doTask vs Shopify Inbox
Shopify Inbox is Shopify's own free chat app for your online store, with an optional AI Inbox agent. doTask is a paid app with a free plan that adds WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger and email to the same inbox, plus bookings. If store chat is all you need, Shopify Inbox may be enough.
doTask, comparedWhich to choose
Choose doTask if
- Customers also message you on WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger or email, and you want one inbox.
- You want the AI to hand the conversation to a person when it should.
- You sell services or workshops and want bookings with reminders.
- You want email newsletters and automations in the same app.
Choose Shopify Inbox if
- You only need chat on your online store, and you want it free.
- You want an app built and supported by Shopify itself.
- You want AI answers personalised from a buyer's Shop account and purchase history across Shopify.
- You want an app with thousands of merchant reviews.
Side by side
| doTask | Shopify Inbox | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan. Paid USD 29, 69 or 139 a month on the Shopify App Store. | Free. |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial on paid plans. | Not needed; the app is free. |
| Made by | doTask, Kuala Lumpur. | Shopify. |
| Channels | Store chat, hosted chat page, WhatsApp, Instagram DMs, Facebook Messenger, email. | Chat on your online store. |
| AI | AI Agent answers from your pages, files, Q&A, products and policies, cites its source, and hands over. | Optional Inbox agent answers from your catalog, policies and store content; can personalise with Shop data. |
| Order lookup | Yes, with the read_orders permission and the order number plus checkout email. | Personalises using purchase history when the buyer is signed in with Shop. |
| Handover to a person | Yes, on every channel. | Staff can reply from the Inbox apps. |
| Bookings | Built in, with WhatsApp reminders (paid plans). | No. |
| Email marketing | Included; list size depends on plan. | No. |
| Mobile apps | Web dashboard inside Shopify admin. | Desktop, iOS and Android apps. |
| App Store rating (checked) | 5.0 from 1 review. | 4.5 from 5,788 reviews. |
Prices as listed on 28 September 2026, before tax. Meta's WhatsApp charges are separate on every tool; see WhatsApp API pricing in Malaysia.
What Shopify Inbox does well
Shopify Inbox is free and native. It connects to your catalog, inventory and policies on its own. Its Inbox agent can recommend products and personalise replies for buyers signed in with Shop. Staff reply from desktop, iOS and Android apps.
What doTask adds
doTask brings WhatsApp, Instagram DMs, Facebook Messenger and email into the same inbox as your store chat. Its AI Agent answers under the same rules on each channel and hands over to your team.
It also adds bookings, a help centre, WhatsApp and email broadcasts, and email marketing. You install it from the Shopify App Store, switch on the chat as an app embed, and pay on your Shopify invoice.
Costs to know
doTask's free plan has one seat and 50 AI conversations a month, with doTask branding. WhatsApp templates are billed by Meta to your own WhatsApp Business account, and doTask adds nothing.
Questions
Can I use both?
You would normally pick one chat widget for your store, since both add a chat button. doTask's chat is switched on under Online Store, Themes, Customize, App embeds.
Does Shopify Inbox support WhatsApp or Instagram?
Shopify's help pages describe chat with visitors to your online store. They do not list WhatsApp, Instagram or Messenger.
What happens to my data if I uninstall doTask?
The store's tokens are deleted on uninstall, and Shopify's customer data and erasure requests are handled automatically.
Sources
- doTask pricing · checked 28 September 2026
- doTask FAQ · checked 28 September 2026
- doTask Chatbot · checked 28 September 2026
- doTask on the Shopify App Store · checked 28 September 2026
- Shopify Inbox on the Shopify App Store · checked 28 September 2026
- Shopify Help Center: Shopify Inbox · checked 28 September 2026