Freshsales vs Salesforce: Which CRM Tool Is Better in 2026?

Freshsales

From $9

Salesforce

From $25

Quick verdict

Overall pick: Freshsales

Freshsales is the better fit for startups and teams that want an all-in-one sales communication tool at a low per-seat cost, since it starts at $9 per seat and offers a free plan. Salesforce is aimed at enterprises and complex sales teams, but it costs more from the start at $25 per seat and has no free plan. Because both tools list the same eight features, the decision comes down to budget and target scale rather than feature gaps.

Freshsales's entry plan ($9) is 64% cheaper than Salesforce's ($25).
Freshsales has a free plan; Salesforce does not.
They cover the same 8 of 8 core features we track, so price and UX decide.

Try Freshsales →Try Salesforce →

Cost calculator

Team size: 5 users

Tool	Monthly	Yearly
Freshsales · per user	$45.00	$540
Salesforce · per user	$125.00	$1500

Based on entry-level paid plans. Prices change, so check the vendor before you buy.

Which one should you choose?

If you need…	Pick	Why
Startup buying its first CRM on a tight budget	Freshsales	Freshsales starts at $9 per seat and includes a free plan, versus Salesforce at $25 per seat with no free plan.
Team that wants to try a CRM before paying	Freshsales	Freshsales offers a free plan; Salesforce does not.
Enterprise with a complex sales organization	Salesforce	Salesforce is positioned for enterprises and complex sales teams, while Freshsales is positioned for startups.
Team prioritizing built-in sales communication	Freshsales	Freshsales is positioned around all-in-one sales communication with built-in phone, email, and AI insights.
Buyer comparing feature coverage across both tools	Tie	Both tools list all eight compared features: pipelines, email tracking, lead scoring, calling, automations, reporting, mobile app, and API.

Feature comparison: Freshsales vs Salesforce

Feature	Freshsales	Salesforce
Free plan	✅	❌
Starting price	$9 /user/mo	$25 /user/mo
Visual sales pipelines	✅	✅
Email tracking & 2-way sync	✅	✅
Lead scoring	✅	✅
Built-in dialer & call logs	✅	✅
Workflow automations	✅	✅
Revenue forecasting & reports	✅	✅
Mobile iOS / Android app	✅	✅
Public API	✅	✅

Highlighted rows are where the tools differ.

Pros and cons

Freshsales

Low starting price of $9 per seat
Free plan available
Covers all eight compared features, including calling and lead scoring
Positioned for startups and all-in-one sales communication

Billing is per seat, so costs scale with team size
Positioned for startups rather than enterprises or complex sales teams

Try Freshsales →

Salesforce

Covers all eight compared features, matching Freshsales feature for feature
Positioned for enterprises and complex sales teams
Longer track record, founded in 1999 versus 2016 for Freshsales

Higher starting price of $25 per seat
No free plan
Billing is per seat, so costs scale with team size

Try Salesforce →

At a glance

Freshsales

Modern CRM with built-in phone, email and AI insights.

Founded 2016 · From $9 · 8/8 tracked features

Best for: startups, all-in-one sales communication

See Freshsales alternatives →

Salesforce

Industry-leading enterprise customer relationship management.

Founded 1999 · From $25 · 8/8 tracked features

Best for: enterprises, complex sales teams

See Salesforce alternatives →

FAQ

Is Freshsales cheaper than Salesforce?

Yes. Freshsales starts at $9 per seat, while Salesforce starts at $25 per seat.

Does Freshsales have a free plan?

Yes, Freshsales offers a free plan. Salesforce does not.

Do Freshsales and Salesforce have the same features?

For the eight features compared here, yes: both list visual pipelines, email tracking, lead scoring, calling, automations, reporting, a mobile app, and a public API.

Which tool is better for enterprises?

Salesforce is positioned for enterprises and complex sales teams, while Freshsales is positioned for startups.

How is each tool billed?

Both Freshsales and Salesforce bill per seat.

Related comparisons

Data last reviewed: pending verification. All CRM tools →