# Podium Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra > With the help of Capterra, learn about Podium Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Customer Communications Management products and more. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/164285/Podium --- # Podium Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on March 13, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[Users](#users)[Pros and Cons](#pros-cons)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Integrations](#integrations)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) Podium ## What is Podium? Podium is an award-winning marketing and communication platform that uses text messaging to help local businesses attract more leads, convert leads at a higher rate, and retain more customers. Podium's platform consolidates daily communication, online reviews, website chat, marketing campaigns, and mobile payments into a single inbox that has helped over 100k local businesses win. ## What is Podium used for? [Review Management](https://www.capterra.com/review-management-software/)[Live Chat](https://www.capterra.com/live-chat-software/)[Customer Communications Management](https://www.capterra.com/customer-communications-management-software/) Top alternative Featured Overall rating Based on 522 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 84% Neutral 5% Negative 11% Pros & cons Automated review collection tools Effortless onboarding and setup High cost for features Frequent software glitches Contact vendor for pricing Free trial not available Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Do you work for Podium?[Manage this product listing](https://digitalmarkets.gartner.com/get-listed/claim-bx?url=https://www.podium.com/&name=Podium) ## Compare with a popular alternative Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status. ### Podium 4.3 (522) VS. [4.4 (501)](https://www.capterra.com/p/180158/Twilio-Communications-Platform/reviews/) Starting Price Contact vendor Starting Price $0.0079 Usage Based Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 4.3 (521) Ease Of Use 4.1 (1,193) Value For Money 3.9 (404) Value For Money 4.2 (900) Customer Service 4.0 (434) Customer Service 4.0 (940) ## Podium alternatives Highest Rated [4.7 (836)](https://www.capterra.com/p/153508/Omnisend/reviews/) Starting price $16.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 98% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.3 (2,911)](https://www.capterra.com/p/31898/Constant-Contact/reviews/) Starting price $12.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 86% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.5 (114)](https://www.capterra.com/p/131015/Trumpia-2-0/reviews/) Starting price $55.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 88% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.7 (701)](https://www.capterra.com/p/152997/BirdEye/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 94% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/164285/Podium/alternatives/) ## Who uses Podium? Based on Capterra reviews from the past 4 years Talk to a software expert to get a free software list tailored to your business needs ## Pros and Cons Automated review collection tools 81% positive reviews out of 159 Most reviewers indicate review management automates requests, tracks feedback, and boosts online reputation efficiently across platforms. Vikas S office manager, 2 - 10 employees. "One of the notable features of Podium is its ability to help businesses improve their online reputation by automating the process of requesting and collecting customer reviews across different review sites" High cost for features 78% negative reviews out of 45 Most reviewers describe pricing as expensive, making it challenging for small businesses to justify ongoing costs and value. Effortless onboarding and setup 84% positive reviews out of 38 Most users report setup is straightforward, with easy installation, user-friendly interface, and minimal training required for teams. Frequent software glitches 74% negative reviews out of 42 Most users comment bugs and issues disrupt usage, with unreliable mobile apps, delayed messages, and inconsistent platform performance. brandon B Owner, 1 employee. "They will make HUGE mistakes like porting away your personal number with NO accountability or concerns for your business." Centralized client communication platform 90% positive reviews out of 30 Most reviewers describe client communication as streamlined, enabling quick responses and improved team collaboration across channels. Rick A Attorney, 2 - 10 employees. "All in one interface, mostly seamless communication portal, partial functionality standalone app." Difficult cancellation process 100% negative reviews out of 24 Most users report cancelation is complicated, with persistent billing, poor support, and lengthy procedures to end service. Tyler Q Director of Business Development, 11 - 50 employees. "It took 2 billing cycles and a few calls to finally cancel." ## Features Features with the highest number of reviews are displayed first. Those that have no reviews appear next, sorted alphabetically. Chat/Messaging 4.4 (36) 41.67% of 36 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Communicate using direct chat or messages within the system Review Request 3.9 (35) 51.43% of 35 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Allows businesses to request reviews from their customers Negative Feedback Management 3.5 (30) 40.00% of 30 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Identify, track, and respond to negative feedback Real-time Consumer-facing Chat 4.3 (26) 50.00% of 26 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Engage in direct, instant messaging with consumers Review Monitoring 3.7 (26) 38.46% of 26 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Automatically monitor and receive alerts for any new online reviews SMS Messaging 3.5 (24) 62.50% of 24 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Send messages via SMS Podium 114 features Send and receive text messages to communicate with clients or prospects in real-time Define levels of authorization for access to specific files or systems Accept electronic bank-to-bank transfers using a network called the Automated Clearing House (ACH) Dashboard to view the status of ongoing processes, identify current incidents and track past activities Track and document all activities across devices, networks, and other systems Software program that continuously adjusts its behavior based on observed data Alerts or notifications of