One app for every phone
iMessage reaches customers on Apple devices. With Kanal, customers on other phones hear from you on WhatsApp or by SMS, from the same Shopify data and the same inbox.
Kanal vs Zobi.
The honest comparison.
A Kanal vs Zobi comparison for Shopify stores choosing how to reach shoppers on iMessage.
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Detailed 2026 comparison
Zobi is a done-for-you texting service for Shopify brands: its concierge reads the abandoned cart, writes the message and handles the replies, mostly on iMessage, and the store pays as it sells. Kanal is an app you run yourself: cart reminders, order updates, campaigns and an AI agent on iMessage, WhatsApp and SMS, from the same Shopify data. This comparison shows where each one fits.
Kanal vs Zobi.Side by side.
Kanal vs Zobi for Shopify: a done-for-you iMessage cart recovery service paid on sales, next to an app that runs iMessage, WhatsApp and SMS flows.
Comparison
Kanal
Zobi
Marketing and automation
Abandoned cart recovery
Automated reminder with the product and a button to finish the order
The core use case: abandoned checkouts texted under your brand name
Pricing, setup and support
Pricing model
Monthly subscription from €89, with Meta's WhatsApp fees on top
Paid as it sells: no seats, no retainer, no monthly contract, according to Zobi
Who it is for
Best for
Stores that want to run every messaging flow from one app
Stores that want cart recovery handled for them and paid on results
More
Channels
WhatsApp on every plan, with iMessage, SMS and RCS from the Scale plan
iMessage first, with RCS, SMS, WhatsApp and email when iMessage is not available
How it works
An app: you choose the flows, the wording and the segments
A service: its concierge writes the messages and handles replies, and you approve campaigns before they go out
Shopify connection
Installed from the Shopify App Store
Connects to your Shopify store, live the same day according to Zobi
After the order
Order confirmation, shipping and delivery updates, upsell, review requests, back in stock alerts
Replies, reorders and upsells in one ongoing conversation per customer
Replies
An AI agent answers, and your team takes over in a shared inbox
The concierge answers; Zobi says a model drafts several replies and sends the one most likely to convert
Zobi vs Cobalt vs Nellie vs Kanal.iMessage tools for Shopify.
Four tools send iMessage for Shopify stores. They differ on price, on the channels next to iMessage and on who writes the messages.
| Criterion | Kanal | Cobalt | Nellie | Zobi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | KanalFrom €89 a month; iMessage, SMS and RCS from the Scale plan at €149 a month, no commitment | Cobalt$199, $499 or $999 a month, plus each message: iMessage $0.010 to $0.015, SMS $0.004 to $0.007 plus carrier fees | Nellie$1 per conversation it opens, first 200 free, no monthly fee | ZobiNo public price: you pay for the conversations it has, billed against the orders it brings in |
| Channels | KanalWhatsApp on every plan; iMessage, SMS and RCS from the Scale plan | CobaltiMessage, SMS and MMS; RCS on the Enterprise plan; no WhatsApp | NellieiMessage, WhatsApp and SMS; its site also names RCS and email | ZobiiMessage first, then RCS, SMS, WhatsApp or email |
| Shopify-native | KanalApp installed from the Shopify App Store | CobaltShopify integration marked Coming Soon on its site; no Shopify App Store listing found | NellieShopify App Store app since August 31, 2026, no reviews yet | ZobiConnects your store from its own site; no Shopify App Store listing found |
| Abandoned cart recovery | KanalAutomated reminders on WhatsApp, iMessage and SMS, from your Shopify carts | CobaltAbandoned cart, checkout and win-back flows on iMessage, with SMS for other phones | NellieIts core job: an AI agent texts shoppers who left checkout and holds the conversation | ZobiIts core job: its concierge texts abandoned checkouts under your brand name |
| Campaigns | KanalCampaigns to your Shopify segments, on WhatsApp and on iMessage | CobaltCampaigns sent as SMS, MMS or RCS; iMessage carries flows and conversations | NellieNo campaigns: Nellie texts one shopper at a time | ZobiOne-to-one conversations written by Zobi; you approve each campaign before it goes out |
| AI agent | KanalAI agent from the Scale plan; your team takes over in the shared inbox | CobaltCobalt AI answers routine questions in your brand voice and hands off to your team | NellieThe product is an AI agent; you can approve each message before it goes out | ZobiA model drafts several replies and sends the one most likely to convert |
| Setup | KanalInstalled from the Shopify App Store in 5 minutes | Cobalt14-day free trial, then a dedicated strategist walks your team through setup | NellieSet up with you on a call; Nellie says it onboards 8 stores a month | ZobiLive the same day with no setup call, according to Zobi |
Each competitor is described from its own pages and its Shopify App Store listing, read on November 6, 2026. Prices and features change: check them on each site before you decide.
Sources: Cobalt pricing, Cobalt for Shopify, Nellie on the Shopify App Store, Nellie, Zobi pricing, Zobi
Detailed comparisons: Kanal vs Cobalt, Kanal vs Nellie, Kanal vs Sendblue, iMessage on Kanal
Why brands switch to Kanal.Instead of Zobi.
You decide what goes out
You pick the flows, the wording, the segments and the timing. The AI agent answers within your rules, and your team steps in whenever a conversation needs a person.
A cost you can plan
Kanal is a fixed monthly subscription, listed on its pricing page. Your messaging cost does not move with the revenue of each month.
What Shopify brands say about Kanal.
“Setting up was incredibly easy. Within 15 minutes we were sending our first recovery campaign and seeing results immediately.”
GaëtanCeo, Barz“Our customer engagement has increased by 300% since switching to WhatsApp marketing with Kanal. Best decision we made.”
AlexandreFounder, Mushngo“The AI chatbot handles 80% of our support queries automatically. Our team can now focus on what matters most.”
AbdelCEO, OdorWhen Zobi is the better choice
Zobi is the better choice when you do not want to run messaging yourself. If you would rather hand abandoned checkouts to a team that writes and answers every message for you, with nothing to set up and a cost tied to the sales it brings, Zobi's model fits that need.
The verdict
Zobi suits stores that want cart recovery done for them and paid on sales; Kanal suits stores that want iMessage, WhatsApp and SMS flows in one app they control.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kanal an alternative to Zobi?
Yes, for Shopify stores that want to run their own messaging. Zobi is a service that writes and answers messages for you, mostly on iMessage. Kanal is an app with cart reminders, order updates, campaigns and an AI agent on iMessage, WhatsApp and SMS.
Which channels does Zobi use?
Zobi's site presents iMessage as the primary channel, with RCS, SMS, WhatsApp and email used when iMessage is not available.
How does Zobi charge?
Zobi says you only pay as it sells, with no seats, no retainer and no monthly contract. Its brand page lists no price, so ask Zobi for the rate that applies to your store. Kanal plans start at €89 a month, and iMessage is included from the Scale plan at €149.