Zoho CRM vs Freshsales (2026 comparison)
Zoho CRM and Freshsales are both CRM software. Zoho CRM is best for small businesses and startups wanting an affordable CRM with room to scale into Zoho's wider software suite (free plan for up to 3 users; paid Standard from about $14 per user per month, scaling to Ultimate at about $52 per user per month, all billed annually). Freshsales is best for teams already using other Freshworks products (helpdesk, IT service management) wanting a CRM in the same ecosystem (forever-free plan discontinued in a July 2026 pricing-page redesign, leaving only a 21-day free trial; paid Growth from about $9 per user per month, Pro about $39, Enterprise about $59, all billed annually).
Pricing and features verified against each vendor's published information on 2026-09-13. Sources linked below.
At a glance
| Feature | Zoho CRM | Freshsales |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Pricing from | Free plan for up to 3 users; paid Standard from about $14 per user per month, scaling to Ultimate at about $52 per user per month, all billed annually | Forever-free plan discontinued in a July 2026 pricing-page redesign, leaving only a 21-day free trial; paid Growth from about $9 per user per month, Pro about $39, Enterprise about $59, all billed annually |
| Best for | small businesses and startups wanting an affordable CRM with room to scale into Zoho's wider software suite | teams already using other Freshworks products (helpdesk, IT service management) wanting a CRM in the same ecosystem |
| Founded | 2005 | 2016 |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
Quick verdict
Choose Zoho CRM for small businesses and startups wanting an affordable CRM with room to scale into Zoho's wider software suite. Choose Freshsales for teams already using other Freshworks products (helpdesk, IT service management) wanting a CRM in the same ecosystem. Both are compared on published information only, so confirm current pricing at each source below.
More options
Sources
FAQ
- Is Zoho CRM or Freshsales cheaper?
- As published, Zoho CRM starts at Free plan for up to 3 users; paid Standard from about $14 per user per month, scaling to Ultimate at about $52 per user per month, all billed annually and Freshsales starts at Forever-free plan discontinued in a July 2026 pricing-page redesign, leaving only a 21-day free trial; paid Growth from about $9 per user per month, Pro about $39, Enterprise about $59, all billed annually. Verify current pricing at each vendor.
- Does Zoho CRM have a free plan?
- Yes, Zoho CRM has a free plan as of 2026-09-13.