Playbuy vs Tolstoy
Looking for a Tolstoy alternative? Here's a side-by-side look at how the two apps price and work, based on public Shopify App Store listings.
Last checked November 2026
Summary
About Tolstoy
Tolstoy offers shoppable video alongside a growing set of AI features (AI Studio and an AI Sales Agent). Paid plans include a monthly number of viewers plus AI token allowances, with additional viewers billed per 1,000.
About Playbuy
Playbuy uses flat plans with hard caps: no usage billing, an email at 80% of your views, and posters instead of extra charges at 100%. It focuses on a fast storefront (~4 KB loader) and holdout-tested attribution.
At a glance
| Topic | Playbuy | Tolstoy (per App Store listing) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat monthly or annual price, no usage meter | Monthly plan with viewer allowance plus usage-based charges for extra viewers; AI features metered by tokens |
| Above the plan allowance | Never billed — widgets show posters until the next cycle | $7–$10 per additional 1,000 viewers, depending on plan |
| Product focus | Shoppable video and UGC, kept simple | Shoppable video plus AI content and AI sales agent features |
| Published loader size budget | ~4 KB gzipped, budget checked on every build | Not stated on the App Store listing |
| Attribution method | Direct + influenced revenue (7-day window), via Shopify web pixel | Attributed revenue reporting; method not described on the listing |
| Holdout (no-video control group) | Yes, on Growth and Scale | Not stated on the App Store listing |
Pricing
Tolstoy plans
| Plan | Price | Includes | Above allowance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | First shoppable experience | — |
| Starter | $19 / month | 5,000 viewers / month + AI token allowances | $10 per additional 1,000 viewers |
| Plus | $44 / month | 20,000 viewers / month + AI token allowances | $10 per additional 1,000 viewers |
| Pro | $195 / month | 100,000 viewers / month + AI token allowances | $7 per additional 1,000 viewers |
- Paid plans also include monthly AI Studio and AI Sales Agent token allowances; the Pro plan lists one-time token top-ups.
- The App Store listing states that recurring and usage-based charges are billed every 30 days. Annual options are also listed.
Playbuy plans
| Plan | Price | Includes | Above allowance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1,000 video views / month | No charge — posters until next cycle |
| Starter | $19 / month | 15,000 video views / month | No charge — posters until next cycle |
| Growth | $49 / month | 75,000 video views / month | No charge — posters until next cycle |
| Scale | $149 / month | 300,000 video views / month | No charge — posters until next cycle |
Billed through Shopify. Annual billing available. Full pricing
Which is right for you?
Playbuy may suit you if…
- You want a predictable bill with no usage charges, even in a traffic spike.
- Storefront speed and Core Web Vitals are a priority.
- You want to measure true lift with a holdout group.
- You want a simple import → tag → go live workflow.
Tolstoy may suit you if…
- You need features specific to Tolstoy's platform that Playbuy doesn't offer.
- You prefer usage-based pricing that starts lower and scales with traffic.
- AI content creation tools are central to your workflow.
