Capsule CRM vs Bigin by Zoho

If you’re a small business looking for a simple but capable customer relationship management (CRM) system, chances are both Capsule and Bigin by Zoho have popped up on your radar.

On the surface, they seem similar. They’re both lightweight CRMs designed for growing teams that don’t need all the bells and whistles of enterprise software. However, once you look a little deeper, the differences become clearer.

In this guide, we’ll help you figure out which CRM fits your needs better, looking at how Capsule and Bigin compare on all the features that matter most to your business. Whether you're just getting started or looking to switch up your CRM, you’ll leave with a clear sense of which tool is the right fit for your team.

Capsule and Bigin plans compared

Capsule’s free plan is ideal for users getting started with contact and pipeline management. Bigin’s free plan is a little more restrictive though, offering just one user without the ability to add custom fields, though it does include access to the built-in phone feature (more on that later).

As your needs grow, Capsule’s pricing structure gives you a smooth upgrade path, growing with your business.

The other paid plans, from the Starter plan at $18/user/month all the way up to the Ultimate plan at $72/user/month, each add more contact capacity, automation, project boards, pipelines, and support.

Bigin’s paid plans are typically less expensive (ranging from $7 to $18 per user/month), but some features are more limited in scope.

For example, while Capsule’s Ultimate tier comes with 50GB of storage per user, Bigin’s top plan only offers 5GB of storage. Similarly, Capsule’s top plan offers unlimited custom fields, while Bigin’s 360 plan is limited to 50 custom fields/module.

There’s less room to scale, and some features you might expect from a CRM only unlock in the higher-tier Premier plan. So while Bigin is cost-effective upfront, Capsule delivers more long-term value, especially if your CRM needs are likely to grow.

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Which CRM connects best with your existing software?

A CRM is only as useful as its ability to integrate with the rest of your tools. Capsule’s App Marketplace offers direct integrations with tools like:

• Email and Calendar apps, including Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
• Accounting software, including Xero and QuickBooks
• Marketing apps, including Mailchimp and Transpond.

If your business uses something more niche, Capsule also connects with thousands of other apps through Zapier, or you can use the open API to build a custom integration.

Bigin, as part of the Zoho ecosystem, is designed to work with other Zoho apps. However, you can’t take those integrations for granted. For example, the free plan includes integrations with Zoho Desk, Campaigns, and Forms. However, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan to integrate with Zoho Books and Meeting.

It’s also important to note that, while Bigin does offer some third-party integrations and API access, its ecosystem is narrower and less mature than Capsule’s. Users might feel as if they have no choice but to use the other Zoho tools and end up locked into more expensive products down the line.

If you need your CRM to sit at the center of your workflow and play nicely with your existing tools, Capsule offers a more reliable and flexible integration experience.

Which CRM is best for ease of use?

Ease of use is a big part of both Capsule and Bigin’s appeal to small businesses. Bigin emphasizes setup speed, claiming users can get started in under 30 minutes. Its interface is modern and clean, and solo users or small teams will likely find it simple to navigate.

Capsule takes a slightly different approach, blending ease of use with functionality. Capsule balances usability with the tools you actually need to stay productive, with an intuitive interface and practical features.

Because Capsule was designed with small to mid-sized teams in mind, you don’t need to be technical to set it up and enjoy advanced features. For example, Capsule’s Tracks feature lets you create repeatable task templates, helping your teams stay consistent and focus on their most important tasks.

That balance becomes more important as your business grows. Bigin’s lightweight feel can start to feel restrictive once your team expands or your workflows become more complex. Capsule’s user experience stays consistent and scalable from the first contact to full-team adoption.

Which CRM is best for pricing and affordability?

When it comes to choosing a CRM, cost is only one part of the equation. What really matters is what you get for your money and how well each plan supports your team’s needs, both today and in the future.

Bigin offers several low-cost options. Its Express plan starts at around $7 per user/month, and the 360 plan tops out at roughly $18 per user/month. You’ll get access to essential features like multiple pipelines, built-in calling, and standard dashboards, even on the entry-level plan. For businesses on a very tight budget, that can be appealing.

However, while Bigin’s upfront cost is low, there are trade-offs.

