Shopify Sidekick is a free AI admin assistant built into every Shopify store. Commerce GPT (now rebranded as Salesforce Agentforce Commerce) is an enterprise AI commerce platform starting at $2 per conversation. They both promise AI-powered ecommerce, but they serve fundamentally different merchants at completely different price points.
Online traffic from AI assistants grew 119% year-over-year in the first half of 2025 (Salesforce, 2025). Every ecommerce platform is racing to build AI into their tools, and merchants are stuck deciding which AI assistant actually fits their business. The answer depends on your store’s size, your existing tech stack, and your budget.
This guide compares both platforms feature by feature, breaks down real pricing scenarios, and tells you exactly which one to pick based on your situation.
What is Shopify Sidekick?
Shopify Sidekick is an AI-powered admin assistant built directly into the Shopify platform. It uses natural language to help merchants manage their store, generate content, analyze data, and build automations without coding or hiring specialists. Think of it as an AI co-pilot that knows everything about your specific store.
Sidekick is completely free across all Shopify plans, from Basic ($39/month) through Plus ($2,300/month). Over 1 million Shopify merchants worldwide have access to it (Shopify, 2026).
Here’s what Sidekick can do in 2026:
| Category | Capabilities |
|---|---|
| Store Management | Create discounts, manage products/collections, customer segmentation, step-by-step task guidance |
| Content Generation | Product descriptions, email copy, blog drafts, up to 5 image variations per prompt |
| Analytics | Sidekick Pulse proactive insights, custom reports via ShopifyQL, sales pattern analysis |
| Theme Customization | Edit any store element through natural language (“make this button rounded”) |
| Automation | Build Shopify Flow workflows by describing what you want |
| Advanced | Custom app generation, Sidekick Skills (saveable/shareable prompts), voice assistance |
The Winter ’26 Edition brought major upgrades including full-screen mode, chat memory that preserves your preferences, mobile voice chat, and contextual help that changes based on where you are in the admin.
For a deep dive into everything Sidekick can do, check out our full Shopify Sidekick guide.
What is Commerce GPT (Agentforce Commerce)?
Commerce GPT was Salesforce’s original AI commerce branding, launched as part of the Einstein GPT family. In late 2025, Salesforce rebranded it as Agentforce Commerce, positioning it as the commerce arm of their broader Agentforce AI agent platform. When people search for “Commerce GPT,” they’re looking for this product.
Agentforce Commerce is an enterprise AI platform that spans digital commerce, point-of-sale (POS), and order management. It’s built for large retailers running on Salesforce Commerce Cloud, not for independent Shopify merchants.
| Category | Capabilities |
|---|---|
| Guided Shopping | Conversational commerce with rich product pages, 2x performance speed |
| Order Routing | Autonomous fulfillment optimization across complex networks |
| Merchandising | Natural language catalog management (“boost new arrivals”) |
| POS Actions | In-store AI-guided shopping and clienteling tools |
| Cross-Channel | Integrated with Sales, Service, Marketing, Revenue Ops |
| AI Shopping | Google UCP integration, ChatGPT merchant connectivity |
Agentforce Commerce claims to be the only unified platform connecting digital commerce, POS, and order management with AI agents. Teams using it move up to 27% faster on merchandising tasks (Salesforce, 2025).
Important context: several key features are still rolling out. Order Routing became generally available in Winter 2026. Merchandising Actions are in beta. POS Actions are in pilot for Spring 2026. The platform is powerful but still maturing.
Sidekick vs Commerce GPT: Feature-by-Feature Comparison
This is the comparison that matters. Here’s how both platforms stack up across every major category:
| Feature | Shopify Sidekick | Agentforce Commerce |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (all Shopify plans) | $2/conversation or $500/100K credits |
| Target Merchant | SMB to mid-market Shopify stores | Enterprise retailers on Salesforce |
| Setup Complexity | Zero setup, built into admin | Complex, requires Salesforce implementation |
| Content Generation | Product descriptions, emails, blog posts, images | Limited content focus, merchandising-oriented |
| Store Analytics | Sidekick Pulse insights, custom reports | Cross-channel analytics via Data Cloud |
| Automation | Shopify Flow builder via natural language | Workflow automation across Salesforce apps |
| Customer-Facing | No (admin-only tool) | Yes (Guided Shopping for shoppers) |
| Theme Editing | Yes, natural language edits | No (not applicable) |
| Order Management | Basic (via Shopify admin) | Advanced routing and optimization |
| POS Integration | Limited | Full POS actions and clienteling |
| Third-Party Integrations | Shopify ecosystem only | Full Salesforce ecosystem |
| Custom App Building | Yes (via Sidekick) | Yes (via Salesforce development) |
| Voice Interface | Yes (early access) | No |
| Mobile Support | Mobile app chat (developing) | Via Salesforce mobile |
| AI Model | Shopify proprietary + partners | Salesforce Einstein + partners |
The standout difference: Sidekick is an admin assistant that helps you run your Shopify store. Agentforce Commerce is a platform that runs commerce operations across multiple channels. They’re different tools for different problems.
