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CRM · head to head

Salesforce vs Zoho CRM

Salesforce logo

Salesforce

CRM

World's #1 CRM

From
$25/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: Salesforce sales Cloud tiers as captured 2 January 2024: Starter Suite $25/user/month, Professional $80/user/month, Enterprise $165/user/month, all USD billed annually; Zoho CRM free tier limited to 3 users only
  • They diverge on capability: Salesforce covers Opportunity management, Zoho CRM covers Deal tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Salesforce and Zoho CRM differ
AttributeSalesforceZoho CRM
Starting price$25/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
Founded19991996

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

  • Opportunity management
  • Reports & dashboards
  • Email integration
  • Workflow automation
  • Mobile access
  • AppExchange
  • Microsoft 365
  • Google Workspace

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
  • Mailchimp
  • LinkedIn
  • SOC2
  • ISO27001
  • HIPAA

What people use each for

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

Salesforce

  • Sales managementnot Zoho CRM
  • Customer servicenot Zoho CRM
  • Marketing automation
  • Lead generationnot Zoho CRM
  • Analytics & reporting

Zoho CRM

  • Sales automationnot Salesforce
  • Lead managementnot Salesforce
  • Customer supportnot Salesforce
  • Marketing automation
  • Analytics & reporting

Both are used for marketing automation, analytics & reporting, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

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

Salesforce

  • Sales Cloud tiers as captured 2 January 2024: Starter Suite $25/user/month, Professional $80/user/month, Enterprise $165/user/month, all USD billed annually

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

Salesforce

$25/month
  • Essentials$25/month
    • Account & contact management
    • Opportunity tracking
    • Lead management
  • Professional$80/month
    • Everything in Essentials
    • Complete CRM
    • Lead scoring
  • Enterprise$165/month
    • Everything in Professional
    • Workflow automation
    • Advanced analytics
  • Unlimited$330/month
    • Everything in Enterprise
    • Unlimited customizations
    • 24/7 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 Salesforce if

  • You need opportunity management.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want reports & dashboards.
Salesforce 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 Salesforce or Zoho CRM better?
Neither clearly leads. Salesforce starts at $25/month and Zoho CRM at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Salesforce or Zoho CRM?
Zoho CRM has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $25/month for Salesforce and Free for Zoho CRM.
Does Salesforce 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. Salesforce starts at $25/month.
What is Salesforce best used for?
Salesforce is most often used for sales management, customer service, marketing automation, lead generation. Of those, sales management and customer service are not what Zoho CRM is typically brought in for.
What can Salesforce do that Zoho CRM cannot?
Salesforce covers Opportunity management, Reports & dashboards, Email integration, Workflow automation. Zoho CRM covers Deal tracking, Sales automation, Analytics, Mobile CRM. Both handle Contact management, Lead management, Slack, Mailchimp.

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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