The Zoko alternative that goes beyond the catalog
Zoko is a commerce-first WhatsApp platform built tightly around Shopify. Teams comparing alternatives usually want stronger AI on their own content, team-inbox depth beyond commerce, or coverage for what happens after the sale — deliveries, exceptions, and support.
Hatchium AI vs Zoko
Capability by capability. Green = included, amber = limited or extra cost, red = not offered.
| Hatchium AI | Zoko | |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp message rates | Meta's rates, 0% markup, no per-conversation platform fee on any plan |
Meta's rates; entry plan adds a $0.015/conversation platform fee |
| AI assistant on your content | Trained on documents, website, policies, and live catalog |
Commerce flows and broadcasts first; limited knowledge-base AI |
| Delivery-exception automation | Built in |
Not offered |
| COD order verification | Included with auto-cancel |
Included |
| Abandoned cart recovery | Included, policy-compliant templates |
Included |
| Team inbox with departments | Queues, department picker, workload balancing, CSAT |
Shared inbox, commerce-focused |
| Voice calling | Browser calling with AI summaries |
Not offered |
| Multiple WhatsApp numbers | Included under one login |
One number per account |
| Beyond-Shopify use cases | Industry packs included |
Built for stores |
| Bring your own AI key | Yes |
No |
Competitor details reflect public information as of August 2026 and may change — always confirm current terms with the vendor.
Two Very Different Bills
What the invoice actually looks like on each platform
What You Actually Pay on Zoko
- Starter around $49.99/mo plus a $0.015 per-conversation platform fee; higher plans (~$79.99 and ~$139.99/mo) remove the per-conversation fee within fair-use limits
- Pricing is Shopify-commerce-centric; inbox and AI depth are secondary to catalog and campaign tooling
One Plan, Meta's Rates, Nothing Hidden
- Monthly plan with live pricing on the site — the number you see is the number checkout charges
- WhatsApp messages at Meta's official rates with 0% markup, funded from a transparent credit wallet
- AI usage in clear credit packs — top up only when you need to
- No per-contact caps, no per-number hosting fees, no paid Shopify add-on
Where Zoko Is Strong
An honest comparison beats a sales pitch. Credit where it's due:
- Deep Shopify catalog integration — sync products and sell directly inside WhatsApp
- Simple, predictable pricing on the higher plans
- Focused commerce feature set that is easy to adopt for a store
If those are your deciding factors, Zoko may serve you well. If AI depth, honest message pricing, and post-sale automation matter more — try Hatchium AI side by side.
Switching from Zoko: Common Questions
Is Hatchium AI a good Zoko alternative for Shopify stores?
Yes — the Shopify essentials (cart recovery, COD verification, order status in chat, review collection, returns) are all included, and Hatchium AI adds what Zoko does not cover: delivery-exception automation with your courier, an AI assistant grounded in your store's own policies, and a full team inbox with departments.
Does Hatchium AI charge per conversation like Zoko's Starter plan?
No. There is no per-conversation platform fee on any Hatchium AI plan — you pay your monthly plan plus Meta's own WhatsApp rates with no markup.
Can Hatchium AI sell products inside WhatsApp like Zoko?
The assistant shares live products with images, prices, and links from your synced catalog, and checkout completes on your store. If your priority is a full in-WhatsApp catalog checkout experience, that is Zoko's specialty today.
What if my business is not a Shopify store?
Hatchium AI ships industry packs beyond commerce — education, clinics, healthcare directories, restaurants, and API-first businesses — where Zoko is built specifically for stores.
Try it next to Zoko
7-day free trial, no credit card. Keep your number — WhatsApp Business numbers migrate with you, and we help with the move.