Kanesh vs Richpanel
Richpanel or Kanesh: an AI helpdesk for ecommerce, or one built around WhatsApp?
Richpanel is an ecommerce helpdesk whose AI agents act on Shopify and subscription apps. Kanesh starts from WhatsApp: support, sales and campaigns in one conversation, measured in orders. Here's where each one fits.
Checked on 30 September 2026 ·Sources
The short version
Choose Richpanel if
- You want an AI that edits addresses, exchanges, cancels or pauses subscriptions
- You run subscriptions on Recharge, Loop or Skio
- You need SMS and email-heavy support in one helpdesk
- You want returns and exchanges tooling from the same vendor
Choose Kanesh if
- WhatsApp is where your customers ask and buy
- You want WhatsApp campaigns measured in orders, next to support
- You want a sales pipeline and follow-ups tied to each conversation
- You want seats and the AI in one flat fee, set by your online sales
Where Richpanel is strong
What Richpanel does well.
If these matter most to you, Richpanel deserves a close look. Each point links to Richpanel's own pages.
AI that acts, with permissions
Tracking, address edits, exchanges, store credit, subscription skips and pauses, cancellations and returns run against Shopify, Recharge, Loop and Skio. Each action has its own permission.[3]
Broad channel coverage
Email, chat, SMS, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok in one queue, plus the phone stack you already run.[1]
A low AI price per conversation
$0.20 per AI-handled conversation, counted per thread, not per message.[1],[2]
Returns and self-service
A self-service portal at no add-on fee, and a returns and exchanges product from $99 a month.[2]
Migration and guarantees
It moves tickets, macros, tags and rules from other helpdesks, and offers written guarantees on automation and savings.[1],[2]
Where Kanesh differs
Built from WhatsApp outwards.
What Kanesh does today, in production. Nothing on this list is a roadmap item.
WhatsApp templates with media
Create WhatsApp templates with an image, video or document header, and send them as campaigns to opted-in audiences.
Campaigns measured in orders
See which Shopify orders came after a campaign click, labelled attributed or estimated, with the method shown.
Coexistence
Keep using the WhatsApp Business app on the same number, where Meta allows it, and bring up to 180 days of history.
Sales in the same thread
A sales pipeline tied to each conversation, and automatic follow-ups when a customer goes quiet.
Seats in the plan
A flat monthly fee set by your online sales, with seats and the AI included and no per-conversation charges.
Spanish and English
Interface and AI replies in Spanish and English.
Side by side
Short answers, with a source for every Richpanel cell.
- Yes
- Partly
- No
- How it works
Channels
WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, email and chat
- Kanesh
- Yes: Shared inbox for WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, email and web chat
- Richpanel
- Yes: Email, chat, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook in one queue[1]
SMS
- Kanesh
- No: Not available
- Richpanel
- Yes: SMS in the same queue[1]
Phone
- Kanesh
- Partly: Phone switchboard with recordings and transcripts, by market; no AI voice agent
- Richpanel
- How it works: Threads in the phone stack you already run[1]
AI on WhatsApp
- Kanesh
- Yes: Answers from your knowledge and Shopify data, and hands off with context
- Richpanel
- Yes: WhatsApp is on the same AI meter as email, chat, social and SMS[2]
AI and orders
Answers with Shopify order data
- Kanesh
- Yes: Order status, tracking, returns and refunds, after verifying the customer
AI changes orders and subscriptions
- Kanesh
- Partly: The AI reads order facts; changes go to your team
- Richpanel
- Yes: Address edits, exchanges, cancellations, returns and subscription changes, each with its own permission[3]
Checks before a risky reply is sent
- Kanesh
- Yes: Every reply is checked against your data and rules; if it can't be backed up, it goes to a person
- Richpanel
- Yes: Replies with a dollar amount or an order change go to a reviewer before sending[3]
Billing
Billing unit
- Kanesh
- How it works: A flat monthly fee by your online sales band, with the AI and seats in the plan
What an AI-resolved conversation costs
- Kanesh
- Yes: Nothing extra: no per-conversation charges
- Richpanel
- Yes: Charged once, with no second fee for a ticket the AI resolved[2]
Pricing model
Seats plus AI, or one flat fee.
Richpanel prices seats and AI conversations separately. Kanesh charges a flat fee set by your online sales and includes both.
Richpanel
- Helpdesk seats at $99 per seat a month, with no per-ticket fee.[1],[2]
- AI agents at $0.20 per AI-handled conversation; a whole thread counts as one conversation.[2]
- Its homepage cites a $200 a month minimum.[1]
- Self-service portal, QA AI and a social media agent at no add-on fee; returns and exchanges from $99 a month.[2]
Kanesh
- A flat monthly fee set by your store's online sales: from €279 (Starter, up to €85k a month) to €2,990 (Pro, up to €850k), and Enterprise from €4,900, billed annually, taxes excluded
- In the Americas, billed in USD with the same thresholds in dollars: from $329 to $3,490, and Enterprise from $5,690
- No per-conversation charges: conversations are counted only for fair use
- Every plan includes every feature and the AI; plans differ only by size
- Seats are included in every plan
- Meta's WhatsApp fees are paid separately, from a prepaid balance
Switching
What moving from Richpanel involves.
Your WhatsApp number
A number can only be registered with one provider at a time, so it moves from your current provider to Kanesh. We plan that step with you during onboarding.
Order and subscription changes
Kanesh's AI reads order facts and hands changes to your team. If you rely on AI-run subscription or order actions today, plan who takes them over.
Knowledge and saved replies
We load your policies, FAQs and saved replies with you during guided onboarding.
Past tickets
Tell us which history you need to keep. What moves, if anything, is agreed in your onboarding scope.
Questions about Kanesh and Richpanel
Is Kanesh a Richpanel alternative?
How does Richpanel bill its AI?
Can Kanesh's AI cancel an order or pause a subscription?
Does Kanesh have SMS?
How recent is this comparison?
Sources
Richpanel's public pages, checked on 30 September 2026.
- [1]Richpanel, Home. https://www.richpanel.com/
- [2]Richpanel, Pricing. https://www.richpanel.com/pricing
- [3]Richpanel, AI Agents. https://www.richpanel.com/ai-agents
Kanesh is not affiliated with Richpanel. Richpanel is a trademark of its owner. This page compares public information that may change after the date above. If something is out of date, tell us and we'll correct it.
Free diagnosis
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