Gorgias vs Kayako: Complete Comparison (2026)

Updated: March 12, 20268 min read

Choosing between Gorgias and Kayako is a common decision for customer support buyers in 2026. Kayako has been in the market since 2001, giving it a 14-year head start over Gorgias (founded 2015). Gorgias serves 14K+ orgs users while Kayako has 35K+ orgs users globally. Gorgias differentiates with shopify integration and automation macros, while Kayako leads with unified customer view and live chat. In this head-to-head comparison, Gorgias earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 92/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.

🛍️
Gorgias
Customer Support
92
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED
VS
🛶
Kayako
Customer Support
82
hiltonsoftware.co Score

Quick Comparison

Gorgias
Kayako
Starting Price
$10/mo
$30/agent/mo
Free Plan
No
No
Users
14K+ orgs
35K+ orgs
Founded
2015
2001
Rating
4.6/5
4.1/5
Best For
E-commerce brands on Shopify wanting support with ...
SMBs wanting affordable help desk with a unified c...

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

GorgiasKayako
90Ease of Use84
92Features88
93Value for Money75
85Customer Support79
90Integrations82
89Scalability82
92Learning Curve82

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Gorgias
+Best helpdesk for e-commerce
+Deep Shopify data in tickets
-Not suited for non-e-commerce
-Per-ticket pricing can surprise
Kayako
+Good unified customer journey view
+Reasonable pricing
-Interface feels dated
-Less feature-rich than Zendesk
AI Verdict

After comparing Gorgias and Kayako across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Gorgias takes the lead with a score of 92/100 versus Kayako's 82/100. Gorgias's key advantages include "best helpdesk for e-commerce" and "deep shopify data in tickets". That said, Kayako has its own strengths — particularly "good unified customer journey view" — making it a viable alternative for specific use cases.

Neither Gorgias nor Kayako offers a free plan. Gorgias starts at $10/mo and Kayako at $30/agent/mo. For the investment, Gorgias delivers shopify integration and automation macros, while Kayako provides unified customer view and live chat.

Bottom line: Choose Gorgias if you need e-commerce brands on shopify wanting support with full order context. Go with Kayako if your priority is smbs wanting affordable help desk with a unified customer interaction view. Both are strong customer support tools — we recommend trying a trial of each before committing.

CHOOSE GORGIAS IF:

E-commerce brands on Shopify wanting support with full order context.

CHOOSE KAYAKO IF:

SMBs wanting affordable help desk with a unified customer interaction view.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gorgias better than Kayako in 2026?
Gorgias scores 92/100 on hiltonsoftware.co compared to Kayako's 82/100. Gorgias stands out for "best helpdesk for e-commerce" and is best for E-commerce brands on Shopify wanting support with full order context. Kayako is known for "good unified customer journey view" and suits SMBs wanting affordable help desk with a unified customer interaction view. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Gorgias and Kayako?
Both offer paid-only plans. Gorgias starts at $10/mo and Kayako at $30/agent/mo. When comparing value, consider that Gorgias (founded 2015, 14K+ orgs users) includes features like Shopify integration, Automation macros, Order management. Kayako (founded 2001, 35K+ orgs users) offers Unified customer view, Live chat, Help center. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Gorgias and Kayako?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Gorgias excels at Shopify integration, Automation macros, Order management, while Kayako focuses on Unified customer view, Live chat, Help center. Gorgias's main advantage is "best helpdesk for e-commerce", though some users note "not suited for non-e-commerce". Kayako's strength is "good unified customer journey view", but "interface feels dated" can be a drawback. Both serve the Customer Support market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Gorgias to Kayako?
Switching between Gorgias and Kayako is possible since both operate in the Customer Support space. Before migrating, export your data from Gorgias and check Kayako's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Shopify integration, Automation macros, Order management (Gorgias) vs Unified customer view, Live chat, Help center (Kayako). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Gorgias or Kayako?
Both tools require paid subscriptions (Gorgias: $10/mo, Kayako: $30/agent/mo), so evaluate based on features. Gorgias is ideal for E-commerce brands on Shopify wanting support with full order context, while Kayako fits SMBs wanting affordable help desk with a unified customer interaction view. Try both during their trial periods to see which fits your team's workflow.

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