Gladly vs Gorgias 2026: Features, Pricing & Who Wins

Honest breakdown of ticket-free enterprise CX vs ecommerce-native helpdesk, AI resolution billing differences, hidden cost structures, and who wins based on real user reviews and head-to-head testing.
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Gladly vs Gorgias: How They Stack Up

Side-by-side comparison on the things that matter most

Criteria Criteria
Gladly Gladly
Gorgias Gorgias

G2 Rating

4.4/5 (1,092 reviews); consistently rated easy to use

4.6/5 (548 reviews); Shopify merchants' preferred platform

Starting price

~$180/user/mo (10-seat min, annual); no free plan or trial

Starter: $10/mo (50 tickets, 3 seats); 7-day free trial

Setup time

Days; no-code setup; Guides in plain English; no IT required

Hours; Shopify connects in minutes; guided onboarding checklist

Hidden costs

Voice: $0.06216/min; SMS billed separately; onboarding fees extra

AI Agent double-billed (helpdesk + $0.90-$1.00/resolution); overage fees

AI copilot pricing

Customer AI agent assist included in platform; usage-based voice

AI-assisted replies (rules/macros) included; AI Copilot via add-on

Agentic AI pricing

Sidekick AI: ~$0.60/conversation (automated resolution)

AI Agent: $0.90/resolution (annual); $1.00/resolution (monthly)

Storage

Not publicly disclosed; enterprise-grade cloud storage

Not publicly disclosed; standard Gorgias cloud

Support availability

Dedicated account management; enterprise support included

Email support standard; dedicated success manager on Advanced+

TLDR Verdict

Quick guide to help you decide
Gladly

Gladly

Break down

  • No tickets; one continuous lifelong conversation across all channels
  • $40M Series E (Sep 2024); AI platform fully relaunched 2025
  • 240M+ conversations powered; trusted by Nordstrom, Ulta Beauty, TUMI
  • Dedicated Hero for VIP customers; native voice, SMS, email, chat, social
  • Best for: enterprise B2C brands needing voice-heavy, relationship-first CX
Gorgias

Gorgias

Break down

  • Ticket-based pricing from $10/mo; no per-seat cost on most plans
  • 15,000+ DTC brands; Shopify native; 60% AI resolution rate claimed
  • Unlimited agent seats on Basic and above; scales with ticket volume
  • Best for: Shopify and DTC ecommerce brands at any stage of growth

Why Choose Us?

Key differences between Gladly and Gorgias

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Gladly's Recent Evolution

Gladly raised $40M in Series E funding in Sep 2024 led by AXA Venture Partners, and rebranded Sidekick to Gladly AI while unifying its entire CX platform in 2025.

  • $40M Series E led by AXA Venture Partners (Sep 2024)
  • Sidekick rebranded to Gladly AI; Gladly Team replaces Hero (2025)
  • 510M cumulative cost savings reported across brands using Gladly
file-box

Platform Architecture

Gladly is ticket-free; every customer has one continuous conversation thread. Gorgias is ticket-based with e-commerce data surfaced in each ticket sidebar.

  • Gladly: no ticket numbers; lifelong customer conversation view
  • Gorgias: ticket inbox with Shopify order sidebar embedded per ticket
  • Gorgias: AI Agent, order management, refunds within ticket interface
Revenue

Pricing Models

Gladly charges per agent (10-seat min, ~$180/user/mo). Gorgias charges per ticket volume with unlimited agents on most plans.

  • Gladly: ~$180/user/mo; 10-seat minimum = $1,800/mo entry floor
  • Gorgias: $10/mo (50 tickets); $60/mo (300 tickets); $360/mo (2K tickets)
  • Gorgias: unlimited agent seats on Basic and above
workflow

Automation Architecture

Gladly AI resolves conversations end-to-end with no-code Guides. Gorgias AI Agent handles WISMO, returns, and order actions via Shopify data.

  • Gladly: plain English Guides for AI behavior; no developer required
  • Gorgias: Rules engine for ticket routing; AI Agent for Shopify order actions
  • Gorgias: AI Agent resolves ~60% of common ecommerce queries claimed
headset

Support Quality

Gladly provides dedicated account management. Gorgias support quality is rated positively but response times criticized on smaller plans.

