Top Zoho alternatives and competitors for 2023
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 November 22, 2023
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 alternative | Primary use case | Starting price | Free trial | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zendesk | Best-of-breed CX | $19 per agent/month (billed annually) | 14 days |
|
| Salesforce | Full suite CRM | $25 per user/month (billed annually) | 14 days |
|
| Freshworks | Full suite CRM | $29 per agent/month
(billed annually) | 14 days |
|
| HubSpot | Inbound marketing and sales | $0 per month
(limited tools) | Unavailable |
|
| Scoro | Business management software with tools for project management | $26 per user/month (billed annually) | 14 days |
|
| Bitrix24 | Communication, project management, and CRM | $0 per month (limited features) | Unavailable |
|
| Planview AdaptiveWork | Project management | Contact Planview | Unavailable |
|
| EngageBay | Full suite CRM | $0 per month (250 contacts) | Unavailable |
|
| Pipedrive | Sales CRM | $14.90 per user/month (billed annually) | 14 days |
|
| ProofHub | Project management | $45 per month (billed annually) | 14 days |
|
| Basecamp | Project management | $15 per user/month (billed annually) | 30 days |
|
| Insightly | Full suite CRM | $29 per user/month (billed annually) | 14 days |
|
| LeadSquared | Marketing automation and CRM | $25 per user/month (billed annually) | Unavailable |
|
| ClickUp | Project management | $0 per month (limited storage) | Unavailable |
|
| Celoxis | Project management | $22.50 per user/month (billed annually) | 30 days |
|
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
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
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 days2. Salesforce
Primary use case: Full suite CRM
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 daysLearn more about the Salesforce integration for Zendesk.
3. Freshworks
Primary use case: Full suite CRM
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 days4. HubSpot
Primary use case: Inbound marketing and sales, providing tools for marketing, sales, and customer service
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:
UnavailableLearn more about the HubSpot integration for Zendesk.
5. Scoro
Primary use case: Business management software offering tools for project management
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 days6. Bitrix24
Primary use case: Multi-functional platform combining tools for communication, project management, and CRM
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:
Unavailable7. Planview AdaptiveWork
Primary use case: Project management
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:
Unavailable8. EngageBay
Primary use case: CRM
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:
Unavailable9. Pipedrive
Primary use case: CRM
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 daysLearn more about the Pipedrive integration for Zendesk.
10. ProofHub
Primary use case: Project management
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 days11. Basecamp
Primary use case: Project management
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 days12. Insightly
Primary use case: CRM
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 days13. LeadSquared
Primary use case: Marketing automation and CRM
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:
Unavailable14. ClickUp
Primary use case: Project management
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:
UnavailableLearn more about the ClickUp integration for Zendesk.
15. Celoxis
Primary use case: Project management
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 daysFrequently 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.
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