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Compare Drift and Podium 
Featured Products
At a Glance
Market Segments
Mid-Market (51.7% of reviews)
Small-Business (60.3% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $2,500.00 Per Month
Contact Us Per Month
Drift
Star Rating
(1,255)4.4 out of 5
Market Segments
Mid-Market (51.7% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $2,500.00 Per Month
Browse all 3 pricing plansPodium
Star Rating
(2,041)4.6 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (60.3% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Contact Us Per Month
Browse all 3 pricing plansSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that Podium excels in customer communication management, with users appreciating its ability to consolidate messages from various platforms like Google Business Profile, Facebook, and SMS into a single feed. This feature simplifies communication and enhances user experience, making it easier for businesses to manage customer interactions.
- Users say that Drift stands out for its quick implementation and ease of use. Recent feedback highlights how users were able to launch a chatbot on their site in just a few hours, significantly impacting their demand generation efforts. This rapid setup is a key advantage for teams looking to get started quickly.
- Reviewers mention that Podium's Text-to-Pay feature is a game-changer, allowing customers to make payments seamlessly via text. This functionality not only enhances the customer experience but also streamlines the payment process, which is particularly beneficial for businesses focused on improving their service efficiency.
- According to verified reviews, Drift's live chat capabilities receive high praise, with users noting the ability to engage potential customers directly on their website. This proactive engagement helps businesses connect with leads at critical moments, fostering real-time conversations that can lead to conversions.
- G2 reviewers highlight that while Drift has a solid feature set, Podium's reputation management tools are particularly effective. Users appreciate how Podium automatically sends review invitations after service, helping businesses maintain a positive online presence and manage their reputation more effectively.
- Users report that both platforms offer strong support, but Podium edges out with a slightly higher quality of support rating. Reviewers have noted that Podium's user interface is clear and easy to navigate, which contributes to a smoother overall experience when seeking assistance or utilizing the platform's features.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
Drift
Premium
Starting at $2,500.00
Per Month
For small businesses. The right amount of conversational firepower to keep your business growing.
- * Everything in Free, plus:
- Live Chat
- Meetings
Podium
Core
Contact Us
Per Month
With essential AI features, respond to and convert more leads faster.
- Consolidated Lead Conversion Platform
- Review Management with AI Reponses
- Basic Automations
Free Trial
Drift
Free Trial is available
Podium
No trial information availableRatings
Meets Requirements
8.7
1,017
9.1
1,727
Ease of Use
8.7
1,030
9.3
1,746
Ease of Setup
8.4
507
9.1
1,080
Ease of Admin
8.5
473
9.3
881
Quality of Support
8.8
938
9.0
1,605
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.9
472
9.2
898
Product Direction (% positive)
8.9
995
9.0
1,713
Features by Category
Core Conversational Capabilities - AI Chatbots
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Data
Not enough data
8.0
39
Not enough data
8.8
40
Interaction
Not enough data
8.0
41
Not enough data
8.2
40
Not enough data
8.3
40
Not enough data
8.4
40
Not enough data
8.3
39
Task & Flow Management - AI Chatbots
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Learning
Not enough data
8.2
40
Not enough data
7.9
41
Deployment & Embedding - AI Chatbots
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Content Generation
Not enough data
8.1
41
Not enough data
7.9
41
Admin & Configuration - AI Chatbots
Not enough data
Not enough data
System
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.4
41
Not enough data
8.5
40
Not enough data
8.5
39
Agentic AI - AI Chatbots
Not enough data
5.2
8
Not enough data
6.0
8
Not enough data
6.3
8
Not enough data
5.8
8
Not enough data
6.7
8
Not enough data
5.8
8
Not enough data
6.7
8
Monitoring & Improvement - AI Chatbots
Not enough data
Not enough data
Reliability & Safety - AI Chatbots
Not enough data
Not enough data
Messenger
8.5
203
|
Verified
8.3
158
8.2
201
|
Verified
7.6
207
9.1
273
|
Verified
9.1
222
8.5
250
|
Verified
Feature Not Available
Channels
7.9
