Firstup vs. Poppulo: Features, Pricing and AI Capabilities
How do Firstup and Poppulo compare? And what does Broadcast offer as an alternative?
What is the best internal communication software for your business?
The High-Level Comparison
About Firstup
Firstup is a workforce communication platform focused on delivering messages across multiple channels, including email and mobile apps. It aims to engage diverse, dispersed teams with a consistent communication experience but relies on predefined segmentation to reach audiences, which may limit deeper personalization.
About Poppulo
Poppulo Harmony is designed for enterprise clients with complex needs, offering integrated solutions with a strong focus on crisis communication – including two-way messaging, real-time alerts, and task management.
About Cerkl Broadcast
Cerkl Broadcast differentiates itself by utilizing AI to deliver personalized, relevant content to employees. It integrates with channels like email, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and mobile apps, allowing dynamic engagement through automated content delivery. Cerkl Broadcast uses behavioral data to customize content, ensuring employees receive the most relevant information while boosting overall engagement. Get started with a free chat with our expert!
Firstup
What Firstup Offers:
Firstup is designed as an employee experience platform that supports communication across multiple mediums to reach diverse and distributed teams, including email, mobile apps, and other channels. This approach works well for organizations that prioritize consistent messaging to large groups using predefined audience segments, such as roles or departments.
Where Firstup Falls Short:
Firstup’s segmentation lacks the flexibility of mass personalization, as it does not adapt content based on individual behaviors or engagement. For companies needing communication tailored to each employee’s unique interaction history or preferences, Firstup’s predefined segmentation may be too rigid, making it less effective for those seeking a personalized communication experience at scale.
For a more detailed analysis of Firstup vs. Cerkl Broadcast, check out our dedicated 1-on-1 analysis.
Poppulo
What Poppulo Offers:
Poppulo Harmony is designed to support enterprise-level crisis communication. It does this by offering real-time alerts, two-way messaging, and task management for efficient handling of critical events. It also includes advanced analytics to track engagement, making it valuable for organizations that prioritize clear communication, especially during emergencies.
Where Poppulo Falls Short:
While effective in crisis situations, Poppulo’s one-size-fits-all approach to regular communication lacks flexibility. The email editor is outdated — missing modern drag-and-drop functionality — and the platform does not provide AI-driven personalization. This limits Poppulo’s ability to deliver tailored content based on employee behavior, making it less suitable for organizations looking to scale personalized engagement on a daily basis.
For a more detailed analysis of Poppulo vs. Cerkl Broadcast, check out our dedicated 1-on-1 analysis.
What Sets Cerkl Broadcast Apart
Cerkl Broadcast is designed to automate and personalize internal communications using advanced AI. Its AI-powered News Digests dynamically personalize content based on each employee’s behavior, preferences, and engagement history stand out. Cerkl Broadcast’s multi-channel delivery system, which can incorporate Email Blasts, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and mobile apps, ensures that employees receive the right message at the right time, improving engagement and communication efficiency. At the same time, internal communicators have total control over all the variables associated with News Digest set up. This applies to every imaginable parameter from design to segmentation and the time of delivery.
Feature Comparison
Firstup Differentiation
Firstup positions itself as an employee experience platform delivering consistent, multi-channel messaging to segmented groups (e.g. by role or department). This approach aligns with a one-size-fits-all model, as its segmentation is predefined and does not adapt based on individual behaviors. For organizations aiming for mass personalization, Firstup may fall short due to its limited flexibility for tailoring communication at an individual level.
Poppulo Differentiation
Poppulo focuses on crisis communication and real-time messaging, which serves well in emergencies but falls short of day-to-day needs. Its lack of AI-powered personalization and outdated email tools make it less adaptable for companies seeking mass personalization and automation for regular ongoing internal communication.
Cerkl Broadcast Differentiation
Cerkl Broadcast’s AI capabilities are a standout feature. The platform uses behavioral data to segment audiences and personalize content, ensuring that each employee receives relevant communication. Its ability to automate content distribution across multiple channels (email, Slack, and mobile apps) and dynamically adjust based on engagement makes Cerkl Broadcast a highly efficient tool for internal communications.
AI Capabilities
Firstup AI Capabilities:
AI Content Creation
The First Up Creator Studio uses AI to streamline content creation, helping users generate text, summaries, and visuals quickly. Predictive analytics optimize delivery timing, though segmentation is predefined.
Audience Customization
Allows customization using natural language prompts to define segments. Personalization is limited to predefined criteria rather than individualized behavior.
