Our potential clients often ask us, “Is Crescendo like Showpad? We want a more affordable Showpad alternative. Can Crescendo help?"
The answer isn't straightforward: it depends.
How it started
Before Crescendo, my Co-Founder and I worked at Taptera, Inc – a San Francisco startup building mobile solutions for the enterprise. It was an exciting time for mobile development. Companies had began embracing the mobile revolution sparked by the launch of the iPhone and iPad.
We built countless mobile solutions for both large and small businesses. Many such solutions evolved into our own products. Coincidentally — or perhaps inevitably — most of them were designed for sales teams on the go.
Showpad launched around the same time, but as a product-first company from day one. They quickly grew into one of the most recognizable brands in the sales enablement space. We worked with many of the same clients, crossed paths at conferences and trade shows, and watched the category take shape.
Showpad’s Acquisition and the Launch of Crescendo
Showpad acquired our employer in December 2015. At the time, Kiki and I already had our own ideas about how to build a product in this space. A few months later, we officially incorporated Crescendo.
From the beginning, we focused on three key pillars that set Crescendo apart from other players in the space:
1. Affordable White-Label
Many potential clients in this space want a white-label solution; their own branding, app name, CRM integration, and overall look and feel. In short, they want their own app.
We knew we had to design Crescendo in a way that made white-labeling efficient and cost-effective. At the time, none of the top mobile sales enablement platforms — including Showpad, Bigtincan, and Mediafly — offered that flexibility.
We designed a unique architecture that enables us to deliver and maintain branded, white-labeled versions of Crescendo at a price that works for clients.
2. Client-Owned Backend
Crescendo does not require uploading documents onto a separate backend. Many clients already use cloud storage like SharePoint, Google Drive, or Box. Requiring a copy of the existing content onto another system is not ideal.
Instead, Crescendo connects directly to the client’s existing storage. Content, permissions, and team structure stay managed in one place.
Crescendo adds a clean mobile experience as a presentation layer on top the content. It includes offline access, CRM integration, analytics, kiosk mode, and an AI assistant. Crucially, documents always remain on the client’s own cloud storage.
3. Living Visuals
In most sales tools, visual customization happens once during setup. An admin uploads logos, icons, and colors through a separate console. After that, changes are never made.
Crescendo takes a different approach. Each content owner can quickly change how folders, icons, and branding appear — at any time. This makes it easy to create a custom look for a new product, team, or client.
Visuals are managed just like content. Upload them to the same cloud storage, and they update instantly in the app.
So is Crescendo a Showpad alternative or not?
At its core, Crescendo solves the same foundational problem that Showpad set out to address in its early days: ensuring that mobile sales teams always have access to reliable, up-to-date content on their devices.
We believe this challenge remains highly relevant today. While tech-savvy organizations have addressed it, the reality is that most companies are not tech-forward. Crescendo continues to focus on solving this specific problem — simply, reliably, and cost-effectively.
Over time, Showpad has grown significantly as a product. It has expanded well beyond content delivery into areas like sales training, onboarding, learning management, coaching, and content governance. This broader scope explains its higher price point.
If your needs include a wide set of tools to support your sales team, including sales training, coaching and onboarding, then Crescendo and Showpad are fundamentally different offerings. Crescendo is not in that space and shouldn’t be seen as direct alternative to Showpad.
However, if you’re looking for a simple, brandable, and dependable content delivery tool — one that works offline, integrates with your existing cloud storage, and can even be deployed as your own app — Crescendo is a compelling, cost-effective Showpad alternative.
Other Crescendo and Showpad alternatives
Both Showpad and Crescendo are mobile-first sales enablement platforms. Teams often discover them while searching for tools that support content access, branding, analytics, and more. But sales enablement is a broad category — and not every team has the same needs.
There are many players in this space, each offering something unique that might be a perfect fit for your organization. We’ve already highlighted what sets Crescendo apart and how it compares to Showpad. Let's now dive into what other Crescendo and Showpad competitors have to offer.
