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Customer Support · head to head

Podium vs Rasa

Podium logo

Podium

Customer Support

Messaging platform for local businesses

From
$249/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
Rasa logo

Rasa

Live Chat

Open-source framework for building conversational AI

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Rasa has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Podium no transparent pricing published online; Rasa free Developer Edition caps conversations at 1,000 external or 100 internal per company per month
  • They diverge on capability: Podium covers Text messaging, Rasa covers NLU engine.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Podium and Rasa actually diverge.

Attributes where Podium and Rasa differ
AttributePodiumRasa
Starting price$249/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidOn-premise, Cloud deployment, Docker, Kubernetes
CategoryCustomer SupportLive Chat
Founded20142016

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 Podium

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

Only in Rasa

  • NLU engine
  • Dialogue management
  • Multi-language support
  • Testing tools
  • Slack
  • Teams
  • Custom channels
  • API

What people use each for

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

Podium

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

Rasa

  • Developers self-hosting an open source conversational AI framework before needing enterprise scalenot Podium

Where each one falls short

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

Podium

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

Rasa

  • Free Developer Edition caps conversations at 1,000 external or 100 internal per company per month
  • Rasa Pro and the Business Plan (Pro plus Studio) are not priced on the site and require contacting sales

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Rasa

Free
  • Free Developer EditionFree
    • One bot per company
    • Up to 1,000 external conversations per month or 100 internal conversations per month
    • Free Rasa license for local or production use
  • Rasa Pro$undefined/mo
    • Pro-code framework with CALM dialogue understanding
    • Language-agnostic NLU, enterprise search, multi-LLM management
    • Kubernetes support
  • Enterprise$undefined/mo
    • Full access to Rasa Platform and Premium Support
    • 24/7/365 support with Customer Success Manager
    • Business reviews and guidance

Which should you pick?

Choose Podium if

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

Choose Rasa if

  • You need nlu engine.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on On-premise, Cloud deployment, Docker, Kubernetes.
  • You also want dialogue management.
Rasa review

Questions people ask

Is Podium or Rasa better?
Neither clearly leads. Podium starts at $249/month and Rasa at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Podium or Rasa?
Rasa has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $249/month for Podium and Free for Rasa.
Does Podium or Rasa run on more platforms?
Podium runs on Web, Ios, Android. Rasa runs on On-premise, Cloud deployment, Docker, Kubernetes.
Can I use Rasa for free?
Yes. Rasa has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Podium starts at $249/month.
What is Podium best used for?
Podium is most often used for managing customer messages and reviews for local businesses, converting inbound leads through text and web chat. Of those, managing customer messages and reviews for local businesses and converting inbound leads through text and web chat are not what Rasa is typically brought in for.
What can Podium do that Rasa cannot?
Podium covers Text messaging, Review management, Webchat, Payments. Rasa covers NLU engine, Dialogue management, Multi-language support, Testing tools.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Rasa: Does Rasa offer a free version?

Yes. Rasa offers a free Developer Edition with one bot per company, up to 1,000 external conversations per month, and free community support.

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
Rasa: What support is included with Rasa's free tier?

The free tier includes community forum support with responses from Rasa community members. Paid tiers add premium support with enhanced response times.

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
Rasa: What is the difference between Rasa Pro and Enterprise?

Rasa Pro includes the pro-code framework with advanced NLU and multi-LLM management. Enterprise adds full platform access, 24/7 support, dedicated Customer Success Manager, and business reviews.

Source
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