# Kanal vs Shopify Messaging: the honest comparison

A Kanal vs Shopify Messaging comparison for stores choosing how to run WhatsApp on Shopify.

Source: https://getkanal.com/alternatives/shopify-messaging

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: side by side

| Comparison | Kanal | Shopify Messaging |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Channels | WhatsApp, with RCS and SMS from the Scale plan | Email, SMS and WhatsApp |
| WhatsApp pricing | Monthly plan from €89, Meta's fees passed through at cost | Per message on your Shopify bill: $0.172 per marketing message to France and $0.106 to the UK, read on November 6, 2026 |
| WhatsApp automations | Abandoned cart, order created, shipping status, back in stock, WhatsApp keywords and incoming webhooks | Three abandonment templates on WhatsApp (product browse, cart, checkout); welcome, post-purchase and win-back automations are email only |
| Collecting opt-ins | Widget, pop-ups, QR codes and WhatsApp links; the checkout consent is not synced | A WhatsApp marketing opt-in at checkout, plus CSV import or bulk edit |
| Replies | Chat widget and shared inbox on every plan, AI agent from the Scale plan | Automated keyword replies and quick-reply buttons set in the app |
| Email | No email: keep Shopify Messaging or your email tool for it | Included: the first 10,000 emails each month are free, then from $1 per 1,000 emails |
| Setup | Installed from the Shopify App Store, with your WhatsApp number connected during onboarding | Built by Shopify; you connect a WhatsApp Business Account through Meta's Embedded Signup |
| Best for | Stores that want WhatsApp as a sales channel with full automations | Stores that send occasional WhatsApp campaigns next to Shopify email and SMS |

## Why brands switch to Kanal

### Meta's price instead of a per-message markup

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.

### WhatsApp beyond abandonment

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.

### A team inbox and an AI agent

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.

## When Shopify Messaging is the better choice

Shopify 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.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does Shopify Messaging support WhatsApp?

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.

### How much does WhatsApp cost in Shopify Messaging?

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.

### Can I use Kanal next to Shopify Messaging?

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.

## The verdict

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.