Softwr

CRM · head to head

Cloze vs Podium

Cloze logo

Cloze

CRM

Relationship management for professionals

From
$50/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
Podium logo

Podium

Customer Support

Messaging platform for local businesses

From
$249/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Cloze four paid tiers run from $17 to $42 per user per month, and each withholds a different set of features rather than simply adding capacity; Podium no transparent pricing published online
  • They diverge on capability: Cloze covers Contact management, Podium covers Text messaging.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cloze and Podium actually diverge.

Attributes where Cloze and Podium differ
AttributeClozePodium
Starting price$50/month$249/month
CategoryCRMCustomer Support
Founded20122014

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Cloze

  • Contact management
  • Communication history
  • Relationship insights
  • Task management
  • Integration aggregation
  • Gmail
  • Outlook
  • LinkedIn

Only in Podium

  • Text messaging
  • Review management
  • Webchat
  • Payments
  • Team inbox
  • Automation
  • Google
  • Facebook

Both cover

  • GDPR
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Cloze

  • CRM that builds contact records automatically from email and calendarnot Podium
  • Tracking relationships and follow ups without manual data entrynot Podium

Podium

  • Managing customer messages and reviews for local businessesnot Cloze
  • Converting inbound leads through text and web chatnot Cloze

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Cloze

  • Four paid tiers run from $17 to $42 per user per month, and each withholds a different set of features rather than simply adding capacity
  • Campaign automation, marketing mail and generative AI require the Business Platinum plan at $42 per user per month
  • Lead routing, sub team hierarchies and enterprise controls are Platinum only
  • Even the Business Gold plan at $29 per user excludes the matching engine and lead capture
  • The concierge service is an add on at $20 per user per month with a $500 monthly minimum
  • Every published rate assumes annual billing

Podium

  • No transparent pricing published online
  • 10DLC base fee amount not specified
  • Bulk Messages credits and limits not quantified

Pricing, plan by plan

Cloze

$50/month
  • Professional$50/month
    • Contact management
    • Communication history
    • Insights
  • Team$100/month
    • Everything in Professional
    • Team collaboration
    • Advanced analytics

Podium

$249/month
  • Essentials$249/month
    • Inbox
    • Reviews
    • Website chat
  • Standard$449/month
    • Essentials + Campaigns
    • Payments
    • Automation
  • Professional$undefined/month
    • Standard + Advanced analytics
    • Multi-location

Which should you pick?

Choose Cloze if

  • You need contact management.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want communication history.
Cloze review

Choose Podium if

  • You need text messaging.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want review management.
Podium review

Questions people ask

Is Cloze or Podium better?
Neither clearly leads. Cloze starts at $50/month and Podium at $249/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cloze or Podium?
Cloze starts at $50/month and Podium at $249/month.
Does Cloze or Podium run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Cloze best used for?
Cloze is most often used for crm that builds contact records automatically from email and calendar, tracking relationships and follow ups without manual data entry. Of those, crm that builds contact records automatically from email and calendar and tracking relationships and follow ups without manual data entry are not what Podium is typically brought in for.
What can Cloze do that Podium cannot?
Cloze covers Contact management, Communication history, Relationship insights, Task management. Podium covers Text messaging, Review management, Webchat, Payments. Both handle GDPR, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cloze: Does Cloze offer a free trial?

Yes. Cloze offers a 14-day free trial for all plans with no credit card required. This applies to Pro, Business Silver, Business Gold, and Business Platinum tiers.

Source
Podium: How do I find out Podium pricing for my business?

Podium requires contacting their sales team directly at 1-801-438-4425 or visiting http://podium.com/getpricing for a custom quote based on your business needs.

Source
Cloze: What is the difference between monthly and annual billing at Cloze?

Cloze offers both month-to-month and annual subscription options. Annual billing provides a discount. For example, Cloze Pro is $17/month annually but $19.99/month on month-to-month billing.

Source
Podium: What messaging features might incur additional costs?

10DLC messaging has a base fee (amount unspecified) and Bulk Messages credits are available with limits that are not detailed on their public pricing page.

Source
Cloze: What does Cloze's Business Platinum plan cost?

Cloze Business Platinum (their most popular plan) costs $42/user/month on annual billing or $49.99/user/month on month-to-month billing. It includes matching engine, smart templates, lead capture, campaign automation, and enterprise controls.

Source
Podium: Does Podium publish pricing tiers online?

No. Podium states plans are designed to fit specific business needs and requires sales team consultation instead of displaying standard public pricing.

Source
Cloze: Does Cloze offer team collaboration features?

Yes, starting with Business Silver ($21/user/month annual). Team features include collaborative work, responsibility assignment, privacy settings management, and team analytics. Higher tiers unlock more advanced team controls and custom fields.

Source
Cloze: Does Cloze offer additional services beyond standard plans?

Yes. Cloze offers a Concierge Service at $20/user/month (minimum $500/month) that includes personalized training, a dedicated customer success manager, and data import assistance.

Source
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