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Top Zoho alternatives and competitors for 2024

Zoho provides many software solutions, but it doesn’t always live up to customers’ expectations. Find a Zoho alternative today.

Why you should choose a Zoho alternative

Last updated January 22, 2024

Zoho offers a wide range of products covering customer relationship management (CRM), customer service, project management, legal, finance, marketing, and more. Features include marketing automation, a landing page builder, help desk software, analytics tools, and contract lifecycle management—among many others. It also has a marketplace with integrations, so users can use Zoho alongside a best-of-breed solution.

However, Zoho has certain limitations that can become a concern for businesses looking to enhance their customer experience (CX). For example, while Zoho offers basic reporting and analytics, it may not be enough for businesses that require more in-depth reporting capabilities. Additionally, several users report that Zoho’s user interface isn’t intuitive because they find that the diverse set of functionalities comes with a learning curve. Some users also describe its integration with other systems as challenging.

Luckily, several Zoho software alternatives offer more tailored solutions. Let’s dive in.

More in this guide:

Best 15 Zoho alternatives and competitors at a glance

The chart below provides important information on the top alternatives to Zoho to help you find the software that best matches your needs.

Zoho alternativePrimary use caseStarting priceFree trialKey features
ZendeskBest-of-breed CX$19 per agent/month (billed annually)14 days
  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Help center and knowledge base
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
SalesforceFull suite CRM$25 per user/month (billed annually)14 days
  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Help center and knowledge base
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
FreshworksFull suite CRM$29 per agent/month

(billed annually)

14 days
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Help center and knowledge base
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
HubSpotInbound marketing and sales$0 per month

(limited tools)

Unavailable
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Help center and knowledge base
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
ScoroBusiness management software with tools for project management$26 per user/month (billed annually)14 days
  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
Bitrix24Communication, project management, and CRM$0 per month (limited features)Unavailable
  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Help center and knowledge base
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
Planview AdaptiveWorkProject managementContact PlanviewUnavailable
  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
EngageBayFull suite CRM$0 per month (250 contacts)Unavailable
  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Help center and knowledge base
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
PipedriveSales CRM$14.90 per user/month (billed annually)14 days
  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
ProofHubProject management$45 per month (billed annually)14 days
  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
BasecampProject management$15 per user/month (billed annually)30 days
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
InsightlyFull suite CRM$29 per user/month (billed annually)14 days
  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Help center and knowledge base
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
LeadSquaredMarketing automation and CRM$25 per user/month (billed annually)Unavailable
  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
ClickUpProject management$0 per month (limited storage)Unavailable
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
CeloxisProject management$22.50 per user/month (billed annually)30 days
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools

A deep dive into the top 15 alternatives and competitors to Zoho

Zoho software has many use cases, but other options perform better at the same jobs. We collected these Zoho alternatives into a comprehensive list to help you make your decision.

1. Zendesk

Primary use case: Best-of-breed CX

Zendesk dashboard screenshot

When it comes to delivering a seamless customer support experience, Zendesk stands out as one of the best alternatives to Zoho, primarily due to its scalability and its focus on the customer experience. Zendesk offers a truly integrated approach, giving businesses advanced omnichannel capabilities to manage interactions across all channels from a single dashboard. Zendesk is also highly extensible via its large marketplace of pre-built apps and custom API, which allow teams to extend the capabilities and create a 360-degree customer view.

Zendesk offers robust reporting and analytics capabilities, providing in-depth insights into agent performance, ticket resolution times, customer satisfaction scores, and more. These analytics are not just numbers on a screen—they give businesses actionable insights that can help them make strategic decisions, identify areas of improvement, and optimize their support processes.

Self-service is becoming increasingly important in the modern customer support landscape, and Zendesk recognizes this trend. Our software provides a comprehensive suite of tools that enables businesses to create self-service content at scale, including AI-powered knowledge bases and chatbots.

Zendesk also boasts collaboration features like side conversations, so agents can confer with experts inside and outside the support team without leaving the ticketing system. This ensures customers receive accurate and timely responses. Additionally, we provide an array of support resources, such as training and dedicated account management.

