kitio.aiZoho CRM vs Freshsales
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Freshsales has the lower starting price: about $11 a month, against $20 for Zoho CRM.
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
- Freddy AI scoring
- Deal forecasting
- Built-in phone and email
- Sales sequences
- Visual pipelines
| Feature | Zoho CRM | Freshsales |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Affordable, customizable CRM with the Zia AI assistant | Sales CRM from Freshworks with Freddy AI insights |
| Category | Sales | Sales |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $20/mo | $11/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Zoho | Freshworks |
| Based in | India | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Freshsales has the lower starting price: about $11 a month, against $20 for Zoho CRM.
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
3 plans
Growth
$11/mo
- Per user
- Kanban view, lifecycle stages
- Chat, email and phone
- $9/user/mo billed annually
Pro
$47/mo
- Per user
- Contact scoring, deal insights
- Sales sequences
- $39/user/mo billed annually
Enterprise
$71/mo
- Per user
- Forecasting, custom modules
- Sandbox and audit logs
- $59/user/mo billed annually
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
Freshsales
- Easy to use
- Calling and email built in
- Free plan
- AI features on higher tiers
- Smaller app marketplace
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 Freshsales if you want:
- Easy to use
- Calling and email built in
- Free plan
Watch out: ai features on higher tiers.
Zoho CRM vs Freshsales FAQ
What is the difference between Zoho CRM and Freshsales?
Zoho CRM: Affordable, customizable CRM with the Zia AI assistant. Freshsales: Sales CRM from Freshworks with Freddy AI insights. Both are sales tools.
Is Zoho CRM or Freshsales cheaper?
Freshsales has the lower starting price: about $11 a month, against $20 for Zoho CRM.
Do Zoho CRM and Freshsales have free plans?
Zoho CRM: Yes. Freshsales: Yes.
Who makes Zoho CRM?
Zoho CRM is made by Zoho, based in India.
Who makes Freshsales?
Freshsales is made by Freshworks, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Zoho CRM or Freshsales?
Choose Zoho CRM if you value good value and highly customizable. Choose Freshsales if you value easy to use and calling and email built in.