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Customer Support · head to head

Podium vs Salesforce Service Cloud

Podium logo

Podium

Customer Support

Messaging platform for local businesses

From
$249/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Salesforce Service Cloud logo

Salesforce Service Cloud

Customer Support

Customer service software that powers loyalty

From
$25/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Podium no monthly price, contact limit or message allowance is published anywhere on the pricing page; Salesforce Service Cloud the vendor's own pricing page as captured by the Internet Archive on 29 December 2021 listed four Service Cloud tiers billed annually per user per month in USD: $25, $75, $150 (Enterprise, marked most popular), and $300; add-ons such as Omni-Channel Supervisor cost an additional $75 per user per month and Google Apps/Outlook integration an additional $25 per user per month on lower tiers
  • They diverge on capability: Podium covers Text messaging, Salesforce Service Cloud covers Case management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Podium and Salesforce Service Cloud actually diverge.

Attributes where Podium and Salesforce Service Cloud differ
AttributePodiumSalesforce Service Cloud
Starting price$249/month$25/month
Founded20141999

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Customer Support).

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 Salesforce Service Cloud

  • Case management
  • Omnichannel routing
  • AI-powered bots
  • Field service
  • Self-service
  • Analytics
  • Salesforce CRM
  • Slack

Both cover

  • SOC2
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

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 Salesforce Service Cloud
  • Converting inbound leads through text and web chatnot Salesforce Service Cloud

Salesforce Service Cloud

  • Enterprise customer servicenot Podium
  • Field servicenot Podium
  • Self-service portalsnot Podium
  • AI-powered supportnot Podium

Where each one falls short

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

Podium

  • No monthly price, contact limit or message allowance is published anywhere on the pricing page
  • The page carries a heading asking what Podium costs monthly and does not answer it
  • The AI Employee is an add on across all tiers rather than being included

Salesforce Service Cloud

  • The vendor's own pricing page as captured by the Internet Archive on 29 December 2021 listed four Service Cloud tiers billed annually per user per month in USD: $25, $75, $150 (Enterprise, marked most popular), and $300; add-ons such as Omni-Channel Supervisor cost an additional $75 per user per month and Google Apps/Outlook integration an additional $25 per user per month on lower tiers

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

Salesforce Service Cloud

$25/month
  • Essentials$25/month
    • Case management
    • Knowledge base
    • Web & email support
  • Professional$80/month
    • CTI
    • Omni-channel routing
    • Custom reports
  • Enterprise$165/month
    • Web API
    • Einstein AI
    • Workflow automation
  • Unlimited$330/month
    • 24/7 support
    • Configuration services
    • Premier success

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 Salesforce Service Cloud if

  • You need case management.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want omnichannel routing.
Salesforce Service Cloud review

Questions people ask

Is Podium or Salesforce Service Cloud better?
Neither clearly leads. Podium starts at $249/month and Salesforce Service Cloud at $25/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Podium or Salesforce Service Cloud?
Podium starts at $249/month and Salesforce Service Cloud at $25/month.
Does Podium or Salesforce Service Cloud run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 Salesforce Service Cloud is typically brought in for.
What can Podium do that Salesforce Service Cloud cannot?
Podium covers Text messaging, Review management, Webchat, Payments. Salesforce Service Cloud covers Case management, Omnichannel routing, AI-powered bots, Field service. Both handle SOC2, Web support, Ios support, Android support.
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