  • Gladly: dedicated account management included; enterprise-grade support
  • Gorgias: email support standard; success manager from Advanced plan only
  • Gorgias reviews note slow email support on lower-tier plans
blocks

Integration Ecosystem

Gorgias leads on e-commerce ecosystem depth with 150+ apps. Gladly focuses on Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, and workforce management tools.

  • Gorgias: Shopify, Klaviyo, Loop Returns, Recharge, Yotpo, 150+ total
  • Gladly: Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, Salesforce, workforce mgmt
  • Gorgias: AI Agent only for Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento (no WooCommerce)

Product Overview

Understanding what each platform offers
Gladly

Gladly

People-first, ticket-free enterprise CX platform

Gladly is a ticket-free customer service AI platform trusted by premium B2C brands including Nordstrom, Crate and Barrel, Ulta Beauty, TUMI, and Allbirds. Founded in 2014 in San Francisco, it raised $208M total and $40M in Series E funding in Sep 2024. At its core is a continuous lifelong conversation model where every customer has one thread across all channels, never a ticket number.

Founded
Founded
2014
Revenue
Revenue
~$34.8M (est.)
Employees
Employees
~238
Ownership
Ownership
Private VC ($208M raised)
Gorgias

Gorgias

Ecommerce-native conversational AI helpdesk for DTC brands

Gorgias is the dominant helpdesk for DTC and Shopify brands, serving 15,000+ merchants including Steve Madden, Glossier, BrüMate, and TUSHY. Founded in 2015 in San Francisco, it raised $104M total including $29M in May 2024. Its ticket-volume pricing model means unlimited agents on most plans, and its AI Agent automates up to 60% of ecommerce support queries natively within the Shopify ecosystem.

Founded
Founded
2015
Revenue
Revenue
[NOT PUBLICLY DISCLOSED]
Employees
Employees
~450
Ownership
Ownership
Private VC ($104M raised)

Feature by Feature Comparison

Deep dive into how each platform performs across key areas
Gladly

Gladly

Gladly

  • No-code setup; plain English Guides to train AI without developers
  • Deploys in days; templates based on 240M+ conversations and 10+ years
  • 100% of G2 reviewers rated 4 or 5 stars (Winter 2024 G2 reports)
  • No free trial; demo-led sales process required before purchase
Gladly

Gladly

Gladly

  • Hero: ~$180/user/mo (annual, 10-seat min); Superhero: ~$210/user/mo (45-seat min)
  • Voice usage: $0.06216/min; SMS and toll-free calls billed separately
  • Sidekick AI: ~$0.60/conversation; onboarding fees not included in base
Gladly

Gladly

Gladly

  • No-code Guides teach AI brand voice and escalation rules in plain English
  • Journeys: visual AI performance tracking across all channels
  • Sidekick handles returns, order tracking, refunds end-to-end autonomously
Gladly

Gladly

Gladly

  • Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, Salesforce, workforce management tools
  • REST APIs for custom workflow extensions and CRM data ingestion
  • Sidekick App Store for self-service automations via third-party apps
Gladly

Gladly

Gladly

  • SOC 2, GDPR, CCPA compliant; enterprise-grade security standard
  • SAML/SSO for enterprise identity management
  • 99.9%+ uptime; enterprise SLAs included in higher packages
Gladly

Gladly

Gladly

  • Dedicated account management included at Hero level and above
  • 94% of G2 users would recommend Gladly (Winter 2024)
  • Learning and training website with certification courses for agents
Gladly

Gladly

Gladly

  • Insight Builder: custom reports for any business question without SQL
  • Liveboards: real-time contact center performance and agent status
  • Topics trending; SLA tracking; agent productivity metrics out of the box
Gladly

Gladly

Gladly

  • Role-based access; dedicated Hero for VIP customer routing
  • Task User and Analyst User roles at separate billing rates
  • Capacity planning; proactive outreach and scheduling tools built in
Gladly

Gladly

Gladly

  • No-code setup; plain English Guides to train AI without developers
  • Deploys in days; templates based on 240M+ conversations and 10+ years
  • 100% of G2 reviewers rated 4 or 5 stars (Winter 2024 G2 reports)
  • No free trial; demo-led sales process required before purchase
Gorgias

Gorgias

Gorgias

  • 7-day free trial; Shopify connects in minutes via guided checklist
  • Intuitive interface; praised for fast agent onboarding in reviews
  • Some users note UI complexity with advanced rules and reporting

Bottom line: Gorgias is faster to start with its free trial and Shopify wizard. Gladly deploys in days but requires a sales-led demo process.

