CW vs AeroChat: WhatsApp and SMS Marketing vs the Whole Sale in Chat
AeroChat finishes service and sales requests in the chat on every channel, and CW runs WhatsApp, SMS and RCS marketing for Shopify, with AI chatbots on its top plan. CW (CW: WhatsApp, SMS and AI Chatbot, by Shipway) suits a direct-to-consumer brand that wants subscriber-based WhatsApp and SMS campaigns, opt-in popups and cart recovery. AeroChat suits a Shopify store that wants customers to ask, pay and get delivery updates in one conversation, on WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, Telegram, TikTok Shop buyer chat, web chat and email, with the store, payments, couriers and other systems connected.
CW and AeroChat at a glance
| CW | AeroChat | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A WhatsApp, SMS and RCS marketing app for Shopify with a unified inbox and chatbots | Chat infrastructure that runs your customer service and sales workflows, for online stores and service businesses |
| Pricing model | Monthly plans by subscriber count, plus charges for notifications sent | Flat monthly plans sized by AI responses, with no per-resolution fees. Your team’s replies don’t count toward the plan |
| Channels | WhatsApp, SMS, RCS on Growth and Enterprise, email, Instagram and Facebook Messenger | Web chat, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, Telegram, email and TikTok Shop buyer chat, plus comment replies on Instagram and Facebook. Shopee and Lazada are supported too |
| What it does in chat | Campaigns, cart recovery, order confirmations, tracking messages and flow-based chatbots. AI chatbots on web, WhatsApp and Instagram on Enterprise | Answers from your store data, recommends products, sends a payment link and confirms payment in the chat, books delivery, starts returns and runs any workflow you describe |
| Setup | Shopify app install. WhatsApp catalog synced from Shopify. Works with Judge.me, Klaviyo and Omnisend | Shopify app install. Describe a workflow in your own words, add the system’s key, and AeroChat builds it |
CW details from apps.shopify.com/sms-notifications-1, checked 11 November 2026.
Where AeroChat is different
It finishes the job in the chat
When a customer says “I’ll take it”, AeroChat sends an Airwallex payment link in the same conversation, detects the payment and confirms the order. The customer never types “paid”. In Malaysia it then books the delivery with POS Malaysia and sends the tracking number in the same thread. AeroChat never sees card numbers and never holds your funds.
AeroChat answers and acts, your team steps in when needed
AeroChat resolves the request itself: it checks the order, sends the payment link, starts the return or books the delivery. Your team sees every conversation, can take over at any point, and gets anything outside the limits you set, with the details attached.
One allowance, sized by AI responses
AeroChat plans are sized by AI responses a month. Admin users are not limited, a bigger contact list does not change the plan, and your team’s replies never use the allowance.
Describe a workflow and it is built
You describe what you want in your own words, for example “when a customer asks where their order is, verify their email, check the order and send the tracking link”, paste in the key of the system you are connecting, and AeroChat builds it. No code needed. Reviews apps, returns apps, couriers, CRMs and booking systems connect through their public APIs. See the integrations it already has pages for.
When CW may suit you better
- You run WhatsApp and SMS marketing to a subscriber list. CW’s plans are built around subscribers, segments, opt-in popups such as spin-the-wheel, and campaign metrics.
- You need SMS or RCS. CW lists SMS on every plan and RCS from Growth. AeroChat works in the messaging channels customers use to ask and buy.
Pricing as of November 2026
CW plans, from its Shopify App Store listing. The App Store listing shows prices as estimates in the viewer’s local currency. The US dollar figures here use the exchange rate the listing states.
| CW plan | Price a month | Subscribers | What it adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | US$49 | Up to 3,000 | WhatsApp and SMS marketing, unified inbox, catalog sync, flow-based chatbots |
| Growth | US$99 | Up to 20,000 | RCS, Instagram DM and comment automation, RFM segments, opt-in popups |
| Enterprise | US$399 | Unlimited | Email marketing, AI chatbots on web, WhatsApp and Instagram, account manager |
Yearly billing saves 8% to 20% depending on plan. There is a 7-day free trial, and extra charges apply for notifications sent.
AeroChat has flat monthly plans sized by AI responses, with no per-resolution fees. Your team’s replies don’t count toward the plan, admin users are not limited, and every plan has a 7-day free trial. See current plans on the pricing page.
Switching from CW to AeroChat
- Install AeroChat on your Shopify store. Your products sync, and order lookups work once the app is connected.
- Connect your WhatsApp number. It can stay on the WhatsApp Business app on your phone at the same time.
- Bring your knowledge across. Add your policies, FAQs and pages so the answers match what your customers already get.
- Describe your flows as workflows. Take each flow or automation you rely on and write what it does in your own words. AeroChat builds each one from your description.
- Bring your contacts. Your contact list does not change your AeroChat plan.
Questions
Is AeroChat or CW better for my Shopify store?
If you want AI that answers, takes payment and books delivery in the chat on every plan, AeroChat is the better fit. If subscriber-based WhatsApp and SMS marketing is your main need, CW is an option to look at.
Is AI included in every CW plan?
No. CW’s listing puts AI chatbots on web, WhatsApp and Instagram on the Enterprise plan, as of November 2026. Starter has flow-based chatbots. Every AeroChat plan includes AI responses.
Can AeroChat take payment inside the chat?
Yes. AeroChat sends an Airwallex payment link in the conversation, detects the payment and confirms the order in the same chat. The customer never has to type “paid”. AeroChat never sees card numbers and never holds your funds.
Can I try AeroChat before switching?
Yes. Install AeroChat from the Shopify App Store and use the 7-day free trial. Connect your store and a channel, and message your own number to see it answer and take an order.
Give every plan an AI that sells
Install AeroChat, connect your store and WhatsApp, and ask your own number for a product. Then say “I’ll take it” and watch the order confirm.
7-day free trial.