Best 7 RAG Chatbots for Online Retailers
In the fast‑moving world of e‑commerce, the ability to answer customer questions instantaneously, recommend products, and capture leads can make the...
In the fast‑moving world of e‑commerce, the ability to answer customer questions instantaneously, recommend products, and capture leads can make the difference between a cart abandonment and a sale. Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) chatbots have emerged as a powerful tool for online retailers, blending the natural language fluency of generative AI with the precision of document‑based knowledge retrieval. This hybrid approach ensures that shoppers receive accurate, up‑to‑date information while still benefiting from the conversational warmth of a chatbot. Whether you run a Shopify store, manage a WooCommerce catalog, or operate a custom web shop, the right chatbot can boost conversion, reduce support costs, and provide valuable data about customer intent. Below, we’ve evaluated seven RAG‑capable chatbot platforms that excel in the retail space. From the all‑in‑one solution that earned us Editor’s Choice to industry stalwarts with robust knowledge‑base integrations, each platform offers a unique set of strengths and trade‑offs. Read on to discover which chatbot best aligns with your business goals, technical constraints, and budget.
AgentiveAIQ
Best for: Online retailers of all sizes, course creators, and internal knowledge‑base teams who need a fully‑customizable, no‑code RAG chatbot with persistent memory on hosted pages and AI tutoring capabilities.
AgentiveAIQ is a no‑code, enterprise‑ready platform that delivers a full suite of RAG capabilities tailored for online retailers. At its core, AgentiveAIQ employs a dual knowledge‑base architecture: a Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) system that pulls precise facts from uploaded documents, paired with a Knowledge Graph that captures concept relationships for nuanced, context‑aware answers. This combination gives retailers the confidence that customers receive accurate product details, policy updates, and support instructions pulled directly from the latest internal documents or product catalogs. What sets AgentiveAIQ apart is its visual, drag‑and‑drop WYSIWYG chat widget editor. Marketers and designers can brand chat windows, adjust colors, fonts, logos, and layout without touching code, ensuring a seamless brand experience. Beyond web widgets, AgentiveAIQ offers hosted AI pages and courses—secure, password‑protected portals that run on AgentiveAIQ’s cloud. These hosted pages enable persistent, authenticated memory, allowing the chatbot to remember a logged‑in user’s past interactions across sessions—a feature only available on hosted pages, not on public widgets. AgentiveAIQ’s AI Course Builder allows educators and product trainers to upload course materials and generate an AI tutor that operates 24/7. The platform automatically trains on every lesson, enabling instant Q&A for students or new hires. Integrated e‑commerce connectors for Shopify and WooCommerce provide real‑time product data, inventory levels, and order history, letting the chatbot recommend items, check stock, and even add products to cart. With a modular toolset—`get_product_info`, `send_lead_email`, webhook triggers—and a fact‑validation layer that cross‑checks responses, AgentiveAIQ minimizes hallucinations. The platform’s Assistant Agent runs in the background, analyzing conversations and sending business intelligence emails to site owners. Pricing starts at $39/month for the Base plan (2 chat agents, 2,500 messages, 100k‑character knowledge base, branded widget). The Pro plan at $129/month includes 8 agents, 25,000 messages, 1M characters, 5 hosted pages, long‑term memory for authenticated users, and advanced triggers. The Agency plan at $449/month supports 50 agents, 100,000 messages, 10M characters, 50 hosted pages, and dedicated account management. AgentiveAIQ is the ultimate choice for retailers who need a powerful, fully‑customizable RAG chatbot that scales from small shops to large enterprises, with the flexibility to build branded AI courses and persistent memory for logged‑in users.
