LiveShoply vs Tolstoy
The Tolstoy alternative for Shopify stores that want live shows and shoppable video in one app.
Tolstoy is an excellent shoppable video tool with AI tooling and many widget formats, but it isn't a live shopping platform. If you want live shows with chat, product pinning and live deals — plus shoppable replays and video — LiveShoply does both in one app.
You only need on-demand shoppable video, not live shows.
You want to sell live, with chat and live deals, and reuse every show as video.
LiveShoply: free, then $29/mo · Tolstoy: free trial, then $12/mo
Tolstoy is a shoppable video and UGC app that imports Instagram and TikTok videos, with AI tools and video galleries, carousels, stories, feeds and pop-ups. On the Shopify App Store it's rated 4.7 from 279 reviews. This page compares it with LiveShoply feature by feature, using the prices and features each app publishes on its Shopify App Store listing. We're the LiveShoply team, so we've made a point of including where Tolstoy is the better choice.
At a glance
| Feature | LiveShoply | Tolstoy |
|---|---|---|
| Live shopping shows | ✓ | — |
| Live chat, pinning, polls, giveaways | ✓ | — |
| Shoppable videos on product pages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instagram / TikTok import | Upload | ✓ import Reels & TikToks |
| Widget formats | Product-page row, carousel, stories, live page, mini-player | Galleries, carousels, stories, feeds, pop-ups |
| Shop App publishing | — | ✓ |
| AI features | Captions & highlight clips from shows | AI Studio & AI Sales Agent tokens |
| Entry paid plan | $29/month | $12/month |
| Analytics & attributed revenue | ✓ | ✓ |
"Not listed" means we couldn't find the feature on Tolstoy's public plan list — it may exist elsewhere in their product.
Pricing compared
LiveShoply
Charges by viewer minutes — one person watching for one minute.
- Free (300 viewer minutes)
- Starter $29/mo (5,000)
- Growth $79/mo (20,000)
- Pro $199/mo (60,000). No commission
Tolstoy
Monthly viewers (unique viewers of your videos), plus AI token allowances.
- Free: uncapped on-site views for 30 days
- Starter: $12/month — 5,000 viewers/month
- Plus: $44/month — 20,000 viewers/month
- Pro: $195/month — 100,000 viewers/month
- Extra viewers: $10 per 1,000 ($7 on Pro); annual plans save ~33%
Feature by feature
Live vs. on-demand
LiveShoply is built around live shows: stream from your phone, pin products, run polls and deals — then every show becomes a shoppable replay and source of short clips.
Tolstoy focuses on on-demand shoppable video: import or upload videos, tag products and publish them across your store and the Shop App.
Video formats
Product-page video rows, carousels, stories, a floating mini-player and a full live page.
Galleries, carousels, stories, feeds and pop-ups.
AI
AI transcribes your shows, adds captions and suggests highlight clips with products already tagged (Growth and Pro).
AI Studio and an AI Sales Agent with monthly token allowances on paid plans.
Where Tolstoy is stronger
We think you should pick the right tool for your store. Here's what Tolstoy does that LiveShoply doesn't (yet):
- Importing Instagram Reels and TikTok videos.
- A wide range of widget formats including feeds and pop-ups.
- Publishing to the Shop App.
- A large review base (279 reviews).
Live shopping vs. shoppable video
Tolstoy and LiveShoply overlap on shoppable video but start from different places. It helps to be clear about what each format does for your store.
Shoppable video
Short, pre-recorded videos placed on product pages, collection pages and your homepage, with products tagged so shoppers can add to cart from the player. They work around the clock and answer the questions photos can't: how a product moves, fits or works. Their strength is scale — every product page can have a video.
Live shopping
A scheduled live show where a host presents products in real time while viewers chat, ask questions and buy. Live shows create urgency and a sense of event: viewers can ask "what size are you wearing?" and get an answer in seconds, and live-only deals reward people for showing up. Their strength is depth of engagement and building a returning audience.
Why many stores use both
The two feed each other. A one-hour live show produces a replay that keeps selling, and a handful of 15–60 second highlights that become shoppable videos on product pages. That's the workflow LiveShoply is built around: go live, then let AI suggest the clips worth reusing. If live shows aren't part of your plans and you mainly import social content, a dedicated video app like Tolstoy is a great fit — and nothing stops you running both.
Which should you choose?
Choose Tolstoy if…
- You only need on-demand shoppable video, not live shows.
- Importing social content is your main workflow.
Choose LiveShoply if…
- You want to sell live, with chat and live deals, and reuse every show as video.
- You want live shows, replays and shoppable video in one app.
How we compared
All prices, limits and features for Tolstoy come from its public Shopify App Store listing, checked on October 14, 2026. Where a feature isn't mentioned on the listing we mark it "Not listed" rather than assuming it's missing. LiveShoply details come from our own pricing page and feature list.
Cost scenarios use typical show patterns for small and growing stores and add roughly 15% for replay viewing. Your real usage will depend on your audience. If you spot something out of date, email hello@liveshoply.app and we'll correct it.
FAQ
Is LiveShoply a Tolstoy alternative?
If you want live shopping as well as shoppable video, yes. If you only need on-demand video widgets and social imports, Tolstoy is specialised for that.
Can I use LiveShoply and Tolstoy together?
Yes. Some stores use a video app for social imports and LiveShoply for live shows and replays.
Looking for a Tolstoy alternative?
Try LiveShoply free — set up in minutes, go live from your phone, no commission on sales.