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Jivochat vs Podium

Jivochat logo

Jivochat

Live Chat

All-in-one communication platform for customer engagement

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Podium logo

Podium

Customer Support

Messaging platform for local businesses

From
$249/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Jivochat has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Jivochat the free plan keeps only 2 months of chat history and has no CRM; Podium no transparent pricing published online
  • They diverge on capability: Jivochat covers Live chat, Podium covers Text messaging.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Jivochat and Podium actually diverge.

Attributes where Jivochat and Podium differ
AttributeJivochatPodium
Starting priceFree$249/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Mobile app, IOS, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryLive ChatCustomer Support
Founded20082014

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Jivochat

  • Live chat
  • Phone integration
  • Email support
  • Chatbot builder
  • CRM
  • Slack
  • Telegram
  • Viber

Only in Podium

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

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Jivochat

  • Live chat and messaging support across website and social channelsnot Podium
  • Handling customer conversations from one agent inboxnot Podium

Podium

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

Where each one falls short

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

Jivochat

  • The free plan keeps only 2 months of chat history and has no CRM
  • The Chat API, chat routing and the mobile SDK are all Enterprise only, at $56 per agent per month billed annually
  • The WhatsApp module is a $27 a month add on on every plan including Enterprise
  • The Professional plan caps the account at 100 agents
  • Pricing is per agent, so support cost scales with headcount rather than conversation volume

Podium

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Jivochat

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 5 agents included
    • Online chat for websites and social media integration
    • Basic callback and offline forms
  • Basic$28/month
    • Per-agent pricing ($28/agent/month)
    • Proactive invitations and visitor monitoring
    • Anti-spam protection and JivoChat CRM included
  • Professional$42/month
    • $42 per agent per month
    • Telephony Plus module and WhatsApp integration
    • Chat rescue and chatbot integration
  • Enterprise$56/month
    • $56 per agent per month
    • Mobile SDK and advanced chat routing
    • Unlimited agents (vs 100 cap on other paid tiers)

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 Jivochat if

  • You need live chat.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app, IOS, Android.
  • You also want phone integration.
Jivochat 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 Jivochat or Podium better?
Neither clearly leads. Jivochat 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, Jivochat or Podium?
Jivochat has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Jivochat and $249/month for Podium.
Does Jivochat or Podium run on more platforms?
Jivochat runs on Web, Mobile app, IOS, Android. Podium runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Jivochat for free?
Yes. Jivochat has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Podium starts at $249/month.
What is Jivochat best used for?
Jivochat is most often used for live chat and messaging support across website and social channels, handling customer conversations from one agent inbox. Of those, live chat and messaging support across website and social channels and handling customer conversations from one agent inbox are not what Podium is typically brought in for.
What can Jivochat do that Podium cannot?
Jivochat covers Live chat, Phone integration, Email support, Chatbot builder. Podium covers Text messaging, Review management, Webchat, Payments. Both handle Web support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Jivochat: How much does JivoChat cost?

JivoChat is free for up to 5 agents. Paid plans start at $28 per agent per month (Basic), $42 per agent (Professional), and $56 per agent (Enterprise). All plans billed annually receive a 30% discount. A 14-day trial is available with no contract required.

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
Jivochat: What are the limits for agents in JivoChat plans?

The Free tier includes 5 agents. Basic, Professional, and Enterprise plans cap at 100 agents per organization, except Enterprise which allows unlimited agents at the $56-per-agent-per-month rate.

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
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
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