10 Best WATI alternatives and competitors in 2023

March 01, 2023

For customer care, Shopify firms frequently employ WATI, a shared WhatsApp inbox application. However, if you're seeking for WATI alternatives before making a final selection, you've come to the right place! We tested dozens of shared inbox applications and compiled a list of the top 10 WATI alternatives to consider for your customer service needs. Before we get started, let's have a look at WATI and the characteristics that make it ideal for ecommerce firms.

What is WATI?

Clare.ai owns WATI, a WhatsApp Business Solutions Provider (BSP) and customer support solution. Customers can use their shared inbox tool for customer assistance and apply for the WhatsApp Business API through them.It also has a chatbot builder that doesn't require any coding to automate client responses and establish conversation flows. WATI is a wonderful customer support tool for B2C enterprises of all sizes if you only need to answer to customers on WhatsApp.

Pros:

Initial setup is simple: After gaining access to the WhatsApp API, the support team takes care of the rest.
Excellent assistance: Each step of the onboarding process is aided by the support team.
Team structure management: Using WATI's team and user administration features, you can construct team structures.
Chatbots and conversation flows: Create chatbots and conversation flows to expedite responses to common questions and provide immediate solutions.

Cons:

Only works with WhatsApp: If you want to help clients on any other platform, you'll have to buy a separate CRM tool.
The default chatbot is simple: It just replies to keywords and is unable to carry on a conversation. You must pay an extra $49 monthly cost for the flow builder.

Top WATI alternatives for your business

While WATI is great for businesses who support customers only on WhatsApp, this is also one of the limitations of WATI. If you’re like many businesses who also support customers on different platforms, you may have to look for another solution that helps.

1. kwiqreply.io

kwiqreply is a great Wati alternative which has features like shared inbox, bulk sender tool, and more that is built on the official WhatsApp Business API.

Features:

WhatsApp verified business profile
WhatsApp bulk sender
CRM contacts management
AI powered chatbot
Multi agent shared inbox
WhatsApp chat widget
Spin to win widget

Pros:

Economic pricing which can help small companies to use kwiqreply
Easy to use interface
Provides free trial for new users
Integrations with shopify, WooCommerce, web engage etc.
Customers can create their own chat widget
Unlimited Agents

Cons:

Limited Monthly Unique contacts

2. Helpwise.io

Helpwise enables you to manage all of your support channels from one location. You can quickly work with your team and consumers from the same dashboard thanks to shared inboxes for email, SMS, WhatsApp, live chat, and social media accounts.

Pros:

Integrates main customer service channels such as Facebook, Twitter, emails, WhatsApp, and SMS.
Zapier, Hubspot, Slack, Shopify, and other services are integrated.
Collaboration with a team on the screen.
Create workflows to automate tasks using automation rules.
Create an internal assistance centre for new members of the support staff.
You can monitor email traffic, critical metrics, and team performance From your account dashboard.

Cons:

Unlike other shared inbox applications, Helpwise does not allow you to browse all shared inboxes on a single screen. For those searching for a true "shared inbox" experience, this can be a deal-breaker.
Customers who connect using channels other than those supported by Helpwise are unable to receive support.
The mobile app is currently in its infancy, and it lacks many of the capabilities that the online app does.

3. MessageBird.com

MessageBird powers communication between businesses and their customers — across any channel, always with the right context, and on every corner of the planet. If people ever ordered takeaway, returned a package, contacted customer service or requested a login code, it’s almost guaranteed that the interactions have been powered by MessageBird's technology. their products, tools and omnichannel solutions are building blocks that help businesses streamline conversations through their customer's preferred channels — like SMS, Voice, WhatsApp, WeChat, Messenger, Instagram, Email and more. This versatility gives end consumers instant, safe and secure access to information they need.

Pros:

It provides thorough documentation for the APIs and integrations that are supported.
SMS capabilities are available in the CRM, which is a benefit for individuals searching for text messaging.
With the conversation flow builder, people may automate a portion of the client discussions.

Cons:

Customer service is slower than you'd anticipate, and responses are usually delayed by 24 hours.
It could use some UI/UX upgrades because it's easy to get lost when its first started
Because the deliverability is lower than competitors', customers may miss communications.

4. FrontApp.com

Frontapp is a collaborative team inbox that collects emails and messages from various sources.

It has a wide range of integrations, including Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Email, as well as prominent business tools. It's designed with collaboration in mind for small and medium businesses. However, when compared to other tools on this list, it is fairly pricey, and it may not be suitable for your needs if you're searching for a low-cost shared inbox.

Pros:

On-boarding is quick and may be completed in two days.
Many app and business tool integrations are supported.
A simple UI/UX with a short learning curve.
Allows you to snooze emails, making prioritisation easier.
Automation is possible using rules and complex workflow templates.

Cons:

There have been numerous complaints concerning customer service.
Even if you have a small workforce, the cost is prohibitively expensive.
To look for prepared responses, you'll need to know the keywords.

5. Trengo.com

One of the well-known helpdesk tools on the list is Trengo. It's a pricey piece of software with minimal upfront prices that rise as you add more addons to your shared inbox. However, their pricing is offset by a well-designed user interface and a large number of integrations. Trengo may be a good fit for your company depending on your budget and feature requirements.It also enables you to combine Email, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, SMS, voice, live chat, and a variety of other applications into a single interface.

