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SMTP vs Pipedrive vs Bigin by Zoho CRM Comparison

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SMTP

3.9(16 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Individuals
  • Freelancers / Consultants

SMTP was built to solve the challenges of sending email from devices behind restrictive firewalls or communicating directly with a server over SMTP. It features multiple design elements and components that have been opti…

Pipedrive

4.7(3,347 reviews)

Starting at $14 /user/month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Pipedrive is a user-friendly customer relationship management (CRM) software designed to help sales teams streamline their pipelines, manage leads efficiently, and close deals faster. Ideal for small to mid-sized busines…

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…

Pipedrive leads on user satisfaction with a 4.7-star rating across 3,347 reviews.

SMTP vs Pipedrive vs Bigin by Zoho CRM — at a glance

FeatureSMTPPipedriveBigin by Zoho CRM
Rating3.9 / 54.7 / 54.6 / 5
Reviews163,347294
Starting priceContact for pricing$14 /user/month$7 /User/Month
Free trial No Yes Yes
Free version No No No
Best forIndividuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Large EnterprisesLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessSmall Business
CategoryTransactional Email SoftwareCRM SoftwareCRM Software
Integrations10+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS
APIAvailableAvailableAvailable
Support modes24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, OnlineBusiness Hours, OnlineBusiness Hours, Online
CertificationsSOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyUSUSGlobal

Key differences between SMTP and Pipedrive

  • Pricing: Pipedrive starts at $14 /user/month. SMTP pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Free trial: Pipedrive offers a free trial; SMTP does not.
  • Target audience: SMTP is built for Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants, while Pipedrive targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
  • User satisfaction: Pipedrive scores higher with a 4.7-star average.
  • Deployment: SMTP supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Pipedrive supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.

Compare SMTP vs Pipedrive 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 Transactional Email 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.

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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

SMTP

Best for

Individuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises

Pipedrive

Best CRM for small to mid-sized sales teams needing streamlined pipeline management.

Choose if
  • You are a small or medium business seeking an intuitive, easy-to-learn CRM.
  • Your sales team needs AI-powered prompts and automated follow-ups to boost productivity.
  • You want cost-effective CRM with strong reporting and real-time sales analytics.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your enterprise requires highly complex CRM customizations and deep third-party integrations.
  • You need extensive relationship linking beyond standard sales contacts.

Bigin by Zoho CRM

Best for

Small Business

SMTP typically suits Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants. Pipedrive tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

SMTP was built to solve the challenges of sending email from devices behind restrictive firewalls or communicating directly with a server over SMTP. It features multiple design elements and ... Read More about SMTP

Pipedrive is a user-friendly customer relationship management (CRM) software designed to help sales teams streamline their pipelines, manage leads efficiently, and close deals faster. Ideal ... Read More about Pipedrive

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

  • Not Available
  • Starts from $14 , monthly
  • Starts from $7 , Billed Yearly

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

7.2/10

9.6/10

9.0/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

3.9

(16)

4.67

(3347)

4.57

(294)

Best Company Size

50 to 500 employees
1-50 employees51-200 employees
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

SMTP

  • Reliable Email Delivery: With SMTP, your emails reach their intended recipients consistently. Businesses benefit from reduced bounce rates and improved communication efficiency.
  • Scalability: Whether you're sending a few emails or millions, SMTP scales easily to meet your growing needs. This flexibility helps companies expand their outreach without hitting technical limits.
  • Security Features: SMTP protocols improve the security of your email communications. Use its built-in encryption methods to protect sensitive information and build stakeholder trust.

Pipedrive

  • Simplified Sales Processes: Pipedrive helps teams like yours visualize and manage the entire sales pipeline easily, letting you focus on closing deals instead of getting lost in administrative tasks.
  • Intuitive User Interface: Users appreciate Pipedrive's clean and user-friendly design. Your team can start using it immediately without extensive training, saving time and resources.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Pipedrive's reporting tools give you real-time insights into your sales performance. This lets executives make data-driven decisions that improve overall business strategy.
Best fit

Best fit

SMTP

  • 50 to 500 employees
  • Martech, Fintech, SaaS, E-commerce, and Digital Marketing
  • Marketing Managers, IT Administrators, Email Marketing Specialists, Sales Executives, and Customer Success Managers

Pipedrive

  • 1-200 employees
  • Martech, Revtech, Fintech, Sales Automation, SaaS, Consulting
  • Sales Managers, Account Executives, Business Development Representatives, CRM Administrators
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

SMTP

  • Users may seek alternatives to SMTP due to deliverability issues, as emails can often be marked as spam or face filtering challenges, impacting communication effectiveness and business operations.
  • Security concerns are a common reason for exploring alternatives; SMTP lacks advanced encryption and authentication measures, making it vulnerable to interception and unauthorized access.
  • The increasing need for real-time communication drives users towards alternatives that offer instant messaging or collaboration features, which are not supported by traditional SMTP protocols.

