Gorgias Pricing vs Alternatives in 2026
The expensive plan is the one where humans still touch every order-status email.
The expensive plan is the one where humans still touch every order-status email.
Who this is for
Shopify operators shortlisting a helpdesk or an AI layer this quarter.
The actual problem
The expensive plan is the one where humans still touch every order-status email. The comparison that matters is not the feature grid. It is a test order.
Vendors sell inboxes, bots and 'AI'. Your customer wants a refund or a tracking fact. Score the tool on that.
The playbook
- List the five ticket types that are most of your volume.
- Ask each vendor to handle those five on a live or cloned Shopify store.
- Write down whether a human still clicked. That is the scorecard.
- Add seat cost, automation add-ons and overages at your real ticket count.
- Keep the inbox you have if the agent can sit on top. Migrations are optional.
Rules the agent should follow
- Do not buy a second inbox 'just to try AI'. You will lose transcripts.
- Do not compare list prices without billable-ticket definitions.
- Do not let a chat demo substitute for a refund demo.
Mistakes that keep the queue full
- Choosing the tool your agency already knows, then hiring people to finish the work.
- Ignoring Shopify Plus / Markets / B2B needs until after the annual contract.
- Forgetting that macros rot when you change the return window.
What to measure
Human touches per 100 tickets after 30 days on the new stack. That is the migration KPI.
FAQ
Should I switch helpdesks to get AI? Not first. Add an agent that works on the tickets you already have. Switch later if the inbox itself is the constraint.
What is the fastest proof? A 14-day trial on real WISMO and in-policy refunds. Not a sandbox with fake SKUs.
Does Relay replace Gorgias? Relay closes the tickets. Some brands keep a light inbox for the leftovers. Some do not need the leftover pile.
What about data export? Export macros and tags. Do not worship the old folder names.
Run the same five tickets through Relay's trial. Keep the vendor that actually closes them.
