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Freshdesk vs Salesforce vs Bigin by Zoho CRM Comparison

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Freshdesk

4.5(752 reviews)

Starting at $15 /User/Month

  • Free Trial
  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

Freshdesk is a cloud-based help desk software designed to make customer support easier, more efficient and more effective. Freshdesk answers all customer support needs by making it easy for users to communicate with cust…

Salesforce

4.5(710 reviews)

Starting at $25 /user/month

  • Free Trial
  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

Salesforce CRM software is a social enterprise application designed to help businesses of all sizes and industries like retail, health care, technology, financial services, consumer packaged goods (CPG), and many more. B…

Bigin by Zoho CRM

4.6(294 reviews)

Starting at $7 /User/Month

  • Free Trial
  • Small Business

Bigin is Zoho's lightweight CRM designed for small teams under 50 people running straightforward sales cycles. Its drag-and-drop pipeline and email sync with Gmail and Outlook allow reps to get productive within a day wi…

Salesforce leads on user satisfaction with a 4.5-star rating across 710 reviews.

Freshdesk vs Salesforce vs Bigin by Zoho CRM — at a glance

FeatureFreshdeskSalesforceBigin by Zoho CRM
Rating4.5 / 54.5 / 54.6 / 5
Reviews752710294
Starting price$15 /User/Month$25 /user/month$7 /User/Month
Free trial Yes Yes Yes
Free version No No No
Best forFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessSmall Business
CategoryHelp Desk SoftwareCRM SoftwareCRM Software
Integrations13+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS
APIAvailableAvailableAvailable
Support modes24/7 (Live rep), OnlineBusiness Hours, OnlineBusiness Hours, Online
CertificationsSOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001
Data residencyGlobalGlobalGlobal

Key differences between Freshdesk and Salesforce

  • Pricing: Freshdesk starts at $15 /User/Month, while Salesforce starts at $25 /user/month.
  • User satisfaction: Salesforce scores higher with a 4.5-star average.
  • Deployment: Freshdesk supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Salesforce supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.

Compare Freshdesk vs Salesforce vs Bigin by Zoho CRM — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Help Desk Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Freshdesk - Help Desk Software
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Salesforce - CRM Software
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Free PDF comparison

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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Freshdesk

Best for streamlined omnichannel customer support in small to mid-sized teams.

Choose if
  • You need unified support across email, social media, and phone channels.
  • Your team values real-time collaboration with internal notes and task splitting.
  • You operate a small to mid-sized company (10-1,000 employees) seeking easy setup.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your organization requires highly customized or complex enterprise workflows.
  • You do not need omnichannel support or prefer transparent, flexible pricing.

Salesforce

Best for medium to large enterprises needing highly customizable CRM solutions.

Choose if
  • You require extensive customization to fit unique industry workflows.
  • Your team needs robust analytics and reporting for data-driven sales decisions.
  • You want seamless integration with numerous third-party applications and APIs.
Consider alternatives if
  • You are a small business or startup with a limited budget.
  • Your team lacks technical expertise or prior CRM experience.

Bigin by Zoho CRM

Best for

Small Business

Freshdesk: Best for streamlined omnichannel customer support in small to mid-sized teams. Salesforce: Best for medium to large enterprises needing highly customizable CRM solutions.

Description

Freshdesk is a cloud-based help desk software designed to make customer support easier, more efficient and more effective. Freshdesk answers all customer support needs by making it easy for ... Read More about Freshdesk

Salesforce CRM software is a social enterprise application designed to help businesses of all sizes and industries like retail, health care, technology, financial services, consumer ... Read More about Salesforce

Bigin is Zoho's lightweight CRM designed for small teams under 50 people running straightforward sales cycles. Its drag-and-drop pipeline and email sync with Gmail and Outlook allow reps to ... Read More about Bigin by Zoho CRM

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $15 , Billed Yearly
  • Starts from $25 , monthly
  • Starts from $7 , Billed Yearly

Free Trial Availability

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

9.5/10

9.8/10

9.0/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.46

(752)

4.53

(710)

4.57

(294)

Best Company Size

10-50 employees51-1,000 employees
50 to 10,000 employeesMedium to Large Enterprises
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

Freshdesk

  • Omnichannel Support: Freshdesk allows teams to manage conversations across email, social media (Twitter, Facebook), phone, and more, all from a single platform.
  • Collaborative Ticketing System: Agents can share notes, tag teammates, and split tasks within a ticket, promoting internal collaboration for faster resolutions.
  • Context-Rich Customer Communication: Tickets include customer history and context, letting agents personalize responses and resolve issues more effectively.

