Softwr

CRM · head to head

Insightly vs Podium

Insightly logo

Insightly

CRM

CRM & project management for any business

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Podium logo

Podium

Customer Support

Messaging platform for local businesses

From
$249/month
Free plan
No

The short version

  • Only Insightly has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Insightly record counts are capped by plan, at 100,000 on Plus and 500,000 on Enterprise, so the database size decides the tier; Podium no transparent pricing published online
  • They diverge on capability: Insightly 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 Insightly and Podium actually diverge.

Attributes where Insightly and Podium differ
AttributeInsightlyPodium
Starting priceFree$249/month
Free tierYesNo
CategoryCRMCustomer Support
Founded20102014

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Insightly

  • Contact management
  • Deal tracking
  • Project management
  • Task management
  • Email integration
  • Reporting
  • Mobile app
  • Mailchimp

Only in Podium

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

Both cover

  • SOC2
  • GDPR
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Insightly

  • CRM with project delivery tracking after the salenot Podium
  • Managing leads, opportunities and customer projects in one record setnot Podium

Podium

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

Where each one falls short

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

Insightly

  • Record counts are capped by plan, at 100,000 on Plus and 500,000 on Enterprise, so the database size decides the tier
  • Workflow automation requires the Professional plan at $49 per user per month
  • AI Copilot is metered by query, at 75 on Plus and 100 on Professional
  • Mass email is capped daily, at 2,500 on Plus and 10,000 on Enterprise
  • CRM, Marketing and Service are sold as three separate products, and Marketing is priced per account by prospect count starting at $99 for 2,000
  • Sandboxes and audit logging are Enterprise only at $99 per user per month

Podium

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Insightly

Free
  • CRM Plus$29/user/month
    • lead and contact management
    • project management
    • advanced reports
  • CRM Professional$49/user/month
    • all Plus features
    • lead assignment/routing
    • workflow automation
  • CRM Enterprise$99/user/month
    • all Professional features
    • sandboxes
    • products/pricebooks/quotes

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 Insightly if

  • You need contact management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want deal tracking.

Choose Podium if

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

Questions people ask

Is Insightly or Podium better?
Neither clearly leads. Insightly starts at Free and Podium at $249/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Insightly or Podium?
Insightly has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Insightly and $249/month for Podium.
Does Insightly or Podium run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Insightly for free?
Yes. Insightly has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Podium starts at $249/month.
What is Insightly best used for?
Insightly is most often used for crm with project delivery tracking after the sale, managing leads, opportunities and customer projects in one record set. Of those, crm with project delivery tracking after the sale and managing leads, opportunities and customer projects in one record set are not what Podium is typically brought in for.
What can Insightly do that Podium cannot?
Insightly covers Contact management, Deal tracking, Project management, Task management. Podium covers Text messaging, Review management, Webchat, Payments. Both handle SOC2, GDPR, Web support, Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Insightly: How much does Insightly CRM cost?

Insightly CRM plans are priced per user per month when billed annually: Plus at $29, Professional at $49 (the most popular option), and Enterprise at $99. All plans include a 14-day free trial that requires no credit card.

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
Insightly: Is there a free trial for Insightly?

Yes, Insightly offers a 14-day free trial across most products with no credit card required, allowing you to test CRM, Marketing Automation, Support & Ticketing, and AppConnect features.

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
Insightly: What record storage limits apply to Insightly CRM plans?

Insightly CRM Plus includes 100,000 records, Professional includes 250,000 records, and Enterprise includes 500,000 records. File storage increases from 10 GB on Plus to 100 GB on Professional and 250 GB on Enterprise.

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
Share

Related pages

Other head to heads