How Much Does Each Platform Cost?
Pricing is where the difference becomes most obvious. Let’s look at real numbers:
Shopify Sidekick: $0 additional cost
Sidekick is included free with every Shopify subscription. A merchant on the Basic plan ($39/month) gets the same Sidekick features as a merchant on Plus ($2,300/month). There are no per-conversation charges, no credit limits, and no premium tiers.
Agentforce Commerce: $2/conversation minimum
Salesforce offers two pricing models:
- Conversations model: $2 per conversation (best for customer-facing agents)
- Flex Credits: $500 per 100,000 credits (each action costs 20 credits = $0.10/action)
Here’s what that means in practice:
| Store Size | Monthly AI Conversations | Sidekick Cost | Agentforce Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (100 orders/mo) | ~200 | $0 | $400/month |
| Medium (500 orders/mo) | ~1,000 | $0 | $2,000/month |
| Large (2,000 orders/mo) | ~4,000 | $0 | $8,000/month |
| Enterprise (10,000+ orders/mo) | ~20,000 | $0 | $40,000/month |
These Agentforce costs are on top of your Salesforce Commerce Cloud subscription, which itself starts at thousands per month. For context, Salesforce Commerce Cloud licensing typically ranges from $20,000 to $100,000+ annually depending on gross merchandise volume.
The math is straightforward: if you’re on Shopify, Sidekick is free and already there. Agentforce Commerce only makes sense if you’re already invested in the Salesforce ecosystem and need enterprise-scale multi-channel orchestration.
Which AI Assistant Should You Use?
The right choice depends on your business, not on which platform has more features.
Choose Shopify Sidekick if you:
- Run a Shopify store of any size (solo to Plus)
- Want AI help with store management, content, and analytics
- Need an assistant that works immediately with zero setup
- Prefer free tools that grow with you
- Don’t need customer-facing AI (yet)
Choose Agentforce Commerce if you:
- Already run on Salesforce Commerce Cloud
- Manage enterprise-scale operations across multiple channels
- Need unified AI across sales, service, marketing, and commerce
- Have budget for enterprise AI tooling ($40K+/year)
- Need AI-guided shopping experiences for customers
Here’s the truth most articles won’t tell you: for 87% of ecommerce merchants, the realistic comparison isn’t Sidekick vs. Agentforce. It’s Sidekick vs. nothing. Most merchants aren’t on Salesforce Commerce Cloud, and the vast majority of Shopify stores will get more value from the free AI assistant that’s already built into their admin than from any enterprise platform they’d need to migrate to use.
What Are the Limitations of Each?
Neither platform is perfect. Here’s what each can’t do:
Shopify Sidekick Limitations
- No customer-facing interactions: Sidekick only works in your admin. It won’t chat with customers or handle support tickets. For customer-facing AI, you need separate tools like Gorgias or Tidio (see our guide on human-in-the-loop AI for how to set that up).
- Shopify ecosystem only: Can’t connect your CRM, email platform, fulfillment tools, or any external systems. It’s locked inside Shopify’s walls.
- Limited complex workflows: Simple automations work well. Multi-conditional, branching workflows with external triggers are beyond its current capabilities.
- No image editing: Can generate images but can’t edit existing ones in your theme or product listings.
- Data quality dependent: Sidekick is only as good as your store data. Messy product tags, incomplete analytics setup, or inconsistent naming conventions give you limited results.
Agentforce Commerce Limitations
- Expensive: Minimum $2/conversation with no free tier or trial. Small merchants are priced out entirely.
- Salesforce-dependent: Requires Salesforce Commerce Cloud as your base platform. Not available for Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, or standalone stores.
- Features still maturing: Merchandising Actions in beta, POS Actions in pilot. You’re partly paying for a roadmap.
- Complex setup: Implementing Salesforce Commerce Cloud typically takes 3-6 months and requires specialized consultants. This isn’t a plug-and-play solution.
- Learning curve: Your team needs Salesforce training to use the platform effectively.
For most Shopify merchants, Sidekick’s limitations are livable because the workarounds are straightforward (add Gorgias for customer AI, use Zapier for external integrations). Agentforce’s limitations are structural — you either buy into the Salesforce ecosystem or you can’t use it at all.