Features:

  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Help center and knowledge base
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
  • Sophisticated self-service content management
  • Service level agreements (SLA) and operational level agreements (OLA)
  • Agent efficiency tools
  • Unified Agent Workspace
  • AI

Pricing:

  • Support Team: $19 per agent/month
  • Support Professional: $55 per agent/month
  • Support Enterprise: $115 per agent/month
    *Plans are billed annually.

Free trial:

14 days

2. Salesforce

Primary use case: Full suite CRM

Salesforce dashboard screenshot

Salesforce provides a wide range of tools for businesses across sales, marketing, customer support, and more. Its marketing tools allow businesses to build and automate email campaigns while its sales solution comes with features like sales engagement, revenue intelligence, and sales performance management. And when customers click on an ad or website, an automated message is sent to sales, notifying the team of a new lead.

It has integration capabilities, so you can connect Salesforce with best-of-breed solutions. However, Salesforce often requires expensive technical resources and partnerships. As a result, Salesforce has a higher total cost of ownership than alternatives that provide more simplicity.

Features:

  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Help center and knowledge base
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
  • Sales performance management

Pricing:

  • Starter: $25 per user/month
  • Professional: $80 per user/month
  • Enterprise: $165 per user/month
  • Unlimited: $330 per user/month
    *Plans are billed annually.

Free trial:

14 days

Learn more about the Salesforce integration for Zendesk.

3. Freshworks

Primary use case: Full suite CRM

Screenshot of Freshworks dashboard

Freshworks is a noteworthy alternative to Zoho that offers a broad range of tools across customer service, sales, marketing, IT, HR, and operations. Some key features from these product areas include email campaigns, conversion rate optimization, sales sequences, and contact scoring.

When it comes to customer service, it offers multichannel support that can enable teams to manage queries from various sources like email, chat, and social media. However, Freshdesk offers different interfaces for each channel, like chat, phone, and ticketing, which can create a disjointed experience for agents. It also has basic reporting. But every Freshdesk channel has a unique reporting tool, so you often need to export and combine data manually.

Features:

  • Reporting and analytics
  • Help center and knowledge base
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
  • Multichannel support

Pricing:

  • Growth: $29 per agent/month
  • Pro: $69 per agent/month
  • Enterprise: $109 per agent/month
    *Plans are billed annually.

Free trial:

14 days

4. HubSpot

Primary use case: Inbound marketing and sales, providing tools for marketing, sales, and customer service

Screenshot of HubSpot dashboard

HubSpot stands as an alternative to Zoho for businesses wanting a large suite of tools that address marketing, sales, and customer service needs. Its integrated CRM system ties together touchpoints along the customer journey. Coupled with knowledge base tools and feedback surveys, the automation features help teams address concerns and refine their service strategy.

Businesses must subscribe to the Professional plan to access knowledge base tools and SLA management, though. Users of all plans can collaborate in a shared inbox with email tracking and health reporting; however, only the Professional plan allows for more than one inbox.

Features:

  • Reporting and analytics
  • Help center and knowledge base
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
  • Customer surveys

Pricing:

  • Free: $0 per month (limited tools)
  • Starter: $18 per month
  • CRM Suite Starter: $20 per month
  • Professional: $450 per month
  • Enterprise: $1,200 per month
    *Plans are billed annually.

Free trial:

Unavailable

Learn more about the HubSpot integration for Zendesk.

5. Scoro

Primary use case: Business management software offering tools for project management

Screenshot of Scoro dashboard

While not as widely recognized as some other giants in the industry, Scoro offers many tools that make it a Zoho alternative. It aspires to be an all-in-one business management software and can consolidate various business processes, like project management and billing, under one unified platform.

Its dashboard provides real-time overviews of projects, finances, and work schedules. Businesses can modify the platform to their specific needs so existing workflows remain intact. Additionally, its integration capabilities ensure businesses can connect Scoro with other tools they rely on.

Features:

  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
  • Centralized file management

Pricing:

  • Essential: $26 per user/month
  • Standard: $37 per user/month
  • Pro: $63 per user/month
  • Ultimate: Contact Scoro
    *Plans are billed annually.

Free trial:

14 days

6. Bitrix24

Primary use case: Multi-functional platform combining tools for communication, project management, and CRM

Screenshot of Bitrix24 dashboard

Bitrix24 provides CRM, project management, and employee experience solutions, making it a suitable alternative to Zoho. Bitrix24 features an integrated space for task tracking, communicating, and workflow automation, helping teams remain connected and aligned. Its CRM solution equips businesses with tools for lead management, sales automation, and analytics.

