Podium vs Whelp
Converge Team
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
| Feature | Podium | Whelp |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $399/mo | From $79/seat/mo |
| Best For | Local businesses needing integrated messaging and payments | SMEs and businesses needing comprehensive omnichannel support with AI automation |
| Standout Feature | Integrated payment collection through messaging | AI-powered chatbot that can automate up to 60% of customer inquiries with advanced sentiment analysis |
| Free Plan | ✗ | ✓ |
| G2 Rating | 4.3 | N/A |
Podium and Whelp both emphasize messaging-first customer communication but serve different market segments. Podium targets local businesses with SMS-focused customer engagement and review management, while Whelp focuses on global businesses needing WhatsApp Business integration and social media customer service.
The choice between these platforms depends on your primary customer communication channels and geographic market focus.
Feature Comparison
Podium excels in SMS marketing and customer engagement, offering text-to-pay functionality, review invitation automation, and lead capture through messaging. Its strength lies in converting website visitors into text conversations and managing local business reputation.
Whelp provides comprehensive omnichannel messaging with WhatsApp Business API, Instagram Direct Messages, Facebook Messenger, and email integration. Its chatbot capabilities and automated routing handle high-volume international customer service efficiently.
Both platforms offer mobile apps, but Podium focuses on SMS conversation management and local business workflows, while Whelp optimizes for global messaging channels and social media customer service.
Pricing Comparison
Podium pricing starts around $289/month for basic plans, with costs increasing based on message volume and additional features like payments and reviews. SMS costs are typically included up to certain limits.
Whelp offers more accessible entry pricing around $39/month per user, with separate WhatsApp Business API costs based on usage. The pricing model is more predictable for international messaging scenarios.
Consider your message volume and geographic reach - Podium's SMS focus works well for local markets, while Whelp's international messaging capabilities may be more cost-effective for global operations.
Podium
Pros
- ✓ Strong local business focus
- ✓ Integrated payment processing
- ✓ Comprehensive review management
Cons
- ✗ Expensive pricing structure
- ✗ Limited international messaging
- ✗ Complex setup process
Whelp
Pros
- ✓ Comprehensive omnichannel support across major platforms
- ✓ Strong AI automation capabilities with up to 60% inquiry automation
- ✓ Free plan available for small teams
Cons
- ✗ Per-agent pricing can become expensive for larger teams
- ✗ Limited G2 reviews and ratings for social proof
- ✗ Additional fees for some integrations like WhatsApp on lower tiers
Verdict
Choose Podium if you're a local business prioritizing SMS communication, review management, and lead generation through messaging. Choose Whelp if you need international messaging capabilities, social media integration, and WhatsApp Business API functionality.
Choose Podium if: You're a local business needing SMS marketing, review management, and payment collection through messaging, primarily serving domestic customers.
Choose Whelp if: You need international messaging capabilities, social media customer service, or WhatsApp Business integration for global customer communication.
For businesses seeking comprehensive messaging without geographic limitations or high volume costs, Converge offers unified customer communication at $49/month flat rate, providing essential omnichannel features without per-message or per-agent fees.
Looking for more options? Browse all 750+ platform comparisons, or see all Podium comparisons and all Whelp comparisons.