A Once Powerful Platform that Has Withered on the Vine
We use Podio extensively. We also use the Workflow Automations to help where Podio has shortfalls. Podio is the backbone of our sales, …
Starting at $9 per month
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What is Podio?
Podio is a cloud-based platform for organizing team communication, business processes, and reporting in project management workspaces; also it may be used as a light CRM platform. It enables workflow automation and integrations. It includes a free version and paid…
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- Task Management (24)3.131%
- Team Collaboration (26)3.131%
- Workflow Automation (25)1.111%
- Document Management (22)1.111%
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For the latest information on pricing, visithttps://www.podio.com/site/pricing
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- Free/Freemium Version
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Starting price (does not include set up fee)
- $9 per month
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What is Podio?
Podio is a cloud-based collaboration service that was founded in 2009 and acquired by Citrix in 2012. Podio supplies a web-based platform for organizing team communication, business processes, data and content in project management workspaces; also it may be used as a social intranet or as a light CRM platform. Its reporting features allow a user to observe sales pipelines and manage budgets and time. Its task management interface is meant to be lively and dynamic as a social networking site's to facilitate sharing and task delegations, and supports document uploading. Workflows can be improved via automation of various triggered tasks. It integrates email and many familiar programs and applications (e.g. Dropbox, Gmail and Google Apps, Gotomeeting, Excel) to expand functionality, and it is mobile accessible.
Podio began as a free service and a free option still remains, though three tiers of paid plans (Basic, Plus, and Premium) are now offered which expand support options from implementation only to a priority lifetime user able to gain support at any time (Premium), and limited access to shared projects for subordinate team members. However core features are supported across the tiers.
Podio Integrations
Podio Competitors
Podio Technical Details
| Operating Systems | Unspecified |
|---|---|
| Mobile Application | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
Podio is a cloud-based platform for organizing team communication, business processes, and reporting in project management workspaces; also it may be used as a light CRM platform. It enables workflow automation and integrations. It includes a free version and paid packages with additional features.
Podio starts at $9.
Reviewers rate Support for Waterfall Methodology highest, with a score of 9.4.
The most common users of Podio are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).
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(1-13 of 13)Companies can't remove reviews or game the system. Here's why
September 18, 2019
Podio stands strong in workflows
We leverage Podio as a collaboration tool in order to get our engineering and sales teams to work together. Podio provides us with easy to generate forms and apps which are consistent and can allow information to flow from one department to another. Additionally, our engineering team leverages Podio in order to send customer satisfaction surveys to our end users as part of project closure.
- Custom forms
- Workflow generation
- Surveys
- Project scoping via forms
- Form signature using right signature
- Additional API integrations
- Project management workflows
- Custom actions for workflows which can be triggered via both push and pull methods
February 17, 2017
Improving efficiency with Podio
We use Podio to organize projects across departments. One such example is creating webforms that are utilized by interns when they are completing site observations to alert upper management of problems. We also use the calendar frequently to manage deliverable due dates. The ability to create apps or customize current apps within Podio to meet our companies needs is extremely beneficial.
- Ability to create customized web forms (think Google Forms)
- Ability to push calendar notifications to various email platforms
- Mobile application is extremely helpful for when projects need to be completed on the go
- The calendar is helpful, but it's not customizable yet. It'd be great if there could be color coding options to help with the organization.
We use Podio to document our work and facilitate internal communications for our many moving projects. We chose Podio to foster internal communications and manage a diverse array of projects because Podio is incredibly flexible, and creating and relating data sets in "Apps" is very easy. Like a lot of non-profits, the projects and campaigns we advance require us to track varying levels of information. Podio allows us to flexibly change, add or subtract data we need to track and assess. The "relationship" fields available as a building block within Apps also allows us to aggregate data and use Podio in a relational way.
Because Podio's structure and navigation are very intuitive (a lot like social media platforms), adoption to Podio by our staff has been relatively easy and has not required too much training or development.
Lastly, using an online work collaboration or project management platform like Podio significantly increases efficiency and reduces the tendency to keep duplicative information in many places. In general, it allows us to store information, documents and updates in one place that everyone can access, review or query. It's a game changer!
Because Podio's structure and navigation are very intuitive (a lot like social media platforms), adoption to Podio by our staff has been relatively easy and has not required too much training or development.
Lastly, using an online work collaboration or project management platform like Podio significantly increases efficiency and reduces the tendency to keep duplicative information in many places. In general, it allows us to store information, documents and updates in one place that everyone can access, review or query. It's a game changer!
- Very easy for people without coding or technical skills to set up and maintain information in "Apps".
- Platform is very easy to learn and adopt--it's intuitive.