Bitrix24 has a free plan that offers limited access to many of these features but restricts document collaboration, marketing, and contact center capabilities. Businesses need to subscribe to the Standard plan or above for advanced features, like collaborative editing, segment-based marketing, and analytical reports.

Features:

  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Help center and knowledge base
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
  • Screen sharing

Pricing:

  • Free: $0 per month (unlimited users, limited features)
  • Basic: $43 per month (includes 5 users)
  • Standard: $87 per month (includes 50 users)
  • Professional: $175 per month (includes 100 users)
  • Enterprise: starting at $399 per month
    *Plans are billed annually

Free trial:

Unavailable

7. Planview AdaptiveWork

Primary use case: Project management

Screenshot of Planview AdaptiveWork dashboard

With a strong emphasis on project and portfolio management, Planview AdaptiveWork offers a distinctive blend of features that position it as a Zoho alternative for businesses. AdaptiveWork provides a holistic view of projects, resources, and financials, enabling organizations to align their operations with strategic objectives.

The collaboration tools can help teams communicate and reduce information silos. Projects are managed from a centralized platform so managers can view workloads across the organization. AdaptiveWork also has advanced reporting and analytics capabilities that provide businesses with actionable insights from their data.

Features:

  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
  • Project templates

Pricing:

  • Contact Planview

Free trial:

Unavailable

8. EngageBay

Primary use case: CRM

Screenshot of EngageBay dashboard

EngageBay is an alternative to Zoho, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses. It offers an all-in-one marketing, sales, and service automation platform, but each segment is available for individual purchase. The platform integrates CRM, email marketing, and live chat functionalities, allowing businesses to nurture leads, close deals, and support customers without juggling multiple tools.

EngageBay touts an intuitive interface that creates simple processes that employees can handle without specialized technical knowledge. The platform also has integrations so businesses can connect it with other essential software to improve operational efficiency.

Features:

  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Help center and knowledge base
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
  • A/B testing

Pricing:

  • All-in-One Free: $0 per month (includes 250 contacts)
  • All-in-One Basic: $13.79 per user/month
  • All-in-One Growth: $45.99 per user/month
  • All-in-One Pro: $91.99 per user/month
    *Plans are billed annually.

Free trial:

Unavailable

9. Pipedrive

Primary use case: CRM

Screenshot of Pipedrive dashboard

Pipedrive is a CRM platform for businesses that want to manage their sales processes. It can help businesses improve the visibility of their sales pipelines and give them control over complex processes. It has a drag-and-drop interface for teams to track leads and deals, manage communication, and automate repetitive tasks.

Pipedrive provides an overview of deal stages and potential bottlenecks so that sales teams can be proactive. Businesses can also integrate Pipedrive with apps to fill performance gaps in departments like customer service and marketing.

Features:

  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
  • Visual sales dashboard

Pricing:

  • Essential: $14.90 per user/month
  • Advanced: $27.90 per user/month
  • Professional: $49.90 per user/month
  • Power: $64.90 per user/month
  • Enterprise: $99.00 per user/month
    *Plans are billed annually.

Free trial:

14 days

Learn more about the Pipedrive integration for Zendesk.

10. ProofHub

Primary use case: Project management

Screenshot of ProofHub dashboard

ProofHub offers a blend of project management solutions and team collaboration tools, which means it could be a viable alternative for businesses seeking to improve workflows and team alignment. It centralizes tasks, discussions, documents, and timelines under one unified platform. Visual task boards, Gantt charts, and time tracking help teams manage projects with clarity and precision.

Built-in chat and discussion areas foster transparent communication, ensuring that team members are informed and engaged. ProofHub’s customization options can enable businesses to tailor the platform to their needs. The software also has flat pricing, so there’s no upcharge for additional users.

Features:

  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
  • Project templates

Pricing:

  • Essential: $45 per month
  • Ultimate Control: $150 per month
    *Plans are billed annually.

Free trial:

14 days

11. Basecamp

Primary use case: Project management

Screenshot of Basecamp dashboard

Basecamp stands as an alternative to Zoho for teams seeking simplicity and clarity in their project management software. Its user-friendly design centralizes tasks, discussions, documents, and schedules in one place. It can help reduce the clutter and fragmentation often associated with managing projects.

