Zoho CRM is the better app overall, scoring 8.7 to 8.1. Zoho CRM wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Xero on 1.
Small and midsize businesses that want Salesforce-style power on a budget
Small businesses and their accountants who want cloud bookkeeping
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Zoho CRM | Xero |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Business & Sales | Business & Sales |
| Category rank | #5 of 10 | #9 of 10 |
| Developer | Zoho Corporation | Xero Limited |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Subscription |
| Usable for free | Yes | No |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Zoho CRM better than Xero?
Zoho CRM is the better app overall, scoring 8.7 to 8.1. Zoho CRM wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Xero on 1.
Which is cheaper, Zoho CRM or Xero?
Zoho CRM: Free for up to 3 users; Standard from $14/user/month billed yearly. Xero: US plans start at $27 a month (Early, capped at 20 invoices); first month free. On value for money, Zoho CRM scores higher.
Do Zoho CRM and Xero work on the same devices?
Yes, both run on iPhone & iPad, Android, Web.
Which is more private, Zoho CRM or Xero?
Zoho CRM scores higher on privacy (8.8/10). Zoho says it never sells your data or runs ads. App Store label links contact, location, usage and content data to your account, with no tracking. Play says nothing is shared with third parties.
Strengths and weaknesses
Zoho CRM
- Deep customization at a low price
- Free edition for up to 3 users
- Strong privacy stance with no ad business
- Busy interface with a steeper learning curve
- Customer support can be slow or uneven
Zoho CRM gives you deep customization for far less than the big enterprise names. Blueprint enforces your sales process, the Zia assistant predicts deals and even writes formulas from plain English, and it plugs into dozens of other Zoho apps. Zoho's promise of no ads and no data selling is a real plus. The downsides: the interface is busy, setup takes effort, and support quality varies.
Full Zoho CRM review
Xero
- Unlimited users on every plan
- Bank reconciliation with auto-reconcile
- JAX AI assistant included at no extra cost
- Early plan limited to 20 invoices and 5 bills
- No discount for paying annually
- Support leans on AI and online help, not phone
Xero handles the core of small-business bookkeeping in the browser and on your phone: bank reconciliation, invoices, quotes, bills and expenses, with unlimited users. JAX, its AI assistant, answers questions about your numbers and checks the health of your books at no extra cost. US payroll now runs through Gusto inside Xero. The Early plan caps you at 20 invoices, and prices have climbed.
Full Xero review