Pros:

Excellent user interface that makes it easier for new users to get started.
For a seamless experience, all inboxes are in one place and can be readily viewed.
It is possible to create an online support centre for internal use.
With the Scale and Enterprise plans, internal team cooperation is possible.

Cons:

Customers may have to repeat their complaints regarding a previously closed ticket because it is impossible to see the history of closed tickets.
Expenses can skyrocket if you don't keep track of which features/add-ons are being used.
Microsoft office 365 connection is not accessible in Trengo, which can be a deal breaker for companies who rely on Outlook or other Microsoft products.

6. Twilio Flex

Twilio is a well-known messaging and WhatsApp Business API provider.

It was created with developers in mind, making their lives easier and providing comprehensive documentation for their APIs.

Twilio also has a Flex Cloud Contact Center platform that allows you to mix phone, SMS, WhatsApp, live chat, and a variety of additional channels for a unified customer support experience.

The Flex app is expandable, with features that may be added or removed based on business needs.

Pricing: $1 per user per hour or $150 per user per month

Pros:

Pay-as-you-go pricing is ideal for small businesses since it allows you to get your work done at a cheaper cost.
Developer-oriented
The process of monitoring SMS and call status is seamless.

Cons:

To get started, you'll need some technical knowledge.
Slower customer support
Deliverability suffers when you mass send messages or emails
Costs can skyrocket as you scale up since there is no fixed pricing

7. Freshdesk

Freshdesk is designed for companies of all kinds, from small businesses to major organisations.

Freshdesk's UI is recognizable, and users will pick up on it easily. It is owned by Freshworks, one of the leading companies in this sector.

The platform is well-established and may be well-suited to larger businesses. While their free tier is adequate for most small firms, the higher tiers, which include more advanced features, can be costly.

Basic omnichannel inbox is $79 per agent per month, payable annually.

Pros:

Mature and Familiar Interface for an Easy Transistion
The omnichannel helpdesk can include email, social media, chat, and phone channels.
Teamwork that is seamless
Bots are used to respond to basic questions before they are sent to the support team.

Cons:

Can be difficult to integrate with the website.
Individual API integrations are priced individually so the costs can go higher as you add more integrations
Mobile app is slow
Team collaboration needs improvements with features like mentions and tagging to notify them

8. Interakt

Interakt is one of the most cost-effective official WhatsApp Business Solution Providers (BSPs) on the market.

It has a shared WhatsApp inbox, so your entire team can get online to help with customer service. On the admin dashboard, it also provides automated order alerts to users and good contact management.

Pricing: INR 999 per month for unlimited logins or $15 per month for unlimited logins.

Pros:

In comparison to other carriers, the pricing is really reasonable.
Customers are instantly connected using WhatsApp via a shared team inbox and a live chat widget.
Pulls order information from Shopify and WooCommerce and displays them on the chat screen.

Cons:

Support for other channels is often lacking, which can be a deal breaker.

9. TimelinesAI

TimelinesAI is a well-known shared WhatsApp inbox that enables your team to manage several WhatsApp business numbers from a single dashboard. It's great for teams that contact with clients frequently through various channels over a lengthy period of time and want to retain all of that information in one place, shared, and accessible to all team members.

Pricing: $25/month for 1 WhatsApp number and 5 team members, payable annually.

Pros:

From the same interface, you may manage and collaborate with other team members.
TimelinesAI allows you to add numerous WhatsApp numbers if you have them.
All of your conversations are saved in the cloud.
Zapier allows you to connect to existing CRM tools.

Cons:

Only works with WhatsApp and does not interface with other applications.
The expense of using Timelines can rise as your team increases.
For users on the business plan, all customizations are disabled.

10. Zoko

Zoko is a team-based WhatsApp inbox that allows you to share your WhatsApp Business number with the rest of your team. Zoko has rather simple capabilities, but if that's all you need to get your customer service up and running, it could be the perfect choice for you. Monthly pricing is $24.99 for 500 unique customers.

Pros:

If you stay within their chat restrictions, the pricing structure is reasonable.
Supports in-chat buttons and is simple to set up.
Depending on the type of enquiry, customer support messages might be assigned to other team members.
Can construct WhatsApp chatbots that allow users to respond to bot messages using a set of keywords to acquire the information they want.

Cons:

It's really simple in terms of functionality because it's solely focused on WhatsApp.
There are no integrations.
If you have too many back-and-forth messages with your clients, your costs may rise.

We hope that our study has assisted you in determining the best WATI alternative for your company.

At kwiqreply, we help you fully leverage the features of the WhatsApp Business API for your organization. kwiqreply is a trusted WhatsApp Business Solution Provider that has helped companies scale up their sales and customer satisfaction. It brings you tried and tested features like bulk messaging, custom message templates, quick response message buttons, etc. Combined with WhatsApp’s capability for media-rich messages, you can send visually appealing messages and gather valuable insights for your business.

So, seize the opportunity, leverage WhatsApp's potential, and propel your business toward sustainable growth and success! Learn more about WhatsApp Business API’s features by checking out our website today!

Click here to book a free demo and let us show you how you can do more business with WhatsApp.