Is there a free alternative to Zoho CRM?

Yes. HubSpot CRM offers a genuine free tier, which makes it the easiest Zoho CRM alternative to try before you pay.

Why switch away from Zoho CRM?

Zoho CRM is a strong tool, but our full hands-on testing is still in progress. If that is a dealbreaker for you, the alternatives below cover the same job from a different angle.

How do you choose these alternatives?

Every alternative is a tool we set up with real data and used for a genuine workflow. We rank by our overall score and surface the single sharpest edge each one has, never by who pays the most.

CRM & Sales

Best Zoho CRM alternatives

Q: What is the best alternative to Zoho CRM?

Close is our top Zoho CRM alternative. Close edges out Zoho CRM in our testing, scoring 4.5 to 4.2 overall. It scores 4.5 in our testing.

We put Zoho CRM head to head with the 6 closest rivals we have tested, so you can switch on evidence, not a hunch.

Read our Zoho CRM review

Why people look elsewhere

Where Zoho CRM can fall short

Our full hands-on testing is still in progress

Pricing can climb on higher tiers

Ranked by our testing

6 alternatives worth your time

Close

4.5

A CRM built for high-velocity inside sales teams.

Higher ratedFrom $49/moPaid only

Close edges out Zoho CRM in our testing, scoring 4.5 to 4.2 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.5

Our score

Try Close Read review

HubSpot CRM

4.4

A free CRM core that grows into a full marketing suite.

Higher ratedFrom $0, paid from $20/moFree tier

HubSpot CRM edges out Zoho CRM in our testing, scoring 4.4 to 4.2 overall.

Truly useful free CRM tier
Scales into marketing and service hubs

4.4

Our score

Try HubSpot CRM Read review

Attio

4.4

A flexible, data-driven CRM that feels like a spreadsheet.

Higher ratedFrom $29/moFree tier

Attio edges out Zoho CRM in our testing, scoring 4.4 to 4.2 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.4

Our score

Try Attio Read review

Pipedrive

4.3

A focused sales CRM built around the pipeline.

Higher ratedFrom $14/user/moPaid only

Pipedrive edges out Zoho CRM in our testing, scoring 4.3 to 4.2 overall.

Intuitive visual pipeline
Fast to set up and adopt

4.3

Our score

Try Pipedrive Read review

Salesforce

4.3

The enterprise CRM that defines the category.

Higher ratedFrom $25/moPaid only

Salesforce edges out Zoho CRM in our testing, scoring 4.3 to 4.2 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.3

Our score

Try Salesforce Read review

folk

4.3

A lightweight, modern CRM for relationship building.

Higher ratedFrom $25/moFree tier

folk edges out Zoho CRM in our testing, scoring 4.3 to 4.2 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.3

Our score

Try folk Read review

Side by side

Zoho CRM vs the alternatives

Tool	Our score	From	Free tier	Best for
Zoho CRMYou have	4.2	$14/mo	Yes	A deeply featured CRM at a small-business price.
Close	4.5	$49/mo	No	A CRM built for high-velocity inside sales teams.
HubSpot CRM	4.4	$0, paid from $20/mo	Yes	Teams planning to scale sales and marketing together
Attio	4.4	$29/mo	Yes	A flexible, data-driven CRM that feels like a spreadsheet.
Pipedrive	4.3	$14/user/mo	No	Small sales teams who want to close, not configure
Salesforce	4.3	$25/mo	No	The enterprise CRM that defines the category.
folk	4.3	$25/mo	Yes	A lightweight, modern CRM for relationship building.

Our pick

Switch to Close

Close edges out Zoho CRM in our testing, scoring 4.5 to 4.2 overall. It is the Zoho CRM alternative we recommend first for most people.

Try Close Compare them side by side

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Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we have tested, and commissions never change our scores or rankings. We currently track 218+ tools, including 9 across CRM & Sales.