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CRM · head to head

Kylas vs Podium

Kylas logo

Kylas

CRM

Indian sales CRM sold at a flat monthly rate with unlimited users instead of per seat

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 Kylas has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Kylas unlimited users only moves the meter rather than removing it: records are capped, and expanding beyond one hundred thousand costs 500 INR per twenty thousand, which becomes the real cost driver for any business with a large lead database.; Podium no transparent pricing published online
  • They diverge on capability: Kylas covers Unlimited users on every plan, Podium covers Text messaging.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kylas and Podium actually diverge.

Attributes where Kylas and Podium differ
AttributeKylasPodium
Starting priceFree$249/month
Pricing modelFlat rate per month, unlimited userssubscription
Free tierYesNo
CategoryCRMCustomer Support
FoundedUnknown2014

Identical on both: 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 Kylas

  • Unlimited users on every plan
  • Lead and deal management
  • Record based limits
  • Workflow automation
  • Quotation management
  • Telephony integrations
  • WhatsApp and SMS
  • BI analytics add-on

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.

Kylas

  • A twenty five person Indian inside sales team where per seat CRM pricing would cost several times a flat monthly ratenot Podium
  • A company that wants every employee including support and delivery staff to see customer records without buying them seatsnot Podium
  • A business with high sales headcount turnover that does not want to renegotiate licence counts every quarternot Podium
  • An Indian SME needing native WhatsApp, IndiaMART and local telephony connections rather than a Western CRM with adaptersnot Podium

Podium

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

Where each one falls short

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

Kylas

  • Unlimited users only moves the meter rather than removing it: records are capped, and expanding beyond one hundred thousand costs 500 INR per twenty thousand, which becomes the real cost driver for any business with a large lead database.
  • Core functionality such as workflows, email templates and email tracking is sold as separate add-ons from 500 to 800 INR a month, so the advertised flat rate is not what an automated sales operation actually pays.
  • The free Embark plan caps records at ten thousand and explicitly cannot be expanded, so it is a trial with no upgrade path in place rather than a workable long term free tier.
  • Kylas is built around Indian sales practice and its integration marketplace is dominated by Indian telephony, payments and lead sources, which makes it a poor fit for companies selling primarily into Europe or North America.
  • Onboarding is charged at 25,000 INR one-off with training at 5,000 INR per three hour session, so first year cost is meaningfully above twelve months of subscription.

Podium

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Kylas

Free
  • EmbarkFree
    • Free for life
    • Unlimited users
    • Ten thousand records, not expandable
  • Elevate$12999/month
    • Flat rate for unlimited users, not per seat
    • One hundred thousand records, expandable
    • Quarterly, half-yearly and annual billing terms
  • Exceed$undefined/month
    • Custom pricing
    • Unlimited users
    • Around 1.1 million records, adjustable

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 Kylas if

  • You need unlimited users on every plan.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want lead and deal management.
Kylas 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 Kylas or Podium better?
Neither clearly leads. Kylas 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, Kylas or Podium?
Kylas has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Kylas and $249/month for Podium.
Does Kylas or Podium run on more platforms?
Kylas runs on Web, iOS, Android. Podium runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Kylas for free?
Yes. Kylas has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Podium starts at $249/month.
What is Kylas best used for?
Kylas is most often used for a twenty five person indian inside sales team where per seat crm pricing would cost several times a flat monthly rate, a company that wants every employee including support and delivery staff to see customer records without buying them seats, a business with high sales headcount turnover that does not want to renegotiate licence counts every quarter, an indian sme needing native whatsapp, indiamart and local telephony connections rather than a western crm with adapters. Of those, a twenty five person indian inside sales team where per seat crm pricing would cost several times a flat monthly rate and a company that wants every employee including support and delivery staff to see customer records without buying them seats are not what Podium is typically brought in for.
What can Kylas do that Podium cannot?
Kylas covers Unlimited users on every plan, Lead and deal management, Record based limits, Workflow automation. Podium covers Text messaging, Review management, Webchat, Payments.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kylas: What does Kylas cost?

The Elevate plan is a flat rate of about 12,999 INR per month for unlimited users, with quarterly, half-yearly and annual terms. There is a free Embark plan and a custom Exceed tier.

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
Kylas: Does unlimited users really mean unlimited?

Yes for seats. The limit is on records: ten thousand on the free plan, one hundred thousand on Elevate, expandable at 500 INR per twenty thousand.

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
Kylas: What is not included in the flat rate?

Workflows, email templates, email tracking, the security module and BI analytics are add-ons from 500 to 5,000 INR per month. Onboarding is 25,000 INR one-off.

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
Kylas: Is it usable outside India?

It works, but the integration marketplace and sales workflows are built for the Indian market and the pricing is quoted in rupees.

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