Key takeaways
We make HeyKiko, so we aren't neutral. Every fact about Tidio links to its own pages below, and we say where it's the better choice.
| What matters | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Website chat and WhatsApp | Either | Both have a website chat and WhatsApp on every plan. |
| How the AI is priced | HeyKiko | HeyKiko's plans include AI credits (2,000 AI credits from $29); Tidio's Lyro AI is an add-on from $39 a month for 50 AI conversations. |
| Free plan | Tidio | Tidio has a free plan with 50 conversations; HeyKiko has a 14-day free trial. |
| Instagram, Messenger and email | Tidio | Tidio brings all three into the same inbox; HeyKiko doesn't offer them. |
| Telegram | HeyKiko | On every HeyKiko plan; on Tidio it's on the Plus and Premium plans. |
| Voice calls | HeyKiko | HeyKiko answers WhatsApp calls (Pro and up); Tidio doesn't answer phone calls. |
| Human takeover | Either | Both on every plan. Tidio adds desktop and mobile apps; HeyKiko's inbox is in the browser. |
| Appointment booking | HeyKiko | HeyKiko books into Google Calendar; we didn't find booking on Tidio's pages. |
| Campaigns | HeyKiko | HeyKiko sends WhatsApp and email campaigns; we didn't find campaigns on Tidio's pages. |
| Ecommerce and helpdesk integrations | Tidio | Shopify order actions, and Zendesk and Salesforce on higher plans; HeyKiko has none yet. |
| Security certifications | Tidio | Tidio states SOC 2, GDPR and CCPA compliance. |
Which is cheaper, HeyKiko or Tidio?
At 250 AI conversations a month HeyKiko costs $29 and Tidio $210; at 3,000 it's $199 against Tidio's Plus plan, from $300 a month plus usage. Here is the cheapest way to get each volume on each.
| AI conversations a month | HeyKiko | Tidio |
|---|---|---|
| 250about 1,000 replies | $29Starter (2,000 credits) | $210Free plan + Lyro (300 Lyro AI conversations included) |
| 1,000about 4,000 replies | $119Growth (10,000 credits) | $700Free plan + Lyro (1,000 Lyro AI conversations included) |
| 3,000about 12,000 replies | $199Pro (20,000 credits) | CustomPlus plan, from $300 a month plus usage |
Monthly billing, before tax, for the AI alone. Tidio prices its Lyro AI per AI conversation, on top of any plan; we count it on the free plan, which includes 50 conversations handled by your team. If your team also handles more conversations, Tidio's Starter ($29 for 100) or Growth (from $59 for 250) is added on top. We count about four HeyKiko replies per conversation. Tidio offers two months free on annual billing. HeyKiko prices are our live plans in USD; see pricing for every limit.
How is the AI priced on HeyKiko and Tidio?
On HeyKiko the AI is part of the plan: each plan includes a monthly allowance of AI credits (2,000 AI credits from $29), and a normal reply uses one credit on the standard model. You can top up any time.
On Tidio, the Lyro AI agent is priced separately, per AI conversation: $39 a month for 50, $140 for 200, $350 for 500 and $700 for 1,000, with larger volumes on its Plus plan. Every Tidio account starts with 50 Lyro conversations for free, once.
Which channels do HeyKiko and Tidio work on?
Tidio brings your website chat, email, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp into one inbox, with 1,000 free WhatsApp messages per number a month and Meta's rates after that. Telegram comes with its Plus and Premium plans. We found no phone calling.
HeyKiko works on your website, WhatsApp and Telegram on every plan, and answers WhatsApp voice calls on plans with calls. It doesn't offer Instagram, Messenger or email as chat channels.
Where do their answers come from?
Tidio's Lyro learns from your support content and runs on Anthropic's Claude with Tidio's own models. Its Smart Actions can look up orders and route chats, and Lyro Connect links it to Zendesk and Salesforce on higher plans.
HeyKiko learns from your website, files, notes and product catalogue, and can check a read-only database for stock or an order's status. It shows the sources behind every answer and says so when it doesn't know.
Can a person take over the conversation?
Yes, in both, on every plan. Tidio is a live chat tool first, with desktop and mobile apps and ticketing.
HeyKiko's shared inbox runs in the browser and holds website, WhatsApp and Telegram chats in one list. Replying pauses the AI for that customer, and a customer who asks for a person is handed over automatically. Cases with approvals come with Growth and up.
Can they book appointments or send campaigns?
We didn't find appointment booking or campaigns on Tidio's pages; it focuses on support and sales chat for online stores.
HeyKiko books into Google Calendar itself and confirms in the chat, sends WhatsApp campaigns on every plan and email campaigns (Pro and up), and replies to a campaign go straight back to the agent.
How do they handle data and security?
Tidio states SOC 2, GDPR and CCPA compliance, with HIPAA on custom plans. If a SOC 2 report is a requirement, Tidio offers one today.
HeyKiko lets you decide which knowledge each group of signed-in customers can use, erase one customer's details and chats, set how long conversations are kept, and place a legal hold when everything must be kept.
HeyKiko and Tidio, feature by feature
| Feature |  HeyKiko | TTidio |
|---|---|---|
| Website chat | YesEvery plan | Yes |
| YesEvery plan | YesEvery plan | |
| Telegram | YesEvery plan | PartlyPlus and Premium |
| Instagram and Messenger | NoNot offered | Yes |
| AI answers voice calls | YesWhatsApp calls, Pro and up | NoNo phone calls |
| Shared inbox with takeover | YesEvery plan | YesEvery plan, with mobile apps |
| Books into Google Calendar | YesEvery plan | NoNot offered |
| Cases with approvals | YesGrowth and up | PartlyTicketing |
| WhatsApp campaigns | YesEvery plan | NoNot offered |
| Email campaigns | YesPro and up | NoNot offered |
| Helpdesk and CRM integrations | NoNot yet | YesShopify, Zendesk, Salesforce |
| Free trial | Yes14 days, no card | YesFree plan; 7-day trial, no card |
| Starts at, billed monthly | $292,000 AI credits | $29100 conversations; AI from $39 for 50 |
Should you choose HeyKiko or Tidio?
Tidio is the better choice if you
- Run an online store and want Shopify order lookups in the chat
- Need Instagram, Messenger and email in the same inbox as your chat
- Want to start on a free plan
- Need SOC 2, or Zendesk and Salesforce connected
HeyKiko is the better choice if you
- Want the AI included in your plan instead of paid per AI conversation
- Need Telegram on your first plan, and AI that answers WhatsApp calls
- Want appointments booked straight into Google Calendar
- Want WhatsApp and email campaigns next to your agent
- Want to try it for 14 days without a card
How to move from Tidio to HeyKiko
- Step 1
Bring your knowledge
Paste your website address into HeyKiko and upload your help articles and policies. Kiko reads them and shows what it learned.
- Step 2
Add your products
Import your product catalogue so Kiko can recommend and price products, or connect a read-only database for stock and orders.
- Step 3
Move your WhatsApp number
Disconnect the number from Tidio first, then connect it in HeyKiko with Meta's own sign-up.
- Step 4
Swap the website snippet
Replace Tidio's chat code with HeyKiko's one line, and test your common questions in the playground first.
Want help moving? Book a call and we'll set it up with you.
How we compared
We read Tidio's own pricing page, product pages and docs on 4 November 2026. HeyKiko's column comes from our live plans. Prices are monthly billing in USD before tax unless shown otherwise; both products bill differently per AI model, and both pass WhatsApp message fees through from Meta. If something here is out of date, tell us and we'll fix it.
