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Zoho CRM vs Freshsales
A broad, highly configurable CRM that lists workflows, cadences and forecasting from its first paid edition and includes a free edition for very small teams. The Freshworks sales CRM, with a full-product trial before you commit and a low entry price that climbs quickly for sequences and forecasting.
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Both are credible choices; the right one depends on team size, billing preference and which tier you need for automation. The tables below use each vendor's published prices and seat rules, so the totals are what a team of that size would be billed before tax.
At a glance
| Zoho CRM | Freshsales | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 78.2 / 100 | 74.1 / 100 |
| Cheapest paid plan (annual) | Standard: $14 | Growth: $9 |
| Top published price (annual) | Ultimate: $52 | Enterprise: $59 |
| Free plan | Yes, up to 3 users | Not listed |
| Month-to-month billing | Yes | Yes |
| Trial | free trial on paid editions | free 21-day trial |
| Seat rules | Free Edition capped at 3 users | no seat minimum listed |
| Workflow automation | Standard and upWorkflows & assignment rules | Growth and upBasic workflows |
| Email sequences / cadences | Standard and upCadences | Pro and upSales sequences |
| Sales forecasting | Standard and upSales forecasting | Enterprise and upForecasting insights |
| Single sign-on (SSO) | Not listed | Not listed |
"Not listed" means the vendor's pricing page doesn't mention the feature for any plan. It may still exist on a higher tier, as an add-on, or in a separate feature matrix, so check with the vendor before ruling a CRM out.
Monthly cost by team size (annual billing)
Pipeline & contacts only
| Team | Zoho CRM | Freshsales |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $0 ✓ Free Edition | $9 Growth |
| 3 people | $0 ✓ Free Edition | $27 Growth |
| 10 people | $140 Standard | $90 ✓ Growth |
| 25 people | $350 Standard | $225 ✓ Growth |
| 50 people | $700 Standard | $450 ✓ Growth |
Workflow automation
| Team | Zoho CRM | Freshsales |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $14 Standard | $9 ✓ Growth |
| 3 people | $42 Standard | $27 ✓ Growth |
| 10 people | $140 Standard | $90 ✓ Growth |
| 25 people | $350 Standard | $225 ✓ Growth |
| 50 people | $700 Standard | $450 ✓ Growth |
Automation + email sequences
| Team | Zoho CRM | Freshsales |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $14 ✓ Standard | $39 Pro |
| 3 people | $42 ✓ Standard | $117 Pro |
| 10 people | $140 ✓ Standard | $390 Pro |
| 25 people | $350 ✓ Standard | $975 Pro |
| 50 people | $700 ✓ Standard | $1,950 Pro |
Each cell is the cheapest plan that fits the team and lists every feature in that row's need, using each vendor's seat minimums and caps. ✓ marks the cheaper option.
Where each one comes out ahead
Zoho CRM
- Has a free plan (up to 3 users); Freshsales doesn't list one
- Cheaper route to email sequences for 10 people: $140 vs $390 a month
- Cheaper route to sales forecasting for 10 people: $140 vs $590 a month
Choose Zoho CRM if you want automation and forecasting on a low per-seat budget and don't mind a configuration-heavy tool.
See Zoho CRM pricingFreshsales
- Lower entry price: Growth at $9 vs Standard at $14 per user per month
- Cheaper route to workflow automation for 10 people: $90 vs $140 a month
Choose Freshsales if you already use Freshworks support tools or want the cheapest entry tier with basic workflows.
See Freshsales pricingWorth knowing
- Zoho CRM: Zoho defaulted to Singapore dollars for our capture location; the USD figures come from its own USD currency switch.
- Zoho CRM: Local sales taxes are added on top of the listed prices.
- Freshsales: Growth lists only basic workflows; the pricing page doesn't say what the limits are.
- Freshsales: Branded documents and the Freddy AI Agent are paid add-ons on every plan.
FAQ
Is Zoho CRM or Freshsales cheaper?
For 10 people who need workflow automation, Freshsales is cheaper: Growth at $90 a month vs Zoho CRM Standard at $140, a difference of $600 a year.
Which has a free plan, Zoho CRM or Freshsales?
Zoho CRM has one for up to 3 users; Freshsales doesn't list one.
Can I pay monthly for Zoho CRM and Freshsales?
Zoho CRM publishes month-to-month prices; Freshsales publishes month-to-month prices.
Related comparisons
Full details: Zoho CRM pricing · Freshsales pricing