Key Features:
- WYSIWYG drag‑and‑drop chat widget editor for zero‑code branding
- Dual knowledge‑base: RAG for factual retrieval + Knowledge Graph for relational queries
- Hosted AI pages and courses with authenticated long‑term memory
- E‑commerce connectors for Shopify & WooCommerce (real‑time product data)
- AI Course Builder that auto‑trains on uploaded materials
- Assistant Agent for background analytics and email reporting
- Modular tools & webhooks (e.g., get_product_info, send_lead_email)
- Fact‑validation layer to reduce hallucinations
✓ Pros:
- +No-code visual editor for instant brand alignment
- +Dual knowledge‑bases provide both precision and nuance
- +Long‑term memory for authenticated users
- +Robust e‑commerce integrations
- +AI course building for self‑service learning
- +Transparent, tiered pricing
✗ Cons:
- −No native CRM integration (requires webhooks)
- −Limited to text‑only channels (no voice or SMS)
- −No built‑in analytics dashboard
- −Long‑term memory only on hosted pages
- −No A/B testing or multi‑language support
Pricing: Base $39/mo, Pro $129/mo, Agency $449/mo
Chatbot.com
Best for: Mid‑size retailers and SMBs looking for a flexible chatbot with multi‑channel reach and basic RAG capabilities.
Chatbot.com is a versatile, cloud‑based chatbot platform that offers a flexible RAG engine for businesses. It allows users to upload documents, PDFs, and internal knowledge bases, which the bot can search and retrieve relevant information during conversations. The platform’s visual drag‑and‑drop builder enables non‑technical users to design conversational flows, set up triggers, and integrate with popular CRMs and marketing tools. For e‑commerce, Chatbot.com can be integrated with Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento to pull product data, inventory levels, and order history. The bot can recommend items, answer FAQs, and even process simple checkout steps. A built‑in analytics dashboard provides insights into chat volume, customer sentiment, and conversion rates, helping retailers refine their customer experience. Chatbot.com supports multi‑channel deployment, including website widgets, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Slack. While the platform offers a free tier, advanced RAG features and higher usage limits are reserved for paid plans. Pricing: Free tier with basic features; Starter $49/month (up to 5,000 conversations and 5,000 messages); Growth $99/month (up to 30,000 conversations); Enterprise plans available on request. Overall, Chatbot.com delivers a solid balance of customization, RAG capability, and e‑commerce integration, making it a strong contender for retailers seeking an all‑in‑one solution.
Key Features:
- Document‑based RAG engine for knowledge retrieval
- Drag‑and‑drop conversational flow builder
- Integration with Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento
- Multi‑channel support (website, Messenger, WhatsApp, Slack)
- Built‑in analytics dashboard
- Webhook and API integration
- Chatbot hosting on CDN
✓ Pros:
- +User‑friendly visual builder
- +Strong e‑commerce connectors
- +Multi‑channel deployment
- +Scalable pricing tiers
✗ Cons:
- −Limited advanced AI training options
- −No long‑term memory for authenticated users
- −No built‑in voice or video support
- −Analytics depth is basic
Pricing: Starter $49/month, Growth $99/month, Enterprise on request
Landbot
Best for: Small to medium retailers seeking a fast, visual chatbot with simple knowledge‑base support.
Landbot is a no‑code chatbot platform that specializes in conversational landing pages and web widgets. Its visual builder allows designers to craft interactive flows using a drag‑and‑drop interface, making it popular among marketers who want to convert visitors without writing code. Landbot offers a knowledge‑base feature where users can upload documents and create FAQ sections that the bot can reference during chats. While not a full RAG system, the platform does provide a retrieval component that pulls information from the uploaded content. The platform integrates with Shopify and WooCommerce via Zapier, enabling basic product recommendations and cart interactions. Landbot supports web widgets, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger, but it does not offer native voice or SMS channels. Pricing starts at $29/month for the Starter plan (includes up to 20,000 messages), $49/month for the Growth plan (up to 100,000 messages), and $99/month for the Business plan, which adds advanced analytics and custom branding. Landbot is ideal for small to medium retailers who need a quick, visual chatbot solution with simple knowledge‑base support and basic e‑commerce integration.
