Zoho CRM vs. Salesforce: A Comparison for SMBs

Choosing between Zoho CRM and Salesforce? Here’s what you need to know:

Zoho CRM is better for small businesses on a budget
Salesforce is ideal for larger teams needing advanced features
Zoho starts at $14/user/month, Salesforce at $25/user/month
Zoho is user-friendly, Salesforce has a steeper learning curve
Zoho offers 200+ integrations, Salesforce has 2,500+

Quick Comparison:

Feature	Zoho CRM	Salesforce
Starting Price	$14/user/month	$25/user/month
Free Version	Yes (up to 3 users)	No
Best For	Small to mid-sized businesses	Larger teams, enterprises
Ease of Use	User-friendly	Steeper learning curve
Integrations	200+	2,500+
Customization	Limited	Extensive
AI Assistant	Zia	Einstein

Bottom line: Zoho CRM is a solid choice for most small businesses, offering core features at a lower cost. But if you need advanced tools and plan to scale rapidly, Salesforce might be worth the investment.

How Easy They Are to Use

Ease of use can make or break a CRM for small businesses. Let’s see how Zoho CRM and Salesforce stack up:

Zoho CRM: Simple but Sometimes Clunky

Zoho CRM’s interface is pretty straightforward:

Dashboard with function tabs at the top
Projects dashboard for task management
Separate module for issue tracking

But here’s the catch: some users say navigation can be a pain, with simple tasks taking too many clicks.

Salesforce: Powerful but Potentially Overwhelming

Salesforce’s interface is slick, but it might be too much for newbies:

Dashboard is easier to navigate than Zoho’s
Task management is built-in
Direct integration with Outlook or Gmail for contacts

The downside? You might need IT support to really make it work for you.

Small Business Pick: Zoho CRM

For small businesses, Zoho CRM comes out on top:

Feature	Zoho CRM	Salesforce
Learning Curve	Shorter	Steeper
Setup Time	Quick	Needs training
IT Support	Minimal	Often needed
Customization	Basic but doable	Extensive but complex

Zoho’s Bigin, at $7 per user/month, is tailor-made for small businesses new to CRMs. It’s got customizable dashboards and core features without the complexity.

Salesforce’s Starter package? It’s robust, but might be overkill for small teams without CRM experts.

PCMag says: "Zoho offers a full-featured CRM package, but its separate Bigin offering is aimed at small businesses."

Bottom line: If you’re a small business looking for simplicity, Zoho CRM (especially Bigin) is your best bet.

Main Features Compared

Zoho CRM and Salesforce go head-to-head in key areas. Let’s break it down:

Managing Contacts and Leads

Both CRMs nail the basics:

Feature	Zoho CRM	Salesforce
Lead capture	✓	✓
Lead scoring	✓	✓
Contact tracking	✓	✓
Pipeline management	✓	✓

Zoho CRM helps you snag and nurture leads. Salesforce’s Sales Cloud tracks customer interactions and automates workflows.

Sales and Marketing Tools

They both bring sales automation and marketing to the table:

Tool	Zoho CRM	Salesforce
Sales automation	✓	✓
Email marketing	✓	✓
Campaign management	✓	✓
Analytics	Basic	Advanced

Salesforce’s Marketing Cloud packs a bigger punch for campaigns. Zoho’s MarketingHub? It’s got the goods for smaller teams.

Customer Support Tools

Customer service features? Check:

Feature	Zoho CRM	Salesforce
Ticketing system	✓	✓
Knowledge base	✓	✓
Multi-channel support	Limited	Extensive

Salesforce’s Service Cloud covers more bases: email, phone, chat, social media – you name it.