Pipedrive

  • Users may seek alternatives to Pipedrive if they require more advanced customization options to tailor their CRM experience to specific business processes or unique sales workflows that Pipedrive doesn’t fully support.
  • Businesses with larger teams might look for alternatives that offer better scalability and user management features, ensuring that collaboration remains efficient as their workforce grows beyond Pipedrive’s capabilities.
  • Organizations needing comprehensive reporting and analytics tools may find Pipedrive lacking in depth, prompting them to explore alternatives that provide more robust insights into sales performance and customer behavior.

Software Demo

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How do SMTP, Pipedrive and Bigin by Zoho CRM Compare on Features?

Total Features

5 Features

10 Features

10 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote

Compare SMTP, Pipedrive 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

        • Not Available
        • $14 , monthly
        • $7 , Billed Yearly

        Pricing Plans

        • Not Available
        • Lite

          $19

          /user/month

          • Lead, calendar and pipeline management

          • AI-powered report creation

          • Real-time sales feed

          Show more +

        • Growth

          $34

          /user/month

          • Lite plan +

          • Full email sync with tracking

          • Automations and nurturing sequences

          Show more +

        • Premium

          $64

          /user/month

          • Growth plan +

          • Lead generation and routing

          • Custom scoring and company data enrichment

          Show more +

        • Browse all pricing plans
        • 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

        SMTP pricing
        Pipedrive 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

        Security & Compliance

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

        SOC 2

        ✓ Yes

        HIPAA

        ✗ No

        GDPR

        ✓ Yes

        ISO 27001

        ✗ No

        Single Sign-On (SSO)

        ✓ Yes

        Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

        ✓ Yes

        Data Encryption

        ✓ Yes

        Audit Logs

        ✓ Yes

        Data Residency

        🇺🇸 US
        🇺🇸 US

        SMTP vs Pipedrive User Reviews & Rating Comparison

        User Ratings

        Rating Distribution

        7

        3

        0

        0

        1

        2436

        505

        72

        18

        45

        204

        66

        7

        1

        1

        Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

        Buyer sentiment

        Buyer sentiment is mixed to positive across 11 reviews, with clear strengths and a few common watchouts.

        What buyers like

        • Reliable service with good deliverability and tracking, ensuring email marketing success.
        • Fast and helpful customer service that resolves issues and improves results promptly.
        • Easy to use and set up, providing analytics for list management.

        Common complaints

        • Long wait times for overseas customer support.
        • Pricing may be less competitive compared to other options in the market.
        • Some challenges with integration and setup for newcomers.

        Buyer sentiment

        Overall, users praise Pipedrive for its ease of use, visual sales pipeline management, and strong customer support, though some note limitations in advanced features and integrations.

        What buyers like

        • Ease of use
        • Visual sales pipeline tracking
        • Customer support quality

        Common complaints

        • Limited integrations
        • Initial 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

        • Reliable service with good deliverability and tracking, ensuring email marketing success.

        • Fast and helpful customer service that resolves issues and improves results promptly.

        • Easy to use and set up, providing analytics for list management.

        • Long wait times for overseas customer support.

        • Pricing may be less competitive compared to other options in the market.

        • Intuitive and easy-to-use interface with minimal training required

        • Cost-effective alternative to larger CRM platforms like Salesforce

        • Robust reporting and real-time sales analytics

        • Initial complexity requiring onboarding support for efficient use

        • Limited integrations with some third-party tools such as Typeform

        • 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

        Negative Reviews

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        Used SMTP, Pipedrive, 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

        No Customers information available.

        Festo

        Festo

        Remax

        Remax

        Vimeo

        Vimeo

        Antech Microsystem Pvt.Ltd

        Antech Microsystem Pvt.Ltd

        Investacc

        Investacc

        Hire

        Hire

        Media and Screenshots

        Screenshots

        No screenshots available.

        Dashboard

        5 Screenshots

        Videos

        video-0

        1 Videos

        video-0

        3 Videos

        Expand your shortlist

        Add another option to compare side by side

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        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, SMTP or Pipedrive?
        Pipedrive edges out the other on user ratings (4.7 vs 3.9). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
        Do SMTP and Pipedrive offer a free trial?
        Pipedrive offers a free trial. SMTP does not.
        What is the starting price of SMTP vs Pipedrive?
        SMTP starts at Contact for pricing. Pipedrive starts at $14 /user/month.
        What are the top alternatives to SMTP?
        Top alternatives to SMTP include Campaigner, Moosend, GreenArrow Engine, MailerSend, Netcore Email API.
        What are the top alternatives to Pipedrive?
        Top alternatives to Pipedrive include Bigin by Zoho CRM, Freshsales, Salesforce, HubSpot CRM, Onpipeline.