Gladly

Gladly

Gladly

  • Hero: ~$180/user/mo (annual, 10-seat min); Superhero: ~$210/user/mo (45-seat min)
  • Voice usage: $0.06216/min; SMS and toll-free calls billed separately
  • Sidekick AI: ~$0.60/conversation; onboarding fees not included in base
Gorgias

Gorgias

Gorgias

  • Starter: $10/mo (50 tickets); Basic: $60/mo (300 tickets); Pro: $360/mo (2K tickets)
  • AI Agent billed separately: $0.90/resolution (annual) on top of helpdesk ticket
  • Overages: $0.36-$0.40/ticket; seasonal spikes can double monthly bill

Bottom line: Gorgias has a lower entry floor but costs scale unpredictably at volume. Gladly's high per-agent cost suits mature enterprise teams only.

Gladly

Gladly

Gladly

  • No-code Guides teach AI brand voice and escalation rules in plain English
  • Journeys: visual AI performance tracking across all channels
  • Sidekick handles returns, order tracking, refunds end-to-end autonomously
Gorgias

Gorgias

Gorgias

  • Rules engine for ticket tagging, routing, and auto-reply automation
  • AI Agent: WISMO, returns, refunds, order edits, subscription management
  • Revenue attribution: track sales generated via support chats and SMS

Bottom line: Both automate Tier 1 order queries well. Gorgias revenue attribution and Shopify action depth are stronger for DTC growth teams.

Gladly

Gladly

Gladly

  • Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, Salesforce, workforce management tools
  • REST APIs for custom workflow extensions and CRM data ingestion
  • Sidekick App Store for self-service automations via third-party apps
Gorgias

Gorgias

Gorgias

  • 150+ apps: Shopify, Klaviyo, Loop Returns, Recharge, Yotpo, AfterShip, Attentive
  • AI Agent actions only on Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento (no WooCommerce)
  • App store built specifically for DTC ecommerce stack integrations

Bottom line: Gorgias leads on DTC ecommerce ecosystem breadth. Gladly integrates more deeply with enterprise CRM and workforce tools.

Gladly

Gladly

Gladly

  • SOC 2, GDPR, CCPA compliant; enterprise-grade security standard
  • SAML/SSO for enterprise identity management
  • 99.9%+ uptime; enterprise SLAs included in higher packages
Gorgias

Gorgias

Gorgias

  • SOC 2, GDPR; Certified B Corporation for sustainable practices
  • Role-based access controls; RBAC for team and data management
  • Standard cloud security; no GovCloud or HIPAA mentioned publicly

Bottom line: Both meet standard enterprise compliance. Gladly's enterprise SLAs and SAML SSO offer stronger governance for large organizations.

Gladly

Gladly

Gladly

  • Dedicated account management included at Hero level and above
  • 94% of G2 users would recommend Gladly (Winter 2024)
  • Learning and training website with certification courses for agents
Gorgias

Gorgias

Gorgias

  • Email support standard; dedicated success manager from Advanced ($900/mo)
  • G2 reviews note slow response times from Gorgias support team
  • Active community; B Corp certified; 15,000-brand ecosystem for peer learning

Bottom line: Gladly includes dedicated account management. Gorgias restricts premium support access to high-spend Advanced/Enterprise plans.

Gladly

Gladly

Gladly

  • Insight Builder: custom reports for any business question without SQL
  • Liveboards: real-time contact center performance and agent status
  • Topics trending; SLA tracking; agent productivity metrics out of the box
Gorgias

Gorgias

Gorgias

  • Revenue statistics: track sales driven by support chats (Pro plan+)
  • CSAT reporting, response time, and ticket volume dashboards
  • Advanced automation stats; AI resolution rate tracking on all plans

Bottom line: Gorgias revenue attribution is unique for DTC growth tracking. Gladly's Liveboards and custom Insight Builder suit contact center operations better.

