Software · head to head
Pipedrive 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: Pipedrive email account connectivity restricted to maximum of five email accounts per user; Zoho CRM free tier limited to 3 users only
- They diverge on capability: Pipedrive covers Visual pipeline, Zoho CRM covers Contact management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Pipedrive and Zoho CRM actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Pipedrive
- Visual pipeline
- Activity reminders
- Email integration
- Mobile apps
- Reporting
- Goal tracking
- Google Workspace
- Microsoft 365
Only in Zoho CRM
- Contact management
- Sales automation
- Analytics
- Mobile CRM
- Email marketing
- AI assistant (Zia)
- G Suite
- Office 365
Both cover
- Deal tracking
- Lead management
- Slack
- Mailchimp
- SOC2
- ISO27001
- GDPR
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Pipedrive
- Sales pipeline management with kanban-style dashboardsnot Zoho CRM
- Multi-channel communication with email and calendar syncnot Zoho CRM
- Sales automation for small to mid-market teamsnot Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM
- Sales automationnot Pipedrive
- Lead managementnot Pipedrive
- Customer supportnot Pipedrive
- Marketing automationnot Pipedrive
- Analytics & reportingnot Pipedrive
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Pipedrive
- Email account connectivity restricted to maximum of five email accounts per user
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
Pipedrive
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Pipedrive review.
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 Pipedrive if
- You need visual pipeline.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want activity reminders.
Choose Zoho CRM if
- You need contact management.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
- You also want sales automation.
Questions people ask
- Is Pipedrive or Zoho CRM better?
- Neither clearly leads. Pipedrive 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, Pipedrive or Zoho CRM?
- Zoho CRM has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Pipedrive and Free for Zoho CRM.
- Does Pipedrive or Zoho CRM run on more platforms?
- Pipedrive runs on Web, iOS, Android. 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. Pipedrive starts at On request.
- What is Pipedrive best used for?
- Pipedrive is most often used for sales pipeline management with kanban-style dashboards, multi-channel communication with email and calendar sync, sales automation for small to mid-market teams. Of those, sales pipeline management with kanban-style dashboards and multi-channel communication with email and calendar sync are not what Zoho CRM is typically brought in for.
- What can Pipedrive do that Zoho CRM cannot?
- Pipedrive covers Visual pipeline, Activity reminders, Email integration, Mobile apps. Zoho CRM covers Contact management, Sales automation, Analytics, Mobile CRM. Both handle Deal tracking, Lead management, Slack, Mailchimp.
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.
Source