Software · head to head
Hive vs Zoho CRM
The short version
- Only Zoho CRM has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Hive the free plan is capped at 200 MB of storage; Zoho CRM free tier limited to 3 users only
- They diverge on capability: Hive covers Tasks, Zoho CRM covers Lead management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Hive and Zoho CRM actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Hive
- Tasks
- Gantt view
- Kanban
- Time tracking
- Forms
- Zoom
- Google Drive
- Dropbox
Only in Zoho CRM
- Lead management
- Deal tracking
- Contact management
- Sales automation
- Analytics
- Mobile CRM
- Email marketing
- AI assistant (Zia)
Both cover
- Slack
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Hive
- Project and task management with multiple project viewsnot Zoho CRM
- Coordinating work, proofing and resourcing for teamsnot Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM
- Sales automationnot Hive
- Lead managementnot Hive
- Customer supportnot Hive
- Marketing automationnot Hive
- Analytics & reportingnot Hive
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Hive
- The free plan is capped at 200 MB of storage
- The Starter plan at $5 per user per month is limited to 10 projects
- Eight capabilities are sold as $5 per user add ons on the Teams plan, including CRM, timesheets, proofing, resourcing, advanced dashboards, external users and SSO
- Buying SSO plus a few of those add ons therefore costs more than the $12 base seat itself
- AI credits are metered monthly at 1,000, 3,000 and 5,000 by plan
Zoho CRM
- Free tier limited to 3 users only
- Steep pricing when scaling beyond 10 users
- Limited offline capabilities compared to some competitors
- Setup and configuration can require significant customization
Pricing, plan by plan
Hive
On request- FreeFree
- Basic features
- 10 users
- Teams$12/month
- Unlimited users
- Time tracking
- Automations
Zoho CRM
Free- FreeFree
- Up to 3 users
- Basic modules
- Standard dashboards
- Standard$14/month
- Sales forecasting
- Custom dashboards
- Workflow automation
- Professional$23/month
- Inventory management
- AI predictions
- Advanced customization
- Enterprise$40/month
- Zia AI assistant
- Multi-currency
- Advanced analytics
Which should you pick?
Choose Hive if
- You need tasks.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
- You also want gantt view.
Choose Zoho CRM if
- You need lead management.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
- You also want deal tracking.
Questions people ask
- Is Hive or Zoho CRM better?
- Neither clearly leads. Hive starts at On request and Zoho CRM at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Hive or Zoho CRM?
- Zoho CRM has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Hive and Free for Zoho CRM.
- Does Hive or Zoho CRM run on more platforms?
- Hive runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop. Zoho CRM runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
- Can I use Zoho CRM for free?
- Yes. Zoho CRM has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Hive starts at On request.
- What is Hive best used for?
- Hive is most often used for project and task management with multiple project views, coordinating work, proofing and resourcing for teams. Of those, project and task management with multiple project views and coordinating work, proofing and resourcing for teams are not what Zoho CRM is typically brought in for.
- What can Hive do that Zoho CRM cannot?
- Hive covers Tasks, Gantt view, Kanban, Time tracking. Zoho CRM covers Lead management, Deal tracking, Contact management, Sales automation. Both handle Slack.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Zoho CRM: Does Zoho CRM have a free tier?
Yes. Zoho CRM offers a free plan for up to 3 users that includes core CRM functionality like lead, contact, and account management, basic workflow automation, and customizable dashboards.
SourceZoho CRM: What does Zoho CRM cost for a paid plan?
Zoho CRM pricing ranges from $14 per user per month for the Standard plan up to $52 per user per month for the Ultimate plan when billed annually. Most sales teams use the Professional plan around $23/user/month or Enterprise at $40/user/month.
SourceZoho CRM: Is Zoho CRM independent or owned by another company?
Zoho CRM is part of Zoho Corporation, which is independent and bootstrapped. The parent company was founded in 1996 as AdventNet, rebranded to Zoho in 2009, and has never accepted external venture funding.
SourceRelated pages
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