Shared WhatsApp inboxes compared
ControlHippo and Callbell solve the same problem: letting several agents answer one WhatsApp number without passing a phone around. They diverge sharply on what a campaign costs once you go past answering messages. This comparison puts both side by side on seat pricing, the add ons each one needs before you can broadcast, and how they report on revenue, so you can see which fits your store and where a platform built for ecommerce messaging fits alongside them.
Best for: small teams that want a free starting point and a shared WhatsApp inbox without add on fees to broadcast.
Free plan up to 1,000 active contacts with unlimited users, then $20 and $28 per user per month.
Rating for ecommerce
Best for: support teams in Europe and LATAM that mainly answer inbound chats across WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger.
$15 and $20 per user per month, plus WhatsApp credits from $54 and a $66 broadcast module before you can run a campaign.
Rating for ecommerce
Best for: established ecommerce brands that want WhatsApp and SMS run as a revenue channel, with every order attributed to the message that drove it.
One usage based rate per message, unlimited users, platform and managed service included.
Rating for ecommerce
The full comparison
Everything below is taken from what each company publishes about itself. Where a vendor does not publish something, the cell says so instead of guessing.
| Capability | ControlHippoShared inbox | CallbellMultiagent chat | ZefirRevenue platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you are actually buying | |||
| Product category | Shared inboxMulti agent WhatsApp inbox with an AI chatbot layer | Multiagent chatShared inbox for WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger and Telegram | Managed channelAI WhatsApp and SMS revenue platform built for ecommerce |
| Who operates the channel | Your team | Your team | Zefir operates itChannel built and operated by Zefir, per their pricing page |
| Free entry point | Free foreverUp to 1,000 active contacts, unlimited users, one channel free, $5 conversation credit | 7 day trialNo credit card required, but no free tier | Access by request |
| Channel coverage | |||
| WhatsApp Business API | IncludedFree WhatsApp Business API on every plan including the free one | Paid add onWhatsApp runs on consumables credits from $54 per month | YesSetup and templates handled for you |
| SMS as a marketing channel | Not listed | Not listed | YesWhatsApp and SMS on the same platform and the same rate model |
| Other channels | SixTelegram, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Email, Web chat, AI chatbot | FiveFacebook Messenger, Instagram Direct, Telegram, TikTok, mobile app | Two by designWhatsApp and SMS only, plus AI conversations |
| Sending campaigns | |||
| Broadcast or campaign sending | Plan gatedBroadcast messages arrive on the Silver plan at $28 per user per month | Paid moduleBroadcast and campaign module is $66 per month on top of seats | IncludedCampaigns and flows are the product |
| Cost per contact reached | Not published | $0.02Charged per contact reached on broadcasts, on top of the module | One regional ratePer message, quoted to your volume |
| Workflow automation | Silver planWorkflow automation and AI chat assistant at $28 per user per month | Paid moduleAdvanced Bot Builder is $22 per month extra | Built for youZefir builds the flows rather than handing you a builder |
| Ecommerce and revenue | |||
| Shopify connection | Not published | Not published | One clickStore connected on day one, data syncing from the start |
| Per order revenue attribution | Not publishedAnalytics and reports cover conversations, not orders | Not publishedAdvanced statistics cover chats, not orders | IncludedEvery order attributed to the exact message that made the sale |
| Abandoned cart flows | You build them | You build them | Built for youFlows live within the first week, copy written in your brand voice |
| Segmentation and A/B testing | Not published | Not published | IncludedAdvanced segmentation and A/B testing on every plan |
| Pricing model | |||
| What you are billed for | SeatsPer user per month, plus conversation credits | Seats plus modulesPer user per month, plus WhatsApp credits and per module fees | Messages onlyOne regional rate per message, nothing else metered |
| Entry paid plan | $20 per userBronze, with a 7 day free trial | $15 per userMultiagent Chat | NoneUsage based only, full platform included |
| Top published plan | $28 per userSilver, adds workflow automation and broadcasts | $20 per userMultiagent Chat Plus, adds API, advanced statistics and verified WhatsApp request | NoneUsage based only, full platform included |
| Hidden line items to budget for | OneConversation credits beyond the $5 included | ThreeWhatsApp credits from $54, broadcast module $66, bot builder $22, all per month | No hidden feesPlatform, managed service and unlimited users are all inside the per message rate |
| Team, scale and control | |||
| Users included | Unlimited on the free planPaid plans are per user | Per userEvery agent is billed | Unlimited |
| What a dormant list costs you | Counts toward the capFree plan is capped at 1,000 active contacts | Counts when reached$0.02 per contact reached on a broadcast | NothingYou pay per message sent, never per contact stored |
| Compliance and support | |||
| Compliance handled for you | Not published | Not published | ManagedTCPA and Meta compliance managed as part of the service |
| Support model | Not tiered publicly | Dedicated support on PlusDedicated support arrives on the $20 per user plan | Dedicated, includedDedicated account manager on every account |
| Who writes the message copy | You do | You do | Zefir doesFlow copywriting in your brand voice, included |
Weighted scorecard
The weighting below is built for an established ecommerce brand doing seven figures a month. Change the buyer and the ranking changes, so the weights are printed rather than hidden.