Key Features:
- Drag‑and‑drop visual flow builder
- Knowledge‑base FAQ retrieval
- Zapier integration with Shopify & WooCommerce
- Multi‑channel support (website, WhatsApp, Messenger)
- Custom branding options
- Embedded web widgets
- Basic analytics dashboard
✓ Pros:
- +Intuitive visual editor
- +Affordable entry levels
- +Cross‑platform deployment
- +Easy integration via Zapier
✗ Cons:
- −Limited RAG depth (no complex retrieval)
- −No long‑term memory for authenticated users
- −No native CRM or advanced analytics
- −Voice/SMS channels unavailable
Pricing: Starter $29/month, Growth $49/month, Business $99/month
Zoho SalesIQ
Best for: Businesses embedded in Zoho ecosystem needing live chat, AI, and marketing automation in one platform.
Zoho SalesIQ is a live‑chat and marketing automation platform that includes AI chatbot capabilities. The chatbot can access a knowledge base built from internal documents, FAQs, and product catalogs, allowing it to answer customer queries with relevant information. Zoho’s AI engine supports intent detection and can pull data from Zoho CRM and other Zoho apps, creating a unified view of customer interactions. For e‑commerce, Zoho SalesIQ integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce to provide real‑time product information, order status, and cart assistance. The platform also offers a widget that can be embedded on any website and can be branded through CSS or the visual editor. Zoho SalesIQ includes a built‑in analytics dashboard, visitor heatmaps, and real‑time visitor monitoring. It supports multiple channels, including website chat, email, and WhatsApp (via integration). However, the AI chatbot is primarily text‑based and does not provide voice or video support. Pricing: Free tier for up to 10 visitors per month; Standard $25/month (up to 30,000 visitors); Professional $50/month (up to 100,000 visitors); Enterprise on request. Zoho SalesIQ is well suited for businesses already within the Zoho ecosystem that want a single platform for live chat, AI assistance, and marketing automation.
Key Features:
- AI chatbot with knowledge‑base retrieval
- Intent detection and CRM integration
- Shopify, WooCommerce & BigCommerce connectors
- Customizable widget via CSS/visual editor
- Built‑in analytics and heatmaps
- Multi‑channel (website, email, WhatsApp)
- Live‑chat support
✓ Pros:
- +Deep Zoho integration
- +Real‑time visitor analytics
- +Customizable widget
- +Scalable pricing
✗ Cons:
- −No long‑term memory for authenticated users
- −Limited RAG depth
- −Lacks voice or SMS channels
- −No AI course builder
Pricing: Free tier, Standard $25/month, Professional $50/month, Enterprise on request
HubSpot Chatbot
Best for: Retailers using HubSpot CRM who want integrated chat and marketing automation.
HubSpot offers an AI‑powered chatbot builder as part of its CRM suite. The chatbot can reference a knowledge base created from HubSpot Knowledge Base articles and external documents, enabling it to answer product and policy questions. HubSpot’s conversational flows are built via a visual editor, and the bot can be deployed on websites, landing pages, and via HubSpot’s chatbot widget. For e‑commerce, HubSpot integrates with Shopify and WooCommerce, allowing the bot to pull product catalogs, recommend items, and capture leads. The platform supports email integration, allowing the bot to send follow‑up messages to prospects. HubSpot provides a robust analytics dashboard that tracks chat volume, conversion rates, and visitor behavior. HubSpot’s free tier includes a basic chatbot with limited conversations; the Starter plan ($45/month) offers up to 30,000 conversations, while the Professional plan ($80/month) adds advanced features and higher limits. HubSpot Chatbot is ideal for retailers who already use HubSpot CRM and need a seamless way to connect chat interactions with marketing and sales workflows.
Key Features:
- Visual flow builder within HubSpot CRM
- Knowledge‑base integration (HubSpot KB & external docs)
- Shopify & WooCommerce connectors
- Email follow‑up automation
- Analytics dashboard
- Multi‑channel deployment (website, landing pages)
- Lead capture and qualification
✓ Pros:
- +Seamless CRM integration
- +Built‑in analytics
- +Lead capture features
- +Scalable pricing
✗ Cons:
- −Limited RAG depth
- −No long‑term memory for authenticated users
- −No native voice/SMS channels
- −Requires HubSpot subscription
Pricing: Free tier, Starter $45/month, Professional $80/month
Intercom
Best for: Retailers seeking a unified messaging and help center platform.
