Gladly vs Kayako
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Gladly | Kayako |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $180/seat/mo | From $79/seat/mo |
| Best For | Enterprise brands wanting people-centered customer service | Traditional businesses focused on email and phone support |
| Standout Feature | Unified customer timeline showing all interactions across channels | Comprehensive knowledge base with customer portal |
| Free Plan | ✗ | ✗ |
| G2 Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.2 |
Gladly and Kayako represent different generations of customer support platforms. Gladly offers modern, conversation-centric support with premium pricing, while Kayako provides traditional helpdesk functionality with competitive rates and solid reliability.
The choice typically depends on whether you prioritize cutting-edge conversation management or proven helpdesk workflows at accessible prices.
Feature Comparison
Gladly's conversation-first approach eliminates ticket fragmentation by treating each customer as a person with ongoing dialogue across all channels. This creates seamless experiences but requires agent training on new workflows.
Kayako offers familiar helpdesk functionality with ticket management, knowledge base, and multi-channel support. Its interface follows traditional support patterns that most agents understand immediately.
Gladly innovates on customer experience, while Kayako focuses on reliable execution of established support practices.
Pricing Comparison
The pricing gap is substantial. Gladly costs $180-$210 per user monthly, targeting enterprises willing to pay premium prices for advanced conversation management.
Kayako's $15-$35 per agent monthly pricing makes it one of the more affordable options in the market. A 10-agent team would pay $150-$350 monthly with Kayako versus $1,800-$2,100 with Gladly.
This 5-12x price difference makes Kayako attractive for cost-conscious teams, while Gladly appeals to organizations prioritizing innovation over budget.
Gladly
Pros
- ✓ People-centered approach
- ✓ Unified customer timeline
- ✓ All channels in one view
Cons
- ✗ Very expensive
- ✗ Enterprise-focused
- ✗ Overkill for small teams
Kayako
Pros
- ✓ Comprehensive multi-channel support
- ✓ Strong knowledge base functionality
- ✓ Good reporting capabilities
Cons
- ✗ Per-agent pricing gets expensive
- ✗ Limited social media integrations
- ✗ Complex setup for advanced features
Verdict
Choose Gladly if you need advanced omnichannel capabilities and can invest in premium support technology. Choose Kayako if you want reliable helpdesk functionality with traditional workflows.
Choose Gladly if: You're an enterprise seeking cutting-edge conversation management, have substantial budget, and want to differentiate through superior customer experience.
Choose Kayako if: You need reliable helpdesk functionality, have budget constraints, or prefer traditional support workflows with proven effectiveness.
Alternative: Consider Converge at $49/month flat rate for teams wanting modern customer support without per-agent pricing or enterprise complexity.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Gladly comparisons and all Kayako comparisons.