Gadget

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.

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

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

• Full-stack development platform
• JavaScript application hosting
• Shopify app development
• Backend infrastructure platform
• AI-assisted app development

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core 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

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability6 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Google CloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationGoogle 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.
• OpenAIcoreTechnology or IntegrationGadget 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.
• ShopifyflagshipTechnology or IntegrationDeep 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.
• BigCommercecoreTechnology or IntegrationNative BigCommerce integration with auto-registered webhooks, OAuth authentication, and built-in webhook triggers for backend actions. Enables building custom and public BigCommerce apps.
• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationBuilt-in Stripe billing integration with customizable plan selection pages. Supports one-time billing, recurring billing, and usage-based pricing models out of the box.
• UncapminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/gadget_dev
• GitHubgithub.com/gadget-inc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@gadget_dev
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gadget-dev

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gadget