Podium Pricing: Features, Costs & What to Expect

Introduction to Podium Pricing

It is not easy to find a tool that checks all the boxes, especially when cost is a factor. Podium is one of the platforms that often comes up in this space, known for offering tools to help local businesses manage reviews and customer communication. Still, it might not align with what every business needs. Understanding its pricing, limitations, and whether it aligns with your actual needs can help you decide if it’s worth the investment or if there’s a simpler, more affordable option out there.”

This blog will walk you through Podium’s pricing structure, explore its core features, and compare it with Emitrr, a fast-growing alternative known for its AI-driven automation, VoIP capabilities, and user-friendly pricing. For businesses aiming to improve customer engagement or simplify team workflows, this comparison will help you make a more informed decision.

Podium offers a suite of tools built to enhance how local businesses communicate, gather feedback, and manage customer relationships. Its pricing covers essential features such as bulk text messaging, hosted SMS, text-based surveys, call transfers, phone call summaries, and softphone functionality, everything designed to simplify communication and improve the customer experience. 

Podium Pricing

Podium provides three pricing plans, each designed to meet different business needs. However, the platform does not publicly list the exact pricing for any of these plans. Instead, businesses are encouraged to contact the sales team for a personalized quote based on their team size, feature requirements, and usage.
The available plans include:

• Core
• Pro
• Signature

While the core offering is robust, there are additional charges that may apply depending on how your business uses the platform. Let us check some important cost-related considerations:

• $5/month per additional number

If your business needs more than one phone number, each extra number comes at an additional monthly cost.

• $5 10DLC base fee (US only) 

For businesses operating in the U.S., a standard 10DLC (10-digit long code) compliance fee is charged monthly.

• Phone seats at $25/month

If you wish to add phone capabilities for your team, phone seats are available at a starting price of $25 per user per month, though this may vary based on the number of users or seats required.

Podium Pricing vs. Emitrr Pricing: A Comparison

While Podium offers powerful capabilities and strong feature integration, Podium does not publicly disclose its pricing. Businesses are required to contact sales for a custom quote, and there are a few additional charges depending on usage and setup. Here’s a quick overview of what to expect when it comes to Podium’s pricing structure.

Pros and Cons of Podium Pricing

While Podium provides a comprehensive set of tools to help local businesses enhance communication and customer engagement, it’s important to weigh the benefits and potential drawbacks of its pricing model before making a decision. The following points can help you evaluate if Podium aligns with your business goals and budget:

Pros of Podium Pricing

• Feature-Rich Options: Podium offers a wide range of tools, including text marketing, review management, call tracking, and automation, all under one roof.
• Strong Customer Support: Users often report a responsive support team and a smooth onboarding experience.

Cons of Podium Pricing

• Lack of Pricing Transparency: No clear pricing is listed on the website, requiring potential customers to go through the sales process for basic cost information.
• Additional Charges: Fees for extra numbers, 10DLC compliance, and phone seats can add up, especially for growing teams.
• Not Ideal for Budget-Conscious Users: Compared to some competitors, Podium may be on the higher end of the pricing spectrum for similar feature sets.

Emitrr Pricing

Emitrr is an all-in-one communication tool that simplifies customer interactions with the help of advanced AI capabilities. It brings all your conversations into a single, shared SMS inbox so your team can stay on the same page. You can have two-way text chats, start group messages, or connect with customers in real time through your website using webchat. If you’re often on the move or juggling multiple tasks, features like voicemail transcription and VoIP calling help you stay connected without being tied to your phone.

Emitrr also makes it easier to manage your contacts and run effective SMS marketing campaigns. Its Chrome extension lets you stay productive right from your browser. But where it stands out is with its smart AI support, from auto-replying to messages and translating them instantly to tuning your message tone and setting up custom rules using its AI rule engine. Designed to function like a phone system for small businesses, it helps you stay connected with customers in a way that’s easy, fast, and reliable.

Emitrr offers two VoIP plans—Standard and Professional — tailored to meet different business needs, with VoIP phone costs starting at $20 per user per month, making it the perfect solution for improving communication efficiency.

Standard Plan:
The Standard Plan includes 1000 calling minutes per user and offers essential features such as HD voice, call recording (manual), call hold music, call queue groups, call extensions, and call forwarding. Users also benefit from number porting, contact syncing, personalized working hours, and access to a mobile app.

Professional Plan:
The Professional Plan includes everything offered in the Standard Plan, along with advanced features like automated call recording, call transcription, IVR (Interactive Voice Response), missed call auto-text, call conferencing, voicemail transcription, HIPAA compliance, and access management.

Name of the plan	Pricing if paid annually	Pricing if paid monthly
Standard	$20 per user per month	$25 per user per month
Professional	$30 per user per month	$35 per user per month

How Emitrr Offers Better Value for Money as Compared to Podium?

For small businesses trying to balance their budgets with real communication needs, Emitrr offers more value for money than Podium. With flexible pricing, a wide range of features, and room to grow, it helps you get the most without overspending. Here’s a detailed breakdown of why Emitrr is a better choice:

Pay for What You Use

Emitrr’s pricing structure allows businesses to choose and pay only for the services they actually need. So that your investment goes toward tools that bring value to your business, avoiding unnecessary expenses on features you don’t use or need, making it a more cost-effective solution in the long run.

Best Value for Money

Emitrr offers a transparent and flexible pricing model with Standard and Professional plans, allowing businesses to choose between monthly or discounted annual billing. With no hidden charges or unexpected costs, Emitrr provides a cost-effective solution for improving communication efficiency.

Add Unlimited Users

With Emitrr, businesses can add unlimited users without incurring additional costs. This allows your business to scale effortlessly without worrying about rising expenses as your team grows.

Advanced Call Management

The platform provides VoIP benefits with advanced features like call transcription, IVR (Interactive Voice Response), and automated call recording. These tools ensure smooth call handling and enhance customer satisfaction.

HIPAA-Compliance

Emitrr ensures secure communication by maintaining HIPAA compliance through audits. This guarantees that sensitive information is protected and meets the strict security standards required by industries like healthcare.

AI-Powered Automation

Emitrr leverages AI to automate repetitive tasks such as call routing, message delivery, and follow-ups. This reduces manual workload, increases efficiency, and allows teams to focus on more critical tasks.

Emitrr’s AI agent Sarah handles everything from appointment reminders to customer replies, making texting simple and seamless –

Seamless Integration

Emitrr seamlessly integrates with popular CRM platforms, allowing businesses to sync customer data effortlessly. This enables unified communication, better customer relationship management, streamlined workflows, and a comprehensive view of customer interactions for improved decision-making.

Scalable for Growth

As your business grows, Emitrr grows with you. The platform’s scalable structure allows you to add more users and handle increased call volumes without any significant adjustments or hidden costs.

Quick and Easy Setup

Emitrr provides a hassle-free onboarding experience with a simple, intuitive interface that reduces setup time. Your team can adapt quickly without requiring extensive training or technical expertise.

Reliable Customer Support

Emitrr provides prompt and responsive customer support to assist with any issues or questions. Whether it is technical assistance or onboarding guidance, Emitrr’s support team is available to help businesses make the most of the platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

While Podium delivers a strong set of tools for business communication and customer interaction, its lack of upfront pricing and added costs may not suit every business. If you’re looking for a more affordable option with powerful features like AI automation, VoIP, and streamlined workflows, Emitrr is worth considering. It brings flexibility, transparency, and efficiency—all in one platform. Schedule a free demo today to explore how Emitrr can support your business goals.