116
|
Verified
7.9
211
8.9
250
|
Verified
8.6
220
7.7
91
|
Verified
9.3
236
7.6
81
|
Verified
Feature Not Available
7.8
90
|
Verified
8.0
195
Customers
8.6
224
|
Verified
8.2
152
8.4
202
|
Verified
8.4
154
8.1
241
|
Verified
8.5
221
8.7
241
|
Verified
8.3
221
8.5
245
|
Verified
8.5
222
Agentic AI - Conversational Marketing
Not enough data
4.4
13
Not enough data
4.5
13
Not enough data
4.2
13
Not enough data
4.9
13
Not enough data
4.9
13
Not enough data
5.0
13
Not enough data
4.9
13
Lead Facilitation
8.9
315
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
309
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
288
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.7
305
|
Verified
Not enough data
Organization
8.0
265
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.0
269
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
277
|
Verified
Not enough data
Performance Analysis
7.8
241
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.0
261
|
Verified
Not enough data
Sales Analysis
7.5
215
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.7
221
|
Verified
Not enough data
Generative AI
7.5
87
Not enough data
7.6
85
Not enough data
Agentic AI - AI Sales Assistant
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Platform Basics
Not enough data
8.6
65
Not enough data
8.5
64
Not enough data
9.1
65
Platform Data
Not enough data
9.1
65
Not enough data
9.0
65
Platform Additional Functionality
Not enough data
8.5
63
Not enough data
9.1
65
Not enough data
9.3
65
Platform Content
Not enough data
9.0
62
Agentic AI - Automotive Marketing
Not enough data
6.3
9
Not enough data
6.5
9
Not enough data
6.5
9
Not enough data
6.7
9
Not enough data
6.7
9
Not enough data
6.7
9
Not enough data
6.7
9
Text Messaging
Not enough data
8.7
228
|
Verified
Not enough data
9.3
238
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
186
Not enough data
8.6
237
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
213
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
214
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.5
232
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.5
216
|
Verified
SMS Platform
Not enough data
8.5
223
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.6
223
|
Verified
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
7.6
201
|
Verified
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.2
206
|
Verified
Agentic AI - SMS Marketing
Not enough data
5.7
24
Not enough data
6.1
24
Not enough data
6.6
24
Not enough data
6.4
24
Not enough data
5.8
24
Not enough data
5.7
24
Channels
Not enough data
8.2
322
Not enough data
8.1
322
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Design
Not enough data
8.3
337
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.5
372
Not enough data
8.4
363
Not enough data
8.6
337
Generative AI
Not enough data
7.5
234
Not enough data
7.5
229
Responses
Not enough data
9.3
14
Not enough data
9.3
14
Not enough data
8.9
14
Automation - AI Agents
Not enough data
8.6
14
Not enough data
8.6
16
Not enough data
8.5
16
Not enough data
8.8
15
Not enough data
8.9
16
Platform
Not enough data
9.0
14
Not enough data
8.8
15
Not enough data
9.2
14
Autonomy - AI Agents
Not enough data
8.6
14
Not enough data
8.8
14
Not enough data
8.6
14
Not enough data
7.9
14
Generative AI
Not enough data
8.5
14
Not enough data
8.7
14
Responses
8.2
280
8.9
32
8.3
268
8.4
33
8.4
303
8.9
33
8.1
273
Feature Not Available
8.0
228
8.2
32
Platform
8.9
309
Feature Not Available
8.4
291
Feature Not Available
8.4
275
8.5
31
8.1
281
8.5
31
7.9
240
Feature Not Available
8.4
261
8.8
32
8.2
286
8.9
31
Generative AI
7.7
84
8.1
32
7.7
82
8.1
31
Conversational Platform
8.6
167
8.7
294
8.4
117
8.4
252
8.7
128
8.3
165
8.6
92
8.5
179
Support Automation
Feature Not Available
8.5
257
8.4
147
8.3
165
8.7
138
8.7
167
8.4
92
8.1
173
Generative AI
7.9
31
7.5
152
7.7
31
7.5
154
Integrations
7.4
92
Not enough data
7.9
95
Not enough data
7.8
91
Not enough data
7.3
88
Not enough data
8.0
94
Not enough data
Branding & Customizatio
8.2
94
Not enough data
8.3
93
Not enough data
7.9
90
Not enough data
Automatic Rules & Configurations
8.4
95
Not enough data
8.2
90
Not enough data
8.1
93
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Business Scheduling
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Customer Support
7.8
12
Not enough data
7.8
12
Not enough data
8.1
12
Not enough data
Automation
8.2
11
Not enough data
8.3
13
Not enough data
8.3
12
Not enough data
Artificial Intelligence
7.7
13
Not enough data
8.2
13
Not enough data
8.3
14
Not enough data
Generative AI
7.7
31
Not enough data
7.9
30
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Bot Platforms
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Generative AI