Gladly

Gladly

Gladly

  • Role-based access; dedicated Hero for VIP customer routing
  • Task User and Analyst User roles at separate billing rates
  • Capacity planning; proactive outreach and scheduling tools built in
Gorgias

Gorgias

Gorgias

  • Unlimited agent seats on Basic and above; no per-seat governance cost
  • Role-based ticket views and inbox filters per agent
  • API rate limits cap at 40-80 requests/20 sec on standard plans

Bottom line: Gorgias's unlimited seats simplify team scaling. Gladly's multi-role billing model suits contact centers needing granular workforce control.

Pricing & Value Breakdown

Transparent comparison of costs and what's included: Gladly vs Gorgias

Plan Tier Plan Tier
Gladly Gladly
Gorgias Gorgias

Free/Entry

No free plan; no free trial; demo required before access

Starter: $10/mo (50 tickets, 3 seats only); 7-day free trial

Mid-Tier

No mid-tier; Hero starts ~$180/user/mo with 10-seat minimum

Basic: $60/mo (300 tickets); unlimited agents; Shopify, Klaviyo, 150+ integrations

Professional

Hero: ~$180/user/mo (annual, 10-seat min); full omnichannel, voice, SMS, AI

Pro: $360/mo (2,000 tickets); revenue stats, 600 AI Agent interactions included

Enterprise

Superhero: ~$210/user/mo (45-seat min); advanced capacity and features

Advanced: $900/mo (5,000 tickets); dedicated email server, 2,500 AI interactions

Unlimited Agent

Not available; per-agent model; Sidekick AI ~$0.60/conversation extra

No per-seat pricing on Basic+; entire team included in ticket-volume plan

AI Pricing Deep Dive

See which AI capabilities are included vs charged as extras: Gladly vs Gorgias

AI Capability AI Capability
Gladly Gladly
Gorgias Gorgias

AI Agent Assistance

Customer AI included; assists agents with context and reply drafts

Suggested replies via rules/macros included; AI Copilot add-on

Ticket Summarization

AI summarization built into platform; no separate fee

AI ticket summarization via AI Agent (billed per resolution)

Response Generation

AI response generation included in Gladly AI platform

AI reply drafts via Automate features; Pro plan includes 600 AI interactions

Intelligent Routing

People-match routing; AI routes to best-fit agent by skill and history

Automated rules-based routing included; AI-powered routing on Pro+

Sentiment Analysis

Included; emotional intelligence and sentiment part of core AI

[VERIFY] Sentiment detection via rules; no native AI sentiment scoring

Conversational AI/Chatbot

Sidekick/Gladly AI resolves conversations end-to-end; ~$0.60/conversation

AI Agent resolves WISMO, returns, refunds, order edits autonomously

Pay-per-Resolution

~$0.60/conversation for fully automated AI resolution via Sidekick

$0.90/resolution (annual); $1.00/resolution (monthly); billed separately from helpdesk

Hidden Costs Comparison

The real cost of Gladly vs Gorgias: what's included and what costs extra

Features Features
Gladly Gladly
Gorgias Gorgias

Voice/phone

Billed per minute; $0.06216/min active; toll-free calls extra

Voice add-on; $1.20/ticket entry rate (volume discounts available)

SMS

Billed separately per message; not in base per-agent price

SMS tickets billed at platform rates; voice/SMS both add-on costs

AI resolution

Sidekick AI ~$0.60/conversation; separate from base plan

AI Agent double-billed: helpdesk ticket + $0.90-$1.00 resolution fee

Onboarding

Custom quote; implementation not included in base pricing

Free trial + self-serve setup; dedicated success manager on Advanced only

Seasonal spikes

Per-agent pricing means costs stay stable during volume spikes

Overages: $0.36-$0.40/ticket; BFCM can 2-3x monthly bill

Agent seats

10-seat minimum for Hero; 45-seat min for Superhero

Unlimited agents on Basic+; no per-seat scaling costs

Support tier

Dedicated account management included at Hero level

Email support standard; success manager from $900/mo Advanced plan

Industry-Specific Use Cases

Find the right platform for your industry

Features Features
Front Front
Hiver Hiver
Verdict Verdict

SaaS / Tech Companies

Strong: omnichannel; Salesforce, HubSpot, Jira integrations; 9,000+ tech customers

