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ERP · head to head

Striven vs Zoho CRM

Striven logo

Striven

ERP

All-in-one business management for growing companies

From
$35/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoho CRM logo

Zoho CRM

CRM

The world's favorite CRM

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Zoho CRM has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Striven occasional performance issues with slow load times in some modules; Zoho CRM free tier limited to 3 users only
  • They diverge on capability: Striven covers CRM, Zoho CRM covers Lead management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Striven and Zoho CRM actually diverge.

Attributes where Striven and Zoho CRM differ
AttributeStrivenZoho CRM
Starting price$35/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, APIWeb, Ios, Android, Api
CategoryERPCRM
Founded20081996

Identical on both: 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 Striven

  • CRM
  • Project management
  • Accounting
  • HR management
  • Inventory
  • Outlook
  • Google Workspace
  • SSL encryption

Only in Zoho CRM

  • Lead management
  • Deal tracking
  • Contact management
  • Sales automation
  • Analytics
  • Mobile CRM
  • Email marketing
  • AI assistant (Zia)

Both cover

  • QuickBooks
  • Zapier

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Striven

  • Software consolidationnot Zoho CRM
  • Business operationsnot Zoho CRM
  • Project-based businessesnot Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM

  • Sales automationnot Striven
  • Lead managementnot Striven
  • Customer supportnot Striven
  • Marketing automationnot Striven
  • Analytics & reportingnot Striven

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Striven

  • Occasional performance issues with slow load times in some modules
  • Dated UI in places with clunky mobile app experience
  • Very limited customization options compared to enterprise ERP solutions
  • No Zapier or third-party app marketplace integration

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

Striven

$35/month
  • Standard$35/month
    • Accounting
    • CRM and sales
    • Project management
  • Enterprise$70/month
    • All Standard features
    • Advanced customization
    • Priority support

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 Striven if

  • You need crm.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, API.
  • You also want project management.
Striven review

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.
Zoho CRM review

Questions people ask

Is Striven or Zoho CRM better?
Neither clearly leads. Striven starts at $35/month and Zoho CRM at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Striven or Zoho CRM?
Zoho CRM has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $35/month for Striven and Free for Zoho CRM.
Does Striven or Zoho CRM run on more platforms?
Striven runs on Web, Mobile, API. 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. Striven starts at $35/month.
What is Striven best used for?
Striven is most often used for software consolidation, business operations, project-based businesses. Of those, software consolidation and business operations are not what Zoho CRM is typically brought in for.
What can Striven do that Zoho CRM cannot?
Striven covers CRM, Project management, Accounting, HR management. Zoho CRM covers Lead management, Deal tracking, Contact management, Sales automation. Both handle QuickBooks, Zapier.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Striven: What is Striven's pricing model?

Striven uses user-based pricing: Standard plan at $35/user/month and Enterprise plan at $70/user/month. For accounts with fewer than 5 users, an additional $25 per user applies.

Source
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.

Source
Striven: Does Striven offer a free trial or free tier?

Yes, Striven offers a 7-day free test drive with no credit card required. However, there is no permanent free version or free tier for production use.

Source
Zoho 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.

Source
Striven: What modules does Striven include?

Striven includes accounting, CRM and sales management, project management, task management, inventory, HR, OKRs, and workflow automation across all plans.

Source
Zoho 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
Striven: Does Striven offer optional add-ons like customer portals?

Yes, Striven offers optional monthly portal plans: free tier for up to 100 customers/vendors/applications per month, $99/month for 500, and $499/month for unlimited access.

Source
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