kendo vs gong
kendo vs gong

Kendo vs Gong

Trying to decide between Kendo and Gong? We've compared both AI sales-training platforms across essential factors—roleplay realism, coaching accuracy, reporting strength, and overall usability—to help you determine which product aligns better with your training goals.

TL;DR

Kendo vs Gong at a Glance

Kendo vs Gong at a Glance

Category

Kendo AI

Gong

Roleplay Realism

Human-like AI buyers that adapt mid-conversation based on your responses.

Real Deal AI Role-Plays using real deal context (stage, personas, CRM notes).

Pricing

$55/seat/mo + ~$12/hr usage. Transparent, self-serve.

Quote-based only. Estimated per user per year + platform fees.

Scoring & Coaching

Granular AI scoring on discovery, objections, talk ratio—tied to revenue outcomes.

Automated call scoring that flags key moments and measures rep behavior.

Setup & Onboarding

Self-serve in minutes. Live onboarding included. No setup fees.

Sales-led implementation. Involves CRM mapping. Setup fees are quote-based.

Best Fit

Teams wanting flexible, realistic practice with clear ROI tracking.

Enterprise orgs needing a structured enablement hub linking simulations to CRM.

Note: The features, pricing, and details mentioned for each product are accurate as of January 2026

and may have changed since publication.

Note: The features, pricing, and details mentioned for each product are accurate as of January 2026 and may have changed since publication.

Note: The features, pricing, and details mentioned for each product are accurate as of January 2026 and may have changed since publication.

1

Pricing & Getting Started

Feature

Feature

Kendo

Kendo

Gong

Gong

Pricing

Pricing

Pro plan at $55/seat/month with included live training hours; extra AI usage billed at about $12/hour (≈$0.33/min); Enterprise by quote.

Pro plan at $55/seat/month with included live training hours; extra AI usage billed at about $12/hour (≈$0.33/min); Enterprise by quote.

No public price list; quote-based. Estimated $1,200–$1,600/user/year plus a mandatory platform fee ($5k–$50k).

No public price list; quote-based. Estimated $1,200–$1,600/user/year plus a mandatory platform fee ($5k–$50k).

Setup Costs

Setup Costs

No separate setup fee; subscription includes platform access plus a block of training time and live onboarding for smaller plans.

No separate setup fee; subscription includes platform access plus a block of training time and live onboarding for smaller plans.

Implementation and onboarding sold as mandatory professional services ($7,500–$28,500+).

Implementation and onboarding sold as mandatory professional services ($7,500–$28,500+).

Contract Terms

Contract Terms

Self-serve monthly per-seat subscription for Pro, with usage overages metered; separate enterprise contracts for teams of 10+ reps.

Self-serve monthly per-seat subscription for Pro, with usage overages metered; separate enterprise contracts for teams of 10+ reps.

Typically requires annual or multi-year agreements; no month-to-month option.

Typically requires annual or multi-year agreements; no month-to-month option.

Scalability Model

Scalability Model

Per-seat subscription plus metered extra minutes; pricing calculator and enterprise plan target larger teams with many reps.

Per-seat subscription plus metered extra minutes; pricing calculator and enterprise plan target larger teams with many reps.

Scales by adding users and modular applications (Forecast, Engage, etc.) under a custom enterprise contract.

Scales by adding users and modular applications (Forecast, Engage, etc.) under a custom enterprise contract.

Onboarding

Onboarding

Done-for-you onboarding and setup for larger teams, with live training included on higher-tier plans.

Done-for-you onboarding and setup for larger teams, with live training included on higher-tier plans.

Guided implementation involving CRM field mapping and professional services (can take 3+ months).

Guided implementation involving CRM field mapping and professional services (can take 3+ months).

Resources

Resources

Blogs and resource content on AI roleplay, sales training best practices.

Blogs and resource content on AI roleplay, sales training best practices.

Massive resource library with webinars, "State of Revenue AI" reports, and specialized playbooks.

Massive resource library with webinars, "State of Revenue AI" reports, and specialized playbooks.

Technical Support

Technical Support

Contact form and email-based help; 24/7 support for subscribers; VIP support for enterprise plans.

Contact form and email-based help; 24/7 support for subscribers; VIP support for enterprise plans.

Support via case submission and phone; 24/7 critical support available for enterprise customers.

Support via case submission and phone; 24/7 critical support available for enterprise customers.

Best For

Best For

Orgs that want clear, usage-based pricing, hands-on onboarding, and scalable support as they grow.

Orgs that want clear, usage-based pricing, hands-on onboarding, and scalable support as they grow.

Large organizations needing a comprehensive revenue-intelligence platform with long-term contracts.

Large organizations needing a comprehensive revenue-intelligence platform with long-term contracts.

