Campaigns as well as conversations
Nellie's site says it does not send campaigns: it texts one shopper at a time. Kanal runs both, automations triggered by your store and campaigns to your Shopify segments, on WhatsApp and on iMessage.
Kanal vs Nellie.
The honest comparison.
A Kanal vs Nellie comparison for Shopify stores weighing an AI cart recovery agent against a messaging app.
5/5 on Shopify500+ brands trust us
Trusted by fast-growing brands and global retailers
Detailed 2026 comparison
Nellie is an AI sales agent for Shopify, on the Shopify App Store since August 31, 2026: it texts shoppers who leave checkout on iMessage, WhatsApp or SMS, answers their questions and can close with a discount you set, for $1 per conversation it opens. Kanal is a Shopify app for WhatsApp, with iMessage, SMS and RCS from the Scale plan: cart reminders, order updates, campaigns to your segments and an AI agent. Here is how they compare, from Nellie's own pages read on November 6, 2026.
Kanal vs Nellie.Side by side.
Kanal vs Nellie for Shopify: an AI agent that texts abandoned checkouts at $1 a conversation, next to an app for WhatsApp, iMessage, SMS and campaigns.
Comparison
Kanal
Nellie
Marketing and automation
Abandoned cart recovery
Automated reminders on WhatsApp, iMessage and SMS, from your Shopify carts
Its core job: the AI agent texts shoppers who abandon checkout and holds the conversation
Broadcast campaigns
Campaigns to your Shopify segments, on WhatsApp and on iMessage
No campaigns: Nellie texts one shopper at a time, according to its site
AI
AI agent
AI agent from the Scale plan, with your team taking over in the shared inbox
The whole product: answers sizing, stock, shipping, returns and order questions, and can send a single-use discount you set
Shopify and integrations
Shopify integration
Native app installed from the Shopify App Store
Shopify App Store app launched on August 31, 2026, with no reviews yet on November 6, 2026
Pricing, setup and support
Pricing model
Monthly plans from €89, iMessage from the Scale plan at €149, no commitment
$1 per conversation it opens, first 200 free, no monthly fee, billed on your Shopify invoice (read November 6, 2026)
Setup time
Installed from the Shopify App Store in 5 minutes
Set up with you on a call after an audit; Nellie says it onboards 8 stores a month
Who it is for
Best for
Stores that want cart recovery, order updates and campaigns in one app
Stores that want an AI agent working abandoned checkouts, paid per conversation
More
Channels
WhatsApp on every plan, with iMessage, SMS and RCS from the Scale plan
iMessage, WhatsApp and SMS on its Shopify App Store listing; its site also names RCS and email
Nellie vs Cobalt 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 Cobalt, Kanal vs Zobi, Kanal vs Sendblue, iMessage on Kanal
Why brands switch to Kanal.Instead of Nellie.
Every step after the order
Kanal sends order confirmations, shipping updates, post-purchase upsell, review requests and back in stock alerts, so the conversation that brought the cart back keeps going after the order.
A plan price, not a fee per conversation
Kanal is a monthly plan listed on its pricing page, with Meta's WhatsApp fees passed on at cost. Nellie charges $1 for each conversation it opens after the first 200, whether the shopper answers or not.
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 Nellie is the better choice
Nellie is the better choice when you want an AI agent dedicated to abandoned checkouts and shopper questions, set up with its team, and you would rather pay per conversation than a monthly plan. Its first 200 conversations are not charged, so a test on your own store costs little to run.
The verdict
Nellie suits stores that want an AI agent on abandoned checkouts, paid per conversation; Kanal suits stores that want cart recovery, order updates and campaigns on WhatsApp and iMessage in one app.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kanal an alternative to Nellie?
Yes, for Shopify stores that want more than cart recovery. Nellie is an AI agent that texts shoppers who leave checkout. Kanal runs cart reminders, order updates, campaigns and an AI agent on WhatsApp, with iMessage, SMS and RCS from the Scale plan.
How much does Nellie cost?
Nellie's Shopify App Store listing, read on November 6, 2026, shows one pay-as-you-go plan: $1 per conversation Nellie opens, with replies and follow-ups included and the first 200 conversations free. An SMS to some countries counts as 2 or 3. Kanal plans start at €89 a month.
Which channels does Nellie use?
Its Shopify App Store listing names iMessage, WhatsApp and SMS. Its site says Nellie tries iMessage first, then WhatsApp, RCS, SMS and email.