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CRM · head to head

SugarCRM vs Zoho CRM

SugarCRM logo

SugarCRM

CRM

Customer relationship software for your business

From
$59/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: SugarCRM every plan carries a 15 user minimum, so the entry cost is 15 seats regardless of team size; Zoho CRM free tier limited to 3 users only
  • They diverge on capability: SugarCRM covers Sales pipeline, Zoho CRM covers Deal tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where SugarCRM and Zoho CRM differ
AttributeSugarCRMZoho CRM
Starting price$59/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Api
Founded20041996

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (CRM).

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 SugarCRM

  • Sales pipeline
  • Marketing automation
  • Customer service
  • Reporting
  • Mobile app
  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot
  • Microsoft 365

Only in Zoho CRM

  • Deal tracking
  • Sales automation
  • Analytics
  • Mobile CRM
  • Email marketing
  • AI assistant (Zia)
  • G Suite
  • Office 365

Both cover

  • Contact management
  • Lead management
  • Slack
  • Zapier
  • SOC2
  • GDPR
  • ISO27001

What people use each for

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

SugarCRM

  • CRM for sales, marketing and service teamsnot Zoho CRM
  • Managing accounts, opportunities and customer history at mid market scalenot Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM

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

Where each one falls short

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

SugarCRM

  • Every plan carries a 15 user minimum, so the entry cost is 15 seats regardless of team size
  • At $59 per user on Standard that minimum makes the real floor $885 a month
  • All three tiers are billed annually with no monthly option
  • The vendor still directs buyers to sales for a package rather than treating the published rate as final

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

SugarCRM

$59/month
  • Standard$59/month
    • Accounts management
    • Lead tracking
    • Quotes
  • Advanced$85/month
    • Mail and calendar integration
    • Case management
    • Sugar Intelligence
  • Premier$135/month
    • Geo mapping
    • Enhanced storage 2x
    • LinkedIn connector

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 SugarCRM if

  • You need sales pipeline.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want marketing automation.
SugarCRM review

Choose Zoho CRM if

  • You need deal tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want sales automation.
Zoho CRM review

Questions people ask

Is SugarCRM or Zoho CRM better?
Neither clearly leads. SugarCRM starts at $59/month and Zoho CRM at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SugarCRM or Zoho CRM?
Zoho CRM has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $59/month for SugarCRM and Free for Zoho CRM.
Does SugarCRM or Zoho CRM run on more platforms?
SugarCRM 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. SugarCRM starts at $59/month.
What is SugarCRM best used for?
SugarCRM is most often used for crm for sales, marketing and service teams, managing accounts, opportunities and customer history at mid market scale. Of those, crm for sales, marketing and service teams and managing accounts, opportunities and customer history at mid market scale are not what Zoho CRM is typically brought in for.
What can SugarCRM do that Zoho CRM cannot?
SugarCRM covers Sales pipeline, Marketing automation, Customer service, Reporting. Zoho CRM covers Deal tracking, Sales automation, Analytics, Mobile CRM. Both handle Contact management, Lead management, Slack, Zapier.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

SugarCRM: How much does SugarCRM cost?

SugarCRM costs $59 per user per month for the Standard plan, $85 per month for Advanced, and $135 per month for Premier. All plans require annual billing and a 15-user minimum.

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
SugarCRM: What is included in the Advanced plan?

The Advanced plan at $85 per user per month includes everything in Standard plus mail and calendar integration, case management, Sugar Intelligence, and Sugar Predict features.

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
SugarCRM: What distinguishes the Premier plan?

The Premier plan costs $135 per user per month and adds geo mapping, 2x enhanced storage, LinkedIn connector integration, and enhanced support compared to the Advanced plan.

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
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