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Software · head to head

Xero vs Zoho CRM

Xero logo

Xero

Software

Beautiful accounting software

From
$13/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoho CRM logo

Zoho CRM

Software

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: Xero the Early plan caps you at 20 invoices and 5 bills per month, and the invoice limit counts both approving and sending; Zoho CRM free tier limited to 3 users only
  • They diverge on capability: Xero covers Bank reconciliation, Zoho CRM covers Lead management.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Xero and Zoho CRM differ
AttributeXeroZoho CRM
Starting price$13/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
Founded20061996

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), platforms (Web, Ios, Android, Api), 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 Xero

  • Bank reconciliation
  • Invoicing
  • Bill payment
  • Expense claims
  • Financial reporting
  • Inventory tracking
  • Project tracking
  • Mobile apps

Only in Zoho CRM

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

Both cover

  • SOC2
  • ISO27001

What people use each for

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

Xero

  • Small business bookkeeping, invoicing and bank reconciliationnot Zoho CRM
  • Bill payment and purchase order managementnot Zoho CRM
  • Sharing books with an accountant or bookkeepernot Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM

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

Where each one falls short

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

Xero

  • The Early plan caps you at 20 invoices and 5 bills per month, and the invoice limit counts both approving and sending
  • Invoices created by connected app partners count against the Early plan invoice limit
  • Multiple currencies, project time and cost tracking, employee expense and mileage claims and industry benchmarking are restricted to the top Established plan at $90 per month
  • Cash flow forecasting is capped at 30 days on Early and 60 days on Growing, with 180 days only on Established
  • Payroll is not included in any plan and costs an extra $36 a month plus $6 per employee or contractor through Gusto
  • Inventory Plus is a paid optional add-on rather than part of any plan
  • The advertised 90% off applies only to the first 6 months, after which the regular $25, $55 or $90 monthly price auto-renews
  • The introductory discount excludes add-ons, usage charges and payment fees
  • Payment fees apply to online invoice payments and to bill payments other than standard domestic ACH, and are billed on top of the subscription
  • Subscriptions are billed monthly with no annual payment option, and after upgrading you must wait one month before downgrading to a cheaper plan
  • Xero states subscription prices are increasing from October 1, 2026

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

Xero

$13/month
  • Early$13/month
    • Send 20 invoices
    • Enter 5 bills
    • Reconcile bank transactions
  • Growing$37/month
    • Unlimited invoices & bills
    • Bulk reconcile transactions
    • Short-term cash flow
  • Established$70/month
    • Everything in Growing
    • Use multiple currencies
    • Track projects

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 Xero if

  • You need bank reconciliation.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want invoicing.
Xero 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 Xero or Zoho CRM better?
Neither clearly leads. Xero starts at $13/month and Zoho CRM at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Xero or Zoho CRM?
Zoho CRM has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $13/month for Xero and Free for Zoho CRM.
Does Xero or Zoho CRM run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Zoho CRM for free?
Yes. Zoho CRM has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Xero starts at $13/month.
What is Xero best used for?
Xero is most often used for small business bookkeeping, invoicing and bank reconciliation, bill payment and purchase order management, sharing books with an accountant or bookkeeper. Of those, small business bookkeeping, invoicing and bank reconciliation and bill payment and purchase order management are not what Zoho CRM is typically brought in for.
What can Xero do that Zoho CRM cannot?
Xero covers Bank reconciliation, Invoicing, Bill payment, Expense claims. Zoho CRM covers Lead management, Deal tracking, Contact management, Sales automation. Both handle SOC2, ISO27001.

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.

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
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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