Pipr vs Shopify Sidekick:who each AI works for.
Sidekick is the AI assistant inside your Shopify admin. Pipr is the AI teammate that talks to your customers in Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger DMs, 24/7.
Updated October 2026
Sidekick comes with every Shopify plan and takes action in your admin: product copy, discounts, reports and store design. It works for you and your team. Pipr works with your customers: it sells and supports in your DMs, recovers carts, confirms COD orders on WhatsApp and shows what every chat earned. Most brands should use both.
- An AI that sells in your DMs 24/7
- Order status, returns and COD on WhatsApp
- Cart recovery and campaigns from real chats
- Revenue tracked to every conversation
- Help inside the Shopify admin
- Product copy, discounts, reports and store edits
- Included with your Shopify plan
Pipr vs Shopify Sidekick,side by side.
| What you need | Pipr | Shopify Sidekick |
|---|---|---|
| Who it works for | Your customers, plus your team | You and your staff, in the admin |
| Where it works | Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger DMs | Shopify admin |
| Answers from live store data | Built in | Direct access to your Shopify data |
| Talks to shoppers | 24/7, in your brand's voice | Works for merchants |
| Store edits, copy and reports | Listings add-on and store reordering, after your approval | Takes action in your admin |
| WhatsApp cart recovery and COD confirmation | Built in | No |
| Revenue tracked to each conversation | Per chat, channel and campaign | No |
| Starting price | Free, then $35/month | Included in Shopify plans |
Based on Shopify's public announcements, docs and pricing as of October 2026. Sources: Shopify: AI and Sidekick, Tenten: Shopify Sidekick 2026.
Sidekick runs your admin.Pipr runs your DMs.
It talks to your customers.
Sidekick helps the people running your store. Pipr helps the people buying from it, in the Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger chats they already use.
Answers, not tickets.
"Does it run small?", "Where's my order?", "Is COD available?" Pipr answers from your live store in seconds and hands real problems to your team.
Sales on WhatsApp.
Cart recovery, COD confirmation, order updates and campaigns on WhatsApp are built in, each sent on your approval.
Every chat has a receipt.
Pipr follows each product and cart link to the order, so you see what every conversation, channel and campaign earned.
Where Shopify Sidekick shines
Sidekick is the fastest way to get work done in Shopify. It writes product copy, sets up discounts, summarizes performance and edits your store in plain language, and recent updates added image generation and storefront changes tested on AI-simulated shoppers before you approve them. Every Shopify brand should use it.
Pricing,compared honestly.
- Free plan with 200 credits
- Pipr AI $35/month with 10,000 credits
- Listings add-on as you grow
- Comes with your Shopify plan
- Features and usage limits vary by plan
- Works in the Shopify admin, by staff permissions
Use Shopify Sidekick and Piprside by side.
Keep Sidekick for your admin.
Use it for copy, discounts, reports and store edits.
Give Pipr the DMs.
Connect Shopify, Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook, and Pipr starts answering.
Read the receipt.
Pipr shows what every conversation earned.
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Read the guide →Pipr vs Shopify Sidekick: questions
What is Shopify Sidekick?
Sidekick is Shopify's AI assistant inside the admin. It has direct access to your store data and can write product descriptions, set up discounts, summarize performance and make changes in your admin, within your staff permissions.
Is Shopify Sidekick free?
Sidekick is included with your Shopify plan. Shopify says features and usage limits vary by plan.
Can Sidekick reply to customers on Instagram or WhatsApp?
No. Sidekick works for merchants inside the Shopify admin. To answer customers in Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger DMs, you need a customer-facing agent like Pipr.
What about Shopify Inbox?
Shopify Inbox handles chat on your online store. See how it compares on our Pipr vs Shopify Inbox page.
Can I use Sidekick and Pipr together?
Yes. Use Sidekick to run your admin and Pipr to sell and support in your DMs. They do different jobs.
Is Pipr free to try?
Yes. Pipr has a free plan with 200 credits and no card needed. The Pipr AI plan is $35/month with 10,000 credits.
Will Pipr send anything without me?
No. Campaigns, offers and store changes always wait for your approval. Pipr also hands any chat it can't handle to your team with the full history.