Acquire vs Podium

Acquire and Podium target different aspects of customer communication. Acquire specializes in visual customer support with video chat and co-browsing for complex technical assistance, while Podium focuses on local business messaging with SMS, webchat, and review management designed for brick-and-mortar establishments.

The choice between these platforms depends on whether you need Acquire's technical support capabilities or Podium's local business-focused messaging and reputation management tools.

Acquire's core strength lies in its visual support capabilities, including video chat, screen sharing, and co-browsing. These features enable agents to see exactly what customers see, making it ideal for software support, technical troubleshooting, and complex product demonstrations.

Podium excels in local business communication with SMS messaging that integrates with existing phone numbers, automated review requests, and lead capture forms. Its strength is in converting website visitors into customers through immediate SMS engagement and managing online reputation.

While Acquire focuses on problem resolution through visual communication, Podium emphasizes customer acquisition and retention through convenient messaging and reputation management.

Acquire starts at $500 per month for up to 4 agents, with additional agents at $125 each. This premium pricing reflects its specialized video technology and is justified for businesses where visual support significantly impacts customer satisfaction and resolution times.

Podium's pricing begins at $89 per month for basic messaging features, with higher tiers adding review management, payment processing, and advanced automation. The pricing scales based on features rather than agent count, making it accessible for small local businesses.

Acquire's model works for specialized technical support teams, while Podium's feature-based pricing suits local businesses that need messaging tools without large support staff.

Choose Acquire if you provide technical support or complex product assistance where visual communication improves resolution rates. Choose Podium if you're a local business needing SMS messaging, review management, and lead generation tools integrated with your existing workflows.

Choose Acquire if: You provide technical support, software onboarding, or complex product assistance where screen sharing and video communication significantly improve customer outcomes and reduce resolution time.

Choose Podium if: You're a local business (retail, healthcare, automotive, etc.) that needs SMS messaging, review management, and lead generation tools to convert website visitors and manage customer relationships.

For businesses needing straightforward messaging without specialized visual support or local business features, Converge offers essential communication tools at $49/month flat rate, providing core messaging functionality without complex feature sets or per-agent pricing.