Podium Reviews & Product Details

How easy it makes customer communication through text messages. Most customers respond much faster to SMS than emails or calls, and Podium centralizes all those conversations in one place. The review request features is also very effective, it's simple to send, and customers don't need to jump through multiple steps to leave a review. The interface is clean and easy to use, so even team members who are not very tech savvy can get started quickly. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The main downside is the pricing. For smaller business, the cost can feel high, especially if you're not using every features regularly. Some advanced settings and integrations also take time to understand, and the onboarding could be a bit clearer for first time users. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Podium is very easy to use and thoughtfully designed for customer communication. The shared inbox, SMS messaging, and reputation management features run smoothly and make it easier to respond to customers more quickly. I especially liked how straightforward it is to manage both messages and reviews in one place, without any technical complexity or extra steps. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The biggest downside is the pricing, especially for small businesses or individual users. Some of the more advanced features are locked behind higher-tier plans, and the customization options still feel limited. Over time, I got the impression that the platform is geared more toward enterprise needs than what I personally require. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Overall, I’d rate Podium a 7 out of 10. It’s quite useful because it really simplifies communicating with customers. Rather than having messages scattered across different platforms, everything is organized in one place, which makes the experience feel more like a friendly conversation than a complicated process. While it’s not flawless, it certainly makes things more convenient. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Honestly, my biggest issue with Podium is that it can be a bit expensive and isn’t always the easiest to use from the start. While it performs its functions well, there is a bit of a learning curve, and it’s definitely not the most affordable choice out there. Still, once you become familiar with it, it proves to be a solid option overall. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I really appreciate Podium's Unified Inbox, which brings together all messages from SMS, Facebook, Instagram, Google, and Webchat into a single dashboard. It's super helpful not having to jump between different apps. I also like the 'Jerry' AI Employee, which engages leads within two minutes, handles common questions, and books appointments, even after hours, boosting sales by up to 30%. The review collection feature is impressive as well. I just send requests via SMS, saving me from chasing clients for reviews and increasing my local SEO and star ratings. Podium's specialized AI agents are another fantastic element—they're tailored to specific industries like healthcare or home services, making them highly effective at handling objections and booking appointments. Lastly, the interface is super intuitive and user-friendly, making setup a breeze. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

While Podium offers many powerful features, users frequently point out several areas that could be improved or that cause frustration during daily use. One of the most common complaints is the high and often opaque pricing, which many find prohibitive for smaller businesses. Users have noted a lack of transparent pricing on the website, often requiring a sales call for basic cost information, and have reported surprise billings for add-ons like extra phone seats or 10DLC compliance. Additionally, the platform is often criticized for its difficult cancellation process and long-term contracts that some users feel are enforced through hidden wording or automatic renewals. Regarding the software itself, certain functional limitations can impact efficiency. These include inefficient search, as it sometimes only allows you to find old conversations if you remember the exact name of the customer. AI reliability is sometimes an issue, with some instances of AI providing unrelated or weird responses to customers, requiring human intervention to apologize and correct the mistake. Entry-level plans may have strict bulk messaging limits (such as 250 per month) with no rollover for unused credits, which can be frustrating for businesses running monthly marketing campaigns. Many reviews highlight a significant drop in support quality after the initial onboarding phase, citing long wait times to reach a human and a lack of accountability when technical issues arise. Some users were disappointed to find a lack of Yelp integration or that certain promised CRM integrations were slower or more difficult to set up than expected. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I like how Podium simplifies and centralizes customer communication by keeping messages, reviews, and feedback in one place. It saves time and makes reputation management easier. The simple interface is quick to use, and the automation for sending review requests ensures consistent follow-ups. Setting up Podium was straightforward and quick, with minimal training needed, which was great for my team. It's a very useful and easy-to-use tool, especially for managing customer reviews and communication effectively. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Some features can feel a bit expensive for small businesses, and a few advanced settings could be more customizable. More control over automated message timing and templates would be helpful, along with simpler pricing tiers for small businesses. Better reporting and analytics would also be a nice improvement. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The best part about Podium is when I left Podium because they were liars and didn't care about small businesses Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I was lied to during the onboarding about being able to cancel the program easily. They still sent me to collections to collect the full amount of the contract, even after I had issues. Podium doesn't care about small businesses and doesn't take accountability for their actions. Podium didn't solve any problems for my company and caused issues by porting out my main business line without explaining the repercussions, leaving me without a business line for weeks. Customer service was no help; when I tried to resolve the issue on a Saturday, the rep said they didn't work then, and it took two weeks to get tech support. Their terrible customer service and lies were continuous, and the initial setup was absolutely terrible, with no clear explanations. I wouldn't recommend Podium to anyone. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I appreciate that Podium pulls messages from Google Business Profile, Facebook, Instagram, Webchat, and SMS into one single feed, making it easier to manage communications. The Text-to-Pay feature is fantastic because it allows customers to use Apple Pay or Google Pay securely, which simplifies the 'Accounts Receivable' process. Payments that used to take weeks now often happen in under 3 minutes. It's very easy to set up and sign up, which is a big plus for me. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Setting up the integrations with your CRM or Point of Sale (POS) system can be a multi-week process. If the integration isn't "native," you might find yourself doing more manual work than promised during the sales demo. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I love Podium's core strength in consolidating every customer touchpoint into one simple, text-message-like inbox. The genius of the automated, trigger-based workflow is something I truly appreciate. It's powerful how one action automatically triggers the next step in the customer journey, acting like a set-it-and-forget-it engine for reputation and revenue. Additionally, the initial setup of Podium was relatively simple and convenient, without any difficulties or challenges. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I find Podium to be a bottleneck for complex conversations. It's great for quick updates and simple Q&A, but it gets cumbersome for lengthy, multi-point conversations, like explaining detailed diagnostics or discussing multiple repair options with estimates. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I appreciate Podium for its ability to save our business time by handling the initial reach out to customers and following up on those who don't respond, allowing us to focus on more intricate tasks. The inclusion of AI to initiate customer interactions is particularly beneficial, relieving some of the workload and ensuring prompt contact with potential and existing clients. Furthermore, the fantastic support from Podium's team stands out. They are quick to address any questions or changes we need, ensuring that any concerns are handled effectively. This efficiency and responsiveness from the support team greatly enhance our experience with Podium. Additionally, I find the initial setup of Podium to be incredibly easy, which speaks to the product's user-friendliness and accessibility. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

There have been some minor glitches with the AI feature, but it is understandable as it is relatively new to Podium, and AI is always learning. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I really appreciate Podium's simple and fast customer communication system. The shared inbox is fantastic because everyone on the team can see and respond to customer messages from the same place. This feature means no messages are missed, no questions have to be answered repeatedly, and it's always clear who is responsible for which messages. Additionally, I find the quick reply feature really helpful. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I think Podium works very well, so no major improvements are needed. However, the experience could be even better if there are more customization options. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.