9 Zoho CRM alternatives for 2026

Start with the reason you're looking for a different CRM from Zoho. You might want texting in the CRM, more room for automated follow-up, a different support experience, or a simpler setup.

We compare nine options for different needs, including Close, our own sales CRM. Each profile covers who it fits and what to check before choosing a plan.

By the Close team · Last verified Oct 21, 2026 · How we made this list

On this page15 sections

What do you want to change?#

Zoho CRM offers built-in calling and configurable sales processes. Its native Notification SMS feature is limited to eligible India-registered companies sending transactional messages to Indian numbers. Other teams need a separate texting tool. Its cadence limits also vary by edition, and faster support costs extra.

Texting prospects: Look at Close for built-in texting. Freshsales and Nutshell offer texting through a provider or add-on.
Calling through a list: Compare Close and HubSpot's power dialers, including the plan each requires.
More follow-up capacity: Test the workflows or sequences you need against each plan's limits.
Live support: Nutshell lists it on every plan; Less Annoying CRM offers email and phone support.
A broader or more flexible workspace: Salesforce Starter connects several business functions; monday CRM and Attio offer ways to shape workflows and records.

Which alternative might fit your team?#

Use the shortlist to find candidates, then compare the plan and connected tools you'd need. Some entry plans have a lower listed per-user price than Zoho Standard, but features, user minimums, and usage charges differ.

CRM and who it fits	Entry plan and what it includes	Billed annuallyper user/month	Billed monthlyper user/month	Calling
CloseSellers whose day is calls, texts and follow-up	Solo (one user)Calling, SMS, email, inbox and task list; no workflows	$9	$19	Built in; billed by usage
HubSpotUp to two users starting on a free CRM	Starter (limited-time new-customer offer)Up to 50 workflows, one phone number	$7	$10	Calling on paid plans; limited-time new-customer price
PipedriveSellers who work deals stage by stage	Lite (per seat)Deal pipelines; add-ons priced separately	$14	$24	Check calling integrations
FreshsalesTeams wanting phone and email on a low-priced entry plan	GrowthChat, email, phone; basic workflows	$9	$11	Phone listed
Salesforce StarterLean teams wanting sales, service and marketing together	Starter Suite (same price on either billing basis)Sales flows, lead routing, 2,000 emails a month	$25	$25	No phone system listed
monday CRMTeams customizing boards for pre- and post-sale work	Basic (3-seat minimum)Leads, contacts, deals; 1,000 active contacts and deals	$12	$18	Three-seat minimum; AI caller listed from Standard
AttioBuilding custom workflows and agents	PlusInbox and calendar sync; email capped on lower plans	$35	$44	Call Intelligence on Pro; check calling setup
NutshellTeams wanting free live support and add-on SMS	FoundationUnlimited contacts, email and calendar sync	$13	$19	SMS through an add-on; calling not listed
Less Annoying CRMSolo sellers wanting one simple price, no tiers	Everything includedUnlimited pipelines and custom fields, email logging	No annual plan listed	$15	Calling not listed

Pricing notes

List prices per user (or seat) per month for the lowest-priced paid plan, from each vendor's pricing page, checked Oct 21, 2026. Compare annual with annual and monthly with monthly. Free plans, taxes, add-ons and calling usage are not included.

Prices were checked October 21, 2026, before taxes, add-ons, and usage. Close Solo is for one user; monday CRM starts at three seats. HubSpot's Starter price is a new-customer offer.

What do automation plans cost?#

The table compares selected plans for 10 users, but they automate different things. Check whether each plan can run the actual follow-up you need, then add phone numbers, calling, texting, usage, onboarding, and seat minimums.

