Podium Alternatives: Compare Features, Pricing, Pros & Cons

Introduction

Podium is a messaging platform that offers companies a platform to engage with customers and streamline their messaging workflows. 

However, as businesses evolve and their needs change, exploring alternatives to Podium becomes imperative to ensure continued growth and efficiency. In this we explore the landscape of Podium alternatives, delving into the reasons for considering a switch and presenting a range of alternative solutions tailored to meet diverse business requirements.

Top 6 Podium Alternatives 

1. Emitrr
2. Birdeye
3. Weave
4. ReviewWave
5. ReviewTrackers
6. Chekkit

Emitrr 

Emitrr is a highly capable software that focuses on review generation. Emitrr is a texting software that strives to provide the best customer experience experience.  Emitrr offers a variety of features and the most efficient support channels for better user engagement. In addition, Emitrr has extraordinary features such as missed calls to text, 24/7 live rep, and KPI tracking. These features make the platform unique. Emitrr’s features ensure customer satisfaction and reputation management for businesses. The goal of customer conversion is achievable with Emitrr’s review analysis. 

Emitrr Features

• Two-way texting for efficient communication 
• Send secure links through texts
• Group texting feature for better teamwork 
• Text alert feature to deal with urgent situations 
• Mass texting for sending message outreach 
• Send and receive images and files (GIFs, images, videos, etc.)
• Send automated review requests to your patients 
• Integrate your existing CRM system easily with Emitrr to maintain your contact list 
• Read responses from reviews in a single conversation inbox
• Automated text reminders to keep customers updated 
• Live chat option to attend to the customer’s query immediately 
• No-show follow-up through texts and calls 
• Payment and cancellation follow-ups 
• Track metrics like missed calls, unique calls, total calls, message open rate, failed delivery
• Use editable SMS templates to personalize your reminders and messages to feel more engaged with customers 
• Letting businesses analyze and scale with API and activity tracking 
• Text enable landline number and also get 10DLC support 
• VoIP functionality for businesses 

Emitrr Pros

• Ease of use 
• Simple user interface for patients 
• Intuitive features 
• Top-notch customer support 

Emitrr Cons

• No hidden charges or annual binding contracts 

Emitrr Support Channels 

• Phone
• Live rep
• Chat support
• Email
• FAQs
• Knowledge base 

Emitrr Pricing 

• Starts at $30 per month(You pay for what you use)

Emitrr Reviews 

Birdeye 

Birdeye is an AI-powered software that offers business growth and scalability through reputation management. Birdeye platform helps you to make a digital presence through its products. The Birdeye software also helps in client retention and lead conversion. 

Birdeye Features

• Two-way messaging for patients
• Alerts and notifications to keep the patients updated on their schedule 
• API and activity tracking features for healthcare businesses 
• Customizable reports and forms 
• Automated responses 
• Data visualization using AI/machine learning to automate the health data of patients 

Birdeye Pros

• user friendly 
• Great online reputation analysis and management

Birdeye Cons 

• The software has bugs and can be clunky 
• Slow customer support assistance

Birdeye Support Channels 

• 24/7 (Live rep)
• FAQs/Forum
• Email/Help Desk
• Phone Support
• Knowledge Base
• Chat

Birdeye Pricing 

• Starts at $350 per month 

Birdeye Reviews

Weave

Weave is a relationship management platform that promises clients efficient customer support and quick solutions.  Weave offers communication tools to automate tasks such as scheduling, review management, and much more. The Weave platform is practical and helps in customer engagement through customer satisfaction.

Weave Features

• Two-way texting 
• Easy online scheduling 
• Easy web chat services 
• Bulk messaging for better promotion and engagement 
• Bulk emails for better engagement 
• customizable reminders for scalability 
• Easy messaging on Google Business Messages and Facebook Messenger 
• Review surveys and reputation metrics 
• VoIP phone system for better call connection over the internet 

Weave Pros

• Variety of features
• Ease of use 

Weave Cons

• Slow customer support 
• Expensive for the features it offers 

Weave Support Channels 

• FAQs/Forum
• Phone Support
• Chat
• Email/Help Desk
• Knowledge Base

Weave Pricing 

• No fixed pricing is available. The software offers different subscription catalogues

Weave Reviews

Review Wave 

Review Wave is a review management Software that helps you enhance your online reputation. Review Wave platform gives solutions to increase online testimonials, reviews, retention, and referrals. Review Wave also focuses on customer satisfaction by presenting them with the best features for their business needs.

Review Wave Features

• Two way texting 
• Online scheduling for ease of use 
• Web chat feature 
• Customizable reminders for customers 
• Campaign Management through emails 
• Review Monitoring and survey feedback analysis  
• Negative Feedback Management for Better Engagement 
• Review Request
• Response Management
• VoIP functionality for businesses 

Review Wave Pros

• The software is easy to use
• The technical setup of the software is swift 

Review Wave Cons

• The scheduling feature of the Reviewwave app is glitchy
• Customer support is very slow in fixing bugs 
• The integration process is not smooth 

Review Wave Support Channels 

• Phone Support
• Email/Help Desk
• Chat

Review Wave Pricing

• Starts at $299 per month

Review Wave Reviews

ReviewTrackers 

ReviewTrackers is a platform that works to enhance the reputation of a business by garnering reviews online. The software focuses on customer satisfaction. ReviewTrackers application adds customer strategy and provides features to help your business achieve its goals. 

