StarReview vs Podium: Comparison 2026
Podium is an all-in-one platform with over 100,000 customers. But do Swiss SMBs really need SMS messaging, webchat and payment collection, or is a focused review tool enough?
| StarReview | Podium | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Entry price | CHF 39/mo | $399/mo |
| Multi-location | CHF 19/mo | Custom |
| Replies included | Unlimited | Included |
| Transparent pricing | ✓ | On request only |
| Features | ||
| Generated replies | ✓ | ✓ |
| SMS messaging | ✕ | ✓ |
| Webchat | ✕ | ✓ |
| Payment collection via SMS | ✕ | ✓ |
| Phone system | ✕ | ✓ |
| Setup | ||
| Setup time | 2 minutes | Enterprise onboarding |
| Contract commitment | No, cancel monthly | Yes |
Key differences
15x cheaper
StarReview costs CHF 19-39/month. Podium starts at $399/month. For Swiss SMBs that need professional review replies, StarReview is the significantly more affordable choice without quality compromises.
Focused instead of bloated
Podium bundles messaging, webchat, payment collection and phone system. StarReview focuses on what most SMBs really need: automatic replies to Google reviews. No feature bloat, no overhead.
Transparent vs. sales call
With StarReview, you see prices on the website and can connect your Google Business Profile directly. You start with 7 free reply drafts before deciding. With Podium, you first need a sales call to learn the prices.
Swiss market vs. US focus
StarReview is built for the Swiss market: prices in CHF, all four national languages, Swiss language particularities. Podium is a US-American platform with international focus and USD pricing.
Try StarReview, cancel monthly
Connect Google, get 7 ready reply drafts for free. No credit card.
Frequently asked questions
Is StarReview an alternative to Podium?
Yes. StarReview offers automatic replies to Google reviews, the core function that most SMBs use from Podium, at a fraction of the price. Instead of $399/month, you pay CHF 19-39/month, roughly 15x less.
How much does Podium cost compared to StarReview?
Podium starts at $399/month (Professional: $599/month). StarReview costs CHF 19-39/month with unlimited replies, no sales call or hidden costs.
Do I need Podium's messaging and payments?
Most Swiss SMBs don't need integrated SMS messaging, webchat, or SMS payment collection. If you primarily need professional replies to Google reviews, StarReview is the leaner and more affordable solution.
Is StarReview also suitable for multiple locations?
Yes. With the multi-location offer, StarReview costs from CHF 19 per location per month, with unlimited replies for each location. No enterprise onboarding or individual price negotiations.
One price. No surprises.
One plan. The price per business drops as you connect more locations.
Other providers charge CHF 79-499 per month for comparable features.
Starter
For 1 business
CHF 39.-
/month
Growth
For 2-4 businesses
CHF 29.-
/business/month
Scale
5+ businesses
CHF 19.-
/business/month
- StarReview learns your style from past and future replies New
- Uses your website details. Mentions services and locations when relevant. New
- Replies automatically in the reviewer's language (DE, FR, IT, EN)
- Specific to every review, no generic template replies New
- 20 replies per month for other platforms like TripAdvisor, Booking.com, Yelp, Facebook and Instagram New
- Unlimited replies to Google reviews
- Multiple locations in one account; price drops automatically from 2 and 5 locations
- Daily email with new reviews and ready-to-send reply suggestions
- Negative reviews stay manual by default. Optional automation by star rating.
- Reply style adjustable per star level
- QR code, review link and print-ready cards to collect more reviews Included
- Photo processing for Google reviews, up to 2 photos per review Optional, not included
- Cancel monthly, no minimum term
7 ready reply drafts for freeConnect your Google Business Profile and get drafts for real Google reviews.You decide what gets published.
Existing reviews
Already have unanswered reviews? Catch up in one go.
StarReview can generate reply drafts for existing Google reviews from the last 6, 12 or 24 months, or all unanswered reviews.
The price is calculated automatically after your Google Business Profile is connected.