Gong is best for large-scale enterprise organizations requiring a structured, long-term environment for revenue intelligence. These teams benefit from guided professional implementation, a massive resource library, and a support structure designed for complexity that includes 24/7 critical assistance.

Kendo AI is best for teams seeking transparency and rapid deployment for sales training. Users gain from clear, usage-based pricing with no setup fees and the flexibility of self-serve monthly contracts, supported by 24/7 assistance and done-for-you onboarding for larger teams.

Case Study

How Kody Skvarla's

Insurance Team Doubled

Revenue

Top performers doubled their monthly production

while saving 10-20 hours per agent.

Revenue

Revenue

10-20h

10-20h

Saved/mo

Saved/mo

20-25%

20-25%

ROI

ROI

2

AI Coaching & Analytics

Feature

Feature

Kendo

Kendo

Gong

Gong

Conversation Realism

Conversation Realism

Simulates human-like buyers and varied personalities for objections and discovery practice.

Simulates human-like buyers and varied personalities for objections and discovery practice.

Real Deal AI Role-Plays simulate conversations using real-world context like CRM notes and deal stages.

Real Deal AI Role-Plays simulate conversations using real-world context like CRM notes and deal stages.

Scoring System

Scoring System

Real-time AI scoring on talk ratios, objection handling, and discovery; customizable scoring rules.

Real-time AI scoring on talk ratios, objection handling, and discovery; customizable scoring rules.

Automatically scores sales calls, flagging key moments and comparing rep behavior against top performers.

Automatically scores sales calls, flagging key moments and comparing rep behavior against top performers.

Feedback Quality & Speed

Feedback Quality & Speed

Instant, granular AI coaching after each role-play with clear fixes and highlights.

Instant, granular AI coaching after each role-play with clear fixes and highlights.

Targeted, near-real-time coaching insights derived from call analysis and AI simulations.

Targeted, near-real-time coaching insights derived from call analysis and AI simulations.

Real-time Analytics

Real-time Analytics

Live dashboards showing performance trends across reps and teams; patterns surface across calls.

Live dashboards showing performance trends across reps and teams; patterns surface across calls.

Dashboards show themes, sentiment, and risks, alongside general performance trends.

Dashboards show themes, sentiment, and risks, alongside general performance trends.

Progress Tracking

Progress Tracking

Tracks team and individual progress over time with score histories and trend insights.

Tracks team and individual progress over time with score histories and trend insights.

Tracks skill growth by analyzing call scores, behaviors, and content engagement.

Tracks skill growth by analyzing call scores, behaviors, and content engagement.

Adaptive Learning

Adaptive Learning

AI adjusts coaching and scenarios to each seller based on real-time scoring patterns.

AI adjusts coaching and scenarios to each seller based on real-time scoring patterns.

Tracks skill patterns and adapts role-plays and prescribed coaching to specific strengths and gaps.

Tracks skill patterns and adapts role-plays and prescribed coaching to specific strengths and gaps.

ROI Measurement

ROI Measurement

Analytics tie usage and skills to revenue; third-party write-ups report measurable close-rate gains.

Analytics tie usage and skills to revenue; third-party write-ups report measurable close-rate gains.

Case studies report faster ramp times and improved win rates tied to training and call AI tools.

Case studies report faster ramp times and improved win rates tied to training and call AI tools.

Best For

Best For

Teams wanting ultra-realistic AI buyers, granular scoring, and clear visibility into revenue impact.

Teams wanting ultra-realistic AI buyers, granular scoring, and clear visibility into revenue impact.

Enterprise revenue teams needing an AI-driven enablement hub linking simulations to revenue.

Enterprise revenue teams needing an AI-driven enablement hub linking simulations to revenue.

Gong serves as an enterprise-level "enablement hub" that uses real-world deal context to automate call scoring and track long-term skill growth. While Gong offers deep integration with readiness journeys, the tradeoff is a heavier setup compared to the agile, simulation-focused approach of Kendo.

Kendo AI is ideal for teams needing ultra-realistic buyer conversations and granular call scoring tied directly to discovery, objections, and selling quality. Its coaching highlights talk ratios and objection handling in ways that map directly to quota-carrying performance. Best for orgs that want actionable, revenue-linked coaching.

Kendo specializes in high-fidelity simulations with "human-like" buyers, providing instant, granular AI coaching and live dashboards that tie role-play performance directly to revenue impact.

Kendo

Gong

gong coaching
gong coaching

"A week after we got Kendo AI set up our sales doubled. Can't recommend them enough"

"A week after we got Kendo AI set up our sales doubled. Can't recommend them enough"

BM

Brian Moran

Founder Samcart

Try Kendo free

3

Training Journeys & Custom Scenarios

Feature

Feature

Kendo

Kendo

Gong

Gong

Scenario Customization

Scenario Customization

Fully customizable AI buyers based on persona, industry, objections, and sales cycle.

