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Zoho CRM vs Salesforce

Zoho CRM logo

Zoho CRM

Software

The world's favorite CRM

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Salesforce logo

Salesforce

Software

World's #1 CRM

From
$25/month
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: Zoho CRM free tier limited to 3 users only; 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
  • They diverge on capability: Zoho CRM covers Deal tracking, Salesforce covers Opportunity management.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Zoho CRM and Salesforce differ
AttributeZoho CRMSalesforce
Starting priceFree$25/month
Free tierYesNo
Founded19961999

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 Zoho CRM

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

Only in Salesforce

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

Both cover

  • Lead management
  • Contact management
  • Mailchimp
  • Slack
  • LinkedIn
  • SOC2
  • ISO27001
  • HIPAA

What people use each for

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

Zoho CRM

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

Salesforce

  • Sales managementnot Zoho CRM
  • Customer servicenot Zoho CRM
  • Marketing automation
  • Lead generationnot Zoho CRM
  • 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.

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

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

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

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Salesforce if

  • You need opportunity management.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want reports & dashboards.
Salesforce review

Questions people ask

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

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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