Bigtincan – #1 Showpad competitor
Bigtincan is a comprehensive sales enablement platform designed to enhance the productivity and effectiveness of sales teams by delivering content, training, and coaching within a single integrated environment. Known for its flexibility and enterprise-level capabilities, Bigtincan caters to organizations looking to support both field and remote teams with secure, intelligent access to sales materials. It emphasizes AI-driven personalization and automation to ensure sales reps get the most relevant information at the right time.
Bigtincan Key Features
Bigtincan’s feature set is extensive. It offers advanced content management with AI-based recommendations, support for offline access, and deep integration with CRMs like Salesforce. One of its standout components is the Bigtincan Learning module, which includes microlearning, certifications, and sales coaching tools. The platform also provides automation features to streamline onboarding and content delivery, as well as detailed analytics that help sales leaders measure content usage and performance. Additional features like document annotation, voice notes, and real-time collaboration enhance its utility for sales reps in the field.
Bigtincan Ideal Use Case
Bigtincan is best suited for large or mid-sized enterprises with complex sales processes, distributed teams, and a need for robust training and coaching. Industries like life sciences, financial services, and manufacturing — where compliance, mobility, and technical knowledge are crucial — often find Bigtincan to be a strong fit. It works particularly well for organizations looking to unify sales content, learning, and CRM interaction in one platform.
Bigtincan Pros and Cons
One of the biggest advantages of Bigtincan is its depth — it offers a highly configurable experience that can adapt to various organizational needs. The AI-powered recommendations and automation save time and improve content relevance. However, that depth also means complexity. Some users report a steep learning curve and a need for careful onboarding and configuration to get the most out of the platform. Pricing can also be on the higher end, which may be a consideration for smaller businesses.
Bigtincan Pricing
Bigtincan does not publicly list pricing, which is typically custom-quoted based on team size, feature set, and deployment scale. However, as an enterprise-focused solution, it tends to be priced higher than simpler or more lightweight sales enablement tools. Based on our insights, you shouldn’t expect a per-user price below $45/month — even with bulk licensing. Additionally, setup fees can be significant. Prospective buyers should expect a detailed sales and onboarding process before getting access to cost estimates.
Highspot – comprehensive marketing and sales toolset
Highspot is a leading sales enablement platform designed to improve sales team performance by delivering the right content, guidance, and training at the right time. It’s known for its sleek interface, powerful search, and tight alignment between marketing and sales teams.
Highspot Key Features
Highspot offers robust content management, AI-powered search and recommendations, CRM integration (especially with Salesforce), pitch tracking, analytics, and sales training modules. Its SmartPages feature allows for highly customized, guided selling experiences.
Highspot Ideal Use Case
Highspot is best suited for mid-to-large enterprises with mature sales enablement needs — especially those emphasizing alignment between sales and marketing, content performance tracking, and onboarding/training at scale.
Highspot Pros and Cons
Highspot stands out for its polished user experience, intuitive interface, and strong alignment between sales and marketing. Users benefit from advanced analytics, powerful search, and deep CRM integrations that help track content performance and guide reps through the sales process. Its support for sales training and coaching makes it a comprehensive tool for enablement teams. However, its feature-rich environment can be overwhelming for smaller teams or organizations new to sales enablement. Additionally, the platform comes with a premium price tag and may require a significant time investment for setup and onboarding.
Highspot Pricing
Highspot doesn’t publish public pricing. However, based on industry sources and client feedback, pricing typically starts above $50 per user/month. Total cost may vary based on features, team size, and onboarding needs.
Seismic: Enterprise-Grade Showpad Alternative
Seismic is a leading enterprise-level sales enablement platform designed to empower sales and marketing teams with the tools they need to deliver the right content to the right audience at the right time. It’s widely used by large organizations looking to streamline sales content management, improve rep productivity, and align marketing with sales. With a strong emphasis on automation and analytics, Seismic helps enterprises create a more consistent and data-driven buyer experience.
