Chatwoot vs Podium
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Chatwoot | Podium |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $19/seat/mo | From $399/mo |
| Best For | Technical teams wanting open-source flexibility | Local businesses needing integrated messaging and payments |
| Standout Feature | Open-source with self-hosting option | Integrated payment collection through messaging |
| Free Plan | ✓ | ✗ |
| G2 Rating | 4.4 | 4.3 |
Chatwoot and Podium represent two different philosophies in customer communication. Chatwoot offers an open-source, developer-friendly approach to customer support, while Podium focuses on messaging-first customer engagement for local businesses.
With Chatwoot's G2 rating of 4.4 and Podium's 4.3, both platforms have proven their value, but they serve distinctly different market segments and use cases.
Feature Comparison
Chatwoot excels in traditional omnichannel support with email, live chat, WhatsApp, and social media integration. Its open-source nature allows extensive customization and self-hosting options.
Podium specializes in text messaging for local businesses, offering features like review management, payment collection via SMS, and lead nurturing workflows. It's built specifically for businesses that rely on local customer relationships.
The fundamental difference is approach: Chatwoot handles support tickets across channels, while Podium focuses on proactive customer engagement through messaging.
Pricing Comparison
Chatwoot starts at $20 per agent per month with custom enterprise pricing available. Its open-source version is free for self-hosting, making it extremely cost-effective for technical teams.
Podium starts at $89 per month with custom pricing for larger businesses. While more expensive upfront, it includes features like review management and payment processing that would require separate tools with other platforms.
For small teams, Chatwoot offers better value. For local businesses needing integrated messaging and reputation management, Podium's higher cost may be justified by its specialized features.
Chatwoot
Pros
- ✓ Open-source option available
- ✓ Good channel coverage
- ✓ Active development community
Cons
- ✗ Per-agent pricing model
- ✗ Self-hosting requires technical expertise
- ✗ Limited advanced features in lower tiers
Podium
Pros
- ✓ Strong local business focus
- ✓ Integrated payment processing
- ✓ Comprehensive review management
Cons
- ✗ Expensive pricing structure
- ✗ Limited international messaging
- ✗ Complex setup process
Verdict
Choose Chatwoot if you need a cost-effective, customizable solution with strong developer tools. Choose Podium if you're a local business prioritizing text messaging and lead conversion over traditional support tickets.
Choose Chatwoot if: You need traditional customer support features, have technical resources for customization, or want to minimize per-agent costs.
Choose Podium if: You're a local business focused on text messaging, need integrated review management, or want to convert website visitors into leads via SMS.
Consider Converge at $49/month flat rate if you need a middle-ground solution that combines multi-channel support with predictable pricing regardless of team size.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Chatwoot comparisons and all Podium comparisons.