Upcoming Changes to Podio Free - 2019
There have been further updates to Podio Free in 2022. Check out details here.
At the end of 2017 we stood at 750 million items created and today we have crossed a new big milestone to reach 1 billion items created - this is 1 billion projects, deliverables, clients, tickets and so much more. Thank you for your support in this amazing journey.
While we are glad to be creating value for customers, our product usage is scaling aggressively and it demands better performance optimization, which is a good problem to have.
In 2018 we focused on enhancing stability and scalability for Podio and we had to let go of many feature enhancements in lieu of that. On the same lines, we are now introducing a limit on the number of items that can be created in an organization on free plan. This way we would be able to create more value for our customers who are paying for their subscriptions.
New Item Limit Policy
An organization (org) on a free plan, can create up to 500 items in total, across its workspaces and apps. Once an organization reaches the 500 item limit, it will need to upgrade to any one of the paid plans or else it will enter the edit-only mode and eventually get locked. Please note here, if a user has both paid and free organizations and he crosses the 500 item limit for the free org, then his access will only be locked for the free org and there would be no impact on the paid org.
The existing free and paid features will remain the same.
What happens to the existing free organizations that already have more than 500 items?
We are providing all existing organizations a 30 days notice before we release the limit to them between mid-late January 2019. Organizations can use this 30 day notice period to either upgrade their plan for uninterrupted access or take backup and delete some items to come below the 500 limit. On rolling out this limit, all organizations that are above the 500 limit, will enter the edit-only mode where they can view, edit, export and delete their data but cannot create new items. They will have another 30 days in this edit-only mode to upgrade their plan before their account gets locked out.
What is the edit-only mode?
On reaching the 500 item limit for an organization, its users will have access to their data on an edit-only mode for 30 days where they can view, edit, export and delete their data but cannot create new items. It is possible to delete old items to get below the 500 item limit and thereby be able to create new items again.
What happens to the Data for a Locked Account
If an organization does not upgrade even after 30 days in the edit-only mode, then the organization account will get locked and users will lose access to their data on Podio for that organization. They will need to upgrade to paid to access data or reach out to Podio support for further assistance. As per Policy, Podio will store the data for an inactive free user account for 13 months, post which, all the data will be deleted.
Communication
We understand that right and timely communication is the key to such plan changes. So we are sending out this plan change details to all users now, giving a 30 days timeline to all organizations that are already above the 500 limit to make necessary changes to their plan before the limit gets applicable for them.
In addition to offline communication, there will also be in-app communication in the form of banners and paywall modals that would warn the user on exceeding 80% of the item limit and block creation of new item on reaching the 100% limit.
Release Plan
- New free sign-ups will get the new paywalls starting early January 2019 - Released
- Existing free organizations will get the new paywalls late January 2019 - Postponed to 4th Feb 2019
- New Item Limit further changes to 100 items for free organisations - Check details here. - Release starting 17th Oct 2022
If you have questions or concerns about the upcoming change, please reach out to our team here.
Stay tuned for more updates on when the feature goes live. We are looking forward to supporting your business in the future, and offering more value for our paid customers in 2019.
Thank you.
/Pallabi - Product Manager
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Official comment
Hi All,
Thanks for all your feedback and expressing your concerns. The fact that we have all of you posting your thoughts on this forum proves that you are active users of Podio and we are glad that we have been delivering value to you. We definitely do not want to lose our customer focus and lose you all, our valuable customers associated with us for years now. But at the same time, we believe if one is really deriving value out of a tool, they would not mind paying for it, and hence, this decision of ours.
Please find below our response to the FAQs and concerns posted so far:
Is this too short a notice for pricing change?
30 days is our standard notice period for pricing changes for existing customers and that is what we have followed here. I acknowledge your concern regarding the holidays and that is the reason why we are planning to push this Live to existing customers (especially the ones with high item count) only in late January so that you all get enough time, close to a month post-Christmas to make the necessary arrangements.
In addition, even after the limit is Live, you get 30 more days in edit-only mode for you to view data, take data back-up or delete data to go below the 500 count in case you do not want to upgrade to a paid version. So in total we are providing a minimum of 60 days’ notice before you lose access to your data online.