- Project management potential is awesome--instead of having to fit your projects into a structure that is industry specific, you can build an app that tracks what you want, in the order you want it.
- Has a "relationship" field that allows you to relate an individual item or record to a record in another app. It effectively gives some of the functionality of a relational database.
- Very useful for information sharing when staff members are in different regions or places.
- Podio has different types of "contacts," including Workspace contacts, and that is a form of hard-wired data that is hard to figure out how to use. You also can't easily import or export contacts.
- For longer term record keeping, it takes some strategic thinking to figure out how to archive, or make dormant, old or outdated information. It can be done in a variety of ways (by manipulating "views," using "category" fields or cloning apps and data to an archive workspace, but it takes some real thought.
March 17, 2015
Podio means it when they say “Work The Way You Work”
I customized a collaboration workspace in Podio for a distributed content marketing team. The entire team (8, at one point) used it for everything from CRM and client sign-up, to project and service management.
Allowed to very effectively run a complex business
In its simplest form, Podio is a very advanced web and mobile-based task manager. It allows one to assign tasks to others and be notified when those are complete. Tasks can be referenced to what it calls "apps" (more like modules, easy to modify). Once I learned I could customize and cross-reference these internal apps , I created an app called "Clients", "Deliverables", "Campaigns", and "Content Planner" (A comprehensive content calendar: blog, social, email, etc.). This allowed for project management of all deliverables for clients, from setups to ongoing marketing, bulk upload of deliverables and content calendar, and lots of other good stuff.
Killed email, with its annoying CC's and ReplyAlls
Lets one have a big picture, and also dive deep into details.
Because of the way if works, if set-up correctly, One can have a calendar view of the work being done, or a task view, or table with progress indicators.
A single point for all business info
Podio can substitute your CRM software, project management, have custom modules suited to specific business needs, and integrate with outside SaaS tools.
Did I mention it has great iPhone and Android mobile apps?
Allowed to very effectively run a complex business
In its simplest form, Podio is a very advanced web and mobile-based task manager. It allows one to assign tasks to others and be notified when those are complete. Tasks can be referenced to what it calls "apps" (more like modules, easy to modify). Once I learned I could customize and cross-reference these internal apps , I created an app called "Clients", "Deliverables", "Campaigns", and "Content Planner" (A comprehensive content calendar: blog, social, email, etc.). This allowed for project management of all deliverables for clients, from setups to ongoing marketing, bulk upload of deliverables and content calendar, and lots of other good stuff.
Killed email, with its annoying CC's and ReplyAlls
Team communications happen within Podio, ideally within the comments space of the app (much like we do on social media). For instance, to follow up on an article draft for a deliverable due next week, instead of emailing the team member, I'd make a comment and “@ mention” the responsible person within the content unit. When they reply, the comments become a history for all team members to see. We could @ mention the graphic designer regarding an image needed and bring her into the conversation that way.
This way of working reduced our internal email to practically zero.
This way of working reduced our internal email to practically zero.
Lets one have a big picture, and also dive deep into details.
Because of the way if works, if set-up correctly, One can have a calendar view of the work being done, or a task view, or table with progress indicators.
A single point for all business info
Podio can substitute your CRM software, project management, have custom modules suited to specific business needs, and integrate with outside SaaS tools.
Did I mention it has great iPhone and Android mobile apps?
- Tool is vastly customizable. They're not kidding when their tag line says: “Work the way you do”
- The mobile apps are top notch. One can even customize how much of the desktop functionality one wants in the mobile app!
- Eliminates the need for internal email. (This alone should be plenty good)
- Expedites communication about big ideas or menial tasks. Makes teams more agile.
- Like a set of old-school Lego, you must know what you want to do with it before digging in. Just creating an account to “give it a try” won't do. This requires planning, and discipline to execute.
- As of the date of the review, some functions, like CRM fall a little short of dedicated SaaS solutions. A lot can be achieved, however, with API and outside extension.
- Again, as of date of review: No built-in task dependencies or Gantt chart functionality.
- Somewhere along the line we lost Google Apps integration, which was a great way to clean the inbox. One used to be able to create a Task from within a message, which in turn would include the body of the email message for reference.
- Calendar integration is convoluted. Global calendar, Workspace calendars. IT gets a little unwieldy to manage.
- Sharing with clients is impractical.
March 11, 2015
Gave it a try.
Score 3 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
We tried Podio for a few weeks among fou of us at the agency. As an organization with remote workers, we were looking for a central web home for operations. We wanted a place for storing documents, quick chats, account updates, personal news, meeting notes, all of the daily water cooler type of stuff.
- Easy to use.
- Pricing reasonable - free for us.
- Easy access.
- Adding 'one more thing' to check proved the downfall.
- Interface with google docs wasn't smooth.
