Shopify Sidekick and Nora: use both
Sidekick is Shopify's assistant inside your admin. Nora answers your customers and takes store jobs from WhatsApp, so the two do different work.
$75 / month · 14-day free trial
What it does
Sidekick works with you in the admin
Shopify calls Sidekick an AI-enabled commerce assistant in your Shopify admin. It analyses data, manages orders, edits products and writes content in everyday language. Source: help.shopify.com, Sidekick manual, read 15 October 2026.
Sidekick doesn't talk to customers
Shopify's set-up guide says Sidekick 'can't talk to your customers or handle customer support conversations on your behalf'. Source: help.shopify.com, Sidekick set-up, read 15 October 2026.
Nora answers your customers
Nora answers shoppers in the chat on your store and on WhatsApp. She checks the checkout email before she shares an order.
Nora takes store jobs from WhatsApp
Pair your WhatsApp once with a QR code, then send Nora jobs: ship, refund, restock, reprice or add a discount code.
How it works
Keep Sidekick for admin work
Use Sidekick in the admin for analysis, product edits and content. It comes with your Shopify plan.
Add Nora for customers and messages
Install Nora from the Shopify App Store. She covers customer conversations and the store jobs you send from WhatsApp.
Set Nora's limits
For each store action, you choose whether Nora is off, asks you first, or runs on her own.
Pricing
As of October 2026, Shopify says Sidekick is included with your Shopify plan. Features and usage limits vary by plan (shopify.com/sidekick, read 15 October 2026). Nora is a separate app with its own plan.
Standard: $75 / month. 14-day free trial.
- Unlimited AI employees
- Answers customers on WhatsApp and web chat
- Order, inventory and customer lookups
- AI included, or bring your own key
All charges are billed in USD. Recurring and usage-based charges are billed every 30 days.
FAQ
Should I switch from Sidekick to Nora?
No. Sidekick is your assistant in the admin, and Shopify says it doesn't talk to customers. Nora covers customer chat and WhatsApp, so you can use both.
Can Sidekick answer my customers?
Shopify's own set-up guide says it can't talk to customers or handle support conversations for you.
Can Nora answer my customers?
Yes. She answers in the chat on your store and on WhatsApp, from the same store data.
Can I run my store from WhatsApp with Sidekick?
Shopify lists Sidekick in the admin on desktop, mobile and tablet, and on Apple Watch by voice. It doesn't list WhatsApp. Nora runs store jobs from WhatsApp.
Does Nora change my theme?
No. Nora does not edit theme files or redesign your store.
What does each cost?
As of October 2026, Sidekick is included with your Shopify plan. Nora is one plan: $75 a month, with a 14-day free trial.
Sources
- Shopify Sidekick product page: https://www.shopify.com/sidekick (read 15 Oct 2026)
- Shopify help pages, Sidekick: https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/ai-powered-tools/sidekick (read 15 Oct 2026)
- Shopify help pages, Sidekick set-up: https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/ai-powered-tools/sidekick/set-up (read 15 Oct 2026)
- Nora facts from the Nora Shopify App Store listing and Nora's product documentation, checked 15 Oct 2026.