Magnetocaloric effect by employing direct measurements of the adiabatic temperature changes (ΔTad) with a low magnetic field change (ΔH) up to 1.2T are investigated, for the Gd based alloys with Zn and Cd substituted for Gd individually or synchronously. A comparative study of the adiabatic temperature change (ΔTad) and magnetic entropy change (ΔSM) near room temperature has been reported in three different alloys of Gd1−xZnx, Gd1−yCdy and Gd0.95(Zn1−zCdz)0.05. Effects of Zn and Cd content on magnetocaloric effect and the Curie temperature (Tc) are studied in different alloys. A direct correlation between phase structure and ΔTad, ΔSM, Tc was discussed in three different types alloys of Gd1−xZnx, Gd1−yCdy, and Gd0.95(Zn1−zCdz)0.05. Mechanism of Zn improving the ΔTad and Cd increasing the Tc is revealed. It is expected that magnetic refrigeration near room temperature has a potential for superseding the traditional gas refrigeration.