Zoho CRM suits small businesses that want a free CRM for up to 3 users and a wider family of Zoho apps to grow into. Salesforce suits sales teams that expect to scale into forecasting, AI agents and deep customisation, and it offers a free 30-day trial of Starter Suite for up to 10 users. For a small team starting from spreadsheets, Zoho is the gentler first step.
These two sit at different ends of the CRM world. Zoho sells a huge family of business apps, with CRM at the centre. Salesforce builds a ladder of Sales Cloud editions that runs from small business suites up to large sales organisations. I read Zoho's free CRM and editions pages and Salesforce's Sales Cloud plans page, and the facts below are theirs.
Free editions, trials and plan ladders
| Zoho CRM | Salesforce | |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | Yes, free edition for up to 3 users | Free Suite listed in the edition table |
| How each describes it | Free forever, no trial period, no card | FAQ answers with a free 30-day trial |
| Try-before-you-commit | Not needed for the free edition | 30-day Starter Suite trial for up to 10 users |
| Core features | Leads, deals, contacts, tasks, events, multichannel marketing | Lead, account, contact and opportunity management |
| Simpler sibling | Bigin, a pipeline CRM for small businesses | Starter Suite for small businesses |
| AI | Zia and Zia Agents | AI email and event sync on Starter; Agentforce on higher editions |
| Wider suite | Integrates with other Zoho apps | Service, marketing and commerce in the Suites; Slack and Tableau higher up |
| Customisation | Low-code tools such as Canvas and Blueprint | More customisation and automation from Pro Suite |
Zoho CRM for a small team
Zoho's free CRM page is direct about what you get: a free edition for up to 3 users, free forever, with no trial period, no forced upgrade and no card at sign-up. It covers leads, deals and contacts, tasks and events, multichannel marketing and integrations with other Zoho apps. If that's still more than you need, Zoho points small businesses moving from spreadsheets toward Bigin, its simpler pipeline CRM.
As you grow, the appeal is the family. You can add Zoho's helpdesk, email marketing or bookings tools and keep one login across them.
Salesforce for a team that plans to scale
Salesforce's Starter Suite brings lead, account, contact and opportunity management together with built-in sales flows, lead routing, AI that syncs emails and events, and email marketing. Pro Suite adds more customisation and automation, plus quoting and forecasting. Above that, Core, Advanced and Max add Agentforce AI agents, Slack and Tableau Next, aimed at larger sales organisations.
The free suite that the FAQ doesn't mention
Salesforce's edition comparison table lists a Free Suite alongside its other editions, yet the FAQ on the same page answers the free-version question with a free 30-day trial for every Sales Cloud edition. I'd read that as Salesforce wanting you to start on a trial of Starter Suite, which covers up to 10 users. Zoho is clearer: its free edition is a permanent plan for up to 3 users. If you need a free CRM you won't have to move off, Zoho states that plainly and Salesforce doesn't.
Matching the CRM to the sales team
Zoho CRM fits owner-led businesses, small sales teams and anyone who likes the idea of one company's apps covering CRM, support and email. Salesforce fits teams with a dedicated sales function, a plan to grow headcount and the appetite to configure a system in depth. My guide to choosing the right CRM for a small business walks through the questions, and it's worth reading how Salesforce markets itself to see who it's really built for.
My advice before you migrate your contacts
Don't move your whole contact list on day one. Put your next ten deals into each CRM, live with them for a fortnight, and notice which one your team updates without being chased. A CRM only works if people keep it current, so the one your team uses daily is the right one, whatever the feature list says.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Do you make CRM software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
Frequently asked questions
Is Zoho CRM free?
Yes. Zoho CRM's free edition supports up to 3 users and is free forever, with no trial period and no card needed.
Does Salesforce have a free version?
Salesforce's edition table lists a Free Suite, and its FAQ points to a free 30-day trial for all Sales Cloud editions, including Starter Suite for up to 10 users.
Is Zoho easier than Salesforce?
For a small team, Zoho's free edition and its simpler Bigin CRM are designed as a gentler start. Salesforce's depth suits teams that plan to customise heavily.
What is Bigin?
Bigin is Zoho's pipeline-centric CRM built for small businesses moving from spreadsheets.
