Gorgias vs Willdesk: which is better for a small store in 2026?
Willdesk is the better pick for a small Shopify store that wants a helpdesk with order tracking on a small budget: Free covers 20 conversations with unlimited agents, Basic is $16.90/mo for 100 conversations across up to 3 stores, and Pro is $89.90/mo for 1,000 conversations, with overages per 100 conversations, tracked orders and AI conversations. Gorgias is the better pick for a store with a real support team and higher volume that wants a mature multichannel inbox with macros, rules and SLAs: Starter is $40/mo for 50 tickets, Basic $90/mo for 300, Pro $550/mo for 2,000, never priced per agent, with the AI Agent at $1.50 per automated interaction past the allowance. Small store, small budget, order questions: Willdesk. Support team, more channels, more volume: Gorgias.
Chatonbo is the third option when you do not need a ticketing helpdesk, only an AI assistant on the storefront that answers from your whole site, shows product cards with pictures, adds to cart inside the chat and tracks orders through the official Shopify app: Free, Pro $19/mo for 5,000 conversations or Business $59/mo for 10,000, with no overage meters.
Gorgias vs Willdesk vs Chatonbo at a glance
Prices are as listed on each vendor's own pricing page on the dates in the note below. Where a page does not state something, we say so instead of guessing.
| Gorgias | Willdesk | Chatonbo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Tiered by ticket volume: Starter $40/mo (50 tickets), Basic $90/mo (300), Pro $550/mo (2,000), Advanced $1,430/mo (5,000); never priced per agent* | Shopify app, tiered by conversations: Free $0 (20 conversations, 1 store), Basic $16.90/mo (100 conversations, 3 stores), Pro $89.90/mo (1,000 conversations); overages per 100 conversations, tracked orders and AI conversations* | Flat monthly: Free, Pro $19/mo, Business $59/mo. No per-seat or per-resolution fees |
| Entry price | Starter $40/mo: 50 tickets, 30 automated interactions, 3 seats* | Free (20 conversations, 1 store); Basic $16.90/mo or $141.96/year* | Free plan; Pro $19/mo with AI included |
| At 5,000 conversations a month | Advanced, $1,430/mo for 5,000 tickets and 530 automated interactions; AI Agent $1.50 per automated interaction past that* | Pro includes 1,000 conversations; 4,000 more at $10 per 100 is $400, so about $489.90/mo before AI conversation fees ($200 per 1,000 AI conversations on Pro) and tracked-order overage ($4 per 100)* | Pro $19/mo covers 5,000 conversations a month; Business $59/mo covers 10,000. A busy month costs the same as a quiet one |
| AI answers from your own content | AI Agent on every plan, metered per automated interaction (30 included on Starter and Basic, then $1.50 each)* | AI learning on up to 1,000 products; GPT-4 automation for order tracking, returns, cancellations and address updates; AI conversations metered* | Yes, drafted from your website URL, documents and product catalog; AI included on every plan |
| Shopify add to cart in chat | Not listed on the pricing page | Product recommendations listed; add to cart inside the chat is not stated on the listing* | Yes: product cards with pictures and add to cart inside the chat (official Shopify app) |
| Order tracking | Order data in the agent inbox; AI order handling counts as automated interactions | Yes: included on Free, 100 tracked orders on Basic, 1,000 on Pro, then $4 per 100* | Yes, shoppers get order status inside the chat (official Shopify app) |
| Languages | Multilingual support available; not itemized on the pricing page | Not itemized on the listing | 50+ languages |
| Setup time | Helpdesk onboarding: channels, rules, macros | Shopify app install plus helpdesk and help center setup | About 2 minutes from a website URL; official Shopify and Wix apps, WordPress/WooCommerce plugin |
| Free plan | No permanent free plan; free trial without a credit card* | Yes: 20 conversations, 1 store, unlimited agents; 7-day trial on paid plans* | Yes, plus a 30-day free trial on paid plans |
| Human handoff | Full helpdesk inbox for a team: email, chat, social, SMS and voice; not priced per agent* | Live chat with unlimited agents on every plan* | Yes, human handoff and lead capture with a simple inbox; not a multichannel ticketing helpdesk |
*Gorgias: gorgias.com/pricing as viewed on September 11, 2026, monthly billing. Willdesk: apps.shopify.com/self-faq listing as viewed on September 11, 2026. Both vendors may change pricing; check their sites for current terms.
Two-way breakdowns: Chatonbo vs Gorgias and Chatonbo vs Willdesk.
When to pick Gorgias
A support team works tickets all day
Gorgias is a full multichannel helpdesk with macros, rules, SLAs and reporting, and it is never priced per agent. Willdesk also lists unlimited agents, but Gorgias is the deeper ticketing product.
Volume is in the thousands of tickets
Gorgias Pro is $550/mo for 2,000 tickets and Advanced is $1,430/mo for 5,000. Willdesk Pro includes 1,000 conversations and then bills $10 per 100.