Can You Use Both Together?
In rare cases, yes. Some large retailers run Shopify as their storefront while using Salesforce for CRM, marketing, and customer service. In that setup, you’d use:
- Sidekick for day-to-day Shopify store management (products, themes, analytics, content)
- Agentforce Commerce for cross-channel customer intelligence, order routing, and enterprise analytics
However, this dual-platform approach is expensive, complex, and only practical for enterprise operations with dedicated IT teams. For 95%+ of Shopify merchants, Sidekick alone handles the AI assistant needs.
If you’re evaluating AI capabilities more broadly, our guide to AI tools for Shopify covers 30+ tools including customer-facing AI that complements Sidekick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shopify Sidekick free?
Yes, Sidekick is completely free for all Shopify merchants regardless of subscription plan. There are no per-conversation charges, credit limits, or premium tiers. You get the same AI features whether you’re on Basic ($39/month) or Plus ($2,300/month).
What is Commerce GPT called now?
Commerce GPT has been rebranded to Salesforce Agentforce Commerce. It’s part of Salesforce’s broader Agentforce AI platform that spans sales, service, marketing, and commerce. The rename happened in late 2025 when Salesforce consolidated its AI products.
Can Shopify Sidekick talk to customers?
No, Sidekick is an admin-only tool that helps merchants manage their store. It doesn’t interact with customers on your storefront. For customer-facing AI, you need separate tools like Gorgias, Tidio, or Shopify Inbox.
How much does Salesforce Agentforce Commerce cost?
Agentforce Commerce charges $2 per conversation or $500 per 100,000 Flex Credits (each action costs 20 credits). These costs are in addition to your Salesforce Commerce Cloud subscription, which typically ranges from $20,000 to $100,000+ annually.
What can Shopify Sidekick actually do?
Sidekick can create discounts, manage products and collections, generate content (descriptions, emails, blog posts, images), build Shopify Flow automations, customize themes via natural language, generate analytics reports, and proactively surface business insights through Sidekick Pulse.
Is Commerce GPT available for Shopify stores?
No. Agentforce Commerce requires Salesforce Commerce Cloud as its base platform. It does not work with Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, or other ecommerce platforms. If you’re on Shopify, Sidekick is your built-in AI assistant.
Which is better for small stores: Sidekick or Commerce GPT?
Sidekick is better for small stores by every measure. It’s free, requires zero setup, and is purpose-built for the Shopify admin. Agentforce Commerce is designed for enterprise retailers with budgets exceeding $40,000/year for AI tooling alone.
Can Sidekick create Shopify Flow automations?
Yes, you can describe the automation you want in plain English, and Sidekick builds and visualizes the entire Shopify Flow workflow for you. Examples include reorder reminders, customer tagging based on behavior, and inventory alerts.
Does Agentforce Commerce integrate with Shopify?
Not directly. Agentforce Commerce is built for Salesforce Commerce Cloud. While some enterprises use Salesforce CRM alongside Shopify storefronts, the Agentforce Commerce features (Guided Shopping, Order Routing, Merchandising Actions) only work within the Salesforce Commerce ecosystem.
What are Shopify Sidekick’s biggest limitations?
Sidekick’s main limitations are: no customer-facing interactions, no external platform integrations (CRM, email, fulfillment), limited complex multi-conditional workflows, no image editing capabilities, and accuracy that depends on your store’s data quality. Third-party app integration via Sidekick App Extensions is still in developer preview.
The Bottom Line
Shopify Sidekick and Agentforce Commerce aren’t really competitors. They serve completely different segments of the ecommerce market.
Sidekick is the free AI assistant that every Shopify merchant should be using right now. It handles store management, content creation, analytics, and automation without costing you a cent. Its limitations are real (no customer-facing AI, no external integrations), but they’re manageable with complementary tools.
Agentforce Commerce is an enterprise AI platform for large retailers already running on Salesforce Commerce Cloud. If you’re managing multi-channel operations with complex fulfillment and you have the budget, it’s a powerful addition to your stack.
For the overwhelming majority of Shopify merchants: use Sidekick. It’s already in your admin, it’s free, and it keeps getting better. If you need customer-facing AI, add a dedicated tool like Gorgias (and learn why most ecommerce chatbots fail first). If you need advanced analytics, explore our complete guide to AI tools for Shopify.
Start by asking Sidekick a simple question about your store. You’ll see the value immediately.
For more context on how AI agents work in ecommerce and what data they need, explore our guides on AI agents in ecommerce and our agentic commerce guide. Also see our guide on when AI should escalate to humans.
About Akash Radadiya
