If you’re searching for a CRM, you’ve probably come across Bigin and Zoho CRM. Both are made by Zoho, but they’re built for different kinds of teams.
A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool helps you track leads, manage customer conversations, and follow up on sales. Zoho offers two options so that small teams can get something simple (Bigin), while bigger teams get more flexibility and power (Zoho CRM).
Let’s walk through how they’re different so you can pick the one that fits your business best, starting with pricing.
Pricing
Both Bigin and Zoho CRM offer a range of pricing plans, each unlocking more functionality as you move up. Higher-tier plans are designed for businesses that need more flexibility, scalability, and advanced tools as they grow.
Bigin’s Pricing Plans:
| Plan Name | Price/User/Month | Key Features |
| Free | $0 | 1 user only, single pipeline, 500 records, 3 automations |
| Express | $9 | Team pipelines (3), 50,000 records, 30 automations |
| Premier | $15 | Team pipelines (5), 100,000 records, 50 automations |
| Bigin 360 | $23 | Team pipelines (15), 1 million records, 100 advanced automations |
Zoho CRM’s Pricing Plans:
| Plan Name | Price/User/Month | Key Features |
| Standard | $19 | Mass emails, custom modules, and workflows |
| Professional | $31 | Inventory management, validation rules, Google Ads integration |
| Enterprise | $50 | Zia AI assistant, territory management, multi-user portals |
| Ultimate | $65 | Advanced customization, augmented analytics, unified business insights |
Customization
Both Bigin and Zoho CRM let you tailor the system to match your business, but the level of customization differs.
Bigin focuses on quick and simple setup:
- Rename fields and pipeline stages
- Add custom fields to deals, contacts, and companies
- Personalize views and basic modules without needing technical skills
It’s a great fit for small teams who want to make the CRM their own without spending hours configuring.
Zoho CRM takes customization much further:
- Create entirely new modules and tabs
- Set field-level permissions and custom page layouts
- Use Zoho’s low-code tools (like Zoho Creator) to build unique logic and internal apps
If you need a CRM that can adapt to complex workflows or specific industries, Zoho CRM gives you the tools to make that happen.
Pipelines
Both Bigin and Zoho CRM let you manage your sales process using pipelines, but they differ in how much control and complexity they offer.
Bigin is built around pipelines—it’s the core of the platform:
- Clean, drag-and-drop interface that’s easy to use
- Multiple pipelines for different products or services
- Simple customization of stages and fields
- Great for small teams who want to stay organized without added complexity
Zoho CRM also offers pipeline management but with more depth:
- Custom pipelines for different teams or business functions
- Conditional layouts and stage-specific rules
- Integration with forecasting, scoring, and automation tools
- Better suited for businesses with more complex sales processes
If your team needs a quick, visual way to track deals, Bigin keeps things light and focused. But if you’re managing multiple teams, products, or deal types, Zoho CRM offers the flexibility to handle it all.
Automation
Automation can save time and reduce manual work. Both platforms support it, but in very different ways.
Bigin keeps things simple:
- Automate basic tasks like follow-ups and reminders
- Create workflows triggered by deal updates or form submissions
- Send automated emails through sequences
It’s helpful for small teams that want to stay consistent without needing a full-time admin to manage automations.
Zoho CRM supports advanced automation across your entire sales cycle:
- Build multi-step workflows with logic and conditions
- Trigger actions across different modules (e.g., create a task when a deal is won)
- Use Zia, Zoho’s AI assistant, for intelligent suggestions and predictions
- Automate more than just sales—cover marketing, support, and operations too
If your team relies on layered processes or wants to reduce manual tasks across departments, Zoho CRM can handle it.
Automation
Automation can save time and reduce manual work. Both platforms support it, but in very different ways.
Bigin keeps things simple:
- Automate basic tasks like follow-ups and reminders
- Create workflows triggered by deal updates or form submissions
- Send automated emails through sequences
It’s helpful for small teams that want to stay consistent without needing a full-time admin to manage automations.
Zoho CRM supports advanced automation across your entire sales cycle:
- Build multi-step workflows with logic and conditions
- Trigger actions across different modules (e.g., create a task when a deal is won)
- Use Zia, Zoho’s AI assistant, for intelligent suggestions and predictions
- Automate more than just sales—cover marketing, support, and operations too
If your team relies on layered processes or wants to reduce manual tasks across departments, Zoho CRM can handle it.
Integrations
Both Bigin and Zoho CRM integrate with popular tools—but there’s a big difference in depth and variety.
Bigin offers direct integrations with:
- Zoho tools like Books, Desk, and Campaigns
- Third-party platforms like Google Workspace, Outlook, and WhatsApp
- Popular phone systems and calendar apps
It’s designed for small businesses that need essential connections without overcomplicating things.
Zoho CRM goes much further:
- Integrates with over 800+ apps through Zoho Marketplace
- Deeper, native integrations with tools like Mailchimp, Slack, and more
- Full API access for custom integrations
- Seamless connections to the full Zoho suite
For businesses that rely on a wide range of tools or need highly customized workflows, Zoho CRM makes it easy to stay connected.
Making the Right Choice for Your Business
If your team has fewer than 10 users, Bigin is likely the better fit. It’s simple, affordable, and gives you just what you need to manage your sales without the extras.
For teams with 10 users or more, Zoho CRM is worth the investment. You’ll get deeper customization, stronger automation, and more flexibility as your business grows.
The great part? If you start with Bigin and eventually outgrow it, you can upgrade to Zoho CRM with the click of a button. All your data moves over, so your team can pick up right where they left off—just with more features to work with.
If you’d like help choosing or want to see a personalized walkthrough, we’d be happy to chat!