Smooch (Sunshine Conversations) vs Tidio
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Smooch (Sunshine Conversations) | Tidio |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $115/seat/mo | From $98/mo |
| Best For | Existing Zendesk customers needing omnichannel messaging | Small ecommerce businesses on Shopify needing live chat and basic automation |
| Standout Feature | Deep integration with Zendesk ecosystem | Lyro AI chatbot with strong ecommerce query resolution |
| Free Plan | ✗ | ✓ |
| G2 Rating | 4.2 | 4.7/5 |
Smooch (Sunshine Conversations) and Tidio represent two different philosophies in customer messaging. Smooch focuses on developer-friendly conversation APIs and enterprise integrations, while Tidio emphasizes ease of use with built-in live chat and chatbot features.
With Smooch's G2 rating of 4.2/5 and Tidio's 4.7/5, both platforms have proven track records, but serve different market segments and use cases.
Feature Comparison
Smooch excels in API-first architecture, offering extensive conversation APIs that developers can integrate into existing systems. It supports WhatsApp Business API, Facebook Messenger, and custom channels through webhooks.
Tidio provides a complete customer service suite with live chat, chatbots, email integration, and visitor tracking. Its visual chatbot builder requires no coding, making it accessible to non-technical teams.
Smooch's strength lies in flexibility and customization, while Tidio focuses on immediate deployment and user-friendly interfaces.
Pricing Comparison
Smooch uses per-agent pricing from $19-$99/month per agent, making it expensive for larger teams but reasonable for specialized use cases requiring API access.
Tidio offers more flexible pricing from free (up to 3 agents) to $749/month for enterprise features. Their Starter plan at $29/month includes up to 15 agents for live chat, making it cost-effective for growing teams.
For a 10-agent team, Smooch could cost $190-$990/month while Tidio ranges from $29-$749/month depending on features needed.
Smooch (Sunshine Conversations)
Pros
- ✓ Strong Zendesk integration
- ✓ Good channel coverage
- ✓ Mature platform
Cons
- ✗ Per-agent pricing gets expensive
- ✗ Complex setup process
- ✗ Limited customization options
Tidio
Pros
- ✓ Excellent Shopify and ecommerce integrations
- ✓ Lyro AI chatbot is effective
- ✓ Easy setup with no coding required
Cons
- ✗ Conversation-based pricing can get expensive
- ✗ No native Telegram or Zalo support
- ✗ AI features (Lyro) cost extra
Verdict
Choose Smooch if you need robust API capabilities and complex integrations for enterprise messaging workflows. Choose Tidio if you want an all-in-one solution with excellent user experience and comprehensive free tier.
Choose Smooch if: You need API-first messaging, complex integrations, or are building custom conversation experiences into your product.
Choose Tidio if: You want immediate setup, visual chatbot building, and cost-effective scaling for customer support teams.
For teams seeking a middle ground with transparent pricing, Converge offers comprehensive customer messaging at $49/month flat rate, combining ease of use with powerful features.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Smooch (Sunshine Conversations) comparisons and all Tidio comparisons.