The to-do lists, message boards, and scheduling tools can help teams stay aligned on project progress. Its Hill Charts visually represent a project's progress and potential obstacles. The Pro Unlimited plan has flat pricing.

Features:

  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
  • Centralized file storage
  • Project scheduler
  • Group chat

Pricing:

  • Basecamp: $15 per user/month
  • Basecamp Pro Unlimited: $299 per month (billed annually).

Free trial:

30 days

12. Insightly

Primary use case: CRM

Screenshot of Insightly dashboard

Insightly operates in CRM and project management sectors to help businesses bridge the gap between customer relationships and project execution. It provides a view of contacts, sales, tasks, and projects, helping team members transition from lead generation to project delivery.

The Insightly service plans let businesses create a knowledge base, manage SLAs, and control role-based permissions. Insightly integrates with other popular tools that broaden its utility, and its customizable data visualization dashboards give businesses actionable insights.

Features:

  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Help center and knowledge base
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
  • Sales CRM

Pricing:

  • CRM Plus: $29 per user/month
  • CRM Professional: $49 per user/month
  • CRM Enterprise: $99 per user/month
    *Plans are billed annually

Free trial:

14 days

13. LeadSquared

Primary use case: Marketing automation and CRM

Screenshot of LeadSquared dashboard

LeadSquared can help businesses with lead conversion and sales acceleration. It offers tools that assist with the lead capture process and marketing automation. Its dashboard provides real-time insights into lead activity, so sales teams can act quickly.

The platform's automation capabilities include lead scoring and drip marketing. Its integration with various tools, including telephony systems and social media platforms, expands its use case in a connected sales system.

Features:

  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
  • Lead scoring
  • Sales tracking

Pricing:

  • Lite: $25 per user/month
  • Pro: $50 per user/month
  • Super: $100 per user/month
  • Ultimate: Custom pricing available
    *Plans are billed annually.

Free trial:

Unavailable

14. ClickUp

Primary use case: Project management

Screenshot of ClickUp dashboard

ClickUp is a versatile alternative to Zoho for teams seeking a flexible task and project management solution. It offers customizable views ranging from simple lists to complex Gantt charts. It also allows teams to segment work environments based on departments or projects, ensuring clarity and focus.

Team members can collaborate on documents and assign comments for better visibility. ClickUp has a free plan it recommends for personal use and provides access to time tracking, goal setting, and automations. Teams will get better value from a paid plan that increases feature limitations and capabilities.

Features:

  • Reporting and analytics
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
  • Real-time chat
  • Video recording

Pricing:

  • Free: $0 per month (limited storage)
  • Unlimited: $7 per member/month
  • Business: $12 per member/month
  • Enterprise: Contact ClickUp
    *Plans are billed annually.

Free trial:

Unavailable

Learn more about the ClickUp integration for Zendesk.

15. Celoxis

Primary use case: Project management

Screenshot of Celoxis dashboard

Celoxis provides businesses with detailed project tracking features like scheduling, time tracking, and financial management tools. Celoxis offers a 360-degree view of projects so teams can monitor progress, budgets, and resource allocation in real time. It also touts advanced reporting capabilities and customizable dashboards.

Celoxis is adaptable and has custom fields and workflows, allowing organizations to tailor the platform to their operational nuances. The software has one price for cloud users, but at least five people must be on the plan.

Features:

  • Reporting and analytics
  • Apps and integrations
  • Collaboration tools
  • Automatic scheduling
  • Customizable portfolio dashboard

Pricing:

  • Cloud: $22.50 per user/month
  • On Premise: Contact Celoxis
    *Plans are billed annually.

Free trial:

30 days

Frequently asked questions

How to choose the best alternative to Zoho

Choosing the best Zoho alternative depends on your business needs, but there are some common factors you can consider. Zoho seems to lack some of the advanced capabilities growing businesses require to support complex issues, such as in-depth reporting and seamless integration with other systems.

When you need a solution tailored to the customer experience, look no further than Zendesk. Our experienced support team and large community of industry leaders provide the guidance you need to master customer service best practices. Try Zendesk for free today and empower your team to deliver excellence at every touchpoint.

Provide better customer experiences with Zendesk

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