Podium vs GoHighLevel: Compare Your Actual Bill
Podium and GoHighLevel both do reviews, two-way texting, webchat and payments. The difference is the bill: Podium is quote-based, while GoHighLevel starts at $97 a month plus about 1¢ per text. If you mainly use Podium for review invites and texting, GoHighLevel usually costs less. If your team depends on Podium’s phones, payments or AI Employee, compare carefully first.
Podium vs GoHighLevel: feature by feature
| Feature | Podium | |
|---|---|---|
| Review requests | ✓ Included | ✓ Reputation management |
| Two-way texting inbox | ✓ Included | ✓ Conversations inbox |
| Webchat | ✓ Included | ✓ Chat widget |
| Payments by text | ✓ Included | ✓ Text-to-pay with Stripe |
| Phones | ✓ Podium Phones | ✓ Calls and call tracking |
| AI assistant | AI Employee (add-on) | Conversation and Voice AI (usage-based) |
| Funnels, websites, email | — | ✓ Included |
| Pricing | Quote-based | From $97/mo plus usage |
Podium or GoHighLevel?
Three questions.
Podium vs GoHighLevel savings calculator
Enter your current Podium bill. We work out your GoHighLevel cost and when switching pays for itself.
GoHighLevel usage at HighLevel’s published US rates. Replace with your account rates if different.
GoHighLevel: plan price + texts × $0.0118 (base rate plus average carrier fee) + $1.15 number. Not included: texting registration fees, calls, AI usage and taxes. Don’t have your Podium bill? Check your last invoice.
Want a side-by-side quote using your real Podium invoice?
Compare my billWhich one should you pick?
Stay with Podium if…
- Your staff live in Podium Phones every day
- You take card payments through Podium’s terminal
- You’re mid-contract with a long notice period
Switch to GoHighLevel if…
- You mostly use reviews and texting
- You want funnels, email and automation in the same tool
- Your Podium renewal is coming up
Switching tools never deletes your Google reviews. They stay on your Google Business Profile. You only change which tool sends the review requests.
How review requests work in GoHighLevel
A job is marked complete
From your booking or job software, or by your team in GoHighLevel.
A text goes out a few hours later
“Thanks for choosing us! Would you leave a quick review?” with your Google link.
One reminder, then stop
If they don’t review, one friendly nudge. Then the sequence ends.
New reviews land in one place
Reply to Google reviews from GoHighLevel, and get alerts for low ratings.
Ask every customer the same way, happy or not. Read GoHighLevel reputation management for the full setup, and Birdeye vs GoHighLevel if Birdeye is also on your list.
Want to try GoHighLevel yourself? Start a free GoHighLevel trial (affiliate)
We’ll move you from Podium to GoHighLevel
- We compare your Podium invoice with a real GoHighLevel cost
- We move contacts and plan your phone number
- We rebuild reviews, texting, chat and missed-call text back
- We run both side by side until your team is comfortable
Common questions
Is GoHighLevel cheaper than Podium?
Usually, for businesses that mainly use reviews and texting. GoHighLevel starts at $97 a month plus about 1 cent per text, while Podium is quote-based. Compare against your actual Podium invoice.
Does GoHighLevel do review requests like Podium?
Yes. GoHighLevel reputation management sends review requests by text or email, tracks new reviews and lets you reply to Google reviews from one place.
Will I lose my reviews if I switch from Podium?
No. Reviews stay on your Google Business Profile. Only the tool that sends review requests changes.
How much does it cost to switch from Podium to GoHighLevel?
GHL Focus moves you from Podium starting at $1,497, including contacts, review requests, texting and chat. GoHighLevel software and usage are billed separately by HighLevel.