CRM	Plan	Per user, per month		10 users, per year
CRM	Plan	Billed annually	Billed monthly	Billed annually	Billed monthly
Close	Growthwith calling, texting, workflows, a power dialer, and monthly AI credits	$99	$109	$11,880	$13,080
HubSpot	Professionalwhere sequences and fully customizable workflows start	$90	$100annual commitment	$10,800	$12,000
Pipedrive	Growthwhere automations and sequences start	$39	$49	$4,680	$5,880
Freshsales	Prowhere sales sequences start	$39	$47	$4,680	$5,640
Salesforce Starter	Pro Suitefor more complex workflow automation	$100	Billed annually only	$12,000	Billed annually only
monday CRM	Standardwhere custom automations start	$17	$25	$2,040	$3,000
Attio	Prowhere Call Intelligence and sequences are listed	$79	$99	$9,480	$11,880
Nutshell	Prowhere sales automation is listed	$42	$49	$5,040	$5,880

Pricing notes

Per user per month at list price × 10 users × 12, checked Oct 21, 2026. What each plan adds is how the vendor describes it. Annual billing saves a different share on each plan: Close 9%; Pipedrive 20%; Freshsales 17%; monday CRM 32%; Attio 20%; Nutshell 14%. Excludes taxes, add-ons, onboarding fees, minimum-seat rules and calling or AI usage. Not shown: Less Annoying CRM (one plan, or no plan-level automation price we could match).

Annual totals multiply the listed monthly per-user price by 10 users and 12 months. Prices were checked October 21, 2026, and exclude taxes, onboarding, add-ons, calling and AI usage, and seat minimums. HubSpot Professional has a one-time onboarding fee. Less Annoying CRM is excluded because it has no separate automation tier.

1. Close: for teams that call, text, and email leads#

Close is our sales CRM. Calling, texting, and email live on the lead's record. Growth adds workflows and a power dialer, and Scale adds a predictive dialer. 98% of Close users say it saves them at least three hours a week of admin and manual work.

Price: Plan Billed annuallyper user/month Billed monthlyper user/month
Soloone user $9 $19
Essentialscalling, texting and email for a team $35 $49
Growthwith calling, texting, workflows, a power dialer, and monthly AI credits $99 $109
Calling: Calling is built in, with minutes and numbers billed separately. US business texting requires registration.

Plan	Billed annuallyper user/month	Billed monthlyper user/month
Soloone user	$9	$19
Essentialscalling, texting and email for a team	$35	$49
Growthwith calling, texting, workflows, a power dialer, and monthly AI credits	$99	$109

Why consider it

Your team can send and receive texts in supported countries and work through calls from the CRM. AI agents can call and qualify leads, using AI credits.

What to weigh

Close's listed team-plan prices are higher per user than Zoho's comparable plans. Calling and AI usage cost extra; workflows start on Growth.

Close pricing

2. HubSpot: for a free start#

HubSpot offers a free CRM for up to two users, with a broader platform for marketing, sales, and service.

Price: Plan Billed annuallyper user/month Billed monthlyper user/month
Starterlimited-time new-customer offer $7 $10
Professionalwhere sequences and fully customizable workflows start $90 $100paid monthly with an annual commitment
HubSpot shows these as "starts at" prices; Starter appears next to a crossed-out $20, and Professional's monthly option reads "Commit annually." Professional also requires a one-time $1,500 onboarding fee.
Calling: Starter lists one HubSpot-provided phone number; Professional lists 3,000 calling minutes. Check country and plan requirements.

Plan	Billed annuallyper user/month	Billed monthlyper user/month
Starterlimited-time new-customer offer	$7	$10
Professionalwhere sequences and fully customizable workflows start	$90	$100paid monthly with an annual commitment

Why consider it

A small team can start free and assess whether the shared CRM fits. Professional adds sequences and fully customizable workflows.

What to weigh

Starter's listed price is a limited-time offer. Professional has an annual commitment and a required onboarding fee. Confirm which plan includes the dialing features you need.

HubSpot pricing

3. Pipedrive: for a visual deal pipeline#

Pipedrive centers its CRM on moving deals through customizable stages. Reps can track value, probability, and expected close date; Growth adds automations and sequences.