various types such as pop-up messages, sounds, banners, or badges Application programming interface that allows for integration with other systems/databases Manage various aspects of appointments including booking, rescheduling, canceling Automatic reply functionality for incoming messages Create and automatically send premade copy in response to customer messages Send messages, notifications, or documents to an entire customer base at the same time Before and after photos of procedure(s) Create, manage, and send invoices or bills to customers Record the audio of phone conversations for quality assurance purposes Track and interpret campaign performance metrics Create a collection of marketing actions to complete specific goals and plan and analyze campaign results Set campaign schedules by selecting start, pause, and end dates Shortcuts for inputting frequently used messages Communicate using direct chat or messages within the system Manage contact details and communication with clients Leave comments and notes on documents for others to view Manage and track all internal and external communication conducted via calls, email, text, or chat Obtain, monitor, and review customer feedback/complaints relating to products and services to improve customer satisfaction Track and manage adherence to policies for any service, product, process, or supplier Manage user consent requests and documents Centralized database of stakeholders and their contact information such as names, address, phone number etc. Manage, organize, and store contact information Handles digital content throughout its lifecycle, from creation and storage to distribution and archiving Accept and process credit card transactions Built-in customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities or integration with a third-party CRM system A collection of customer information such as contact details, demographics, previous interactions, etc. Track and understand a customer's overall satisfaction with a product or service to identify areas of improvement. Access previous interactions or concerns to maintain customer relationships Process of dividing customers into groups based on common characteristics Customize data fields to support various needs and use cases Customize contracts and forms to collect specific information Alter the layout and content of reports Pre-designed layouts that can be customized to match preferences and requirements Assembly of graphs and charts for visualizing and tracking statistics/metrics Import and export data to and from software applications Protect sensitive data for digital privacy Accept and process credit/debit card transactions Electronically collect payments for goods or services Digitally sign online documents Manage, store and organize emails within the system or via third-party apps Tracks metrics that provide insight into how a user interacts with any interface or product Collecting, analyzing, and utilizing feedback from users or customers to improve a product or service Public or private sharing of digital files such as documents, audio/video, images, and more Designed for medical spas Store, manage and track all forms in a centralized location Compliant with HIPAA, which sets standards for sensitive patient data protection Transactions that typically involve face-to-face interactions between the payer and the payee Organize, prioritize, and manage incoming communications Track interaction history by documenting conversations for contacts Automatically identify and save contact information of potential customers Communicate with potential customers by distributing promotional/informational materials via social media, email or other channels Manage the process of attracting and converting business prospects into leads Store information about leads or contacts and track, manage and nurture them throughout the sales process Score a lead on their quality or likelihood to buy based on certain behaviors Automate workflows and trigger campaigns based on customer actions Send messages to multiple subscribers at the same time Personalize text messages using templates and custom fields Access software remotely via mobile devices Clients can submit payments via mobile devices Observe and track the demand, usage, progress or quality of a system, product, or user Allows communication with customers or users via multiple channels such as phone, email, live chat, etc. Collect information from multiple sources Manage and support multiple locations Process payments via multiple modes directly through the application Identify, track, and respond to negative feedback Form to collect visitor contact information when live chat isn't available Generate personalized communications upon request to meet customer needs Accept and process online payment transactions Allow customers to make a partial payment on an invoice and track remaining debt Tools to prevent payment fraud, such as identity authentication, risk analysis, seller protection, etc. Accept, record, and reconcile financial transactions Store, process, and transmit cardholder data in compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) A set of indicators that tracks the performance of networks, applications, systems, teams, etc. Adjust communications based on previous interactions or personal preferences Predict future data based on historical data sets Copy on the page or chat window encouraging the user to engage with the chat option Design, communicate, and distribute incentives to perform a specific action Generate quotes or estimates for customers Ratings/Reviews Engage in direct, instant messaging with consumers Notifications that are delivered to users as soon as an event occurs Upload, track, and submit receipts in a central database Automated process of charging customers at regular intervals for repeated access or use of a product or service Timed notification for any upcoming task, deadline, appointment, or activity Collection, analysis, and representation of numerical data and generation of reports to understand various patterns View and track pertinent metrics to find patterns and gain insights from data Monitor and manage customers' perceptions about a business, product, or service Planning and managing of resources and procedures to mitigate the impact of events and incidents Automatically monitor and receive alerts for any new online reviews Notifies a business when a review is left Allows businesses to request reviews from their customers Send individual or bulk text messages at predetermined times Optimize and manage the search engine optimization efforts for a