Gadget
Gadget is a JavaScript development and hosting platform that lets developers and agencies build, deploy, and scale full-stack web apps—particularly for Shopify and BigCommerce—via auto-generated APIs, managed infrastructure, and an integrated AI Assistant.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersOttawa, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Gadget does
Gadget Software Inc. is a Canadian developer tools company (Ottawa, founded 2020) that operates a JavaScript development and hosting platform designed to eliminate the boilerplate infrastructure work involved in building full-stack web applications. The platform combines a hosted Node.js serverless backend, PostgreSQL database, React frontend hosting, auto-generated GraphQL and JavaScript APIs, authentication (email/password and Google SSO), Stripe billing, and a browser-based IDE under a single managed environment on Google Cloud. Its core value proposition is opinionated defaults plus escape hatches: developers can ship working apps quickly without configuring databases, auth, webhooks, or deployment pipelines, while retaining the ability to drop into custom code when needed.
Gadget's product surface is particularly deep for the Shopify and BigCommerce app ecosystems, where it provides auto-registered webhooks, OAuth, data sync, Shopify Polaris UI components, and adaptive rate-limit management for building custom or public merchant apps. It also offers an AI Assistant (launched Q1 2025) that helps developers build, debug, and extend apps via conversational prompts, AI-assisted onboarding that scaffolds models and configs, AI-assisted Shopify extension generation, an MCP server for building apps inside ChatGPT, a templates library, an API playground, embedded logging, and the Gelly data access language for computed fields.
The business model combines product-led growth with a four-tier subscription structure: a free Hobby tier, Pro at $35/month, Premium at $350/month, and custom Enterprise plans with bring-your-own-cloud options, custom SLAs, and cost-plus hosting. Usage-based credits for database operations, edge requests, file storage, and AI Assistant consumption drive expansion revenue, alongside add-ons for cold-start elimination ($10), Smart CDN ($20), execution capacity ($25), and custom domains. Distribution is primarily self-serve (app.gadget.dev) augmented by a Partner Program (Gadget Experts) targeting agencies, marketplace presence in the Shopify App Store and BigCommerce marketplace, and an active 836K+ member Discord developer community. The company has raised $8.5M in seed funding (December 2021) co-led by Sequoia Capital and Bessemer Venture Partners, and is privately held with 11–50 employees.
Gadget firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gadget
- Legal name
- Gadget Software Inc.
- Website
- https://gadget.dev
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Gadget is a JavaScript development and hosting platform that lets developers and agencies build, deploy, and scale full-stack web apps—particularly for Shopify and BigCommerce—via auto-generated APIs, managed infrastructure, and an integrated AI Assistant.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gadget industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Application Development Platform
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design Services (541512)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Game Engine & Creation Platforms (UGC/Modding) (BPAMAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Coding & Programming Learning Platforms (EDAFANAA)
Keywords
Where Gadget is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ottawa
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gadget business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Subscription Plans: Three-tier subscription model (Hobby free, Pro $35/month, Premium $350/month) with monthly billing cycles. Enterprise plans available with custom pricing, bring-your-own-cloud options, and cost-plus hosting.
- Usage-based Credits: Platform credits used for database operations (reads/writes), search operations, session requests, backend requests, webhooks, file uploads/downloads, and edge requests. Plans include monthly credit allocations with overage charges.
- Production Environment Add-ons: Additional production environments beyond plan limits at $10/environment. Additional storage (data, search, file) at per-GB rates. Additional CPU time beyond plan limits at $0.30/hour.
- App Add-ons: Optional add-ons including No cold starts ($10), Smart CDN ($20), Execution capacity ($25), and Custom domains for enhanced app performance and branding.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free tier for individual developers with limited resources |
| Subscription | Monthly | Mid-tier for growing teams and projects |
| Subscription | Monthly | High-end tier for professional teams |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Custom enterprise tier with dedicated infrastructure |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
Gadget product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gadget is a JavaScript development and hosting platform that provides a unified full-stack environment for building, running, and scaling web apps. The platform bundles a hosted Node.js backend, PostgreSQL database, React frontend, auto-generated GraphQL/JS APIs, cloud IDE, AI assistant, and native integrations with Shopify and BigCommerce under one roof. Developers can build, deploy, and scale production web applications without configuring separate infrastructure components.
Product overview
Gadget is a JavaScript development and hosting platform that provides a unified full-stack environment for building, running, and scaling web apps with AI. The core platform combines a hosted backend (Node.js serverless), PostgreSQL database, React frontend, auto-generated GraphQL/JS APIs, and cloud IDE under one roof. The platform includes specialized modules for Shopify and BigCommerce app development with native integrations, auto-registered webhooks, OAuth, and Polaris UI components. Additional capabilities include an AI Assistant for conversational development support, MCP server for ChatGPT integration, app templates for rapid project starts, authentication (email/password, Google SSO), Stripe billing, API playground, embedded logging, and data access language (Gelly) for computed fields. The platform is offered in Hobby (free), Pro ($35/month), and Premium ($350/month) tiers with add-ons for cold starts, CDN, execution capacity, and custom domains.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Gadget (Core Platform) A unified full-stack JavaScript development and hosting platform that bundles a Node.js serverless backend, PostgreSQL database, React frontend, auto-generated GraphQL APIs, cloud IDE, and AI-assisted development. Designed for agencies, app developers, ecommerce brands, and solo developers building production web apps, Shopify apps, BigCommerce apps, internal tools, integrations, and multi-tenant SaaS products.