Fully customizable AI buyers based on persona, industry, objections, and sales cycle.

AI Trainer uses actual deal context and CRM data to build role-plays.

AI Trainer uses actual deal context and CRM data to build role-plays.

Content Creation

Content Creation

Creates adaptive scenarios without manual tree-building; AI adjusts based on your inputs.

Creates adaptive scenarios without manual tree-building; AI adjusts based on your inputs.

AI transforms call transcripts into training modules. AI Theme Spotter identifies real-world objections for targeted practice.

AI transforms call transcripts into training modules. AI Theme Spotter identifies real-world objections for targeted practice.

Training Flexibility

Training Flexibility

Used for onboarding, ongoing coaching, and hiring across SDR, AE, and support roles.

Used for onboarding, ongoing coaching, and hiring across SDR, AE, and support roles.

Scalable for SDR, AE, and CSM onboarding paths. Supports global teams with coaching in 70+ languages.

Scalable for SDR, AE, and CSM onboarding paths. Supports global teams with coaching in 70+ languages.

Training Modes

Training Modes

AI voice role-plays with transcripts and automated scoring.

AI voice role-plays with transcripts and automated scoring.

Offers AI-powered role-play simulations and automated scorecard grading.

Offers AI-powered role-play simulations and automated scorecard grading.

Realism Level

Realism Level

Highly adaptive AI conversations that mirror real buyer behavior.

Highly adaptive AI conversations that mirror real buyer behavior.

High realism; AI personas (e.g., "Skeptical CFO") simulate specific buyer pressures using native interaction history.

High realism; AI personas (e.g., "Skeptical CFO") simulate specific buyer pressures using native interaction history.

Best For

Best For

Teams needing flexible, deeply customized training with strong analytics.

Teams needing flexible, deeply customized training with strong analytics.

Enterprises wanting training tied directly to pipeline health, forecasting, and deal execution.

Enterprises wanting training tied directly to pipeline health, forecasting, and deal execution.

Gong is best for enterprise organizations requiring a data-driven "Revenue AI Operating System". It excels by using actual customer interactions to fuel high-realism training, linking skill development directly to revenue results and pipeline management.

Kendo is best for fast-moving teams needing a specialized tool for proactive skill development. It is ideal for managers who want to build deeply customized, niche training scenarios and high-realism simulations for rapid rep onboarding without enterprise complexity.

Kendo

Gong

gong ai trainer
gong ai trainer

Case Study

How United Insurance Pros Cut Onboarding from 30 Days to 24 Hours

500+ agents saving $3,000/month each

on wasted leads. Agents now reach baseline performance in 14 days instead of 45+

Try Kendo for free

United's story

75%

75%

Faster ramp-up

Faster ramp-up

$3K+

$3K+

Saved/agent/mo

Saved/agent/mo

180-200%

180-200%

ROI

ROI

4

Personalization

Feature

Feature

Kendo

Kendo

Gong

Gong

Language Support

Language Support

8+ languages; product page and listings explicitly include English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, and others for global teams.

8+ languages; product page and listings explicitly include English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, and others for global teams.

70+ languages; global transcription and analysis, with hyper-optimized AI summaries for 10+ major global languages.

70+ languages; global transcription and analysis, with hyper-optimized AI summaries for 10+ major global languages.

Custom Personas

Custom Personas

"Custom Prospect Builder" lets teams define buyer role, industry, company size, personality, and objections so AI buyers mirror real ICPs.

"Custom Prospect Builder" lets teams define buyer role, industry, company size, personality, and objections so AI buyers mirror real ICPs.

"Revenue Graph" to identify buyer behavior patterns based on billions of actual sales interactions.

"Revenue Graph" to identify buyer behavior patterns based on billions of actual sales interactions.

Industry Adaptation

Industry Adaptation

Scenarios configurable for different industries and deal stages; used across varied B2B sales teams.

Scenarios configurable for different industries and deal stages; used across varied B2B sales teams.

Smart Trackers; uses AI to detect industry-specific concepts across entire pipelines automatically.

Smart Trackers; uses AI to detect industry-specific concepts across entire pipelines automatically.

Voice Options

Voice Options

25+ synthetic voices to match different buyer styles and tones.

25+ synthetic voices to match different buyer styles and tones.

"Voice of the Customer"; captures and indexes actual buyer audio from live calls to drive authentic coaching insights.

"Voice of the Customer"; captures and indexes actual buyer audio from live calls to drive authentic coaching insights.

Best For

Best For

Teams needing realistic, multi-language AI role-play with deeply customized personas.

Teams needing realistic, multi-language AI role-play with deeply customized personas.

Enterprises needing Revenue AI Operations to analyze real-world performance and automate sales workflows.

