How Cardel and Podia compare
Podia is the all-in-one that stays friendly. Courses with drip and quizzes, digital downloads delivered the second someone pays, coaching products, events, a community with paid plans, a website with a real blog, and Podia Email with broadcasts and campaigns, all under one login and one bill. Sales tax across 230 jurisdictions, 20 plus currencies, coupons, bundles, and payment plans come standard, and Shaker and Earthquaker drop the transaction fee to zero. For a creator selling digital products, Podia removes a lot of glue.
Cardel provides a home for your craft. Share and sell your work, grow your audience, and bring your community together on a site of your own. Cardel does not deliver courses or downloads, run a members-only community on your site, or sell recurring memberships. Its Shop sells items and services through Stripe, its Schedule books real time on your Google or Outlook calendar, and its Messaging Center receives email on your domain next to chat and contact form replies.
Where they are different
Podia's coaching product takes payment and then hands booking to Calendly, SavvyCal, Acuity, or YouCanBookMe. Cardel's Schedule page holds your availability, syncs your calendar, and sends the invite via Google or Outlook Calendar.
Podia Email sends from Podia and includes 100 to 1,000 subscribers by plan; Cardel sends and receives on your own domain, with post-to-email and other bulk email triggers on every plan.
Podia's chat inbox gathers chat; Cardel's Messaging Center gathers email, contact form, and chat, with AI Suggest for replies.
Podia gives one assistant on Shaker with full access; Cardel gives per-admin permissions on Pro and up.
Choose Podia when courses, downloads, and paid memberships are what you sell and you want checkout, tax, and delivery handled for you.
Choose Cardel when you want a public site on your own domain that publishes, sells items and bookings, grows an audience list, and answers everyone from one inbox, without a course platform you will not use. If digital delivery is the business, Podia is the right tool.
You are the Forgemaster. Cardel is your forge. What you build is yours.
Common questions
Is Cardel a Podia alternative?
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace Podia when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list below shows where the two overlap and where they part.
Can I use Cardel and Podia together?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Podia for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared to Podia?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. Podia sets its own prices, so check their pricing page below for current plans.
How do I switch from Podia to Cardel?
Choose Start for Free, set up your home, and bring your work over at your own pace. You do not have to move everything on day one.
Compare features
What's on Cardel and Podia
A check means that capability is available. Podia is marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace siteCardel: IncludedPodia: Included
- Custom domainUse your own domain with HTTPS. Cardel includes the DNS records for the site and for sending and receiving email.Use your own domain with HTTPS. Cardel includes the DNS records for the site and for sending and receiving email.Cardel: IncludedPodia: Included
- Editor ModeCardel: IncludedPodia: Included
- Theme and fontsCardel: IncludedPodia: Included
- Brand kitCardel: IncludedPodia: Not included
Public content
- BlogCardel: IncludedPodia: Included
- Reader engagementCardel: IncludedPodia: Included
- Video catalogCardel: IncludedPodia: Not included
- Showcase pagesCardel: IncludedPodia: Included
- Shop pagesCardel: IncludedPodia: Included
Reach and quality
- SEOCardel: IncludedPodia: Included
Audience and email
- AudienceGroups, tags, and import so you can organize contacts and bring in an existing list.Groups, tags, and import so you can organize contacts and bring in an existing list.Cardel: IncludedPodia: Included
- Email templates and From addressesCardel: IncludedPodia: Included
- AI Email Template BuilderCardel: IncludedPodia: Not included
- Email on your domainSend and receive from your custom domain, not a shared Cardel address.Send and receive from your custom domain, not a shared Cardel address.Cardel: IncludedPodia: Not included
- Marketing emailsCardel: IncludedPodia: Included
- Bulk email workflowsCardel: IncludedPodia: Included
- Campaign workflowsCardel: IncludedPodia: Included
Messaging
- Built-in chatCardel: IncludedPodia: Included
- Messaging CenterCardel: IncludedPodia: Not included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsSell on your Shop pages with Stripe. Cardel takes a 0.5% application fee on those card sales. Stripe's own processing fees still apply, and you keep the rest.Sell on your Shop pages with Stripe. Cardel takes a 0.5% application fee on those card sales. Stripe's own processing fees still apply, and you keep the rest.Cardel: IncludedPodia: Included
- Orders and fulfillmentCardel: IncludedPodia: Included
- Scheduling and bookingsLink to external scheduling available on Starter.Cardel: IncludedPodia: Not included
Team
- Admin usersCardel: IncludedPodia: Included
Other
- Courses, quizzes, and certificatesCardel: Not includedPodia: Included
- Digital downloadsCardel: Not includedPodia: Included
- Paid membershipsCardel: Not includedPodia: Included
- Coupons and payment plansCardel: Not includedPodia: Included
- WebinarsCardel: Not includedPodia: Included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Cardel or Podia, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Cardel or Podia may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Cardel vs Podia pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Cardel
You don't pay until you publish
Build at no cost, then choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live.
Podia
Current plans and prices
See what Podia charges on their pricing page.
Forge your community
Choose Cardel
Looking for a Podia alternative? Bring your work to a site of your own.
Compare Cardel
See how Cardel stacks up, or explore Podia comparisons.