Customization

Salesforce takes the crown here:

Salesforce: AppExchange is HUGE (5,000+ apps)
Zoho CRM: Smaller, but still flexible (900+ apps)

Mobile Apps

Both have mobile apps, but Salesforce’s is beefier:

Feature	Zoho CRM	Salesforce
iOS app	✓	✓
Android app	✓	✓
Offline access	Limited	Full
Custom layouts	Basic	Advanced

For small businesses, Zoho CRM often hits the spot. Need more muscle? Salesforce has you covered.

Connecting with Other Tools

Zoho CRM and Salesforce both link up with other business software, but they do it differently. Let’s break it down:

Zoho CRM’s Connections

Zoho CRM plays nice with others, especially its own apps:

Connects to 60+ Zoho apps
Links to QuickBooks, Mailchimp, PayPal
Works with Microsoft 365 and Google Docs
Offers Zoho Flow for no-code automation

Zoho’s marketplace has about 900 apps and add-ons. It’s not huge, but it covers the basics for most small businesses.

Salesforce’s Connections

Salesforce is the connection king:

AppExchange has over 3,000 apps
Integrates with almost any business tool
Offers Lightning App Builder for customization
Provides APIs for custom integrations (extra cost)

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a tool Salesforce can’t work with.

Why Connections Matter

For small businesses, good connections can be a game-changer:

Benefit	Impact
Save time	Automate tasks across apps
Accurate data	Keep info synced between systems
Cost-effective	Use existing tools without switching
Scalable	Add features as you grow

Both Zoho CRM and Salesforce work with Zapier, opening up even more options.

Choosing based on connections:

Use lots of Zoho apps? Go with Zoho CRM
Need niche industry tools? Salesforce probably has them
Just need the basics? Either works, but Zoho might be simpler

Pricing

Zoho CRM and Salesforce have different price tags for small businesses. Let’s compare:

Zoho CRM’s Prices

Zoho CRM offers plans for various budgets:

Plan	Price (per user/month)	Key Features
Free	$0 (up to 3 users)	Basic CRM functions
Standard	$14	Sales forecasting, customizable dashboards
Professional	$23	Process management, email insights
Enterprise	$40	Advanced customization, multi-user portals
Ultimate	$52	Enhanced AI, advanced analytics

The free plan works for tiny teams. The $23/month Professional plan packs a punch for growing businesses.

Salesforce’s Prices

Salesforce costs more:

Plan	Price (per user/month)	Key Features
Essentials	$25	Basic sales and support tools
Professional	$75	Complete CRM for any size team
Enterprise	$150	Deeply customizable CRM
Unlimited	$300	Unlimited CRM power and support

Salesforce’s Essentials plan is pricier than Zoho’s entry-level paid plans but includes lead management and opportunity tracking.

Best Value for Small Businesses

Zoho CRM usually gives small businesses more bang for their buck:

It’s cheaper. A 10-user company could save $1,320 yearly with Zoho’s Professional plan vs. Salesforce’s Essentials.
Zoho’s free version has core CRM features. Perfect for startups.
Zoho’s pricing lets you upgrade gradually as you grow. Salesforce has bigger price jumps between plans.

But if you’re planning to grow fast, Salesforce’s scalability might be worth the extra cost. It depends on what you need and how you plan to grow.

Room to Grow

As your business expands, so do your CRM needs. Let’s compare how Zoho CRM and Salesforce can keep up.

Zoho CRM: Smooth Sailing for Small Businesses

Zoho CRM makes growth easy:

Start free (up to 3 users), upgrade when ready
Access 60+ Zoho apps
Affordable tier upgrades

But here’s the catch: Zoho might struggle with rapid growth. Sure, Nike uses their Enterprise plan, but that’s not the norm for big players.

Salesforce: Built for the Big Leagues

Salesforce is all about scaling up:

Packed with features from day one
Tons of third-party apps
AI-powered tools at higher levels

The downside? It’s like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut for small teams. Plus, it’s not exactly user-friendly.

Which One’s Right for You?