Bigin’s customization is limited (as we’ll see in the next section) and integrations outside the Zoho ecosystem can be hit or miss. If your needs grow, you may find yourself bumping up against these limits faster than expected. You may also need to supplement Bigin with additional Zoho tools like Zoho Analytics, which adds complexity and cost.

Capsule, by contrast, offers a more graduated pricing structure designed to scale smoothly with your business. Users can get started with a free plan and use that for as long as they want. As the business grows, they can upgrade to the Lite plan.
Capsule’s Starter plan at $18/user/month includes a generous 30,000 contact limit, Gmail and Outlook integration, a shared mailbox, and project boards; all things that help growing teams stay organized and collaborative.

As you move up the tiers, the limits expand and more advanced reports, contact enrichment, and priority support become available.

If you’re looking for the lowest possible price to manage a simple sales process, Bigin is a functional and affordable starting point. But if you want more room to grow, better visibility across your customer base, and a CRM that won’t box you in later, Capsule delivers more long-term value for your investment.

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Which CRM offers more customization and flexibility?

Every business has unique processes, and your CRM should reflect that.

Capsule makes customization easy. Even the free plan comes with custom fields (like industry, client status, or renewal dates) that help you capture the unique details you need to run your business.

You can tailor your pipelines to match the exact stages of your sales or service processes, while Tags and DataTags can be used alongside dynamic Custom Lists to group contacts however you need.

This flexibility is one of the reasons Capsule works well for businesses across industries, from consulting services to finance and real estate. You don’t have to change how you work to fit the CRM.

Bigin, while customizable to a degree, has more guardrails. Custom fields are more limited and workflow adjustments can be more restricted. You can modify pipeline stages and add a limited number of custom fields to each module, but the structure is more rigid overall. If your sales or service process has a few quirks, or if it’s likely to evolve over time, those limits can become roadblocks.

For businesses that want complete control over how their CRM works, Capsule is the more adaptable option.

Which CRM is best for customer support and security?

Capsule and Bigin both prioritize security, with GDPR compliance and secure data practices.

Capsule is UK-based, with reliable UK and EU data hosting options that comply with the highest data privacy standards. This gives users additional peace of mind, particularly those concerned with privacy, compliance, and even potential political issues that might affect US-based software.

Since it began serving customers in 2009, Capsule has earned a strong reputation for its responsive and approachable customer support. Every user, no matter which plan they’re on, has access to personal UK-based expert help via email. Meanwhile, the extensive online knowledge base covers everything from setup to advanced features.

For businesses on the Ultimate plan, support goes a step further. You’ll be paired with a dedicated account manager and can access personalized training tailored to your team’s goals. This kind of support is ideal for businesses rolling out the CRM to a larger group or those who want to build more advanced workflows with confidence.

On the security front, Capsule follows industry best practices to keep your data safe. The platform includes end-to-end encryption, role-based access permissions, regular automated backups, and a 99.99% uptime record. With no history of breaches or major outages, Capsule gives you the peace of mind that your customer data is safe.

Bigin’s support includes a 30-day onboarding service, access to bi-weekly webinars, basic product training, and assistance with data import. Support is available through phone, email, and live chat.

As a relatively newer contender in the CRM market, Zoho Bigin is yet to build up the same track record as Capsule. It’s a fast-moving solution, but it’s also liable to pivot as part of the larger Zoho ecosystem.

While some users have previously reported mixed experiences with responsiveness, recent reviews suggest that Zoho is investing in making Bigin’s support more consistent and helpful across all plans.

Which CRM is better for my organization?

If you’re looking for a very lightweight CRM with basic calling and email tracking, Bigin might tick the right boxes, especially if you’re a solo user or micro-business just starting out.

However, for most small to medium-sized teams, Capsule is the better long-term fit. It combines simplicity with flexibility, integrates with the tools you already use, and gives you room to grow. Features like Tracks, Project Boards, and advanced customization help you work more efficiently without adding complexity.

Capsule’s relationship-centric design makes it valuable to SMBs who want to build stronger connections with their customers and clients. By making it easy to get a complete picture of your contacts and the tasks needed to progress that relationship, Capsule is particularly useful for service-oriented businesses who care about people more than pure sales pipeline mechanics.

With transparent pricing and excellent support, Capsule gives you a CRM experience that scales as you do, without surprises.

Try any Capsule plan free for 14 days or sign up to our free plan to get started with a simple yet powerful CRM.