A Podium alternative on WhatsApp, without the annual contract
Podium is a platform for local businesses in the US, Canada and Australia: texting, phones, payments and reviews, priced on request with a 12-month term. Tobachat Reviews asks for reviews on WhatsApp, at a fixed monthly price you can cancel any month.
Which one fits
Podium suits you better if
- You're in the US, Canada or Australia and reach customers by text.
- You want phones and payments in the same system.
- You want a dedicated success manager on your account.
Tobachat suits you better if
- Your customers use WhatsApp.
- You'd rather pay and cancel month to month.
- You want to see the price before talking to anyone, and try it free first.
Podium and Tobachat side by side
| Compared | Podium | Tobachat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Not on the pricing page: you ask their sales team | €29, €99 or €199 a month, with unlimited users |
| Contract | 12 months, renews automatically. Notice at least 30 days before the end | Cancel any month |
| Billing | Subscription paid yearly in advance | Monthly |
| Countries | US, Canada and Australia, per their terms | Wherever you can use WhatsApp Business |
| Review requests by | Text message | WhatsApp, from your own number |
Checked on 30 October 2026 against Podium's own website, as shown to a visitor in the Netherlands. Prices exclude VAT and may have changed since.
Switching from Podium
You can start while your contract runs out: the free plan costs nothing.
Note your notice date
Podium needs notice by email at least 30 days before your term ends. Put that date in your calendar.
Start free
Create an account and connect a WhatsApp number through Meta's own sign-up screen. It can be your existing business number.
Turn on reviews
Pick the after-visit flow in the library, or put a QR code on the counter. Import your customers from a CSV file.
What people ask
Other alternatives to Podium
Trengo
Email, live chat, social and voice in one inbox, from €349 a month, plus a fee per AI conversation.
Twilio
WhatsApp as an API to build into your own software, at $0.005 a message plus Meta's fee.
Zendesk
A full helpdesk with tickets, email and phone, from €55 per agent a month billed yearly.
Freshdesk
An email-first helpdesk where each WhatsApp message becomes a ticket, from $19 per agent a month billed yearly.
ManyChat
Automation for Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok and Messenger, priced by active contacts.
Wati
Also WhatsApp first, on a subscription in US dollars with message fees and add-ons billed separately.
Front
A shared inbox built around email, where WhatsApp is a paid add-on from $65 per seat a month.
Bird
MessageBird is now Bird: APIs for email, SMS, WhatsApp and voice, billed per message.
Chatwoot
An open-source help desk you host yourself or run in their cloud, from $19 per agent a month.
360dialog
Access to the WhatsApp Business API with no screen of its own, from €49 per number a month.
SleekFlow
WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger and email in one inbox, from $49 a month billed yearly. AI agents from Pro.
Superchat
WhatsApp, Instagram, email and more in one inbox, from €89 a month on a 12-month term. AI agent from Professional.
Chatarmin
WhatsApp marketing and AI customer service for webshops. Prices on request, Meta fees at cost.
Interakt
WhatsApp and Instagram, $55 or $69 a month plus taxes, with AI agents as a $74.99 add-on.
AiSensy
WhatsApp campaigns and chatbots from $45 a month with 5 agents, chatbots and AI as paid add-ons.
Saysimple
WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, webchat and email, from €119 a month billed yearly on a 12-month contract.
CommuniQate
WhatsApp only, Start €39, Growth €99 and Accelerator €249 a month, priced by users and active contacts.
Birdeye
Reviews, listings and an inbox for multi-location businesses, priced on request.
Try it free on your own number
No annual contract, no credit card. Connect your number and switch on the review flow.
Prefer a hand getting started? We'll get you started