Podium talks to your customers. Darvix AI also runs your marketing.
Podium is a strong choice for local service businesses that want messaging, reviews and payments sold and set up by a sales team. Darvix is self-serve and goes further on marketing: social posts, campaigns, creative, a website and an online store, run by AI employees.
Prices and features checked October 2026
Darvix AI or Podium?
Pick Podium if Google review management is the centre of your business and you're happy with a sales-led, annual contract. Pick Darvix if you want to start today without a sales call, reach customers on WhatsApp and Instagram, and have your marketing and store handled too.
Choose Darvix AI if
- You'd rather sign up today than book a sales demo
- Your customers message you on WhatsApp and Instagram
- You want social posts, campaigns and ad creative done for you
- You sell online or want a website built for you
Choose Podium if
- Monitoring and replying to Google reviews is a top priority
- You want in-person card payments
- You prefer a sales team to set everything up
Darvix AI vs Podium, feature by feature
What each one includes on its standard plans. Gaps on our side are listed too.
| Feature | Darvix | Podium |
|---|---|---|
| AI employees that do the work | IncludedAll 6 included on every paid plan | Paid add-onAI Employee add-on |
| WhatsApp & Instagram inbox | Included | IncludedWebchat and Google messages |
| AI website chat | IncludedTrained on your own docs | Included |
| CRM & deals pipeline | Included | PartlyLead and contact management |
| Appointment booking | IncludedOptional payment at booking | PartlyAI scheduling on some plans |
| Reviews | PartlyReview requests to any site; no review monitoring or replies | IncludedCore strength |
| Email campaigns | IncludedSent from your own domain | Partly |
| WhatsApp campaigns | IncludedMeta bills message fees | Partly |
| Social media scheduling | Included7 platforms | Not included |
| AI images & video ads | IncludedPosters, product shots, UGC-style ads | Not included |
| Website builder & hosting | Included | Not includedWebchat widget for your site |
| Online store | Included0% platform commission | Not includedPayments, not a storefront |
| SEO & AI-search visibility | IncludedAuto blogs, schema, llms.txt | Not included |
| AI phone calling | Coming soon | Partly |
| White-label resale for agencies | Coming soon | Not included |
Darvix AI vs Podium pricing
List prices in USD, billed monthly, as of October 2026.
Darvix
- ExploreLook around one workspace, read-onlyFree
- StarterEvery module, all 6 AI employees$22/mo
- GrowthMore AI credits and workspaces$49/mo
- ProMost credits, priority support$99/mo
AI credits and campaign emails are included in every paid plan. WhatsApp messages are billed by Meta at its own rates.
Podium
- CorePreviously listed around $399/moQuote-based
- ProPreviously listed around $599/moQuote-based
- SignatureCustom
Podium no longer publishes prices; earlier list prices were on annual contracts. AI Employee is sold as an add-on. Setup fees, extra locations and message credits are quoted by sales.
Where they really differ
How day-to-day work changes between Darvix AI and Podium.
How you buy it
Darvix
Self-serve. Sign up, paste your Google Maps link and you're running in minutes, month to month.
Podium
Sales-led. Pricing is quoted on a call, and plans have historically been on annual contracts.
Channels
Darvix
WhatsApp, Instagram, email and website chat in one inbox, with an AI rep replying.
Podium
Built around webchat and Google messages for local services.
Beyond the inbox
Darvix
Social scheduling, email and WhatsApp campaigns, AI images and video, a website and an online store.
Podium
Focused on conversations, reviews and payments. Wider marketing needs other tools.
Darvix AI vs Podium: common questions
Straight answers on switching, pricing and fit.
How much does Podium cost?
Podium doesn't publish prices as of October 2026. Earlier published plans started around $399 a month on annual contracts, with the AI Employee sold as an add-on. Darvix starts at $22 a month, month to month.
Does Darvix manage Google reviews like Podium?
Darvix sends review requests by email and WhatsApp and points customers to Google or any review site you choose. It doesn't monitor or reply to your Google reviews — Podium is stronger there.
Is Darvix self-serve?
Yes. You sign up, paste your Google Maps link and your workspace is ready in minutes — no demo, no annual contract.
Try Darvix AI alongside Podium.
Set up a workspace from your Google Maps listing and see your AI team at work before you switch anything off.