Enterprises needing Revenue AI Operations to analyze real-world performance and automate sales workflows.

Gong is best for enterprises needing Revenue AI Operations. It provides reactive intelligence by transcribing 70+ languages, using Smart Trackers for industry adaptation, and leveraging a Revenue Graph to map real-world buyer personas from actual call audio.

Kendo AI is best for teams needing proactive skill development. It offers a safe practice environment with 25+ synthetic voices in 8+ languages, featuring a Custom Prospect Builder and configurable scenarios to simulate specific B2B deal stages.

Case Study

How Globe Life Doubled Their Close Rate

New agents went from 33% to 60% + close rates in just 6 months. Leaders save hours every day.

Close rate

Close rate

Hours

Hours

Saved/day

Saved/day

6 mo

6 mo

Early adopter

Early adopter

5

User Sentiment

Feature

Feature

Kendo

Kendo

Gong

Gong

User Ratings

User Ratings

4.8/5 (G2 reviews)

4.8/5 (G2 reviews)

4.7/5 (G2 reviews)

4.7/5 (G2 reviews)

Common Praise

Common Praise

Realistic AI mock-calls, customizable buyer scenarios, automated call scoring & feedback, fast ramp-up and time savings when training & role-playing.

Realistic AI mock-calls, customizable buyer scenarios, automated call scoring & feedback, fast ramp-up and time savings when training & role-playing.

Industry-leading transcription; deep revenue forecasting; identifies "deal risks" and high-performer patterns.

Industry-leading transcription; deep revenue forecasting; identifies "deal risks" and high-performer patterns.

User Critiques

User Critiques

Occasional requests for more call features and voice variety; some note occasional off-target AI responses.

Occasional requests for more call features and voice variety; some note occasional off-target AI responses.

High pricing, steep learning curve, and technical issues like beeping, slow loading, or inaccurate AI transcriptions/search results.

High pricing, steep learning curve, and technical issues like beeping, slow loading, or inaccurate AI transcriptions/search results.

Retention Indicators

Retention Indicators

High satisfaction; consistent positive feedback on training impact and usability.

High satisfaction; consistent positive feedback on training impact and usability.

Strong adoption among enterprise teams; customers rely on it for deal management, forecasting, and long-term revenue visibility.

Strong adoption among enterprise teams; customers rely on it for deal management, forecasting, and long-term revenue visibility.

Support Responsiveness

Support Responsiveness

Offers on-site direct support for faster assistance; responsive channels; no recurring complaints in reviews.

Offers on-site direct support for faster assistance; responsive channels; no recurring complaints in reviews.

Solid onboarding, but some recent users report slower post-sale response times and high professional service fees.

Solid onboarding, but some recent users report slower post-sale response times and high professional service fees.

Best For

Best For

Teams needing deeper scoring, faster processing, and streamlined billing/management.

Teams needing deeper scoring, faster processing, and streamlined billing/management.

Large organizations needing comprehensive revenue visibility, deep pipeline analytics, and complex ecosystem integrations.

Large organizations needing comprehensive revenue visibility, deep pipeline analytics, and complex ecosystem integrations.

Gong is the go-to for large organizations that need total revenue visibility. It’s all about reactive intelligence—using industry-leading transcription to spot deal risks and high-performer patterns. It leans on deep pipeline analytics and complex ecosystem integrations to help enterprise teams nail their long-term forecasting.

Kendo is the move for teams prioritizing deeper scoring and faster processing. It creates a proactive practice environment through realistic AI mock-calls and custom buyer scenarios. With automated scoring and instant feedback, it’s built to save time and get reps ramp-up ready through consistent role-play.

"Not only has my team’s production started to increase but they are becoming more confident on the phones and getting quicker at overcoming the objections"

"Not only has my team’s production started to increase but they are becoming more confident on the phones and getting quicker at overcoming the objections"

BM

Kody Skvarla

FE & Life Sales Team

Try Kendo free

Word on the street about Kendo...

"Kendo AI reduced my sales training costs by 80% while improving team performance"

"I switched to Kendo AI four months ago and haven't looked back… Each rep can practice independently, get personalized feedback, and track their improvement over time. The analytics dashboard shows…" read more

— Verified User in Accounting

Small-Business (G2)

"Never doing group roleplays again!! Kendo AI has made my new training so much faster!"

"Kendo is easy to set up and send to multiple sales reps, its helped me cut reps who could not improve and focus on reps who actually are good!"

— Roberto V.

, COO (G2)

"Kendo AI: Boosted my confidence and sales skills with realistic mock calls"

"I've used kendo AI for a couple of months now…It has improved my confidence and I can see improvements in my skills already.

I love the feedback I receive after…" read more

— Ayush P.

, Chief Operating

Officer (G2)