Salesforce vs Zendesk Sell: Which CRM is Best?
Salesforce is an enterprise-grade CRM ideal for large enterprises, whereas Zendesk Sell is an comprehensive CRM suitable for businesses of all sizes. Salesforce offers Einstein AI and advanced analytics, highly customizable platform, and market-leading enterprise features, while Zendesk Sell offers Sales CRM to maximize productivity and pipeline visibility. Pipeline, activity tracking, and revenue focus. Part of Zendesk suite; free trial available.
Salesforce vs Zendesk Sell: Detailed Comparison
| CRM Features | Salesforce | Zendesk Sell |
|---|---|---|
| Onboarding & Migration Assistance | Data Import Wizard (up to 50K records); Data Loader for bulk (up to 150M records); AppExchange migration and integration apps; professional services available | CSV import via Settings > Data > Import for leads, contacts, deals; best practice up to 5,000 records per run; API for programmatic sync |
| Data Import Tools | Data Import Wizard (Setup) for standard objects; Data Loader (Bulk API 2.0) for CSV, 150M+ records; field mapping and duplicate handling | Bulk CSV import for leads, contacts, deals; import leads and contacts separately; JSON export via API |
| Pre-Built Templates & Workflows | AppExchange apps and templates; Flow and Process Builder; Einstein automation; industry solutions | Pipeline and activity templates; Core API for contacts, leads, deals, calls, notes, tasks; automation by plan |
| AI Behavior | Yes; Einstein AI for forecasting, scoring, insights | Limited; some automation |
| Security Audit | Trust.salesforce.com; event monitoring; field audit trail; compliance certifications (SOC 2, etc.) by edition | OAuth 2.0; expirable tokens and scoped access; GDPR data export, correction, deletion via Contacts API |
| Scalability | Enterprise-grade; unlimited custom objects and records; scales to largest deployments | Team to Enterprise; API at api.getbase.com; pagination and rate limits |
| Third-Party Integrations | AppExchange 1000+ apps; Zapier, Workato; APIs and Lightning Connect | Zendesk suite; Core API (contacts, leads, deals, documents); Zapier; developer.zendesk.com |
| Deployment Model | Cloud only | Cloud only |
| API Availability | Yes; REST and Bulk API on paid plans; comprehensive API documentation | Yes; Core API (JSON, HTTPS) and Zapier on all plans; OAuth 2.0 |
Salesforce vs Zendesk Sell: Pricing
| Pricing | Salesforce | Zendesk Sell |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Availability | Yes; free tier with up to 2 user licenses | No; paid plans only |
| Free Trial Duration | Free trial available | Free trial available |
| Starting Price (per user/month) | $25 | $20 |
| Pricing Model (per user / flat / tiered) | Per user | Per user |
| Monthly Billing Option | Yes | Yes |
| Annual Billing Option | Yes; typically required for listed prices | Yes; substantial discount |
| Annual Discount Availability | Varies; annual commitment common | Yes; annual billing offers lower rate |
| Entry-Level Plan Price | $25/user/month (Starter Suite) | $20/user/month (Team) |
| Mid-Tier Plan Price | $100/user/month (Pro Suite); Enterprise $175/user/month | $49/user/month (Growth); $99 (Professional) |
| Highest / Enterprise Plan Price | $350/user/month (Unlimited); Agentforce from $550/user/month | $150/user/month (Enterprise) |
| Minimum User Requirement | Varies by edition | 1 user |
| Contract Requirement | Annual contract typical for most editions | No long-term contract; month-to-month available |
| Add-on Costs | Add-ons and extra products available; varies | Varies by plan |
| Feature Gating by Plan | Yes; features vary by tier (Starter, Pro, Enterprise, Unlimited) | Yes; Team, Growth, Professional, Enterprise |
| API Access by Plan | Yes; API on paid plans | Yes; API and Zapier on all plans |
| Storage Limits by Plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Support Level by Plan | Varies by plan; higher tiers get premium support | Varies by plan |
| Onboarding / Setup Fees | Professional services available; not mandatory | No mandatory setup fee |
| Upgrade / Downgrade Flexibility | Yes; can change plan | Yes; can change plan |
| Cancellation & Refund Policy | Per contract terms | Cancel anytime; per terms |
| Price Transparency Level | High; public pricing on website | High; public pricing on website |
Salesforce vs Zendesk Sell: Which one to choose?
- Choose Salesforce if you are a large enterprises that needs a enterprise-grade that offers Einstein AI and advanced analytics, highly customizable platform, and market-leading enterprise features.
- Choose Zendesk Sell if you are a businesses of all sizes that needs a comprehensive CRM that offers Sales CRM to maximize productivity and pipeline visibility. Pipeline, activity tracking, and revenue focus. Part of Zendesk suite; free trial available..
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Which is better, Salesforce or Zendesk Sell?
Salesforce offers Einstein AI and advanced analytics, highly customizable platform, and market-leading enterprise features and is perfect for large enterprises, whereas Zendesk Sell offers Sales CRM to maximize productivity and pipeline visibility. Pipeline, activity tracking, and revenue focus. Part of Zendesk suite; free trial available. and is ideal for businesses of all sizes.
2. Which is cheaper, Salesforce or Zendesk Sell?
Salesforce's free plan offers Free Suite (2 users); Starter $25/user/month; Pro $100; Enterprise $175; Unlimited $350; Agentforce from $550 whereas Zendesk Sell's paid plan offers Sell Team $20/user/month; Growth $49; Professional $99; Enterprise $150; annual discounts. For entry-level paid plans, Zendesk Sell is the cheaper option and is generally cheaper and more cost-effective than Salesforce, making it ideal for small to mid-sized businesses.
3. How does Salesforce compare to Zendesk Sell for sales teams?
Salesforce is preferred by sales teams that require ease of use, fast onboarding, and streamlined workflows. Zendesk Sell is suitable for teams that need advanced customization, reporting, and scalability.
4. What are the pros and cons of Salesforce and Zendesk Sell?
| CRM Platform | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Salesforce |
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| Zendesk Sell |
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5. Are integrations included or paid separately for Salesforce and Zendesk Sell?
For Salesforce, integrations are typically included in the plan: integrations in its base plan with options to extend.. Zendesk Sell, on the other hand, limits integrations to specific plans or charges. Check each vendor’s current plan for what is included or paid separately.
6. Do Salesforce and Zendesk Sell include AI-powered features?
Salesforce offers AI features such as automation, insights, while Zendesk Sell provides AI tools such as automation, insights.
7. How long does implementation usually take for Salesforce and Zendesk Sell?
Salesforce is generally quicker to deploy, often taking Varies. Zendesk Sell typically requires Varies.
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