Price: Plan Billed annuallyper user/month Billed monthlyper user/month
Liteper seat $14 $24
Growthwhere automations and sequences start $39 $49
Premium $59 $79
Ultimate $79 $99
Calling: No phone system appeared in the plan features reviewed. Check calling-app integrations and their cost.

Plan	Billed annuallyper user/month	Billed monthlyper user/month
Liteper seat	$14	$24
Growthwhere automations and sequences start	$39	$49
Premium	$59	$79
Ultimate	$79	$99

Why consider it

It may fit a team that wants a clear deal-by-deal view and a large app marketplace.

What to weigh

Calling isn't listed as a built-in plan feature, and lead capture and email campaigns can require paid add-ons. Prices exclude VAT.

Pipedrive pricing

4. Freshsales: for phone and email on an entry plan#

Freshsales Growth lists phone, email, chat, and basic workflows. Pro adds sales sequences across email, calls, and SMS.

Price: Plan Billed annuallyper user/month Billed monthlyper user/month
Growth $9 $11
Prowhere sales sequences start $39 $47
Enterprisecustom modules and forecasting insights $59 $71
Calling: Growth lists phone; check calling credits and SMS-provider costs.

Plan	Billed annuallyper user/month	Billed monthlyper user/month
Growth	$9	$11
Prowhere sales sequences start	$39	$47
Enterprisecustom modules and forecasting insights	$59	$71

Why consider it

It may suit a team that wants those communication tools together at a lower listed entry price.

What to weigh

Texting needs a connected SMS provider. Growth lists basic workflows, and its AI agent is a separate paid add-on.

Freshsales pricing

5. Salesforce Starter: for several teams in one app#

Salesforce Starter brings sales, service, marketing, commerce, and Slack together, with lead routing and email nurture campaigns.

Price: Plan Billed annuallyper user/month Billed monthlyper user/month
Starter Suitesame price on either billing basis $25 $25
Pro Suitefor more complex workflow automation $100 No monthly option listed (billed annually)
Salesforce lists Starter Suite at the same price billed monthly or annually.
Calling: Starter's reviewed features didn't list a phone system.

Plan	Billed annuallyper user/month	Billed monthlyper user/month
Starter Suitesame price on either billing basis	$25	$25
Pro Suitefor more complex workflow automation	$100	No monthly option listed (billed annually)

Why consider it

It may fit a lean team that wants a broader suite and a path to Salesforce's higher plans.

What to weigh

Calling isn't listed on Starter. Pro Suite, which adds deeper customization, is billed annually; extra email sends and commerce transactions can add costs.

Salesforce Starter pricing

6. monday CRM: for teams shaping their own boards#

monday CRM lets teams customize boards, fields, views, automations, and dashboards without a developer.

Price: Plan Billed annuallyper user/month Billed monthlyper user/month
Basic3-seat minimum $12 $18
Standardwhere custom automations start $17 $25
Promass emails and email sequences $28 $41
monday CRM plans start from 3 seats.
Calling: Plans start at three seats. Standard lists an AI outreach caller; check what AI usage costs.

Plan	Billed annuallyper user/month	Billed monthlyper user/month
Basic3-seat minimum	$12	$18
Standardwhere custom automations start	$17	$25
Promass emails and email sequences	$28	$41

Why consider it

Try it if your process spans pre-sale and post-sale work and you want to shape the workspace yourself.

What to weigh

Plans start at three seats. Basic has limits on dashboards, columns, and active records, and email sequences start on Pro.

monday CRM pricing

7. Attio: for flexible workflows#

Attio supports workflows with branches, loops, code, and AI agents. Workflows can start on record changes, schedules, webhooks, or manually.

