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CRM · head to head

Krayin vs Podium

Krayin logo

Krayin

CRM

Open source Laravel CRM for sales teams that want to own the code

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 Krayin has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Krayin it is far less mature than EspoCRM, SuiteCRM or Vtiger, with thinner reporting, weaker forecasting and fewer built-in integrations, so evaluations that start from a feature checklist will not favour it.; Podium no transparent pricing published online
  • They diverge on capability: Krayin covers Lead pipelines, Podium covers Text messaging.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Krayin and Podium actually diverge.

Attributes where Krayin and Podium differ
AttributeKrayinPodium
Starting priceFree$249/month
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Self-hosted, Docker, LinuxWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryCRMCustomer Support
FoundedUnknown2014

Identical on both: 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 Krayin

  • Lead pipelines
  • Contacts and organisations
  • Quotes
  • Workflow automation
  • Email integration
  • Custom attributes
  • Roles and permissions
  • Laravel package architecture

Only in Podium

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

What people use each for

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

Krayin

  • A PHP or Laravel development shop wants a CRM it can fork and rebrand for clients without paying per seat or negotiating an OEM licence.not Podium
  • An organisation under data residency rules needs the customer database physically on its own infrastructure, which rules out every hosted CRM.not Podium
  • A small sales team wants an unlimited-user CRM where adding a tenth or fiftieth user costs nothing beyond server capacity.not Podium
  • A Bagisto ecommerce store wants a CRM from the same vendor that shares its technology stack and conventions rather than a bridged integration.not Podium

Podium

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

Where each one falls short

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

Krayin

  • It is far less mature than EspoCRM, SuiteCRM or Vtiger, with thinner reporting, weaker forecasting and fewer built-in integrations, so evaluations that start from a feature checklist will not favour it.
  • Practical functionality such as certain telephony, messaging and marketing connectors sits in paid marketplace extensions from Webkul, so the free CRM plus the extensions you actually need is not free.
  • The roadmap is controlled by a single services company whose revenue depends on selling implementation and extensions, so there is a structural incentive against making the core complete.
  • You are responsible for the whole operational burden: PHP and MySQL hosting, backups, security patching, mail deliverability and upgrades, and a botched upgrade of a customised install is your problem alone.
  • The cloud hosting page does not publish prices, so the managed option that would remove that burden cannot be budgeted without contacting sales, which undercuts the transparency the open licence otherwise offers.

Podium

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Krayin

Free
  • Self-hostedFree
    • Full MIT-licensed source
    • Unlimited users
    • No feature gating
  • Cloud hosting and extensions$undefined/month
    • Starter and Pro managed hosting packs from Webkul
    • Premium extensions sold individually in the Krayin marketplace
    • White label and custom development quoted separately

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 Krayin if

  • You need lead pipelines.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted, Docker, Linux.
  • You also want contacts and organisations.
Krayin 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 Krayin or Podium better?
Neither clearly leads. Krayin 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, Krayin or Podium?
Krayin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Krayin and $249/month for Podium.
Does Krayin or Podium run on more platforms?
Krayin runs on Web, Self-hosted, Docker, Linux. Podium runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Krayin for free?
Yes. Krayin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Podium starts at $249/month.
What is Krayin best used for?
Krayin is most often used for a php or laravel development shop wants a crm it can fork and rebrand for clients without paying per seat or negotiating an oem licence., an organisation under data residency rules needs the customer database physically on its own infrastructure, which rules out every hosted crm., a small sales team wants an unlimited-user crm where adding a tenth or fiftieth user costs nothing beyond server capacity., a bagisto ecommerce store wants a crm from the same vendor that shares its technology stack and conventions rather than a bridged integration.. Of those, a php or laravel development shop wants a crm it can fork and rebrand for clients without paying per seat or negotiating an oem licence. and an organisation under data residency rules needs the customer database physically on its own infrastructure, which rules out every hosted crm. are not what Podium is typically brought in for.
What can Krayin do that Podium cannot?
Krayin covers Lead pipelines, Contacts and organisations, Quotes, Workflow automation. Podium covers Text messaging, Review management, Webchat, Payments.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Krayin: Is Krayin really free?

The CRM itself is MIT licensed with no user limit and no enterprise edition. Premium extensions, managed hosting and custom development from Webkul are paid.

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
Krayin: Who maintains it?

Webkul Software of Noida, India, the same company behind the Bagisto open source ecommerce platform.

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
Krayin: What do I need to run it?

A standard LAMP or LEMP stack with PHP, Composer and MySQL or MariaDB. Any host that runs Laravel will run Krayin.

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
Krayin: How does it compare to EspoCRM?

EspoCRM is more mature with deeper reporting and a longer track record. Krayin is easier for a Laravel developer to extend and has a more permissive licence.

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