Podio is used across each department within AIESEC United States. We initially started using Podio for information management purposes and have since then used it for many other purposes - application process management, task management and tracking, CRM, financial tracking, and many other areas. It allows us to operate transparently as an organization and also have a resource where any member of the organization can find whatever information they need.
- Podio makes it extremely simple to collaborate as an organization. It is a breeze to have multiple people working on the same project.
- I love Podio web forms - they are great for distributing surveys, collecting applications, doing internal employee certifications... anything else you could think of.
- Podio is great for managing resources. We keep all of our marketing materials and resources for any team across the US to use.
- Notifications can get a little out of hand at times. It is a challenge to filter through which notifications are actually important.
February 27, 2015
Podio offers communication integration with few headaches.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
We initially tested Podio as a CRM and project management tool. Our choice was driven by the need to integrate these two functions as much of the information and communication retained at the lead/opportunity stage is needed later in the project lifecycle. Currently we are using Podio as an integrated CRM, project management, and knowledge base platform. We are
currently using Podio for operations and marketing and may use it to interface with accounting in the future. Podio addresses the problem of tracking communication within the organization. The platform does a good job of breaking up into functional workspaces and keeping tasks and emails in order.
- Podio is great for organizing and storing communication. The ability to break project into logical chunks and organize events vs deliverables vs contacts works well. The email in to app (bcc the app item) is absolutely key and makes the platform more valuable.
- Mobile access works well and makes it easy to find needed information on the fly.
- The ability to integrate external users into just the needed portions of the platform works well and is a great time saver. It reduces a great deal of duplication in setting up events and sending invites.
- Podio also manages notification well. Users can set the amount and form of notification they get on an individual basis and the daily summary works well.
- The biggest issue with Podio is the confusion with contacts. Podio has multiple forms of contacts which can be confusing and impact functionality. For CRM external contacts can be used but they can't be customized as needed (grouped by organization, link to social profiles, etc). To address this creating a contacts app works but limits other functionality (seeing contacts as contacts from mobile, callouts in comments). Currently I am using the contacts as an app method but hope the developers will integrate this better in the future.
- The double edged sword of functionality vs simplicity falls a little against Podio as a platform. While many of the key functions are well thought out the inability to customize as needed can be frustrating. Coming from a traditional database (access, salesforce, etc) mentality the lack of data types and ability to customize is limiting.
- Mobile access can also be frustrating depending on the use. Podio has stated that they want the system to be live and interactive so having an offline version doesn't make sense. While that makes sense it can be a deal breaker for mobile users with spotty connections.
January 30, 2015
Podio is the best project management tool I've found for my web design / development business
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
I use Podio for communicating both with clients and with contractors I work with on any given project. Over time I've also used it to track personal tasks as well because it is very well organized. The problem Podio solves for me is 1) clearly communicating with clients (making sure they are aware of deadlines, etc. and 2) it creates a living, transparent repository for all things related to the project that can even be referred to after the project is completed. I upload all files (design comps, keyword research, have discussions about tricky issues we've worked out on a project) to Podio and the best part is I have had multiple clients (even non technical ones) say they really like using it because it is so simple. It also is customizable in that you can build your own apps for it so I've developed a core of apps that I use on every project which saves me time and keeps project management uniform across all projects.
- The ability to customize apps to your own needs (particularly useful for me with bug tracking)
- Sends email notifications to the RIGHT people when they have a task assigned to them
- Very nice granular permission control and the ability to mark tasks private (for things a client doesn't need to see).
- It has the ability to chat with people online but would love a more robust google hangouts kind of interface ... would love to be able to present via video to clients
- The pricing structure is a bit confusing to me ... it's based on users, but only certain kinds of users. It could be clarified.
- Sometimes there's a lag (it's web based) which can be briefly annoying (admittedly, this could be my connection here in the office).