It boils down to your growth plans:

Factor	Zoho CRM	Salesforce
Starting price	$14/user/month	$25/user/month
User-friendliness	Easy to use	Steep learning curve
Growth potential	Steady growth	Rapid expansion
Customization	Some options	Highly flexible
App integration	Limited	Huge ecosystem

Most small businesses will find Zoho CRM hits the sweet spot of features and price. It’s perfect if you’re growing steadily.

Thinking big? Salesforce might be worth the investment if you’re aiming for rapid growth or need advanced features from the get-go. It’s built to handle complex sales and large-scale operations.

Smart Features and Data Analysis

Zoho CRM and Salesforce both offer AI tools for small businesses. Let’s compare them.

Zoho’s AI: Zia

Zia, Zoho’s AI assistant, is a budget-friendly powerhouse:

Predicts sales trends and lead conversion
Spots data anomalies
Suggests optimal contact times
Creates reports
Forecasts sales
Scans business cards

It’s like having a tireless digital assistant.

Salesforce’s AI: Einstein

Einstein, Salesforce’s AI, is more advanced:

Provides sales insights and lead scoring
Helps with task scheduling
Creates content using NLP
Applies machine learning to your data

It’s more powerful than Zia, but costs more.

AI Benefits for Small Businesses

AI in CRM isn’t just for big players. Here’s how it helps small businesses:

Task	Without AI	With AI
Lead scoring	Manual guessing	Data-driven ranking
Sales forecasting	Spreadsheet work	Quick predictions
Customer support	Slow responses	Instant chatbot answers
Data entry	Manual input	Automatic capture

A small e-commerce business using Zoho’s Zia might see:

20% more lead conversions
2 hours saved daily on data tasks
30% faster customer responses

But remember: Good data is crucial for AI to work well.

Price Comparison

Zoho’s AI is more affordable. Their Enterprise plan with Zia costs $40 per user/month. Salesforce’s AI-packed Ultimate plan? $300 per user/month.

For most small businesses, Zoho’s Zia offers good value. But if you’re aiming for rapid growth, Salesforce’s Einstein might be worth it.

The best AI? The one you’ll actually use. Start small and scale up as needed.

Help and Learning Resources

Support and training can make or break your CRM experience. Let’s compare Zoho CRM and Salesforce:

Zoho CRM Support

Email support for all (even free users)
Chat and phone for paying customers
24/7 support for top-tier plans
Quick response times (max 24 hours for email)

Self-help:

Knowledge base
Free ebooks
Tutorials and videos
Active online community

Salesforce Support

Standard support (mostly self-service) for all plans
Paid plans get online and phone support
Coaching for higher-tier customers
No phone support for Essentials users (costs extra for others)

Self-service:

Success Center (FAQs and guides)
Trailhead for structured learning
Live events and webinars
Salesforce+ streaming platform

Community and Online Help

Feature	Zoho CRM	Salesforce
Knowledge Base	Extensive	Comprehensive
User Community	Engaged	Large and active
Learning Platform	Trailhead (webinars, tutorials)	Trailhead (structured paths)
Support Rating	4.75/5	3.75/5

Zoho’s resources are straightforward. Salesforce’s are extensive but can overwhelm newbies.

"The customer support is excellent and always helpful." – Morshed Alam, Founder & Editor, Savvy Programmer (about Zoho CRM)

For small businesses, Zoho’s support might fit better. It’s user-friendly without Salesforce’s complexity.

But if you’re planning rapid growth, Salesforce’s training could pay off long-term, despite the learning curve.