Poppulo AI Capabilities:
Predictive Insights:
Poppulo AI analyzes employee behavior and engagement to forecast communication outcomes, providing predictive insights to improve decision-making.
Content Recommendations:
It suggests relevant content based on individual preferences, ensuring employees receive the most pertinent information tailored to their roles.
Natural Language Processing:
Poppulo uses NLP to analyze employee feedback and understand sentiment, allowing communication teams to adjust their strategies.
Cerkl Broadcast AI Capabilities:
Dynamic Personalization
Cerkl AI used to power Broadcast is centered on delivering highly personalized communication. It tailors content to each employee based on their behavior, preferences, and engagement history, ensuring that messages are relevant and impactful for each individual.
Advanced Analytics
The platform’s AI offers detailed insights into employee engagement and content effectiveness, allowing communication teams to optimize their strategies in real-time.
Behavioral-Based Content Delivery
Cerkl AI continuously learns from employee interactions, refining how and when content is delivered to enhance relevance and engagement. It ensures that Broadcast communication is timely and tailored to individual preferences.
Cerkl AI stands out by offering deeply customized communication through dynamic personalization and behavioral-based content delivery. Compared to Firstup and Poppulo, Cerkl Broadcast provides more granular AI-driven insights and invaluable personalization tailored to individual employees.
Pricing Comparison: Cerkl Broadcast vs. Firstup vs. Poppulo
Cerkl Broadcast Pricing:
- Starting Price: $799 per month, scalable based on the number of employees included in the plan.
- Features: All Cerkl Broadcast capabilities are available from the start, providing access to core features like personalized Email Blasts and News Digests.
- Mobile App: Available for an additional 20% of the total cost.
- Transparent Pricing: Cerkl Broadcast offers clear, upfront pricing, making it easier for companies to plan their budget.
Firstup Pricing:
- Tiered Pricing Model: Offers Essential, Professional, and Premier plans tailored to organizational needs and workforce size.
- Variable Costs: Detailed pricing information is not publicly available; costs can vary based on features selected and the number of employees
- Intranet Add-On: Full intranet capabilities are available only as an add-on. This may affect the overall budget for customization
Poppulo Pricing:
- Annual Licensing Fees: Typically starts at around $26,000 per year, depending on factors like employee count and the features chosen.
- Modular Pricing: Poppulo’s model is based on a modular system, where features such as email, intranet, and digital signage are priced separately.
- Custom Quote: Final costs depend on a thorough assessment of the organization’s environment, feature needs, and desired outcomes.
- Setup Fees: Additional setup fees covering data integration, design, and training, are required in the first year.
Cerkl Broadcast offers a straightforward pricing model, with a clear base price and predictable add-ons (such as the mobile app). In contrast, both Firstup and Poppulo require customized quotes, with Firstup’s costs varying widely depending on the scope of features, and Poppulo starting at a significantly higher price point that can increase based on modular feature selections.
Determine Which Capabilities and Features Matter Most
What are Customers Saying?
See what our clients have to say about working with Cerkl Broadcast
Kristina Stamper
Partnering with Cerkl has been a game changer. Their innovative email communications have streamlined our internal messaging and significantly boosted open and click through rates, and given us the ability to measure the success of our communication strategies.
Chad Schwalbach
Since implementing Cerkl Broadcast, our readership, our clicks, and our opens, are all up. It is satisfying for me as a communicator, to know we're reaching people, we're giving them information that engages them, and it makes it easier to go up the chain.
Tamara Palmer
The Cerkl platform lends itself to intuitive and engaging content creation with a ‘have it your way’ mantra in the manner in which you can design your communications. Drafting, scheduling, and sending are easy and allow for planning at all scales.
Olivia Groth
Honestly, I've never had a more streamlined implementation process! ... the team has been so amazing to work with!
Lore Otto
You have no idea how much better [Cerkl's] support is than our last provider... I love the chat feature.
Kristen Spilane
From quick troubleshooting to bigger problem solving... I've always felt really supported and valued as a Cerkl customer.
Cerkl gives you white glove service.
Every step of the way.
- Talk live with our US-based team. Average response time is only three minutes.
- 99% Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT), far above industry average of 78%.
- Work with dedicated customer success managers for personalized strategic guidance.
The internal communication software broadcasting to over 5.5 million engaged employees per month
Ready to Transform Your Internal Communications?
Experience the power of AI-driven personalization, intelligent automation, and a no-code platform designed to elevate your internal communications. Whether you’re looking to boost employee engagement or streamline your content delivery, Cerkl has the tools you need to succeed.