What are we referring to as an item for the 500 limit?
As rightly pointed out by some of you, only an item entry into an app contributes to the 500 limit calculation. Tasks created or attachments added to an item do not count as separate item entries. Calendar entries on the other hand could contribute to the item count as they result because of items entries made in calendar/meeting apps. ‘Item’ is an intricate terminology for Podio and hence we did not elaborate on it earlier. Find out more about what is an item here.
How to get your org’s current item count?
We are working on a solution to help users easily check the app item count for their organisation in Podio. We expect this to be released before the item limit goes live for our existing customers. You can reach out to our sales team https://podio.com/webforms/22006262/1540226 - and we are able to help share your current item count, so as to help you plan your further course of action in the upgrade process.
Will the item limit be applicable on non-profit organisations?
No, all non-profit organisations that are grandfathered into a sponsored non-profit plan will not be affected by this change. Only people using the free version will be affected but we can offer non-profit discount for you to upgrade to a paid plan on a good discounted rate.
Please reach out to our sales team at https://podio.com/webforms/22006262/1540226 to have us check your account details and let you know if this change affects you in any way.
Thank you for your feedback and support!
Comment actions -
30 days notice, just before Christmas vacations, for all organization to review existing solutions, alternatives, and maybe migrate... is this really the way you do business with your existing (or future) customers?
I would have gone for a paid plan if you at least gave us time to think about it. Now, as I know that you can put us in trouble in less than 15 days, I will seriously re-consider my opinion...
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This is a big change and a short deadline.
I remember back then, when you started, when this free version was a help to the small teams cause Podio started as a small team.
Well now it should be called Trial version cause a small team of 3 or 4 members, working daily on Podio, can easily reach 500 items.
This seems an unplanned move, not considering old users. You could have gotten the same results with an inactivity rule.In any case, congratulations for your product.
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I understand your reasoning behind that and appreciate very much the fact that I've been able to use this platform for free for my unfunded charitable mini-organisation. I have recommended Podio to a number of funded research-groups for their work, in appreciation. However, had I know that there was this possible decision, I might have chosen to find an alternative but my work is now completely dependent on Podio and 30 days is not enough time to find and shift to a possible alternative.
A couple of questions:
1. What exactly constitutes an item? Is it an entry in an app or do attachments count too?
2. How does one find out how many 'items' one has on the platform as a whole (is there any easy way to do that)? I'm unsure if my work is above the limit.
I've contacted the linked question-area but left this here as these are issues that I think should be addressed in the information to users.
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Here’s a quote that still exists on the Podio website when you search for Podio on the web: “On Podio, work with a team of up to 5 members free, forever. Upgrade to our premium plan to get 1-1 training sessions from our superhero team ...” That’s why I signed up to test it out. Free forever. Why don’t you do the right thing and be smart by charging new customers, not the ones that helped build your business. That’s what google did with Gmail. That’s what you should do. I have recommended Podio to numerous companies who are paying. Unfortunately you have lied to us and are not to be trusted, especially with our data.
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Hi,
this is not good happy christmas news... Why don´t you change pricing only for future customers or add some awesome features (like gantt chart) to increase premium plans? 2.000 items instead of 500 would be much more realistic because limitations of 500 items is not a free plan but only a trial version.
With my internet compay we already use the premium plan for 35 people, but with my non-profit-organization I use the free plan of podio for years now with 5 friends. Now we would have to pay around 500,- per year for this? I decided to use podio, because it´s free in its basic version and up to 5 people. Therefore I´ll have to find a solution to migrate from podio to a free plan tool? ...
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Yet another great app, which decides to abruptly charge their existing, loyal users - many of whom have stuck with you through down-times, development cycles, and basically allowed you to build your product. And then you do this. I will never understand why these companies (and now Podio, after Citrix take-over) can't understand that NEW customers should be monetized this way - not loyal, existing customers. We should be grandfathered in - and potentially increased slowly in price over time, and not get access to new features (which you say you will develop).