Salesforce

  • Simplified Sales Processes: Salesforce simplifies the entire sales cycle, allowing teams to manage leads, opportunities, and customer interactions smoothly. I've seen firsthand how this leads to increased efficiency and higher conversion rates.
  • Analytics and Reporting: With Salesforce's analytics tools, managers can gain insights into performance metrics. This allows for informed decision-making based on real-time data, so strategies stay aligned with business goals.
  • Customizable Solutions: One of Salesforce's key features is its adaptability. Whether you're in retail, healthcare, or finance, the platform can be designed for your specific industry needs. I often recommend using this flexibility for maximum impact.
Best fit

Best fit

Freshdesk

  • 10 – 1,000 Employee
  • SaaS, E-commerce, Education, Retail, Healthcare, Logistics
  • Customer Support Specialist, IT Helpdesk Technician, Support Manager, Operations Manager, Service Desk Analyst, CRM Administrator

Salesforce

  • 50 to 10,000 employees
  • Martech, Revtech, Fintech, Sales Automation, SaaS, and Consulting
  • Sales Managers, Account Executives, Business Development Representatives, and CRM Administrators
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

Freshdesk

  • While Freshdesk offers a free plan, essential features like advanced automation, reporting, or multi-language support are gated behind higher-tier subscriptions, which may become expensive for large or growing teams.
  • Users looking to implement complex workflows or automation may face a steeper learning curve and require additional configuration time or support.
  • Some users report slower load times or occasional system lags during peak usage, which can impact support efficiency.

Salesforce

  • Pricing exceeds $165/month for most teams — buyers with <50 employees often switch to HubSpot CRM ($50/month) or Pipedrive ($59/month) for lower cost
  • Lacks pre-built templates for specific industries like real estate or nonprofits — teams needing vertical solutions add Zoho CRM or industry-specific alternatives
  • Requires 4–6 weeks of admin setup and training — companies wanting faster deployment choose Pipedrive or Monday.com Sales for quicker onboarding

Software Demo

Demo

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Step 1 of 4

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How do Freshdesk, Salesforce and Bigin by Zoho CRM Compare on Features?

Total Features

16 Features

10 Features

10 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare Freshdesk, Salesforce and Bigin by Zoho CRM on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

        Starting From

        • $15 , Billed Yearly
        • $25 , monthly
        • $7 , Billed Yearly

        Pricing Plans

        • Free

          • Integrated ticketing across email and social

          • Ticket Dispatch

          • Knowledge Base

          Show more +

        • Growth

          • Includes features of Free plan, plus

          • Automations

          • Collision Detection

          Show more +

        • Pro

          • Includes features of Growth plan, plus

          • Multiple products

          • Includes up to 5000 Collaborators

          Show more +

        • Browse all pricing plans
        • Free Suite

          Free

          • Easy setup with guided onboarding

          • Lead, Account, Contact, and Opportunity

          • Service Case Management & Simple Email Marketing

          Show more +

        • Starter Suite

          $25

          /user/month

          • Everything in Free plus built-in Sales Flows and Lead Routing

          • Email to Case Management

          • Dynamic Email Marketing, Forms, and Analytics

          Show more +

        • Pro Suite

          $100

          /user/month

          • Everything in Starter plus Enhanced Real-Time Chat

          • Sales Quoting and Forecasting

          • Greater Customization, Automation+ Access to AppExchange

          Show more +

        • Free

          • Single Pipeline

          • 500 Records

          • Instant Workflows (3)

          Show more +

        • Express

          • Includes features of Free plan, plus

          • Team Pipelines (3)

          • 50,000 Records

          Show more +

        • Premier

          • Includes features of Express Edition plan. plus

          • Team Pipelines (5)

          • 100,000 Records

          Show more +

        Pricing Page

        Freshdesk pricing
        Salesforce pricing
        Bigin by Zoho CRM pricing

        Other Details

        Organization Types supported

        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals
        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals
        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals

