Software · head to head
Really Simple Systems 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: Really Simple Systems the vendor's own pricing page as captured by the Internet Archive on 22 October 2019 listed four CRM tiers billed annually: Free at $0 for up to 2 users, Starter at $14 per user per month, Professional at $30 per user per month, and Enterprise at $46 per user per month (each roughly 7 to 10 percent higher if billed monthly); the Marketing add-on was $22 per month for up to 5,000 emails and Advanced Marketing scaled to 50,000 emails per month, though this capture is over five years old; Zoho CRM free tier limited to 3 users only
- They diverge on capability: Really Simple Systems covers Sales pipeline, Zoho CRM covers Lead management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Really Simple Systems and Zoho CRM actually diverge.
| Attribute | Really Simple Systems | Zoho CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $15/month | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Ios, Android, Api |
| Founded | 2009 | 1996 |
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 Really Simple Systems
- Sales pipeline
- Task management
- Email integration
- Reporting
- Google Workspace
- Cloud deployment
- Web support
- English language support
Only in Zoho CRM
- Lead management
- Deal tracking
- Sales automation
- Analytics
- Mobile CRM
- Email marketing
- AI assistant (Zia)
- G Suite
Both cover
- Contact management
- Zapier
- GDPR
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Really Simple Systems
- Sales managementnot Zoho CRM
- Contact trackingnot Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM
- Sales automationnot Really Simple Systems
- Lead managementnot Really Simple Systems
- Customer supportnot Really Simple Systems
- Marketing automationnot Really Simple Systems
- Analytics & reportingnot Really Simple Systems
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Really Simple Systems
- The vendor's own pricing page as captured by the Internet Archive on 22 October 2019 listed four CRM tiers billed annually: Free at $0 for up to 2 users, Starter at $14 per user per month, Professional at $30 per user per month, and Enterprise at $46 per user per month (each roughly 7 to 10 percent higher if billed monthly); the Marketing add-on was $22 per month for up to 5,000 emails and Advanced Marketing scaled to 50,000 emails per month, though this capture is over five years old
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
Really Simple Systems
$15/month- Essential$15/month
- Contact management
- Task tracking
- Professional$25/month
- Everything in Essential
- Sales pipeline
- Reporting
- Professional Plus$35/month
- Everything in Professional
- Advanced customization
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 Really Simple Systems if
- You need sales pipeline.
- You also want task management.
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 Really Simple Systems or Zoho CRM better?
- Neither clearly leads. Really Simple Systems starts at $15/month and Zoho CRM at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Really Simple Systems or Zoho CRM?
- Zoho CRM has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $15/month for Really Simple Systems and Free for Zoho CRM.
- Does Really Simple Systems or Zoho CRM run on more platforms?
- Really Simple Systems runs on Web. 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. Really Simple Systems starts at $15/month.
- What is Really Simple Systems best used for?
- Really Simple Systems is most often used for sales management, contact tracking. Of those, sales management and contact tracking are not what Zoho CRM is typically brought in for.
- What can Really Simple Systems do that Zoho CRM cannot?
- Really Simple Systems covers Sales pipeline, Task management, Email integration, Reporting. Zoho CRM covers Lead management, Deal tracking, Sales automation, Analytics. Both handle Contact management, Zapier, GDPR.
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
More on Really Simple Systems
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