Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Podium vs SBE Events

Podium 4.7★ · Free to download 70
Winner Podium
SBE Events 4.8★ · Free to download 60

Podium is a comprehensive communication and review management platform for businesses, while SBE Events is a niche app for navigating Small Business Expo events.

Full reviews: Podium · SBE Events

Podium offers a robust suite of tools for customer communication, review generation, and lead management, despite facing criticism for app reliability and customer service. SBE Events, on the other hand, is designed specifically for event navigation and networking at the Small Business Expo, receiving praise for its ease of use and helpfulness during events.

Head to head

Features & Functionality edge: PodiumR2R9R10R11
Podium Podium offers a universal inbox for managing communications across multiple channels (website, Facebook Messenger, Google Messenger), payment processing, and AI agents for lead conversion and customer contact R9R11. It also helps with boosting Google reviews . However, users report issues with uploading multiple photos R2, sending videos , and the AI not working as expected or being difficult to train R10.
SBE Events SBE Events primarily functions as an event guide, helping users locate workshops, vendors, and facilitating networking at the Small Business Expo R69. Users appreciate its ability to provide information about the event and connect with other businesses R77.
Ease of Use edge: SBE EventsR5R6R14R31
Podium Podium is described as easy to use by some, especially the desktop version R5R6R14R31. However, many users find the mobile app less user-friendly, citing issues like constant logouts, difficulty finding customers, and glitches when assigning conversations R5.
SBE Events SBE Events is consistently praised for being easy to navigate, smooth, and user-friendly, even for first-time attendees .
Reliability & Performance tieR1R3R5R7
Podium Podium users frequently report reliability issues, including constant outages, messages not being delivered or notifications not coming through, and the app crashing when sending photos or videos R1R3R7. Some also experience constant logouts R5.
SBE Events SBE Events generally performs well, with users reporting no glitches and smooth operation . However, some users encountered blank screens upon opening the app or freezing issues when trying to update their profile picture .
Customer Support & Contracts edge: PodiumR4R9R16R20
Podium Podium receives significant criticism for its customer service, with users reporting poor service, unhelpful support staff, unresponsive sales reps and managers, and issues with getting help for disputes or cancellations R4R9R20R28. Many reviews highlight predatory contract terms, including auto-renewal clauses that lock businesses in for another year if not canceled within a specific window R16.
SBE Events There is very limited feedback on SBE Events' customer support, as its primary function is event navigation rather than ongoing business service. One user mentioned trouble logging in through a chat feature .
Value for Money edge: PodiumR10R11R16R17
Podium Some Podium users find it a valuable tool that helps their business grow, improve communication, and boost reviews, considering it worth the investment R11R17. However, others feel it's overpriced, doesn't deliver on promises, or that the AI features require additional purchases to work effectively, leading to a negative return on investment R10. The predatory contract terms also contribute to a perception of poor value R16.
SBE Events SBE Events is a free app designed to enhance the experience of attending the Small Business Expo. Users find it helpful for navigating the event and networking, implying good value for its intended purpose R77.
Pick Podium if

You are a business looking for a comprehensive platform to manage customer communications, generate reviews, and handle leads across multiple channels, and you are prepared to navigate potential app reliability issues and scrutinize contract terms R9R11.

Pick SBE Events if

You are attending the Small Business Expo and need a reliable, easy-to-use guide to navigate the event, find workshops, locate vendors, and facilitate networking .

Evidence note: The evidence for SBE Events is limited due to a smaller number of reviews, and its purpose is very specific to event navigation, making a direct feature-for-feature comparison with Podium challenging. Podium's reviews are more extensive and cover a broader range of business functionalities.

