General
What kind of apps can I build?
What kind of apps can I build?
You can create three types of apps:
Apps which are products that connect with Intercom (like Google Analytics and Slack).
Apps with Messenger capabilities (widgets you can display in the Messenger home, share in conversations and/or send in outbound messages, like Statuspage).
Apps with Inbox capabilities (widgets you can add to the conversation details in the Inbox, visible to your team).
You’ll find all of the information you need to start building apps here on our developer hub.
What’s the difference between an app and apps in the Messenger or Inbox?
What’s the difference between an app and apps in the Messenger or Inbox?
Apps
An app is anything that integrates with the Intercom platform, so you can connect Intercom with other products. Most apps don’t surface in the Intercom UI itself - they send data and take actions in products through our API.
For example, Google Analytics and Slack are apps that allow you to take all kinds of actions, to analyze your visitor data and help you manage conversations in other channels. Neither of them have an Inbox or Messenger app.
Apps in the Messenger
Apps in the Messenger are a specific type of app that make it easy for your customers to get more done in the Messenger than just chat. They are great for providing useful information in the Messenger to save your customers’ time.
These apps are small widgets you can use in the Intercom Messenger. For example, the Shopify app is an app and a Messenger app. It lets you send your Shopify data to Intercom. But it also comes with a Messenger app that allows your customers to see and search their Shopify order status in the Messenger home.
Then there are Messenger apps that are standalone. The Google Meet app, for example, lets you join video calls with your customers in conversations. It doesn’t do anything else, like send data between Intercom and Google.
Messenger apps can surface in three places:
They can appear in the Messenger home, so visitors and users can complete workflows without needing to start a conversation.
Teammates can share them in conversations to help improve workflows for visitors and users.
You can set them up to automatically send in outbound messages to your visitors or users to help them take actions, like book a meeting or sign up for your newsletter.
Some Messenger apps can be used in all places; others can be used in only one place.
Apps in the Inbox
Apps in the Inbox are a specific type of app that make it easy for teammates to see the right information and take quick actions to support your users or convert your leads. They are great for streamlining existing workflows and enabling new ones by bringing other services into the Inbox.
The Stripe app for example, lets you view your Stripe customers’ account info, start new subscriptions, or upgrade existing ones. All without leaving the inbox.
Some Inbox apps can send Messenger apps in conversations; others can only be used internally by teammates.
Note: You can see examples of Messenger and Inbox apps in the Intercom App store. Just filter by ‘Works with’:
What’s the difference between a public and private app?
What’s the difference between a public and private app?
You can choose to create either public or private Messenger apps.
A public app is an app you’ve built for other companies to use. It’ll be listed on the Intercom App Store, with the label showing that it was built by your company. For example, the Aircall app is a public app.
A private app is an app you’ve created for just your team to use in conjunction with your own product. It won’t be listed on the Intercom app store. For example, Chargedesk built a private Messenger app, so their customer support team could easily share invoices with their customers:
App availability
Does Intercom integrate with Magento?
Does Intercom integrate with Magento?
We have not built an integration with Magento yet. It is possible we will build one in the future. Please get in touch and let us know if and why you would find that useful.
In the mean time, you might find this Intercom <> Magento integration built by Zapier helpful.
If you're interested in building your own integration, take a look at our developer hub.
Data syncing
How can I sync Chargebee attributes to Intercom?
How can I sync Chargebee attributes to Intercom?
To sync Chargebee fields with Intercom attributes, you can use the Chargebee Subscription Billing app. You'll have to configure the sync on the Chargebee platform. Their documentation has detailed instructions on how do so here: https://www.chargebee.com/docs/1.0/intercom.html
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