Circle vs Podium Pricing (2026)
How do these two stack up on price? Here's what each one costs, what you get, and where the value sits.
| Circle pricing | Podium pricing | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | $89/mo | $399/mo |
| Number of plans | 3 | 3 |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | |
| Pricing model | flat-rate | flat-rate |
Price is one row. To weigh the features too, use our feature comparison template →
Professional
- Circle AI
- Unlimited members
- Courses
- Discussions
- Events
- Website Builder
- Live streams
- Live rooms
- Custom branding
- Reporting & analytics
- Searchable member directory
- Rich member profiles
- Paid memberships
- Gamification
- Custom domain
- Weekly community digest
- Migration services for payments
Business
Popular- Workflows
- Custom profile fields
- Circle MCP
- Headless Member API
- Admin API
- Branded email notifications
- Content co-pilot
- Automated transcriptions
- Activity scores
- Standard migration services
- Remove Circle branding
Circle Plus
- AI Agents & AI workflows
- Custom single sign-on (SSO)
- Highest limits (Live, Storage, Workflows)
- 10k Email Hub contacts included
- Lower transaction fees
- Sandbox community
Core
- Consolidated Lead Conversion Platform
- Review Management with AI Responses
- Basic Automations
- Basic Reporting
- Basic Customization Options
- Podium Mobile App
- 200+ Integration with Integration Support
- Phone Systems Add-on Available
- Dedicated Customer Success Manager
- Chat, Phone, Email Support
- 1-on-1 Personalized Onboarding
Pro
Popular- AI Concierge
- AI Reputation Specialist
- AI Phone Call Summaries
- Automatic Lead Routing
- Advanced Automations
- Lead Capture Forms
- Hosted Surveys
- Text-Based Surveys
- Text Marketing with Images and GIFs
- Advanced Customer Segmentation
- High-Volume Carrier-Verified Messaging
- Lower Payment Processing Fees
Signature
- AI Scheduler
- AI Salesperson
- AI Marketer
- Advanced Multi-Location Management
- Advanced Reporting Add-on Available
- Advanced Branding and Customization
- Discount on Phones Plan
- Discount on Desk Phones
- Discount on Point of Sale Hardware
- Discount on High Volume Bulk Messages
- Comprehensive Account Migration
- Quarterly Business Reviews
- Personalized Account Plans
- Priority Phone Plan Support
- Proactive Fraud Alert System
- Custom Billing Available
- Custom Processing Rates
Circle vs Podium FAQ
- Which one is cheaper?
- Circle starts lower at $89/mo, compared to $399/mo for Podium.
- Can I use either one for free?
- Neither has a free plan. But Circle offers a free trial.
- How do they charge?
- Both use a flat-rate model, so the comparison is straightforward — it comes down to features and limits at each price point.
- Which one is a better deal?
- Depends on what you need. Circle: Circle sits mid-to-premium compared to bare-bones forum tools like Discourse or Discord, but it's cheaper than bundling a separate course platform, CRM, and community tool together. They're courting creators and course businesses who've outgrown Facebook Groups or Discord but aren't ready for a full-blown custom-built platform. Podium: At $399-599/mo before add-ons, Podium sits firmly in the premium tier compared to scrappier review/messaging tools that start under $200/mo. They're clearly chasing established local businesses and multi-location franchises with real budget, not solopreneurs testing the waters.
Still deciding? See the best Circle alternatives or the best Podium alternatives, ranked with verified pricing.
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