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CRM · head to head

Pipedrive vs Zoho Desk

Pipedrive logo

Pipedrive

CRM

The CRM that sales teams love to use

From
On request
Free plan
No
Zoho Desk logo

Zoho Desk

Customer Support

Context-aware help desk software

From
Free
Free plan
Yes

The short version

  • Only Zoho Desk 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 Desk free plan caps at three user licenses; paid plans (Express, Standard, Professional, Enterprise) are billed annually to get the listed rate, with monthly billing costing more, and light user seats are priced separately from full agent seats
  • They diverge on capability: Pipedrive covers Visual pipeline, Zoho Desk covers Ticket management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Pipedrive and Zoho Desk actually diverge.

Attributes where Pipedrive and Zoho Desk differ
AttributePipedriveZoho Desk
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
CategoryCRMCustomer Support
Founded20101996

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated).

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
  • Deal tracking
  • Activity reminders
  • Email integration
  • Mobile apps
  • Goal tracking
  • Lead management
  • Google Workspace

Only in Zoho Desk

  • Ticket management
  • Multi-channel support
  • AI assistant
  • Automation
  • Knowledge base
  • Zoho CRM
  • Salesforce
  • G Suite

Both cover

  • Reporting
  • Microsoft 365
  • Slack
  • 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 Desk
  • Multi-channel communication with email and calendar syncnot Zoho Desk
  • Sales automation for small to mid-market teamsnot Zoho Desk

Zoho Desk

  • Multi-channel supportnot Pipedrive
  • IT help desknot Pipedrive
  • Customer servicenot 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 Desk

  • Free plan caps at three user licenses; paid plans (Express, Standard, Professional, Enterprise) are billed annually to get the listed rate, with monthly billing costing more, and light user seats are priced separately from full agent seats

Pricing, plan by plan

Pipedrive

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Pipedrive review.

Zoho Desk

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 agents
    • Email ticketing
    • Help center
  • Standard$14/month
    • Social channels
    • Workflow automation
    • Customer happiness ratings
  • Professional$23/month
    • Multi-department
    • Round-robin assignment
    • Custom fields
  • Enterprise$40/month
    • AI Zia
    • Multi-brand help center
    • Advanced analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Pipedrive if

  • You need visual pipeline.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want deal tracking.

Choose Zoho Desk if

  • You need ticket management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want multi-channel support.

Questions people ask

Is Pipedrive or Zoho Desk better?
Neither clearly leads. Pipedrive starts at On request and Zoho Desk at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Pipedrive or Zoho Desk?
Zoho Desk has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Pipedrive and Free for Zoho Desk.
Does Pipedrive or Zoho Desk run on more platforms?
Pipedrive runs on Web, iOS, Android. Zoho Desk runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Zoho Desk for free?
Yes. Zoho Desk 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 Desk is typically brought in for.
What can Pipedrive do that Zoho Desk cannot?
Pipedrive covers Visual pipeline, Deal tracking, Activity reminders, Email integration. Zoho Desk covers Ticket management, Multi-channel support, AI assistant, Automation. Both handle Reporting, Microsoft 365, Slack, SOC2.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Pipedrive: How long is Pipedrive's free trial and what's required to start?

Pipedrive offers a 14-day free trial with full platform access. No credit card is required to begin the trial, making it accessible to businesses of any size.

Source
Zoho Desk: What is the starting price and trial period?

Zoho Desk offers a free forever plan with 3 user licenses, plus paid tiers starting from ₹420 per user per month when billed annually. A 15-day free trial is available without requiring a credit card.

Source
Pipedrive: Are specific pricing tiers and costs detailed on the homepage?

The homepage does not list specific pricing amounts or tier names. Detailed subscription information and pricing costs are available on Pipedrive's dedicated pricing page.

Source
Zoho Desk: Are there lock-ins or hidden costs?

No lock-ins and no hidden costs. Once your 15-day free trial ends, your plan automatically downgrades to the free plan.

Source
Pipedrive: What core features does Pipedrive include?

Pipedrive includes pipeline management, automation, AI capabilities, email sync, and reporting features. Feature availability at different price levels is detailed on their pricing page.

Source
Zoho Desk: What payment methods are accepted?

Zoho Desk accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and PayPal. Bank transfer or check transfer is accepted for yearly subscriptions.

Source
Zoho Desk: Are there discounts for annual commitments?

Yes, Zoho Desk offers discounts on upfront annual commitments, with savings up to 34% off monthly rates.

Source
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