website or digital content Send messages via SMS Integrate with social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. Track the status over time for a request, process, asset, or transaction Create and administer polls and surveys Gauge satisfaction and receive information for improvement and success Attach digital tags to documents and assets for identification, search, or monitoring purposes Create, save, and re-purpose templates for emails, forms, etc. Process of extracting and classifying information from text, such as tweets, emails, product reviews, etc Set up connections to third-party platforms to improve business processes Record of all transactions such as purchases, deposits, withdrawals and transfers within a specific period View messages sent by both parties during the chat conversation Transfer queries and organize messages between agents Supports various video file formats Interact with data visualization elements, such as charts and graphs, to drill down into data Seamlessly integrates with 3rd party websites Get Advice We can help you find the software with the features you need. Features 4.2 (521) 4.2 Based on 521 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 3.9 (404) ### Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Free trial not available [View all Pricing Plans](https://www.capterra.com/p/164285/Podium/pricing/) Value for money 3.9 (404) 3.9 Based on 404 reviews ## Integrations [ Mailchimp](https://www.capterra.com/p/110228/MailChimp/)[ QuickBooks Online](https://www.capterra.com/p/190778/QuickBooks-Online/)[ Zoho CRM](https://www.capterra.com/p/155928/Zoho-CRM/)[ Shopify](https://www.capterra.com/p/83891/Shopify/)[ FreshBooks](https://www.capterra.com/p/142390/FreshBooks/)[ HubSpot CRM](https://www.capterra.com/p/152373/HubSpot-CRM/)[ Calendly](https://www.capterra.com/p/148036/Calendly/)[ Squarespace](https://www.capterra.com/p/143461/Squarespace/) Connect with a Capterra advisor for a free 15-minute consultation Get a personalized software list aligned to your business needs with guidance from our expert advisors. Our team has helped 1 million+ businesses like yours find options that fit their needs. ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 4.0 (434) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 4.0 (434) 4.0 Based on 434 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.3 Based on 522 reviews Filter by rating 5(325) 4(111) 3(27) 2(14) 1(45) Mentioned topic Sorted by most recent JL Jessica L. Dispatcher, Project manager, Purchasing manager Construction ### "Podium is very useful tool " 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 February 18, 2026 Overall I like using Podium for calls and text messages versus using a regular landline. The AI is nice but still needs work. Podium is a very useful tool that we use on a daily basis. Pros I love the fact that you can go back in and listen to the calls. It helps getting more details that you may miss while actively on the call. Including if capturing the phone number of who is calling so if there is a disconnection we can call back. The recordings also help us when customers are stating that we said something that is untrue. Cons The typed transcripts are not always accurate. The AI doesn't do the greatest but improves everyday. Customers can tell as soon as they call that they are speaking to an AI agent. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. JA Jhovanny A. Receptionist- New Client Liaison Law Practice ### "All in one communication app" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 7/10 December 21, 2025 Overall my experience has been great. It allows me to text potential new clients, current clients, manage workload and assignment among my team and communicate verbally, virtually and through attachments. Pros What i liked most about Podium was the all in one communication found in the application. Whether it was direct messages, attachment requirements, easily accessible and editable contact information and automatic formulas for messaging: all was found in Podium. Cons My least favorite detail about Podium may be the occasional glitch and lag. Podium really is just a great application and I cannot think of a dislike. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. JT Justin T. COO Construction ### "Decent software, predatory practices." 1.0 Overall Rating 1.0 1.0 Ease of Use 2.0 2.0 Features 3.0 3.0 Customer Service 1.0 1.0 Likelihood to Recommend 0/10 October 30, 2025 They love your credit card when the bill come through, hate customer service and doing the right thing. Pros It worked great in the younger growth phase of our company. The review tracking was especially helpful. Cons Absolute predatory and bottom notch customer service. After being a loyal, paying customer for years, it no longer suited our needs. They refused to cancel our plan citing 4 year old contract for auto renewal signed by an employee no longer with the company and absolutely refused to do the right thing and terminate the contract. After cancelling the card on file when the cancellation was refused, they went around the marketing contact, called our front desk and got an updated card from someone not even involved. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RG Ravin G. CEO Consumer Electronics ### "Poor Tech Support & Phone lines noted suited for Mid sized busienss. " 1.0 Overall Rating 1.0 1.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 3.0 3.0 Customer Service 1.0 1.0 Likelihood to Recommend 0/10 August 29, 2025 Cons ⭐☆☆☆☆ Podium is still very much a product in development and not suited for mid-sized businesses (it may work for a small business or corner shop). The tech support is virtually non-existent. \[sensitive content hidden\], the sales rep, promised the world just to close the deal but clearly didn’t understand his own product. After investing 100+ development hours in just 30 days, we were left completely on our own. Even after sending a cancellation notice for phone lines, they insisted we cancel Dialpad, claiming Podium had the same level of functionality and support—which it does not. Bottom line: do not trust their promises. Do your own research before investing your time and money here. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. CJ Celine J. Social Media Manager Consumer Services ### "Podium SMS Manager " 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 7/10 August 12, 2025 Pros Podium is a good tool, easy to use and offers an ergonomic space. It works well with our setup — we can send payment links and bulk SMS to clients quickly and securely. It’s a software that helps us respond efficiently to our clients’ requests. Cons I didn’t notice many downsides with Podium, but I wish it added some features like being able to offer a phone number so people can reach us if needed or in case of urgent issues. