Discourse 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.
| Discourse pricing | Podium pricing | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | $100/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 →
Pro
- Unlimited members & chat
- Unlimited public & private categories
- Unlimited tags
- Custom groups
- Email support
- Custom & community themes
- Custom domain
- API and Webhook access
- 15+ plugins
- 5 staff seats
Business
- Advanced reporting & analytics
- Automation
- Events
- Gamification
- SSO (Open ID & OAuth2)
- 20+ additional plugins
- 15 staff seats
- Priority support
- Standard migration services
Enterprise
- Expert design & development services
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
- Custom migration services
- GDPR & CCPA compliant hosting
- 50+ additional plugins
- Unlimited staff seats
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
Discourse vs Podium FAQ
- Which one is cheaper?
- Discourse starts lower at $100/mo, compared to $399/mo for Podium.
- Can I use either one for free?
- Neither has a free plan. But Discourse 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. Discourse: At $100-500/mo flat, Discourse undercuts enterprise community platforms like Khoros or Vanilla that price on usage or seats and can run into five figures monthly, but it's pricier than free/open-source alternatives since you're paying for hosting and support rather than the software itself. They're clearly courting mid-market teams who want a polished, maintained forum without either the DIY hosting hassle or enterprise-tier contracts. 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 Discourse alternatives or the best Podium alternatives, ranked with verified pricing.
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