ReviewTrackers Features

• Review Notification
• Campaign Management via email and SMS for customer retention 
• Review Monitoring and Analysis
• Negative Feedback Management to understand customer needs 
• Review Request and feedback surveys 
• Response Management

ReviewTrackers Pros

• Ample integration 
• Ease of use 

ReviewTrackers Cons

• Expensive when compared to its competitors 
• Poor response management 

ReviewTrackers Support Channels 

• Phone Support
• FAQs/Forum
• Knowledge Base
• Email/Help Desk

ReviewTrackers Pricing 

• ReviewTrackers does not have a fixed pricing. To get a pricing quotation, you need to request a demo from ReviewTrackers. 

ReviewTrackers Reviews

Chekkit 

Chekkit software focuses on enhancing customer experience and turning conversations into conversions. The Chekkit platform focuses on the growth and scalability of local businesses. The Chekkit app lets you send texts to multiple platforms like Facebook Messenger, Google, and Instagram. Chekkit software serves the aim of bringing scalability to your business. 

Chekkit Features

• Two way texting 
• Online scheduling for ease of clients 
• Web chat feature 
• Digital forms for better handling of details 
• Customizable reminders 
• Review Notification update 
• Campaign Management through email and SMS 
• Review Monitoring Analysis
• Negative Feedback Management
• Review Request and survey feedback link management 
• Response Management
• Payment and cancellation followups 
• VoIP functionality for businesses 

Chekkit Pros

• Fairly priced
• Ease of use 

Chekkit Cons

• Slow review updation process 
• Limited functionality 

Chekkit Support Channels 

• Chat
• 24/7 (Live rep)
• Knowledge Base
• FAQs/Forum
• Email/Help Desk
• Phone Support

Chekkit Pricing 

• Starts at $99 per month

Chekkit Reviews

Why Should You Switch To A Podium Alternative?  

Issues with Podium Pricing 

Customers of Podium are not very satisfied with the pricing structure of Podium. Podium pricing starts at $399 per month. Podium pricing is very expensive when compared to its competitors. In case, customers wanted to cancel their subscription,  still their credit cards were charged with payments. Even the ‘Essentials’ package of Podium offers limited dashboard access for 3 team members and restricts contact management to 1000 contacts. The customers felt that Podium’s cost was too high for its services. So, they wanted better Podium alternatives. 

Inconsistent Podium support 

The customers of Podium complained about the below-average support services of Podium.  There needed to be more training and support for the onboarding process. Clients were upset as they already made the payment but the support team didn’t start with the onboarding process. The support staff of the Podium software didn’t do a proper follow-up which led to a bad customer experience. Even cancellation of membership with Podium was difficult due to the slow support team. 

Limited Podium features 

Customers felt that Podium’s cost didn’t justify Podium’s limited number of features. The broadcast message feature had a fixed limitation. The group texting feature had glitches. 

Buggy Software 

Customers were left disappointed with the software crashes they faced with Podium. The Podium software often crashes and has a lot of bugs. The technical support team was also very slow. They didn’t solve the client’s query on time which led to slow business days. That’s why Customers looked for a better Podium alternative. 

Why Is Emitrr The Best Podium Alternative?

From the above analysis, it is clear that Emitrr is the best Podium alternative due to the following reasons:

1. Emitrr offers a range of exciting features that will help you amp up your customer communication and engagement efforts, without burning a hole in your pocket. Capabilities like group texting, mass text messaging, SMS Marketing, SMS automation, two-way texting, broadcast texting, SMS review requests, and missed call to text make Emitrr an obvious choice. 
2. Not only can you manage customers seamlessly with Emitrr, but can also effortlessly collaborate with your team. You can set dispositions, assign conversations to team members, leave notes for your team members, add conversations in folders, and filter conversations. This will save you hours worth of daily time and streamline operations. 

3. Emitrr, unlike its competitors, offers quite a flexible pricing. It means that you only pay for what you use. There is nop hidden charges, setup fees, or binding contracts. The pricing structure is pretty flexible and tailored to your use case. 

4. Emitrr takes pride in its customer support and is known for offering excellent service to its customers. Based on customer feedback on major review sites like Capterra, G2, and Software Advice; Emitrr is rated 5 stars for its responsive and efficient customer service. 

5. With Emitrr, you can streamline your workflows by integrating your software with just a few clicks. Emitrr supports 1000+ EMR/CRM/PMS integrations. 

6. Emitrr is pretty easy to use; there is no learning curve involved. In addition to ease of use, there are no technical glitches that could make your job hard. Should you face any issues, the support team is always hands-on to resolve the same.
   

What Will The Migration From Podium To Emitrr Look Like?

If you’ve come this far, we are assuming you’ve made the decision to switch to Emitrr. We are here to tell you that it is completely an easy process.

Your contacts can be easily migrated from Podium to Emitrr. All you need to do is request Podium to provide you with an export of all your contacts and conversations. Once you have this, you can forward it to us and we will do the rest. That’s it, your migration process is completed.

You will be able to use the business phone number that you were using before with Podium. Nothing will change, expect a lot more cool features that will make customer communication a walk in the park.

Frequently Asked Questions