Frequently asked

What are the main issues with Podium's app?
Podium's app frequently suffers from reliability issues such as constant outages, messages not coming through, notifications failing, the app crashing when sending photos or videos, and users being constantly signed out R1R3R5R7.
Does Podium have good customer service?
Podium receives widespread criticism for its customer service, with users reporting unhelpful support staff, unresponsive sales representatives and managers, and difficulty getting assistance with disputes or account cancellations R4R9R20R28.
Is SBE Events useful for networking?
Yes, SBE Events is considered very useful for networking, with users praising its ability to help them meet a lot of people, make connections, and participate in speed networking sessions at the Small Business Expo R65R69R77.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 77 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] Podium 4/5 · US SELECT ALL PICS OPTION: PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD GIVE US AN OPTION TO SELECT MULTIPLE PHOTOS TO UPLOAD AT ONCE INSTEAD OF ONE AT A TIME THEN THE APP WILL BE PERFECT PLEASE
  2. [R9] Podium 3/5 · US Good product, horrible customer service!: I have mixed feelings about Podium. We have used Podium close to a year and when it comes to customer communication, they are awesome. I love having the universal inbox and have all of my customer interactions in one place. Being able to see messages from my website, FB Messenger, Google Messenger, and incoming leads all in one place is awesome. I also sig
  3. [R10] Podium 1/5 · US Avoid podium like the plague: Been using the platform for a few years. The ai is trash. Their only suggestion is purchase their own crm. So they want me to pay more to maybe let the ai work? The company is only focused on going public they don’t care at all about their customers or employees for that matter. Highly suggest going elsewhere for any business. Just waiting for my contract to end to le
  4. [R11] Podium 5/5 · US Owner: We have been very pleased with Podium gives us ability to respond efficiently with our clients, but it also gives them a way to efficiently communicate with us. Every interaction doesn’t require a phone call.
  5. [R5] Podium 4/5 · US Signs me out constantly: Great product, easy to use but unfortunately signs me out everyday to every hour it seems. Would give it 5 stars if it weren’t for that inconvenience.
  6. [R6] Podium 3/5 · US Much better on desktop: The desktop version is quite good. Easy to use, simple payment processing, dede t rates. The app, not so much. Aside from quick responses it really isn’t useful.
  7. [R14] Podium 5/5 · US Vp: Easy to function helps businesses a lot
  8. [R31] Podium 5/5 · US Easy to use: Love the ease of use on my phone
  9. [R1] Podium 2/5 · US Issue-ridden: Constant outages, never getting notified of when a text is actually coming in, and a whole bunch of other issues. Only reason I continue to use Podium important.
  10. [R3] Podium 3/5 · US Has its ups and downs - Small blue collar businesses read: Podium has definitely had its ups and downs for our small landscaping business. There are positives to the platform, and it has helped organize communication and reviews better than normal texting in some ways, but we’ve also noticed several areas where it significantly lacks. One of the biggest issues is reliability in areas with poor ce
  11. [R7] Podium 1/5 · US Review ability issues: App works intermittently, not reliable for clients to give reviews 100% of time
  12. [R4] Podium 1/5 · US Very poor service: Asked for help to upload documents for a dispute on the podium platform was give a run around and that have to only uploaded on the portal and the support staff could not help. Making the customer work for everything
  13. [R16] Podium 2/5 · US READ YOUR CONTRACT CAREFULLY!The Podium contract: The Podium contract has a “Gotcha clause,” you cannot cancel unless you do so at least 30 days before but not more than 90 days before your contract renewal. I’ve paid Podium for 5 years and tried to cancel. I missed the window and now have to pay $480 a month for ten more months. The way the contract is written I thought it was just the first yea
  14. [R20] Podium 1/5 · US HORRIBLE Service After The Sale: Originally happy with it but the tool has gone totally off the rails and I can’t get our sales rep to return a call or email. Have tried his manager, no reply. Our product rep has sent messages to them internally, no reply. Until Stephen Nord or his manager return our call, this review will stand. I wouldn’t encourage anyone sign up for this as they’ll abandon yo
  15. [R17] Podium 5/5 · US Game changer: Has truly made all operations run more efficiently
  16. [R28] Podium 1/5 · US owner Water Heater PDQ.com: Extremely dissatisfied, been asking for over two months to cancel my account I’m losing on average three calls a day Management is unresponsive. I’m going to see legal council as I have exhausted practical patience to this problem.
  17. [R65] SBE Events 5/5 · US Net working: This was such a great event met a lot of people and made a lot of connections. Would definitely come back.
  18. [R69] SBE Events 5/5 · US Speed Networking: Really enjoyed the speed networking session. Great opportunity to connect with other businesses.
  19. [R77] SBE Events 5/5 · US lovely business app: Is just what i was looking to meet new businesses and to attend business events.

Synthesized from 77 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store