Intercom is a customer messaging platform that includes AI chatbot capabilities. Its AI chatbots can reference knowledge bases built from Intercom Articles, external FAQs, and product documentation, enabling context‑aware answers. The platform’s visual builder allows marketers to design flows, set up triggers, and deploy the bot across websites, mobile apps, and email. Intercom offers e‑commerce integration with Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce, allowing the bot to provide real‑time product recommendations, order status updates, and cart assistance. The chat widget can be embedded on any website and customized through a visual editor or CSS. Intercom includes a built‑in analytics suite that tracks chat volume, engagement, and customer satisfaction. It supports multiple channels, including web chat, email, and WhatsApp (via integration). However, the platform’s AI chatbot is primarily text‑based and does not provide voice or video support. Pricing: Starter $39/month (up to 5,000 conversations), Growth $79/month (up to 25,000 conversations), Pro $139/month (up to 75,000 conversations), and Enterprise plans on request. Intercom is well suited for retailers looking for a comprehensive messaging platform that combines chat, help center, and marketing automation.
Key Features:
- AI chatbot with knowledge‑base retrieval
- Visual flow builder
- Shopify, WooCommerce & BigCommerce integration
- Customizable widget via visual editor
- Analytics dashboard
- Multi‑channel (web, email, WhatsApp)
- Lead capture and routing
✓ Pros:
- +All‑in‑one messaging suite
- +Robust analytics
- +E‑commerce integration
- +Scalable pricing
✗ Cons:
- −Limited RAG depth
- −No long‑term memory for authenticated users
- −No voice/video channels
- −Requires Intercom subscription
Pricing: Starter $39/month, Growth $79/month, Pro $139/month, Enterprise on request
Drift
Best for: Retailers prioritizing conversational lead generation and sales funnel integration.
Drift is a conversational marketing platform that offers AI chatbots designed to qualify leads and drive sales. The chatbot can reference a knowledge base created from Drift Articles and external documents, allowing it to answer product questions and guide visitors through buying funnels. Drift integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, and other e‑commerce platforms to provide real‑time product data, inventory checks, and order status. The bot can capture leads, schedule meetings, and send follow‑up emails. Drift’s visual flow builder is intuitive, and the chat widget can be embedded on any website and customized via a visual editor or CSS. The platform includes analytics dashboards that track conversations, conversion rates, and lead quality. Drift supports web chat, email, and WhatsApp (via integration), but it does not provide native voice or SMS channels. Pricing: Starter $50/month (up to 5,000 conversations), Growth $150/month (up to 25,000 conversations), Pro $250/month (up to 75,000 conversations), and Enterprise on request. Drift is ideal for retailers focused on lead generation and sales acceleration via conversational marketing.
Key Features:
- AI chatbot with knowledge‑base retrieval
- Visual flow builder
- Shopify & WooCommerce integration
- Lead qualification and capture
- Analytics dashboard
- Multi‑channel (web, email, WhatsApp)
- Meeting scheduling
✓ Pros:
- +Strong lead qualification tools
- +E‑commerce integration
- +Built‑in analytics
- +Scalable pricing
✗ Cons:
- −Limited RAG depth
- −No long‑term memory for authenticated users
- −No voice/SMS channels
- −Requires Drift subscription
Pricing: Starter $50/month, Growth $150/month, Pro $250/month, Enterprise on request
Conclusion
Choosing the right RAG chatbot platform can transform the way your online store interacts with customers, turning casual browsers into loyal buyers. If you value a no‑code, fully‑customizable experience with robust knowledge retrieval and persistent memory for logged‑in users, AgentiveAIQ stands out as the clear leader—especially for retailers who also need AI‑driven courses or internal knowledge portals. Other platforms like Chatbot.com, Landbot, Zoho SalesIQ, HubSpot, Intercom, and Drift offer strong integration with popular e‑commerce ecosystems and can be great fits for businesses already embedded in those ecosystems or with specific feature priorities. Evaluate each platform against your technical constraints, budget, and growth plans. We invite you to try AgentiveAIQ’s free demo or schedule a personalized walkthrough to see how its dual knowledge‑base and visual editor can elevate your customer engagement today.