A Kanal vs Shopify Messaging comparison for stores choosing how to run WhatsApp on Shopify.
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Shopify Messaging, formerly Shopify Email, is Shopify's own app to send email, SMS and WhatsApp campaigns from the admin. On WhatsApp, it bills each message on your Shopify invoice and automates the three abandonment flows. Kanal is a WhatsApp app for Shopify: campaigns, automations from orders and shipping updates, a shared inbox and an AI agent, on a monthly plan with Meta's fees passed through at cost. This comparison shows where each one fits.
Kanal vs Shopify Messaging: Shopify's email, SMS and WhatsApp app, billed per message on your Shopify bill, next to a WhatsApp app with full store automations.
Shopify's price list shows $0.172 per WhatsApp marketing message to France, where Meta's rate card lists $0.0859, and $0.106 to the UK against Meta's $0.0635. Kanal passes Meta's fees through at cost, on top of a fixed monthly plan.
Shopify Messaging limits WhatsApp automations to browse, cart and checkout abandonment. Kanal also sends order confirmations, shipping updates, back in stock alerts, review requests and post-purchase offers on WhatsApp.
Every Kanal plan includes a chat widget and a shared inbox, and the AI agent on the Scale plan answers questions and recommends products, with your team taking over whenever a conversation needs a person.
“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, OdorShopify Messaging is the better choice when WhatsApp is an occasional campaign channel next to your Shopify email and SMS, and you want every message billed on your Shopify invoice with no other app to install. Its WhatsApp opt-in at checkout also makes it simple to start a subscriber list.
Shopify Messaging suits stores that send occasional WhatsApp campaigns from the Shopify admin; Kanal suits stores that want WhatsApp to sell, with full automations and Meta's prices.
Yes. Shopify's help center says Shopify Messaging sends WhatsApp marketing campaigns, and three automation templates (abandoned product browse, cart and checkout) support WhatsApp. Marketing messages cannot go to customers in the United States.
Shopify charges per message and adds it to your Shopify bill. Its price list, read on November 6, 2026, shows $0.172 per marketing message to France and $0.106 to the UK, and 1,000 free service messages per WhatsApp Business Account each month. Kanal plans start at €89 a month, with Meta's fees at cost.
Yes: you can keep Shopify Messaging for email and run WhatsApp in Kanal. A WhatsApp number works with one provider at a time, and Shopify's setup guide asks you to disconnect a number from its current provider before connecting it, so decide which tool holds your WhatsApp number.