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Cheaper alternatives to Salesforce Sales Cloud
Updated September 30, 2026 · Researched by the SaveStack team
On this page: Shortlist · Quick comparison · FAQ
The shortlist
Zoho CRMBest valueFree plan
Full-featured CRM from Zoho with leads, deals, documents, and mobile apps; the free edition covers up to 3 users and sits inside Zoho's large business-app ecosystem.
- Free for up to 3 users with no time limit
- Includes leads, deals, documents, and mobile apps
- Part of Zoho's large business-app ecosystem
- Free edition capped at 3 users
- Advanced automation needs paid tiers
- Best suited to simple sales processes
HubSpot CRM
HubSpot's free CRM with contact, deal, and task management, email tracking, meeting scheduling, and live chat — free with no expiration date.
- 100% free with no expiration date
- Bundles marketing, sales, and service tools
- 2,000+ app integrations
- Free tier caps at 2 users and 1,000 contacts
- Advanced automation and reporting need paid hubs
- Costs escalate quickly when upgrading
Bigin by Zoho
Zoho's pipeline-first CRM for small businesses: simple visual pipeline management with a forever-free edition (1 user, 500 records, 1 pipeline).
- Forever-free plan with no time limit
- Simple pipeline-focused design, fast setup
- Built-in phone and automations on paid tiers
- Free edition limited to 1 user and 500 records
- Not suited to teams larger than about 20 users
- Fewer advanced features than full Zoho CRM
Quick comparison
| Tool | Starting price | Free plan | You save | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salesforce Sales Cloud (the expensive one) | $25/user/month (Starter Suite) | — | — | Teams that need every bell and whistle |
| Zoho CRM | Free ($0 for up to 3 users) | Yes | Save $300/year | Very small teams (up to 3 users) that need a free full-featured CRM. |
| HubSpot CRM | Free ($0, up to 2 users) | Yes | Save $300/year | Startups that want a free CRM which can grow into paid hubs later. |
| Bigin by Zoho | Free ($0 forever, 1 user) | Yes | Save $300/year | Solo founders and micro-businesses that want a simple visual pipeline CRM. |
Pricing sources: each vendor's official pricing page, last checked September 30, 2026.
FAQ
Why switch away from Salesforce Sales Cloud? It usually comes down to price. Most teams use a fraction of what Salesforce Sales Cloud offers, so the full subscription is hard to justify. For Salesforce Sales Cloud specifically, switching to Zoho CRM saves $300/year versus Salesforce Sales Cloud's sticker price.
Are cheaper tools worse? Rarely, for the basics. The cheaper tools on this page handle the same day-to-day workflow — what you lose is usually the enterprise layer: SSO, audit logs, or white-glove support. The trade-offs are listed under each alternative.
Can I switch back later? Absolutely. Nearly every alternative here offers a free plan or trial, so you can run it alongside Salesforce Sales Cloud before cancelling.
Prices checked September 30, 2026 and may have changed. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page.