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. AM Alondra M. Insurance Agent Insurance ### "Podium use for office ;Made easy" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 July 28, 2025 Overall having this one number linked to all of our locations makes it easy for any one here to search a client and look at previous conversations , being able to pick up where the last employee left off also helpful to verify staff conversations with needed documents to match our Hawksoft notes and uploads. Pros At our Agency we all have access to Podium letting us send messages to clients /saving their contact info and allowing us to communicate with them efficiently when we are unable to get a hold of them over a phone call or Via email. We all have access to see customer reviews and see any incoming information regarding the agency I work for. Cons I have yet to come across something I dislike using Podium. I have worked in this industry for years and have never until now found something that helps all staff members be able to have access to all text messages being sent in and out with clients. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. MP Marina P. Marketing Manager Automotive ### "Podium Review Update After Many Years" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 6/10 June 30, 2025 Overall, good. The good comes from the same reason we got Podium in the first place - review generation. Other features are okay. Pros It is still our best contributor to getting public reviews online, even after using it for about 9-10 years. Cons Since it has incorporated more and more features, it feels like Amazon Prime (where you start paying for things you don't need nor want). Current accounts are grandfathered, but when considering new accounts, it becomes less viable. Alternatives considered [Reputation](https://www.capterra.com/p/167624/Reputation-com/) Reasons for choosing Podium The option of sending out text message review invites. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. IS Ilayda S. Marketing Director Apparel & Fashion ### "Professional customer messaging that feels personal." 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 April 23, 2025 Within a matter of weeks of implementing Podium, we had doubled the amount of Google reviews for our store! That also added more visibility for our brand, especially locally. It also allowed us to make up some missed sales by answering questions about fit or availability quickly over text, something email just doesn’t do. Pros Podium assisted us in being able to touch base with shoppers; very much on a personal level, particularly for reviews and text messaging. I love that I can respond to customer inquiries via SMS quickly, while not switching between platforms including sending reviews requests directly after making a sale while the luster of excitement is still there. Cons It’s obviously designed with service businesses in mind, so some features that are common in retail, like inventory integration or product-oriented messaging aren’t exactly on point. We had to work around that a little bit to shape it to our flow. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. AG Alexa G. Assistant General Manager Sports ### "Podium Texting" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 3.0 3.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 April 11, 2025 Pros Multiple features to utilize all we need to use Podium for. Cons Small glitches which make some tasks harder to use. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. ZD Zach D. director Sports ### "Awesome service for schools!" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 April 10, 2025 It has been a really positive experience. Our customer service and communication has improved drastically. Pros We are able to send bulk messages as well as easily communicate with members of our school. Cons The interface can be a little overwhelming at times. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/164285/Podium/reviews/) Popular comparisons [Text Request vs Podium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/164285-167015/Podium-vs-Text-Request)[Twilio vs Podium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/164285-180158/Podium-vs-Twilio-Communications-Platform)[Omnisend vs Podium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/153508-164285/Omnisend-vs-Podium)[Klaviyo vs Podium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/156699-164285/Klaviyo-vs-Podium)[Mailchimp vs Podium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/110228-164285/MailChimp-vs-Podium)[Constant Contact vs Podium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/31898-164285/Constant-Contact-vs-Podium)[Referrizer vs Podium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/144990-164285/Referral-Marketing-Automation-vs-Podium)[Emitrr vs Podium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/164285-215815/Podium-vs-Emitrr)[Thryv vs Podium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/156926-164285/Thryv-vs-Podium)[Trumpia vs Podium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/131015-164285/Trumpia-2-0-vs-Podium) [Birdeye vs Podium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/152997-164285/BirdEye-vs-Podium)[TextP2P vs Podium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/164285-183310/Podium-vs-Text-P2P)[Kangaroo vs Podium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/149363-164285/Kangaroo-Rewards-vs-Podium)[Wati vs Podium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/164285-204314/Podium-vs-WATI)[vcita vs Podium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/142264-164285/Appointment-Scheduling-vs-Podium)[Goldie vs Podium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/164285-268055/Podium-vs-Goldie)[Zoho Campaigns vs Podium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/164285-253223/Podium-vs-Zoho-Campaigns)[JustCall vs Podium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/157853-164285/JustCall-vs-Podium)[Marketing 360 vs Podium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/148516-164285/Marketing-360-vs-Podium)  Independent research methodology Capterra's researchers use a mix of verified reviews, independent research and objective methodologies to bring you selection and ranking information you can trust. 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