        Platforms Supported

        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Browser Based (Cloud)

        Modes of support

        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online

        API Support

        • Available
        • Available
        • Available
        Get help choosing
        Get help choosing

        Security & Compliance

        Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

        SOC 2

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        HIPAA

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        GDPR

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        ISO 27001

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        Single Sign-On (SSO)

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        Data Encryption

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        Audit Logs

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        Data Residency

        🌐 Global
        🌐 Global

        Freshdesk vs Salesforce User Reviews & Rating Comparison

        User Ratings

        Rating Distribution

        549

        99

        11

        7

        56

        378

        143

        30

        4

        7

        204

        66

        7

        1

        1

        Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

        Buyer sentiment

        Buyers generally appreciate Freshdesk for its ease of use and omnichannel support but note limitations in advanced customization and pricing transparency.

        What buyers like

        • Ease of use
        • Omnichannel communication
        • Collaborative ticketing

        Common complaints

        • Pricing transparency
        • Advanced customization limitations

        Buyer sentiment

        Overall positive sentiment highlights Salesforce's customization, analytics, and integration strengths, tempered by concerns about cost and complexity.

        What buyers like

        • Customizability
        • Analytics and reporting
        • Integration capabilities

        Common complaints

        • High cost
        • Steep learning curve

        Buyer sentiment

        Buyer sentiment is very strong across 279 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

        What buyers like

        • Simple design with a short learning curve — accessible for non-technical users.
        • Pricing targets startups and small businesses with core CRM features at low cost.
        • Pipeline management and workflow automation reduce manual steps in sales processes.

        Common complaints

        • Limited integrations with social media apps and LinkedIn or Facebook ad platforms.
        • Lacks advanced features needed by larger enterprises or complex workflows.
        • Customer support availability is inconsistent, affecting issue resolution during critical moments.

        Pros and Cons

        • Omnichannel support integrating email, social media, and phone

        • Collaborative ticketing with internal notes and task splitting

        • Context-rich tickets providing customer history for personalized responses

        • Limited information on advanced customization capabilities

        • Potential scalability concerns for very large enterprises

        • Highly customizable platform tailored to specific industry needs

        • Robust reporting and analytics for data-driven decision-making

        • Extensive integration capabilities with third-party apps and APIs

        • Expensive licensing and additional feature costs

        • Steep learning curve for new or non-technical users

        • Real-time updates keep teams informed.

        • Integration with email and calendar enhances productivity.

        • User-friendly interface simplifies navigation.

        • Customization options may not meet all needs.

        • New users may find the interface complex.

        Positive Reviews

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        Used Freshdesk, Salesforce, or Bigin by Zoho CRM? Tell buyers what actually differs.

        Integrations

        Integration with other apps

        No Integration information available.

        No Integration information available.

        List of Customers

        Customers

        Pearson

        Pearson

        Bridgestone

        Bridgestone

        Kern High School District

        Kern High School District

        BBVA

        BBVA

        Brunello Cucinelli

        Brunello Cucinelli

        Unilever

        Unilever

        Antech Microsystem Pvt.Ltd

        Antech Microsystem Pvt.Ltd

        Investacc

        Investacc

        Hire

        Hire

        Media and Screenshots

        Screenshots

        Freshdesk

        6 Screenshots

        Salesforce Adoption Dashboards

        3 Screenshots

        Videos

        video-0

        3 Videos

        video-0

        5 Videos

        Expand your shortlist

        Add another option to compare side by side

        Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.

        Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

        Frequently asked questions

        Which is better, Freshdesk or Salesforce?
        Salesforce edges out the other on user ratings (4.5 vs 4.5). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
        Do Freshdesk and Salesforce offer a free trial?
        Yes, both Freshdesk and Salesforce offer a free trial.
        What is the starting price of Freshdesk vs Salesforce?
        Freshdesk starts at $15 /User/Month. Salesforce starts at $25 /user/month.
        What are the top alternatives to Freshdesk?
        Top alternatives to Freshdesk include Zoho Desk, SeamlessDesk, LiveAgent, HelpDesk, SysAid.
        What are the top alternatives to Salesforce?
        Top alternatives to Salesforce include Bigin by Zoho CRM, Hubspot Marketing Hub, Dynamics 365 Marketing, ClickUp, Zoho CRM.