Strong: Gmail-first SaaS teams; Harvard, HubSpot, Canva, Shutterstock users

Front for omnichannel SaaS; Hiver for Gmail-first SaaS teams

E-commerce / Retail

Strong: Shopify integration; SMS and chat for order support; ClickUp uses Front

Moderate: no Shopify native; suitable for Gmail-centric retail operations

Front wins on e-commerce channel breadth; Hiver if Gmail-only

Healthcare / BFSI

Moderate: SOC 2 compliant; HIPAA not clearly available on standard plans

Strong: HIPAA on Elite; ISO 27001; Okta SSO; ideal for health-tech teams

Hiver wins on HIPAA accessibility; Front requires plan verification

Education / K-12 / Universities

Moderate: no free plan; Starter pricing accessible; Harvard not listed as customer

Strong: free plan; Harvard University uses Hiver; easy Gmail adoption

Hiver wins on free plan and Harvard-endorsed ease of use

IT Services / MSPs

Moderate: Jira integration; no ITSM asset management capabilities

Moderate: Jira and ServiceNow integrated; no native ITSM asset management

Tie: both cover core IT integrations; neither has full ITSM depth

Non-profit / Government

Moderate: no listed nonprofit discounts; Starter accessible for small teams

Strong: nonprofit discounts available; free plan suits small nonprofit teams

Hiver wins on free plan and nonprofit discounts

Manufacturing / Logistics

Strong: logistics sector focus; Uber Freight and Reed Mackay use Front

Limited: not primarily targeted at manufacturing; Gmail-dependency limits IoT use

Front wins clearly for logistics and travel verticals

Switching to HappyFox from Gladly or Gorgias

The 4-Step Process (2-5 Weeks Total)
1

Export & Assessment

2-5 Days

Export and assess your current setup.

  • All tickets, contacts, and profiles
  • Knowledge base articles and macros
  • SLA policies and team structure
  • Custom fields, tags, and historical data
2

Config & Mapping

3-7 Days

Configure HappyFox and map your data.

  • Ticket categories, statuses and SLAs
  • Team structure and roles
  • Email routing and channels
  • Automation rules and branding
3

Automation Setup

2-5 Days

Set up automation rules and workflows.

  • Ticket routing and escalation rules
  • SLA timers and business hour calendars
  • Smart rules, canned responses, and macros
  • Integration connections and webhook triggers
4

Testing & Go-Live

5-10 Days

Test thoroughly and go live with confidence.

  • End-to-end ticket flow testing
  • Agent training and onboarding sessions
  • Parallel running period (optional)
  • Go-live with HappyFox support on standby

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum cost to use Gladly?
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Gladly's Hero plan starts at approximately $180 per user per month with a 10-seat annual minimum, meaning the true entry cost is around $1,800 per month or $21,600 per year. Voice and SMS are billed separately on top of this base cost.
How does Gorgias AI Agent billing work?
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Gorgias charges for each AI-resolved conversation at $0.90 per resolution on annual plans. This fee applies in addition to the standard helpdesk ticket cost, meaning fully automated interactions are effectively double-billed. Pro plans include 600 AI interactions before additional charges apply.
Is Gladly or Gorgias better for Shopify stores?
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Gorgias is the stronger choice for Shopify stores at virtually every scale. Its native Shopify integration lets agents view order history and take actions like refunds and cancellations directly inside tickets. Gladly also integrates with Shopify but is primarily designed for larger enterprise retail brands.
Does Gorgias work for non-Shopify ecommerce?
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Yes, but with limitations. Gorgias integrates with BigCommerce and Magento in addition to Shopify. However, its AI Agent automation only functions on Shopify, BigCommerce, and Magento. WooCommerce stores cannot use AI Agent features, limiting autonomous resolution capabilities for that segment.
Which platform handles voice support better?
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Gladly is the stronger platform for voice-heavy contact centers. Voice is natively built into Gladly with IVR, skills-based routing, and proactive voice capabilities. Gorgias supports voice as a paid add-on starting at $1.20 per ticket, best suited for lower-volume phone support alongside digital channels.

Why settle for either? See what HappyFox offers.

Custom demo + side-by-side comparison + cost savings analysis

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