Seismic Key Features
Seismic offers a comprehensive suite of features, including dynamic content personalization, centralized content management, buyer engagement tracking, and deep analytics. One of its standout capabilities is LiveSend, which allows users to share content and receive real-time engagement insights. The platform also provides content automation tools, version control, and integrations with major CRMs like Salesforce, as well as marketing automation systems. Additionally, Seismic’s AI-powered recommendations help sales reps surface the most relevant content based on the context of the deal.
Seismic Ideal Use Case
Seismic is best suited for large, complex sales organizations — especially those with distributed teams, extensive content libraries, and strict compliance requirements. Industries like financial services, life sciences, and technology often benefit from Seismic’s ability to manage regulated content and ensure message consistency at scale. It’s ideal when sales enablement is viewed as a strategic initiative requiring deep integration with enterprise systems.
Seismic Pros and Cons
The platform excels in delivering advanced content automation, analytics, and personalization, making it a powerful tool for aligning marketing and sales. Its integrations and compliance features also stand out, especially in regulated industries. However, Seismic’s complexity can be a double-edged sword. The learning curve is steep, and implementing the platform can require significant time and technical support. Additionally, the cost of ownership is high, making it less accessible to smaller businesses or lean teams.
Seismic Pricing
Seismic does not publicly list its pricing, but industry insights suggest that enterprise contracts can be expensive, often starting around $50–$70 per user per month, with additional fees for onboarding, customization, and support. The pricing model typically requires discussions with a sales team and can vary significantly depending on organizational size, use case, and configuration needs.
Mediafly: Interactive Sales Enablement focused Showpad Competitor
Mediafly is a sales enablement platform that focuses on delivering interactive content experiences and buyer engagement tools. Originally developed to support dynamic content delivery for sales presentations, Mediafly has evolved into a comprehensive solution that brings together content management, sales coaching, and engagement analytics. Its goal is to help sellers be more effective in every buyer conversation, whether live or asynchronous.
Mediafly Key Features
Mediafly offers a wide range of features centered around interactive content delivery. These include content management with version control, CRM and DAM (Digital Asset Management) integrations, content personalization, and buyer engagement tracking. It also provides tools for interactive selling — such as ROI calculators, pitch decks, and custom demos — allowing sellers to tailor presentations in real time. Additionally, Mediafly supports sales coaching, onboarding, and performance analytics to reinforce enablement strategies.
Mediafly Ideal Use Case
Mediafly is well-suited for mid-sized to large B2B organizations looking to improve the quality of buyer interactions through interactive, data-rich content. It’s especially valuable for teams with complex sales cycles or consultative selling approaches where visuals, demos, and custom proposals make a difference. It’s a good match for marketing and sales teams that collaborate closely to control messaging and monitor content performance.
Mediafly Pros and Cons
Mediafly’s strength lies in its ability to bring content to life. Its interactive features can significantly improve buyer engagement and help reps stand out. The platform is also highly customizable, making it flexible across different industries and use cases. However, that flexibility comes with a cost — the platform can be complex to implement and manage, and may require ongoing support from Mediafly’s team. Users also note that while the interface is functional, it’s less modern or intuitive compared to some newer competitors.
Mediafly Pricing
Mediafly does not disclose standard pricing on its website. Industry feedback suggests it falls into the mid-to-high pricing tier for sales enablement platforms, often starting around $40–$60 per user per month, with additional costs for setup, integration, and advanced custom features. Pricing typically scales with content volume, users, and support requirements.
Overall
While the list above isn’t exhaustive, many of the best-known sales enablement platforms have evolved into complex, enterprise-focused solutions. In practice, their broad feature sets are often underutilized. Companies frequently end up paying for capabilities their teams don’t need — using the platform primarily as a glorified content repository.
One of the most common frustrations we hear from clients is the lack of transparent pricing. Instead of clear rates, vendors often push for extensive discovery calls aimed at gauging your budget before revealing any numbers. We’ve also heard of situations where, after lengthy and costly setup and adoption, prices were significantly increased — leaving clients with limited flexibility.
At Crescendo, we take a different approach. Our per-seat pricing is transparent and available up front. We charge no setup fees, and since our launch in 2016, we’ve only raised our price once. Simple, fair, and predictable.