May 20, 2014
Podio is great for remote teams
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
I work for a property management company with several properties across several states. Everyone I work with is remote. We're using Podio in three ways:
1. For our regional marketers to request materials (flyers, etc) from the graphic designers and for the designers to get most of the pertinent information in one form (as opposed to 5 emails just to get basic facts, quantities, etc)
2. For our properties to let the designers know what events are being planned on properties so we can support them with flyers, social media, etc
3. For our social media marketing team to access the event information from the properties to fill their editorial calendar and write posts/review before scheduling
1. For our regional marketers to request materials (flyers, etc) from the graphic designers and for the designers to get most of the pertinent information in one form (as opposed to 5 emails just to get basic facts, quantities, etc)
2. For our properties to let the designers know what events are being planned on properties so we can support them with flyers, social media, etc
3. For our social media marketing team to access the event information from the properties to fill their editorial calendar and write posts/review before scheduling
- Flexible - Podio is built on customizing the apps to fit your needs and expectations
- Adaptable - we've been able to pivot how we use it as we learn more with minimal loss of actual data
- Good at everything - so far everything we've thrown at it has worked out pretty well
- Steep learning curve - not a particularly intuitive design, likely because it IS so adaptable
- No roadmap - there's a lot of suggestions for product features, but no roadmap of where they are going with this
- Recently updated - didn't really know it was coming or what would be on it, but they are invested in their product and made some good updates
- Good at everything, great at nothing - again, because it IS so adaptable, it doesn't excel at any one feature
April 27, 2014
The no.1 tool for Small Medium Enterprises
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Podio is the core cloud based tool used by Think to Act. All workflows and communication is in Podio and we link to other cloud based tools for specific actions eg Google Apps for Business for gmail, calendar, contacts, google documents etc and specific cloud based tools like Lucidchart.
- Provides clients the ability to take a workflow in email, excel or paper and make it easy to use and modify
- Makes it easy to delegate tasks and track progress
- Reduces the need to have WIP meetings and action and communication is immediate
- Allows for collaborating in multiple locations and supports flexible work practises
- Ease of working with clients and suppliers on a common platform
- Greater sales visibility and facts to follow up on outstanding leads. You can track actual compared to target sales
- Cross functional application. Some CRM's have a narrow focus on one or two functions. Other project management tools are very IT or technically focused. Podio can apply across multiple functions and roles
- Podio is customised for the way you work as opposed to changing your behaviours to fit a system
- Integration with Citrix GotToMeeting, video, audio and chat makes it easy to work in one place
- Use of web forms for collecting information pre and post meetings
- Lack of automation of workflows. There is a 3rd party solution called Globiflow and Podio have launched a basic workflow tool.
- GoToMeeting integration is good however expensive compared to other solutions
- Podio can be complex to learn and requires training
- Podio architecture is best to be set-up before you build too many apps as it can become confusing
- The search features could be improved
- Not able to clone workspaces, only apps
- Keeping on top of notifications and learning how to unfollow notifications
January 09, 2014
Podio - Read before you leap
Score 5 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
- Very easy to organize data, especially if you are in the sales industry. If you are 5 or less employees, they system is free.
- The ability to use web forms where someone on the outside can fill in information and it will automatically be populated in a spread sheet is very helpful.
- The ability to delegate tasks and to eventually get rid of company wide email keeps everything up to date.
- ability to quickly chat with other employees instead of waiting for email.
- It is not a system designed well to be used for mass data entry or excel type use.
- The importing from excel feature seems to be broken as it typically causes other issues elsewhere and is not very user friendly
- Some design decisions that are made when it comes to editing data, customization, etc are down right shocking
January 08, 2014
Podio Helps us Work Together.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
- Podio is a great way to organize/track information in a team environment.
- Podio's flexibility allows it to be tailored to the precise needs of the organization or team.
- Podio can create an interconnected web of data that makes finding information easier.
- Podio's flexibility can make it daunting to setup. You need to have an understanding of where you want to end up before you start.
- Podio's flexibility also makes it less able to deal with highly specialized use cases that might be better served by dedicated solutions.
- Podio apps lack some data manipulation abilities. For example, you cannot calculate the number of days between two dates.
January 08, 2014
Podio...Facebook for Business
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
- As a seasoned IT professional responsible for developing business critical applications for a wide variety of industries I have a keen interest in new and innovative solutions for legacy and "new economy" companies. Like many other "grey beard" IT professionals, I have embraced the web based migration of all things IT. Just as we experienced in the 1980's and 90's as we transitioned from Main-Frames to PCs the pace of change in my field continues to accelerate. It takes real-world experience to recognize the "gems" in software applications and web services.
- Podio is a real gem. It builds on the strength of social media web design and marries it with business email applications to create an in-house communication system that has the granularity to manage projects and the extensibility to encompass Customer Relationship Management. Now add a simple programming paradigm for creating dashboard widgets and you see the power of Podio.
- Podio is unlike other web tools that just moved time proven technologies from the desktop to the browser. Not that Salesforce isn't a great database tool, but compared to Podio it is a hammer that sees everything as a nail while Podio is a box of legos.
- I downloaded, installed and tested many similar products before selecting Podio as the best of the bunch. Just check out their demos, forum, and support before you commit to an alternative product. Great solutions aren't just about bullet point features but require a ground swell of users to succeed. I believe Podio "has what it takes" to be the leader in their "solution sphere".
- They offer a generous community edition. Try it out in HR or MarCom. Easy enough for your Executive wing and cool enough for your interns. I say "You won't be sorry".
- More excellent video tutorials for building widgets and reports.