November 6, 2026)
Setup time
Installed from the Shopify App Store in 5 minutes
Every plan starts with a 14-day free trial, and a dedicated strategist walks your team through setup
Who it is for
Best for
Shopify stores that want WhatsApp and iMessage flows from one Shopify app
Brands that grow an SMS list and want iMessage on top of it
More
Channels
WhatsApp on every plan, with iMessage, SMS and RCS from the Scale plan
iMessage, SMS and MMS, with RCS and short codes on the Enterprise plan; no WhatsApp
Cobalt vs Nellie vs Zobi vs Kanal.iMessage tools for Shopify.
Four tools send iMessage for Shopify stores. They differ on price, on the channels next to iMessage and on who writes the messages.
| Criterion | Kanal | Cobalt | Nellie | Zobi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | KanalFrom €89 a month; iMessage, SMS and RCS from the Scale plan at €149 a month, no commitment | Cobalt$199, $499 or $999 a month, plus each message: iMessage $0.010 to $0.015, SMS $0.004 to $0.007 plus carrier fees | Nellie$1 per conversation it opens, first 200 free, no monthly fee | ZobiNo public price: you pay for the conversations it has, billed against the orders it brings in |
| Channels | KanalWhatsApp on every plan; iMessage, SMS and RCS from the Scale plan | CobaltiMessage, SMS and MMS; RCS on the Enterprise plan; no WhatsApp | NellieiMessage, WhatsApp and SMS; its site also names RCS and email | ZobiiMessage first, then RCS, SMS, WhatsApp or email |
| Shopify-native | KanalApp installed from the Shopify App Store | CobaltShopify integration marked Coming Soon on its site; no Shopify App Store listing found | NellieShopify App Store app since August 31, 2026, no reviews yet | ZobiConnects your store from its own site; no Shopify App Store listing found |
| Abandoned cart recovery | KanalAutomated reminders on WhatsApp, iMessage and SMS, from your Shopify carts | CobaltAbandoned cart, checkout and win-back flows on iMessage, with SMS for other phones | NellieIts core job: an AI agent texts shoppers who left checkout and holds the conversation | ZobiIts core job: its concierge texts abandoned checkouts under your brand name |
| Campaigns | KanalCampaigns to your Shopify segments, on WhatsApp and on iMessage | CobaltCampaigns sent as SMS, MMS or RCS; iMessage carries flows and conversations | NellieNo campaigns: Nellie texts one shopper at a time | ZobiOne-to-one conversations written by Zobi; you approve each campaign before it goes out |
| AI agent | KanalAI agent from the Scale plan; your team takes over in the shared inbox | CobaltCobalt AI answers routine questions in your brand voice and hands off to your team | NellieThe product is an AI agent; you can approve each message before it goes out | ZobiA model drafts several replies and sends the one most likely to convert |
| Setup | KanalInstalled from the Shopify App Store in 5 minutes | Cobalt14-day free trial, then a dedicated strategist walks your team through setup | NellieSet up with you on a call; Nellie says it onboards 8 stores a month | ZobiLive the same day with no setup call, according to Zobi |
Each competitor is described from its own pages and its Shopify App Store listing, read on November 6, 2026. Prices and features change: check them on each site before you decide.
Sources: Cobalt pricing, Cobalt for Shopify, Nellie on the Shopify App Store, Nellie, Zobi pricing, Zobi
Detailed comparisons: Kanal vs Nellie, Kanal vs Zobi, Kanal vs Sendblue, iMessage on Kanal
Why brands switch to Kanal.Instead of Cobalt.
On the Shopify App Store today
Kanal installs from the Shopify App Store and reads your carts, orders and customers from the first day. On November 6, 2026, Cobalt's Shopify integration page said Coming Soon.
Campaigns on iMessage too
With Kanal, a campaign to a Shopify segment can go out on iMessage, like your cart reminders. Cobalt's Shopify page says its campaigns send as SMS, MMS or RCS, with iMessage for flows and conversations.
What Shopify brands say about Kanal.
“Setting up was incredibly easy. Within 15 minutes we were sending our first recovery campaign and seeing results immediately.”
GaëtanCeo, Barz“Our customer engagement has increased by 300% since switching to WhatsApp marketing with Kanal. Best decision we made.”
AlexandreFounder, Mushngo“The AI chatbot handles 80% of our support queries automatically. Our team can now focus on what matters most.”
AbdelCEO, OdorWhen Cobalt is the better choice
Cobalt is the better choice when SMS is your main list channel and you want iMessage on top of it: dedicated toll-free or 10DLC numbers, popups and keywords to grow the list, and per-message rates published on its pricing page. It also serves service businesses, connects to tools such as Klaviyo, Gorgias, Recharge and Zendesk, and every plan starts with a 14-day free trial.
The verdict
Cobalt suits brands that want iMessage on top of an SMS list, billed per message; Kanal suits Shopify stores that want WhatsApp, iMessage and SMS flows from one Shopify app.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kanal an alternative to Cobalt?
Yes, for Shopify stores. Cobalt is an iMessage and SMS platform priced per plan and per message. Kanal is a Shopify app with cart reminders, order updates, campaigns and an AI agent on WhatsApp, with iMessage, SMS and RCS from the Scale plan.
How much does Cobalt cost?
On November 6, 2026, Cobalt's pricing page listed Growth at $199 a month, Pro at $499 and Enterprise at $999, plus each message: iMessage at $0.015, $0.013 or $0.010 and SMS at $0.007, $0.006 or $0.004, with carrier fees on SMS and MMS. Kanal plans start at €89 a month, and iMessage is included from the Scale plan at €149.
Does Cobalt work with Shopify?
Cobalt lists Shopify among its integrations, and its Shopify page describes abandoned cart, abandoned checkout and win-back flows on iMessage. On November 6, 2026, that page marked the integration as Coming Soon, and a Shopify App Store search showed no Cobalt app.