Whether you’re a small business just starting out or a larger team with complex CRM needs, finding the right customer relationship management (CRM) tool is essential.
CRMs help centralize your customer data, from contact details to communication history, empowering all customer-facing teams to enhance relationships and grow your business. Choosing the right CRM depends on your unique business operations, team size and goals.
Capsule and Zoho are two popular CRM options, each with different features that can benefit your business. In this guide, we’ll explore how Capsule and Zoho compare, giving you a clear view of which CRM might best fit for your specific needs.
Capsule vs Zoho: Free and starter plans
For small businesses or startups, a free CRM is an ideal way to try out new software. Both Capsule and Zoho offer free plans with some essential tools for small teams, making it easy to get started without the cost.
| Capsule's Free plan | Zoho CRM's Free plan |
|---|---|
2 users | 3 users |
250 contacts | Unlimited contacts |
25 custom fields | No custom fields |
1 customizable pipeline | Default pipeline only |
Gmail and Outlook integrations | No add-ons for Gmail or Outlook |
Unlimited lists | Standard lists (5 custom list views) |
Both Capsule and Zoho offer affordable starter plans, each providing core CRM functionalities to get teams moving.
| Capsule's Starter plan | Zoho CRM's Standard plan |
|---|---|
From £14 per month per user* | From £19 per month*† |
30,000 contacts | Unlimited contacts |
50 custom fields | 10 custom fields |
1 customizable pipeline | 5 pipelines |
1 Project board | Requires Zoho Projects add-on |
* Billed annually. † Per organization, includes up to three users.
As your business scales, you may need more features. Capsule and Zoho offer higher-tier plans with additional tools and increased limits.
Capsule’s Ultimate plan includes hands-on support from an assigned account manager, custom training sessions to get the most out of each feature and priority support. You also get access to all the features from the other plans, such as contact enrichment and workflow automation.
Capsule’s Ultimate plan is designed for businesses that want to take their customer relationships to the next level, both in terms of quantity and quality, all for £60 per user per month.
Zoho CRM’s Ultimate plan opens up advanced analytics with unlimited reports and unlimited custom dashboards, along with a selection of AI-powered features with the Zia assistant, including sentiment analysis and churn prediction, priced at £42 per user per month.
Integrations for SMEs
Capsule is well-suited for small-to-medium businesses looking for simple and effective CRM functionality. You get everything you need to manage your contacts, pipelines and customer relationships in one package.
If you need increased functionality, Capsule’s App Marketplace features integrations with popular tools, including invoicing and accounting software, email marketing software and thousands of other apps with Zapier. All of your customer data is in one place, so you don’t need to copy-paste details from one app to the next.
Zoho CRM is just one part of the larger Zoho ecosystem. With a Zoho One account, you get access to over 45 unified business apps, including Zoho CRM. Without a One account, the CRM still connects seamlessly with other Zoho tools, such as the Writer add-on or the Projects integrations, making it particularly useful for businesses already using Zoho applications.
However, for third-party integrations outside the Zoho suite, Capsule offers more flexibility with a wider range of apps that are ready to connect.
Ease of use
Capsule is recognized for its user-friendly design, combining simplicity with functionality. The intuitive interface allows you to get started quickly, making it ideal for small businesses or those new to CRMs. Users can easily track deals, manage contacts, and navigate the platform without extensive onboarding or training.
Capsule is especially useful for users who want a CRM that “just works” right out of the box, without needing extensive administrative time to set up and maintain.
Zoho’s interface, while powerful, can appear more complex and may require some training to master. Zoho’s extensive functionality benefits users who need customization, though it can feel overwhelming for small teams that don’t need all the extras.
While Zoho is certainly adaptable to complex workflows, users may find they spend more time configuring the platform than actually using it, particularly in the early stages.
Pricing and affordability
Capsule’s free plan offers foundational tools at no cost, which is a great way to explore Capsule’s CRM features and see if it suits your organization. Paid plans remain budget-friendly, with the Starter plan starting at £14 per user per month.
Capsule’s transparent pricing structure keeps costs predictable, making it easy for small businesses to budget as they grow. The lack of hidden fees or required add-ons ensures users can access the core features they need without unexpected expenses, making it an accessible, affordable option for startups and small teams.
Zoho’s pricing is also competitive, with a free plan and paid plans starting at £12 per user per month. While Zoho’s entry-level pricing is competitive, its premium features (such as AI and advanced automation) may make it harder for smaller organizations to access these capabilities without stretching their budgets.
Zoho’s lower tiers offer solid value for businesses that don’t need advanced functions right away, but the true power of Zoho’s CRM can often mean paying a steeper price.
Customization and flexibility
A good CRM should fit your business’s unique needs, rather than forcing you to change the way you work. Capsule is highly customizable, with options for custom fields, tags and customizable sales pipelines.
Users can organize their contacts and processes in a way that makes sense for them, while still maintaining an easy-to-navigate interface that won’t overwhelm anyone.
Zoho’s customization capabilities, especially at higher tiers, are ideal for larger teams or businesses with complex workflows that require tailored modules and in-depth reporting. However, this level of customization often comes with a steeper learning curve, meaning businesses may need to invest more time in setup to realize its full potential.
Customer support and security
Capsule is known for its excellent customer support, available to all customers regardless of their plan. Capsule’s team is dedicated to helping small businesses succeed, providing reliable assistance and troubleshooting as needed.
Zoho also provides support, though the level of access depends on the plan. Anyone with a paid subscription automatically gets access to the “Classic Support” plan, where you can reach out to support staff over email, phone or chat (available eight hours a day, five days a week).
On the other hand, “Premium Support” and “Enterprise Support” are available as paid add-ons for your plan (costing 20% and 25% of your subscription fee respectively) providing 24-hour support, five days a week for Premium and seven days a week for Enterprise.
Both Capsule and Zoho adhere to strict security standards with encrypted data and regular backups, ensuring data integrity and reliability. Capsule is known for its dependability and data security, with 99.99% uptime and no history of outages or data breaches.
Which CRM is better for my organization?
Capsule and Zoho both bring strong capabilities to the CRM landscape, each with strengths tailored to different business needs.
Capsule is ideal for small-to-medium-sized businesses looking for an easy-to-use CRM that’s customizable and affordable. Capsule’s simple yet powerful design is perfect for teams focused on contact management, deal tracking and building strong customer relationships.
Zoho is a robust, all-encompassing platform with extensive features, ideal for businesses needing advanced customization, detailed analytics and seamless integration with the rest of the Zoho suite of tools. While its extensive capabilities can support larger teams, it may be more complex and costly for smaller businesses.
Try any Capsule plan free for 14 days or sign up to our free plan to get started with a straightforward yet sophisticated CRM.
