# Close vs Zoho CRM Free (2026): Free Alternative to Close

Canonical: https://caniforkit.com/vs/close-crm-vs-zoho-crm-free
Last updated: 2026-08-10

Compare Close ($19/mo) vs Zoho CRM Free ($0/mo free alternative to Close). Side-by-side breakdown of pricing, self-hosting setup, data storage, and practical trade-offs.

## Side-by-Side Comparison Matrix

| Feature / Metric | Close | Zoho CRM Free |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $19/mo | $0.00 / month |
| 1-Seat Annual Cost | $228/yr | $0.00 / year |
| 5-Person Team Annual Cost | $1,140/yr | $0.00 / year |
| 10-Person Team Annual Cost | $2,280/yr | $0.00 / year |
| License Model | Proprietary Commercial SaaS | proprietary, free |
| Hosting / Runtime | Vendor Cloud | Hosted |
| Data Ownership | Stored on vendor servers | Records and attachments live in Zoho's cloud; record imports and exports use CSV |
| GitHub Stars | Closed Source | ★ $0 forever |
| Code Repository | None | — |
| The Catch / Trade-off | Recurring subscription cost | The free tier does not reproduce Close's native calling, SMS and sales-sequence depth. |

## About Zoho CRM Free
A full little CRM for three users and 5,000 records; the wider Zoho maze is optional.

- **Installation**: Hosted signup
- **Data Storage**: Records and attachments live in Zoho's cloud; record imports and exports use CSV
- **Supported Platforms**: mobile, web, they host it
- **The Catch vs Close**: The free tier does not reproduce Close's native calling, SMS and sales-sequence depth.

## Cost Savings Breakdown
Switching from Close to Zoho CRM Free eliminates ongoing per-seat subscriptions:
- **Solo / 1-seat**: Save **$228/year**
- **5-person team**: Save **$1,140/year**
- **10-person team**: Save **$2,280/year**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is Zoho CRM Free a good free alternative to Close?
Yes. Zoho CRM Free is a verified free replacement for Close. A full little CRM for three users and 5,000 records; the wider Zoho maze is optional.

### What is the catch when switching from Close to Zoho CRM Free?
The free tier does not reproduce Close's native calling, SMS and sales-sequence depth.

## Related

- [All Close Alternatives](https://caniforkit.com/close-crm)
- [Zoho CRM Free Full Profile](https://caniforkit.com/fork/zoho-crm-free)
- [crm Category Hub](https://caniforkit.com/category/crm)
- [All Paid SaaS Alternatives Index](https://caniforkit.com/alternatives)