Podium learns from what you tell it.
Gladius learns from what works.
Podium launched Jerry 2.0 on GPT-5.1 with a 60-second natural-language coaching pitch. Here's the part their PR didn't mention: coaching instructions aren't outcome attribution. One learns from what managers say. The other learns from what closes deals.
The GPT-5.1 headline — and what it actually buys you
A better base model is table stakes. What matters is what surrounds the model: the signal taxonomy, the archetype system, the bandit, the outcome graph, the memory.
130+
Signals Gladius detects that Podium doesn't
EN + Spanish (5 regional registers) + Voss / Cialdini / SPIN patterns. The model is the same. The context isn't.
Every night
Gladius runs pattern mining + Thompson Sampling
Winning phrases get reinforced automatically. Losers get pruned. Jerry 2.0 waits for a manager to type a coaching note.
0
Public pricing on Podium's website
Removed. G2 reviews flag 3× cost vs competitors + hidden 10DLC + phone-seat charges + 30-day cancellation traps.
Gladius BDC vs. Podium Jerry 2.0
Feature parity on the basics. Category-defining gaps on the differentiators.
Where we're even
Where Gladius wins decisively
Where Podium wins (and we admit it)
What dealers actually say about Podium
“Voice AI double-books appointments. We had two customers show up for the same 10am slot three weeks running.”
“Pricing is 3× comparable platforms with less reliability. Hidden 10DLC and phone-seat charges add hundreds a month.”
“Rigid contracts with 30-day cancellation notices that auto-renew. Billing disputes went unresolved for months.”
“AI sends false information even after retraining. Aggressive sales tactics including spoofing local numbers.”
“Podium is a reviews tool that bolted on an AI agent. The DNA is wrong for BDC work — it shows up in the corners.”
Sources: public reviews on G2, Trustpilot, BBB, and DealerRefresh as of April 2026. Podium is a real company with real customers — we're not here to trash them, we're here to be honest about tradeoffs.
The money math
$1,500+/mo
Before 10DLC + phone seats + AI agent add-ons
- Base plan + agent add-on
- +$25-30/user/mo phone seats
- +$500/location 10DLC fee
- Annual contract, 30-day cancellation
$2,497/mo
All-in. Published. No hidden fees.
- Unlimited conversations
- 10DLC included
- Unlimited users
- 120-day pilot, 90-day money-back guarantee
The sticker price looks similar. The part Podium won't quote you publicly is the line-item reality once you add seats, 10DLC fees, and the AI agent upsell. Call their sales team. Then call ours. We'll tell you the price in the first email.
Podium is a reviews platform with AI bolted on.
Gladius is an AI BDC built from the engine up.
Both look similar on a sales slide. In production, the product DNA shows. If you want Google Reviews, buy Podium. If you want an AI that closes appointments, sets your show rate to 71%, protects your CSI, and gets measurably smarter every single night — that's a different company.
Side-by-side trial.
Let the numbers decide.
Run Podium on 50% of your leads. Run Gladius on the other 50%. Compare set rate, show rate, and cost per appointment after 30 days. We'll wait.
This page compares Gladius BDC with Podium's Jerry 2.0 AI agent launched January 22, 2026. Podium is a trademark of Podium Corp, Inc. We have no affiliation.