Softwr

CRM · head to head

Lusha vs Podium

Lusha logo

Lusha

CRM

B2B contact and company intelligence

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 Lusha has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Lusha teams over 5 users must contact sales for configuration; no published per-user limits for standard plans; Podium no transparent pricing published online
  • They diverge on capability: Lusha covers Contact database, Podium covers Text messaging.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lusha and Podium actually diverge.

Attributes where Lusha and Podium differ
AttributeLushaPodium
Starting priceFree$249/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryCRMCustomer Support
Founded20162014

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 Lusha

  • Contact database
  • Email search
  • Company intelligence
  • Email verification
  • Chrome extension
  • Integrations
  • LinkedIn
  • Gmail

Only in Podium

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

Both cover

  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot
  • GDPR
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Lusha

  • Lead generationnot Podium
  • Contact researchnot Podium
  • Email verificationnot Podium

Podium

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

Where each one falls short

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

Lusha

  • Teams over 5 users must contact sales for configuration; no published per-user limits for standard plans
  • Unused credits on monthly plans roll over but cap at twice the monthly limit, creating potential waste
  • Annual plans do not roll over unused credits; they reset at cycle end

Podium

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Lusha

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 40 credits per month
    • Basic prospecting features
    • Browser extension
  • Starter$49.9/month
    • 400 credits per month
    • All Free plan features
  • Professional$69.9/month
    • 600 credits per month
    • All Starter features
  • Premium$399.9/month
    • 3,400 credits per month
    • All Professional features

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 Lusha if

  • You need contact database.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want email search.
Lusha 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 Lusha or Podium better?
Neither clearly leads. Lusha 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, Lusha or Podium?
Lusha has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Lusha and $249/month for Podium.
Does Lusha or Podium run on more platforms?
Lusha runs on Web. Podium runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Lusha for free?
Yes. Lusha has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Podium starts at $249/month.
What is Lusha best used for?
Lusha is most often used for lead generation, contact research, email verification. Of those, lead generation and contact research are not what Podium is typically brought in for.
What can Lusha do that Podium cannot?
Lusha covers Contact database, Email search, Company intelligence, Email verification. Podium covers Text messaging, Review management, Webchat, Payments. Both handle Salesforce, HubSpot, GDPR, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Lusha: What does Lusha's Free plan include?

Lusha's Free plan provides 40 credits per month at no cost. It includes basic prospecting features, browser extension access, and CRM integrations. Credits are used for email reveals (1 credit per contact) and phone numbers (10 credits per contact).

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
Lusha: How do Lusha credits work and what is the credit rollover policy?

Lusha uses a credit system where email reveals cost 1 credit and phone reveals cost 10 credits per contact. On monthly plans, unused credits roll over and accumulate up to twice your monthly credit limit. Annual plans reset unused credits at the cycle's end without rollover.

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
Lusha: What is the annual pricing for Lusha plans?

Lusha offers annual pricing at a discount: Starter is $449.10/year (4,800 credits annually), Professional is $587.16/year (7,200 credits), and Premium is $3,119.21/year (40,800 credits). Annual plans are cheaper per credit than monthly but do not roll over unused credits.

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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