Podium vs Swell
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best Reputation Management Software Tools. Last verified June 19, 2026.
The short answer
Podium ranks higher on Top 11 (#2 vs #9) for Businesses monitoring brand mentions, reviews, and online sentiment. Best for local businesses, merging reviews with SMS chat and payments.
At a glance
| Podium | Swell | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #2 / The 11 Best Reputation Management Software Tools | #9 / The 11 Best Reputation Management Software Tools |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 9 | 7.5 |
| Best for | Local service businesses | Local health and wellness SMBs |
| Pricing | $$$ ($399 to $999/mo) | $$ ($199 to $499/mo) |
| HQ | Lehi, USA | Draper, USA |
| Founded | 2014 | 2017 |
Podium
Best for local businesses, merging reviews with SMS chat and payments.
www.podium.comSee full entry in The 11 Best Reputation Management Software Tools
Swell
A simple Podium alternative for small local businesses.
www.swellcx.comSee full entry in The 11 Best Reputation Management Software Tools
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.