Head to head
Both platforms look inexpensive on the plan page. Neither plan page is what you pay once you want to send a campaign rather than answer one.
Callbell publishes every add on, which makes the real number buildable. It is roughly three times the headline seat price.
| Line item | ControlHippoShared inbox | CallbellMultiagent chat | ZefirRevenue platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five seats | $140Silver at $28 per user, the tier that includes broadcasts | $75Multiagent Chat at $15 per user | $0Unlimited users included |
| WhatsApp access | $0Free WhatsApp Business API on every plan | From $54Consumables credits before you can use WhatsApp at all | Inside the rate |
| Ability to broadcast | In the planIncluded at the Silver tier | $66Broadcast and campaign module, monthly | Included |
| Reaching 10,000 contacts | Not published | $20010,000 at $0.02 per contact reached | One regional ratePer message, quoted to volume |
| Monthly total on published rates | $140 plus creditsConversation credits beyond the $5 included are not published | $395$75 seats + $54 WhatsApp + $66 module + $200 reach | One number, quotedPlatform, service, users and attribution all inside it |
On both platforms the features an ecommerce brand actually needs sit above the entry plan. This is where the two differ most.
| Capability | ControlHippoShared inbox | CallbellMultiagent chat | ZefirRevenue platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadcasts | Silver, $28 per user | $66 per month module | Included |
| Automation | Silver, $28 per user | $22 per month module | Built for you |
| API access | Bronze, $20 per user | Plus, $20 per user | Not neededZefir runs the channel, so nothing has to be built against an API |
| Verified WhatsApp badge | Free API included | Request on Plus | Handled at onboarding |
| Extra channels | One free, then plan gated | Charged per extra accountExtra Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram or TikTok accounts cost more | WhatsApp and SMS included |
The decision
Find the row that sounds like your business. The recommendation is the honest one, not the convenient one.
| Your situation | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You need a free shared WhatsApp inbox today | ControlHippo | Free forever up to 1,000 active contacts with unlimited users and the WhatsApp Business API included. |
| Your team answers chats in Europe or LATAM all day | Callbell | Built around multi agent inbound chat with a mobile app and dedicated support on the Plus plan. |
| You want broadcasts without buying a module | ControlHippo | Broadcast messages are inside the Silver plan rather than a separate monthly fee. |
| Seven figures a month, WhatsApp and SMS as a revenue line | Zefir | Per order attribution, both channels on one rate, the channel run for you. |
| You have to prove what the channel earned, to the dollar | Zefir | Every order attributed to the exact message that made the sale. Neither of the other two publishes this. |
| Your list is large and mostly dormant | Zefir | You pay per message sent, not per contact stored or per seat. |
| You want the channel live without hiring anyone to run it | Zefir | Setup, flows, templates and copy are built for you, and the channel is live within 72 hours. |
| BFCM is coming and cash flow is tight | Zefir | Post paid billing on a credit line scaled to volume, seasonal peaks included. |
The third option
Both are competent shared inboxes. Neither was built to sell, which is why campaign sending is an upgrade or an add on rather than the product. Zefir publishes 1,000 plus ecommerce brands on the platform, more than $530M in WhatsApp attributed revenue, and an average revenue increase of 12 to 15 percent measured per order.
The core product is a shared inbox. Broadcasting is a higher tier on one and a paid module on the other, and neither publishes an ecommerce store connection at all.
Zefir is built only for ecommerce, and campaigns are the product rather than an upgrade.
ControlHippo reports on conversations. Callbell reports on chat statistics. Neither publishes attribution from an order back to the message that caused it, so the channel gets judged on response times instead of revenue.
Zefir attributes every order to the exact message that made the sale.
Both charge per user per month, so the cost of the channel rises with headcount rather than with what the channel earns. Callbell adds a per contact fee on top of that.
Zefir includes unlimited users and charges only for messages sent.
If you already picked one
The subscriber list and the consent behind it are the two things that matter. Everything else is rebuildable.
| What moves | Leaving ControlHippo | Leaving Callbell | Arriving at Zefir |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscriber list and consent | Exportable | Exportable | Imported, compliance reviewed |
| WhatsApp number and WABA | Check ownershipConfirm the number is registered to you, not to the provider | Check ownership | Migration handledSetup and templates handled as part of onboarding |
| Message templates | Re approval neededTemplates are approved per provider | Re approval needed | Rewritten and submitted |
| Automations and flows | RebuildNo cross platform format exists | Rebuild | Rebuilt for you |
| Historical reporting | Export before you leave | Export before you leave | Starts freshAttribution begins from the first message sent |
Frequently asked
Zefir connects your store, builds the WhatsApp and SMS channel, and attributes every order to the message that produced it. Live within 72 hours.
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All nine sit on the WhatsApp and SMS comparison hub.