Price: Plan Billed annuallyper user/month Billed monthlyper user/month
Plus $35 $44
Prowhere Call Intelligence and sequences are listed $79 $99
Calling: Attio doesn't list a built-in phone system. It lists an agent that recaps calls; check the calling provider you'll need.

Plan	Billed annuallyper user/month	Billed monthlyper user/month
Plus	$35	$44
Prowhere Call Intelligence and sequences are listed	$79	$99

Why consider it

It may fit a team that wants to build and inspect its own processes.

What to weigh

Email sending is capped on lower plans. A built-in dialer wasn't listed, and Enterprise is custom-priced and billed annually.

Attio pricing

8. Nutshell: for live support#

Nutshell lists free live support on every plan. It offers sales automation on Pro and paid options for texting and advanced marketing.

Price: Plan Billed annuallyper user/month Billed monthlyper user/month
Foundation $13 $19
Growthactivity reports, quotas and lead assignment rules $25 $32
Prowhere sales automation is listed $42 $49
Calling: Two-way SMS requires the Engagement add-on. Calling wasn't listed in the features reviewed.

Plan	Billed annuallyper user/month	Billed monthlyper user/month
Foundation	$13	$19
Growthactivity reports, quotas and lead assignment rules	$25	$32
Prowhere sales automation is listed	$42	$49

Why consider it

If access to a person for help matters to your team, support is included from the entry plan.

What to weigh

Two-way SMS and advanced marketing cost extra. Calling wasn't listed in the features checked.

Nutshell pricing

9. Less Annoying CRM: for one simple price#

Less Annoying CRM has one plan, with no tiers or features reserved for an upgrade. It includes pipelines, custom fields, email logging, and free email and phone support.

Price: Plan Billed annuallyper user/month Billed monthlyper user/month
Everything included No annual plan listed $15
Calling: No annual price or phone system was listed in the pricing reviewed.

Plan	Billed annuallyper user/month	Billed monthlyper user/month
Everything included	No annual plan listed	$15

Why consider it

It may suit a solo seller or small team that wants straightforward pricing.

What to weigh

Calling isn't listed, bulk email uses Mailchimp, and automation between apps uses Zapier. Less Annoying CRM recommends staying under 50,000 contacts and companies.

Less Annoying CRM pricing

When does it make sense to stay with Zoho CRM?#

Zoho may already be the right fit if its free plan covers your team, Standard's calling and cadences meet your needs, or you rely on Blueprint and the wider Zoho suite. If you text from your phone, you may not need a connected texting tool at all.

Compare the cost of changing your current setup with the time needed to migrate and retrain the team.

How to choose#

Name the problem you need to solve, such as texting, cadence limits, support, or cost.
Shortlist two or three options that address it.
Price the plan and add-ons on the same billing basis as your Zoho setup.
Test real calls, follow-up, and data with the team.
Check export limits and review a sample import before setting a move date.

Zoho CRM alternatives FAQ#

What can I use instead of Zoho CRM?

If your team calls and texts throughout the day, try that process in Close. If you want a free starting point or a flexible data model, compare the relevant plans and limits in HubSpot or Attio.

Is there a cheaper alternative?

Some entry plans have lower listed per-user prices than Zoho Standard. Zoho also has a free edition for up to three users. Include the plan, seat minimum, calling, texting, and other tools you would use.

How do I know which CRM is easier for my team?

Test two options with the same sample leads. Ask reps to call, send a follow-up, find the conversation, and identify the next task. Compare the setup and training each process needs.

Try a real day in Close

Import a sample of your leads, make a call, and send a follow-up from the lead’s record. The 14-day trial requires no credit card.

Try Close free Compare Close and Zoho CRM

How we put this list together

Close makes one of the CRMs on this list, and we list Close first because we publish this page. The other options are grouped by the reason you might consider them, not ranked.

We used vendor pricing and product pages checked Oct 21, 2026. We did not run hands-on trials of these products for this version. Plans and prices change, so confirm the details before buying.