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Ernie or Tidio?

Tidio is a live chat and help desk tool with an AI agent, popular with online shops. Ernie does one job for local service businesses: answer from your website, then send you the enquiry.

Side by side

Ernie

Tidio

Made for

Local service businesses, like tradies and cleaners

Online shops and customer support teams

Setting it up

Paste one line into your website. Ernie reads every page and keeps up with changes each day

Install the widget, then set up its AI agent, inbox and automations

Chatting live yourself

Not needed. Ernie answers, then sends the enquiry to your phone

Yes, from Tidio’s inbox and apps

Where enquiries go

Texted and emailed to you, with any photos

Into Tidio’s inbox

Pricing

From A$29 a month, priced by chats

In US dollars, with separate allowances for chats, AI conversations and automations

Which one suits you?

Choose Tidio when

  • You run an online shop and need order help and a help desk
  • You have people free to answer live chats
  • You want one inbox for chat, email and social messages

Choose Ernie when

  • You’re out on jobs and can’t answer live chats
  • You want enquiries sent straight to your phone
  • You want something that works without learning a help desk

If you already use Tidio for an online shop, it may cover you. If you’re a local business that just wants the enquiry, Ernie is the simpler fit.

Compared in October 2026 from public information. Check each provider for current details.