- MCP Server for ChatGPT An instant MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that enables developers to build and run interactive apps inside ChatGPT using the Apps SDK and Model Context Protocol. Provides deployment infrastructure for OpenAI's MCP protocol.
- No Cold Starts Add-on
Quantifiable outcome
- 10x faster project delivery for agencies
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Gadget
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Gadget technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
AI capability6 records
Feature10 records
Gadget partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Google CloudcoreGoogle Cloud provides the underlying hosting infrastructure for Gadget's platform. All Gadget apps are hosted on GCP with managed database, serverless backend, and global edge delivery.
- OpenAIcoreGadget provides instant MCP server for building ChatGPT apps using OpenAI's Model Context Protocol. Gadget apps can be connected to OpenAI from day one with free credits using Gadget's API keys.
- ShopifyflagshipDeep native integration with Shopify including auto-registered webhooks, OAuth authentication, data synchronization, API rate limit management, and Polaris UI component support. Gadget enables building both custom and public Shopify apps.
- BigCommercecoreNative BigCommerce integration with auto-registered webhooks, OAuth authentication, and built-in webhook triggers for backend actions. Enables building custom and public BigCommerce apps.
- StripecoreBuilt-in Stripe billing integration with customizable plan selection pages. Supports one-time billing, recurring billing, and usage-based pricing models out of the box.
- UncapminorPartnership announced February 2025 to accelerate B2B ecommerce Shopify app development. Uncap connects with Gadget to provide development resources for Shopify merchants.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Gadget competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Supabase: Supabase is an open-source backend-as-a-service providing Postgres, auth, realtime, and storage with auto-generated APIs. Comparable to Gadget's hosted database + auto-generated APIs + auth stack for full-stack app development.
- Vercel: Vercel is a frontend cloud platform for JavaScript/React apps with auto-scaling, edge functions, and developer-focused DX. Directly comparable to Gadget as a JavaScript-first PaaS targeting developers building production web apps.
- Replit: Replit is a browser-based IDE and hosting platform with AI-assisted coding (Ghostwriter) and one-click deployment. Comparable to Gadget's cloud IDE, AI assistant, and integrated hosting targeting solo developers and teams.
- Render: Render is a unified cloud platform for hosting web apps, APIs, databases, and background workers. Comparable to Gadget's full-stack hosting (backend, database, frontend, jobs) with similar developer-friendly DX.
- Railway: Railway is a deployment platform for full-stack apps with managed databases, services, and cron jobs. Comparable infrastructure offering with developer-first pricing and quick deployment workflow.
- Netlify: Netlify is a web development platform with hosting, serverless functions, and edge capabilities. Comparable to Gadget's frontend hosting and serverless backend, with strong Jamstack/React ecosystem overlap.
Broad incumbents
- Firebase: Firebase is Google's BaaS offering database, auth, hosting, and serverless functions. Overlaps with Gadget's hosted backend, database, auth, and serverless scaling, with broader Google Cloud ecosystem reach.
- AWS Amplify: AWS Amplify is Amazon's full-stack development platform with hosting, auth, GraphQL APIs, and storage. Directly comparable feature set to Gadget with the added scale and trust of AWS.
- Heroku: Heroku is Salesforce's PaaS for deploying, managing, and scaling apps with add-on marketplace. Established incumbent in the same full-stack app hosting category Gadget competes in, though with older architecture.
Emerging players
- Builder.io: Builder.io provides visual CMS and headless content tools with deep e-commerce integrations. Comparable e-commerce-focused developer tooling with similar target audience of agencies and brands.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Gadget social profiles
Digital presenceGadget compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Gadget financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gadget leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Gadget funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gadget M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gadget
What does Gadget do?
Gadget is a JavaScript development and hosting platform that provides a unified full-stack environment for building, running, and scaling web apps. The platform bundles a hosted Node.js backend, PostgreSQL database, React frontend, auto-generated GraphQL/JS APIs, cloud IDE, AI assistant, and native integrations with Shopify and BigCommerce under one roof. Developers can build, deploy, and scale production web applications without configuring separate infrastructure components.
Is Gadget a public or private company?
Gadget is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Gadget founded?
Gadget was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Gadget based?
Gadget is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Gadget make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Subscription Plans are the primary driver. The others are usage-based Credits, production Environment Add-ons and app Add-ons.
Who are Gadget's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Supabase, Vercel, Replit, Render, Railway and Netlify. Broad incumbents are Firebase, AWS Amplify and Heroku. Builder.io is listed as an emerging player.
Does Gadget have an API?
Yes. Gadget auto-generates instant, typesafe APIs and client libraries for every backend and database. The platform provides GraphQL APIs with built-in playground for testing actions, and includes an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that enables developers to build and run apps inside ChatGPT. Developer documentation is at docs.gadget.dev.
What industry is Gadget in?
Gadget's product category is Application Development Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAKAE, Game Engine & Creation Platforms (UGC/Modding), with a secondary code of EDAFANAA, Coding & Programming Learning Platforms. Its NAICS code is 541512 and its SIC code is 7370.