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Hay.chat vs Voiceflow:
Ready-to-Use AI vs Build-Your-Own Platform
Published · Updated
The main difference between Hay.chat and Voiceflow is that Voiceflow gives you the parts to build an AI agent, while Hay.chat is a ready-made support agent you configure in plain language.
Voiceflow is a powerful platform for building AI agents, now with pre-built tools for Shopify and Zendesk. Hay.chat is a support agent that's already built, with refunds and order changes on Shopify and WooCommerce ready to use. The right choice depends on whether you want to build or configure.
Voiceflow vs Hay.chat: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Voiceflow | Hay.chat |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Audience | Agencies, AI teams and CX teams building agents | Support leaders, ops managers |
| Time to First Value | Depends on what you build | Days |
| Technical Skills Required | Some (building and testing an agent) | No |
| Customization Depth | Unlimited | High (within support scope) |
| Ready-Made Support Agent | No | Yes |
| Shopify Actions | Pre-built (lookup, update, cancel; no refunds) | Pre-built, including refunds |
| WooCommerce Actions | No | Yes |
| Helpdesk Integration | Pre-built Zendesk; handoff to several helpdesks | Pre-built (Zendesk, Chatwoot) |
| Visual Canvas Builder | Yes | No |
| Plain-Language Instructions | Yes (Playbooks) | Yes (playbooks) |
| Human approval of AI replies | Configure yourself | Yes |
| Pricing Model | Plan + consumption credits | Flat monthly + resolutions |
| Agency/Reseller Model | Yes | No |
Voiceflow pricing as of October 2026, from its public pricing page. Hay.chat prices are from our pricing page and change only with notice.
Pricing: The Real Cost Breakdown
Understanding Voiceflow's platform pricing vs Hay.chat's product pricing
Voiceflow
Voiceflow no longer publishes its prices; the business plans are 'request pricing'. The figures above are third-party estimates from 2026. Production usage draws on monthly credits, with top-ups when you run out.
Hay.chat
Predictable monthly pricing with included resolutions. No credit anxiety, no consumption surprises.
Real-World Scenario: 2,000 Monthly Support Conversations
Voiceflow Cost
~$150+/month
Business plan (estimate) + credit top-ups, plus the time to build and maintain your agent
Hay.chat Cost
€135/month
Starter plan, ready to use
A similar price, without building the agent yourself
Key Differences That Matter
Build vs Buy Philosophy
Voiceflow
Voiceflow is a platform for building AI agents. It gives you a canvas, Playbooks, tools and APIs. What you build is up to you. This is powerful for agencies, AI teams, and companies with specific requirements, but you're building and maintaining an agent.
Hay.chat
Hay.chat is a product, not a platform. We've already built the support automation agent. You configure it for your business (playbooks, integrations, tone) but don't build it. Like buying a car vs building one from parts.
The choice depends on whether you have the people and the appetite to build (Voiceflow) or need working AI support now (Hay.chat).
Target User
Voiceflow
Voiceflow serves agencies building agents for clients, AI teams and, increasingly, CX teams. Playbooks and pre-built tools make it easier than it used to be, but you still design, test and maintain the agent yourself.
Hay.chat
Hay.chat's ideal user is a support leader or ops manager who needs to reduce ticket volume. Configure in plain language, connect integrations via OAuth, deploy in days. No API knowledge required.
Support managers who want to configure rather than build can use Hay.chat immediately.
Integration Approach
Voiceflow
Voiceflow has pre-built tools for Shopify (look up, update and cancel orders), Zendesk (tickets and Help Center sync), Salesforce, HubSpot and more, plus API, function and MCP tools for anything else. There's no WooCommerce tool and no Shopify refund action.
Hay.chat
Pre-built integrations for Shopify, WooCommerce, Zendesk and Stripe with full action capability, including refunds. Click to connect, configure permissions, done. We maintain the integrations.
For Shopify order lookups both are quick to set up. For refunds, or anything on WooCommerce, Voiceflow teams have to build what Hay.chat provides out of the box.
Customization Boundaries
Voiceflow
Voiceflow has almost no limits. Build any conversation flow, any integration, any behavior. Multi-modal agents, voice bots, custom interfaces - all possible. The canvas is your oyster.
Hay.chat
Hay.chat is specifically scoped to support automation. We don't do voice bots, marketing chatbots, or custom AI experiences. But within support, we're deeply capable. Focused flexibility.
If you need something outside support automation, Voiceflow can build it. If you need excellent support automation, Hay.chat is faster.
Pricing Predictability
Voiceflow
Voiceflow combines a plan fee with consumption credits that scale with actual LLM usage, and it no longer publishes plan prices. Costs vary with workload. Good for agencies managing multiple projects.
Hay.chat
Flat monthly pricing with included resolutions. Overages are charged at fixed rates. Costs are predictable before you start. Good for teams wanting budget certainty.
When to Choose Each Platform
Choose Voiceflow if:
- You have developers or an AI team who want to build custom agents
- You're an agency building agents for multiple clients
- You need capabilities beyond support (voice, marketing, custom)
- You have unique requirements no product can meet
- You want maximum control and customization
Choose Hay.chat if:
- You need AI support automation without building an agent
- You're a support leader without dedicated engineering resources
- You want refunds handled by AI, or you run WooCommerce
- You want to be live in days, not weeks
- You prefer configuring to building
- Predictable pricing matters for budgeting
Switching from Voiceflow to Hay.chat
Migrating from Voiceflow to Hay.chat makes sense if you built a support agent in Voiceflow but found the maintenance burden unsustainable, or if you evaluated Voiceflow and decided you need a product rather than a platform.
Document Current Flows
Export or document your Voiceflow Playbooks and workflows. The logic will inform your Hay.chat playbooks.
Translate to Playbooks
Convert Voiceflow's flows and Playbooks into Hay.chat's plain-language playbooks. Complex branching becomes readable instructions.
Connect Pre-built Integrations
Replace custom API tools with Hay.chat's native connections. OAuth in, configure actions, done.
Import Knowledge Base
Transfer FAQs and knowledge content. Hay.chat's RAG system indexes similarly to Voiceflow's knowledge base.
Retire Voiceflow Maintenance
No more updating custom integrations, fixing broken flows, or managing API credentials. Hay.chat maintains the infrastructure.
Timeframe: Teams with existing Voiceflow agents typically migrate to Hay.chat in 1-2 weeks. The playbook configuration is faster than the original build.
Frequently asked questions
The Bottom Line
Voiceflow is a leading platform for building custom AI agents - powerful, flexible, and now with pre-built tools for common systems like Shopify and Zendesk. Hay.chat is a ready-made support automation product - fast to deploy, easy to configure, built for support teams.
The question isn't which is better, but whether your team wants to build (Voiceflow) or buy (Hay.chat). For Shopify and WooCommerce stores that want refunds and order changes handled this month, Hay.chat skips the build entirely.