You want voice and SMS in the same inbox
Gorgias lists email, chat, social, SMS and voice. The Willdesk listing mentions live chat, contact form, email and social integration.
You want a known AI unit price at scale
Gorgias AI Agent is $1.50 per automated interaction past the allowance (530 included on Advanced).
Thinking of leaving Gorgias? Read the honest Gorgias alternative page.
When to pick Willdesk
You want a free or very cheap helpdesk
Willdesk Free covers 20 conversations and Basic is $16.90/mo for 100. Gorgias has no free plan and Starter is $40/mo for 50 tickets.
Order tracking is the main question you get
Order tracking is included on Willdesk Free, with 100 tracked orders on Basic and 1,000 on Pro, then $4 per 100. The GPT-4 automation covers order tracking, returns, cancellations and address updates.
You run up to 3 Shopify stores
Willdesk Basic covers 3 stores for $16.90/mo. Gorgias plans are sized by tickets rather than stores.
You want unlimited agents from day one
Every Willdesk plan lists unlimited agents, including Free. Gorgias Starter lists 3 seats.
Thinking of leaving Willdesk? Read the honest Willdesk alternative page.
When Chatonbo is the better fit
Chatonbo is an AI assistant that answers from your own website, documents and catalog at a flat price: Free, Pro $19/month or Business $59/month, with no per-seat or per-resolution fees and a 30-day free trial on paid plans.
The chat should sell, not only track orders
With the official Shopify app the assistant shows product cards with pictures, adds items to the cart inside the chat and tracks orders. One US massage chair store saw $107,725 in orders over seven weeks from shoppers who chatted first.
No overage meters
Willdesk bills per 100 conversations, per 100 tracked orders and per AI conversation; Gorgias bills per ticket and per automated interaction past the allowance. Chatonbo Pro is $19/mo for 5,000 conversations and Business is $59/mo for 10,000, flat.
Answers from your whole site
Chatonbo drafts the assistant from your website URL, policies and documents in about 2 minutes, not only the product catalog. Human handoff and lead capture are included.
Not only Shopify
Official Wix app and WordPress/WooCommerce plugin, and the assistant answers in 50+ languages.
When Chatonbo is not the fit
We would rather you pick the right tool than sign up and leave. These are the cases where Gorgias or Willdesk is the better choice.
You need full helpdesk ticketing
Chatonbo has a simple inbox with human handoff and lead capture. Gorgias and Willdesk are both helpdesks with email and social integration and a help center; Chatonbo is not.
You want returns, cancellations and address changes automated
The Willdesk listing describes AI automation for returns, cancellations and address updates. Chatonbo tracks orders and helps shoppers buy; it does not process returns or edit addresses.
A large support team lives in the inbox
Assignment rules, SLAs and agent reporting are Gorgias strengths. Chatonbo can run on the storefront in front of a helpdesk but does not replace one.
You automate Instagram or Messenger
Chatonbo is website chat with a WhatsApp fallback. For social DM automation see the ManyChat comparison on our alternatives page.
Comparing more tools? See every comparison on the alternatives page or the head-to-head index.
Gorgias vs Willdesk FAQ
Is Willdesk or Gorgias cheaper?
Willdesk is cheaper at low volume: Free covers 20 conversations, Basic is $16.90/mo for 100 and Pro is $89.90/mo for 1,000, with overages of $12 or $10 per 100 conversations, $4 per 100 tracked orders and metered AI conversations. Gorgias starts at $40/mo for 50 tickets, $90/mo for 300 and $550/mo for 2,000, with $0.40 per extra ticket on the smaller plans and $1.50 per AI automated interaction past the allowance. Chatonbo is a flat $19/mo for 5,000 conversations.
Do both track orders in chat?
Willdesk includes order tracking on every plan (100 tracked orders on Basic, 1,000 on Pro, then $4 per 100). Gorgias shows order data to agents in the inbox and its AI Agent can handle order questions as automated interactions. Chatonbo shows order status to the shopper inside the chat through its official Shopify app, with no per-order fee.
Which one has more AI?
Willdesk lists GPT-4 automation for order tracking, returns, cancellations and address updates, with AI learning on up to 1,000 products and AI conversations metered ($20 per 100 on Basic, $200 per 1,000 on Pro). Gorgias includes its AI Agent on every plan at $1.50 per automated interaction past the allowance. Chatonbo answers every conversation with AI trained on your whole website, included in the flat price.
Do Gorgias or Willdesk have free plans?
Willdesk has a free plan (20 conversations, 1 store, unlimited agents) and a 7-day trial on paid plans. Gorgias has no permanent free plan, only a free trial without a credit card. Chatonbo has a free plan and a 30-day free trial on paid plans.
Can Chatonbo add products to the cart from the chat?
Yes. Through its official Shopify app the assistant shows product cards with pictures and adds items to the cart inside the chat. The Willdesk listing mentions product recommendations but does not state add to cart inside the chat, and Gorgias does not list it on its pricing page.
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