kitio.aiZoho CRM vs Chief
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Zoho CRM has the lower starting price: about $20 a month, against $150 for Chief.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Zia AI predictions
- Sales blueprints
- Workflow automation
- Omnichannel communication
- Custom layouts
- Plain-language assignments
- Deal risk detection
- Prepared CRM updates
- Drafted buyer follow-ups
- Approval before execution
| Feature | Zoho CRM | Chief |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Affordable, customizable CRM with the Zia AI assistant | AI that runs a B2B sales playbook and prepares actions for approval |
| Category | Sales | Sales |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting price | $20/mo | $150/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Made by | Zoho | Chief |
| Based in | India | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Pricing compared
Zoho CRM has the lower starting price: about $20 a month, against $150 for Chief.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
5 plans
Free
Free
- Up to 3 users
- Leads, contacts and deals
Standard
$20/mo
- Per user
- Sales forecasting and scoring
- Custom dashboards
Professional
$35/mo
- Per user
- Blueprint process management
- Inventory management
Enterprise
$50/mo
- Per user
- Zia AI assistant
- Multi-user portals and sandbox
Ultimate
$65/mo
- Per user
- Advanced BI analytics
- Higher limits across features
2 plans
Pro
$150/mo
- Per user
- Full Chief platform
- Sales and success teams
Enterprise
Custom
- Multiple teams
- Custom integrations
- Company-wide rollout
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Zoho CRM
- Good value
- Highly customizable
- Fits the Zoho ecosystem
- Interface feels dated in places
- Setup can be complex
Chief
- Human approval on every action
- Pulls signals from several tools
- Jobs defined in plain words
- No free plan or self-serve trial
- Per-user price is high for small teams
- Demo call required to start
Which one should you choose?
Choose Zoho CRM if you want:
- Good value
- Highly customizable
- Fits the Zoho ecosystem
Watch out: interface feels dated in places.
Choose Chief if you want:
- Human approval on every action
- Pulls signals from several tools
- Jobs defined in plain words
Watch out: no free plan or self-serve trial.
Zoho CRM vs Chief FAQ
What is the difference between Zoho CRM and Chief?
Zoho CRM: Affordable, customizable CRM with the Zia AI assistant. Chief: AI that runs a B2B sales playbook and prepares actions for approval. Both are sales tools.
Is Zoho CRM or Chief cheaper?
Zoho CRM has the lower starting price: about $20 a month, against $150 for Chief.
Do Zoho CRM and Chief have free plans?
Zoho CRM: Yes. Chief: No.
Who makes Zoho CRM?
Zoho CRM is made by Zoho, based in India.
Who makes Chief?
Chief is made by Chief, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Zoho CRM or Chief?
Choose Zoho CRM if you value good value and highly customizable. Choose Chief if you value human approval on every action and pulls signals from several tools.