Tawk.To Live Chat vs Podium (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Podium has a higher user rating (5/5 from 4 reviews) while Tawk.To Live Chat leads in active installations (100K+ vs 5.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Tawk.To Live Chat has accumulated 4.7M+ total downloads while Podium has 62K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Tawk.To Live Chat | Podium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 140 | ◄ | 4 |
| Active Installs | 100K+ | ◄ | 5.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 4.7M+ | ◄ | 62K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 2 months ago | ◄ | 11 months ago |
| First Released | 2013 | 2018 | |
| Age | 13 years | 8 years | |
| WP Requires | 2.7+ | false+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.6+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 0.9.3 | 2.0.9 |
Rating Breakdown
Tawk.To Live Chat
Podium
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Tawk.To Live Chat averaged approximately 693 daily downloads while Podium averaged 13.
Recent Reviews
Tawk.To Live Chat Reviews
The worst plugin
It destroyed my site and I am still working trying to fix it.
Great free plugin for live chat
Tawk.to is easy to set up and works well. It’s free, which is a huge plus, and the mobile app for iOS and Android makes it super convenient to use. Their support team was also responsive and helpful w
Oh No…I can’t delete this
This new version (0.9.0) broke my site initially so I disabled it.Now it’s working but I can’t find where to delete this.
Podium Reviews
more leads, more sales
Podium makes it easy to get more leads and customers prefer texting
Easy to text
Love that I can chat with customers when they are not at their computers.
It uses their internal phone number
Not good for me… chat works as sms through their internal phone number… Mifht be a good plugin for somebody though. This topic was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by rbezruchuk. This topi
More Chat Widget Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Tawk.To Live Chat and Podium
LeadConnector: It helps you to add the LeadConnector chat widget and the LeadConnector funnel pages to your WordPress website.
Best live chat and help desk plugin for WordPress websites. Add the LiveChat widget to engage visitors and provide real‑time customer support! 🚀
Floating sticky chat button for WhatsApp Chat, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Instagram, SMS, Call, Discord chat, TikTok, Line & 30+ channels
Social chat buttons with WhatsApp, Messenger, WeChat, Telegram, Instagram, TikTok, Zalo & more — plus SMS, Call button, Contact form, and 20+ icons.
Chatbots without AI are the easiest way to collect leads & data from visitors. Create a free chatbot without coding using Collect.chat.
Pure Chat provides a Live Chat plugin with Unlimited Chats for your website!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tawk.To Live Chat or Podium more popular?
Which has better ratings — Tawk.To Live Chat or Podium?
Are Tawk.To Live Chat and Podium free?
Which plugin has better support — Tawk.To Live Chat or Podium?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.