As a note: we're a paying customer, so this is not (only) about being cheap. But we started as a free organization, and the ability to grow within the free tier without too much worry was very important (who can live with 500 items ?). I have recommended you broadly, Podio - until now.
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To all users who want to know how many Items, Apps & Workspaces they currently have in their organisation:
We have recently released a Podio Extension which will tell you exactly that (and many more facts about your Podio and/or Globiflow account)
Screenshot:
The QuivvyTools Architecture tool is currently in beta phase and thus free of charge, and is accessible at https://quivvytools.com/
Mike Demunter
QuivvyTools -
Oh wow! As a user of podio for nearly 7 years now, I am not sure about this new direction. I’ve relied on podio to collaborate with team members across the globe and store valuable information. The 30 day window to upgrade or risk losing access to your data is pretty scary in my opinion! Staying in edit mode for an unlimited (or at least 6-months) gives an organization time to build this into their budget as it is not cheap. Imposing limits on items, without giving us an explanation as to what exactly counts as an item or an easy way to find out your current count also seems a bit unfair.
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This is not ok! Horrible.. I have a very small studio. Me and my wife working here. I use podio to share things with her. Only 2 users.. but will mean USD 216 per year.. to have an environment to share / collaborate on basic things.. I think I will take the effort to backup/copy the info, and go away, and also I think I will not recommend podio anymore. I was confident. I recommended podio..But now, the experience becomes horrible... I think you did't anticipate well the very ugly experience this will mean to lots of users. Bad decision.
This is not the way to do business in long term.. by ejecting people from your service. You should charge the users that a actually have many people collaborating ( big enterprises, etc.. ) ... but organizations with 1 or 2 people collaborating ??? God luck..
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It is totally an act of abuse of power. I feel cheated. I have brought many companies to use the service, because I dedicate myself to it, to teach. This should have been noticed at the beginning ... not at the end. The same will be his fall. The big ones go up like palm trees, but they fall like coconuts. I will look for a real open source to migrate and recommend it to the more than 35 client that I have brought to do so. I FEEL CHEATED! Google apps allowed you to create 50 accounts at the beginning ... they did not erase them ... after starting to charge ... You are going to erase our work for more than 3 years? They are geniuses. I hope many people read this message. FREE PODIUM IS DECEPTION.
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As much as I've loved, and recommended, Podio, I'm appalled by this approach and even more appalled by the timing. Seriously? Y'all have to have been working on this for quite some time. To launch it during the holiday season is ridiculous and leaves many who depend on this tool with our butts hanging out over a ledge.
I don't object to paying for services...I DO, strenuously, object to a broken promise of "Free Forever."
Not cool. Not professional. Not conducive to recommendations for users (paid or otherwise). Why? Well, let's see, if you handle things this way on a regular basis, there is no way I would recommend Podio to anyone.
Based on my read of the current comments, please reconsider your position and MAYBE you'll be able to redeem what was, at one time, a great word-of-mouth group of recommenders.
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You cannot say "Free forever.." and then say "Hey.. the fact that you are posting your thoughts on this forum proves !! that we have been delivering value to you..gotcha !!! we are relevant to you.. you can't deny it ! .. so now we will have to BREAK our promise, simply because our promise was not sustentable..." That "value" you are talking about, was actually generated by OUR investment of time and our work, by investing time in using Podio as a tool. ( we could have been investing our time in other tools instead, but.. as you promised "free forever up to 5 users..." Guess what: Here we are ! So you are actually doing "negotiations" using OUR time investment in your tool ( because of the seduction of your promise ), as an advantage for your finances..
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I will say the people at Podio aren't the brightest tools in the shed. Instead of deleting someones data that you encouraged them to enter into your system, why don't you focus on making better, easier forms... Better layout and color coordination.. Better tools... Performance?? Give me a break.
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Wow. Feel bad for introducing Podio to multiple companies if this is how they treat customers. Signed up for a paid plan which they then decided was not making enough money and moved us to the free plan to then try to force us to pay $3500+/month for a plan we were paying $100/month for when we joined.
Is there a way to get our data out in bulk?I wonder how this is going to affect Podio TrustPilot reviews?
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