LiveChat vs Podium
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | LiveChat | Podium |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $49/seat/mo | From $399/mo |
| Best For | E-commerce teams needing visitor tracking with WhatsApp support | Local businesses needing integrated messaging and payments |
| Standout Feature | Detailed visitor tracking with real-time website analytics | Integrated payment collection through messaging |
| Free Plan | ✗ | ✗ |
| G2 Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.3 |
LiveChat and Podium serve different market segments - LiveChat focuses on traditional live chat with pricing from $20-$149 per agent, while Podium emphasizes local business messaging with plans from $89 to custom enterprise pricing.
Feature Comparison
LiveChat offers comprehensive chat features, extensive integrations, and detailed analytics. Podium combines messaging with review management, payment collection, and local business tools, making it a complete customer interaction platform for brick-and-mortar businesses.
Pricing Comparison
LiveChat's $20-$149 per agent model scales with team size, suitable for support teams. Podium's $89+ pricing includes multiple channels and business tools, potentially offering better value for local businesses managing customer relationships across touchpoints.
LiveChat
Pros
- ✓ Excellent visitor tracking and analytics
- ✓ Strong integration ecosystem (200+ apps)
- ✓ Reliable WhatsApp Business API support
Cons
- ✗ Per-agent pricing model
- ✗ ChatBot automation is separate product
- ✗ No native Telegram or Zalo support
Podium
Pros
- ✓ Strong local business focus
- ✓ Integrated payment processing
- ✓ Comprehensive review management
Cons
- ✗ Expensive pricing structure
- ✗ Limited international messaging
- ✗ Complex setup process
Verdict
Podium wins for local businesses needing SMS and review management, while LiveChat is better for traditional customer support and e-commerce.
Choose LiveChat for dedicated customer support teams, or Podium for local businesses needing integrated messaging and reputation management. For straightforward chat needs, Converge offers a simple $49/mo flat rate solution.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all LiveChat comparisons and all Podium comparisons.