7.7
83
7.7
246
7.7
81
7.5
243
7.3
81
Feature Not Available
Communication
9.2
542
|
Verified
9.2
698
|
Verified
8.5
538
|
Verified
9.0
723
|
Verified
7.8
323
|
Verified
8.1
509
8.6
414
|
Verified
9.0
664
|
Verified
7.9
189
7.3
295
Internal Use
8.4
461
|
Verified
8.2
616
|
Verified
8.7
471
|
Verified
8.9
677
|
Verified
8.5
472
|
Verified
8.6
646
|
Verified
8.2
409
|
Verified
8.6
628
|
Verified
8.3
372
|
Verified
8.8
634
|
Verified
8.1
402
|
Verified
8.5
599
|
Verified
Generative AI
7.4
20
Not enough data
Self-Service Experience
8.1
57
Not enough data
8.2
53
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.2
51
Not enough data
8.5
57
Not enough data
Self-Service Platform
8.6
57
Not enough data
8.7
60
Not enough data
8.2
59
Not enough data
8.5
58
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Customer Self-Service
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Platform Basics - VoIP Providers
Not enough data
6.8
11
Not enough data
6.5
11
Not enough data
6.2
10
Not enough data
5.8
11
Not enough data
5.8
10
Not enough data
6.5
10
Basic Communication
Not enough data
8.4
42
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
7.3
37
Agentic AI - VoIP Providers
Not enough data
6.0
7
Not enough data
6.0
7
Not enough data
6.2
7
Not enough data
6.7
7
Access
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Advanced Features
Not enough data
6.7
39
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.1
39
Consumer Intelligence
Not enough data
9.1
629
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
518
Not enough data
8.5
558
|
Verified
Reporting
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.4
523
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.9
647
|
Verified
Media Monitoring
Not enough data
8.5
517
Not enough data
7.3
198
Not enough data
8.3
510
In-House Management
Not enough data
8.6
503
Not enough data
8.6
503
|
Verified
Generative AI
Not enough data
7.5
138
Agentic AI - Online Reputation Management
Not enough data
5.2
11
Not enough data
5.3
11
Not enough data
5.9
11
Not enough data
5.8
11
Not enough data
5.6
11
Not enough data
5.6
11
Agentic AI - AI Agents
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
Drift and Podium are categorized as Conversational Support, Conversational Marketing, Chatbots, and Live Chat
Unique Categories
Drift is categorized as Business Scheduling, AI Sales Assistant, Bot Platforms, Customer Self-Service, and Customer Service Automation
Podium is categorized as AI Chatbots, AI Agents For Business Operations, Shared Inbox, Customer Communications Management, SMS Marketing, Automotive Marketing, Online Reputation Management, and VoIP Providers
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
Drift
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Podium
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Computer Software
32.9%
Information Technology and Services
20.5%
Marketing and Advertising
7.2%
Financial Services
3.2%
Computer & Network Security
3.0%
Other
33.3%
Automotive
19.9%
Retail
13.8%
Consumer Services
9.1%
Construction
7.9%
Furniture
6.2%
Other
43.0%
Discussions
Do I have to completely remove all of my lead capture forms?
2 Comments
Official Response from Drift
Getting started with conversational marketing isn’t an “all or nothing” decision. Rather than ripping all the forms off their site, many companies start by...Read more
How do I measure the effectiveness of conversational marketing?
2 Comments
Official Response from Drift
You can measure your conversational marketing efforts just like you would measure any other marketing channel. Platforms like Drift give you dashboards that...Read more
What types of people are having conversations with businesses?
2 Comments
Official Response from Drift
When we analyzed the data from the 50,000+ businesses using Drift for conversational marketing, we found that people in key decision-making roles are often...Read more
How can I make people interact with the chat feature better?
3 Comments
JJ
Let them know about how easy it is to connect to the company they are using. It's a direct connection between the customer and service techs.Read more
How can online reviews help my business?
2 Comments
VL
In a day and age of online reviews, the majority of the people nowadays are choosing their services/companies based on their online popularity/reviews. Read more
How do I edit my templates ( If this is not a permissions issues )
2 Comments
JP
If it is not a permissions issue then to be honest I am not sure. You can create new templates. When I login to Podium on a computer it tells me that you...Read more
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