Making Changes and Building Add-ons

Changing Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM makes customization a breeze:

Canvas: Drag-and-drop your dream CRM layout
Preset reports: 40 ready-to-use templates
Wizard-style workflows: No tech skills? No problem

Need more? Zoho’s got you covered:

Creator: Build custom apps with minimal coding
Catalyst: Develop serverless apps

Changing Salesforce

Salesforce packs a punch, but it’s not for the faint-hearted:

Lightning App Builder: No-code apps, but steeper learning curve
AppExchange: Tons of pre-built apps and integrations
Apex: Custom programming for complex stuff

Feature	Zoho CRM	Salesforce
Easy to Customize	Yes	Not so much
No-Code Options	Canvas, Workflows	Lightning App Builder
App Store	Zoho Marketplace	AppExchange
Custom Dev	Creator, Catalyst	Apex

AorBorC Technologies for Zoho CRM Changes

AorBorC Technologies knows Zoho CRM inside out:

They’ll help you master Canvas and workflows
Build custom apps with Creator
Integrate cool Zoho plugins like Analytics and SalesIQ

Popular Zoho CRM Add-ons:

FreshBooks Extension ($20/month): CRM meets accounting
Google Sheets Sync ($9/month): Sheets to CRM in a snap
LinkedIn Finder ($1/month): CRM data finds LinkedIn leads

Need something specific?

MySQL Easy Sync ($49/month): CRM data to MySQL? Done
Shopify Extension ($49/month): Multiple Shopify stores, one CRM

These add-ons supercharge Zoho CRM without the headaches of Salesforce.

"Your CRM is just a database. But it’s THE database storing info about everyone touching your business." – Gene Marks, CPA | Author | Columnist | Owner of The Marks Group

For small businesses, Zoho CRM hits the sweet spot: powerful enough to customize, simple enough to use.

What Matters Most for Small Businesses

Small businesses choosing between Zoho CRM and Salesforce should focus on setup speed, learning curve, and value for money.

How Quick to Set Up

Zoho CRM is faster:

Works out of the box
Easy to navigate
Guided setup

Salesforce takes longer:

Needs careful planning
More to learn upfront

Time to Learn

Zoho CRM:

Basic functions are easy
Learn as you go

Salesforce:

More features to master
Needs dedicated training time

Value for Money

Zoho CRM pricing:

Plan	Price (per user/month)	Key Features
Standard	$14	Lead scoring, forecasting, workflows
Professional	$23	Blueprint, Inventory management
Enterprise	$40	Multi-user portals, customization
Ultimate	$52	AI, more storage

Salesforce pricing:

Plan	Price (per user/month)	Key Features
Essentials	$25	Basic sales and support
Professional	$80	Complete CRM
Enterprise	$165	Customizable CRM
Unlimited	$330	Unlimited CRM power

Zoho CRM wins on value:

Core features at lower cost
Grows with your business
Free for up to 3 users

"Zoho CRM hits the sweet spot for SMBs. It’s like getting a Swiss Army knife when all you really need is a good, sharp blade." – Gene Marks, CPA and small business expert

Bottom line: Zoho CRM fits most small businesses. But if you need advanced features and rapid scaling, Salesforce might be worth it. Choose based on your specific needs and growth plans.

Wrap-up

Zoho CRM and Salesforce have some key differences:

Feature	Zoho CRM	Salesforce
Pricing	$14/user/month	$25/user/month
Free Option	Yes (3 users)	No
Ease of Use	User-friendly	Steeper learning curve
Integrations	200+	2,500+
Best For	Small to mid-sized	Larger teams, enterprises

Small businesses? Go for Zoho CRM. It’s cheaper and simpler.

Mid-sized and growing? Consider Salesforce if you need advanced reporting, customization, and tons of integrations.

How to choose:

1. Budget check

Zoho CRM is cheaper. Salesforce costs more but offers more features.

2. Tech skills

Zoho CRM is easier to use. Salesforce takes time to learn but packs a punch.

3. Growth plans

Planning to scale fast? Salesforce might be your long-term bet.

4. Must-have features

List what you need. See which CRM offers it at the best price.

5. Free trials

Zoho CRM: Free for 3 users, 15-day trial for paid plans
Salesforce: 30-day free trial

There’s no perfect answer. Your best CRM depends on your needs, budget, and goals.