Bigin by Zoho CRM Review 2025: Pricing, Features, Pros & Cons, Ratings & More

Bigin by Zoho CRM is a customer relationship management software for small and micro businesses. It is a Zoho CRM sister product tailored to smaller operations, especially hands-on entrepreneurs. It offers end-to-end solutions covering all stages of the customer journey, from initial product inquiries to after-sales service.

Key Bigin by Zoho CRM features include pipeline management record management, automation tools, instant workflows, and telephony capabilities. These are all housed in an easy-to-use interface that is intuitive enough for first-time users. Much like other Zoho products, its user interface has a clean, light design, offering a fast and frictionless experience. Thanks to its easy-to-understand standard dashboards and charts for agile reporting, it provides real-time visibility. It includes sales force automation tools for managing deals, tasks, events, accounts, and leads.

As with other Zoho products, Bigin by Zoho CRM is highly scalable with an easy upgrade path to the rest of the digital ecosystem. Given its comprehensive offering and easy-to-use user interface, it is quickly becoming one of the best CRM software for small business needs. It is also slowly gaining popularity, so do not be surprised if you see more positive Bigin by Zoho CRM reviews in the foreseeable future.

What’s new in Bigin by Zoho CRM?

As of writing this Bigin by Zoho CRM review, the software has undergone many improvements—mostly on its mobile applications and integrations. Its Android mobile now allows direct contact imports, introduced in October. The improved Mac App, with updates in September, includes desktop widgets, iPhone Widget access, app shortcuts, and interactive widgets for task management. SharePlay enables collaborative FaceTime calls with shared editing.

Its iOS mobile app also received updates, enhancing visual recognition, introducing real-time tracking with Live Activities, and adding features like 3D model uploads, MultiRoom integration, and Standby mode. Lock Screen Widgets for iPad were also introduced for task tracking and pipeline overview.

The biggest among them for our Bigin by Zoho CRM review was the introduction of Team Pipelines in January of 2023. This feature lets customer-facing teams efficiently manage distinct operations through specialized pipelines in a single Bigin account. Unlike competitors focused on singular functions, Bigin serves all customer-facing teams, promoting collaboration without sacrificing simplicity. This update supports small businesses, providing users with tools and insights for meaningful customer relationships.

Special Bigin by Zoho CRM Review: New Developer Center

Zoho offers its new Developer Center free for both Zoho CRM and Bigin users. This provides users with tools to customize the platform further and create extensions called “toppings." Toppings extend Bigin's functionalities, allowing users to design widgets, custom fields, buttons, and Bigin by Zoho CRM integrations with other applications, such as small business payroll solutions. Moreover, Zoho allows users to share and monetize their toppings in the Bigin Marketplace, providing small business owners another revenue stream for a CRM job well done. This is one of the platform's most attractive features noted in our Bigin by Zoho CRM review.

There are three Bigin by Zoho CRM pricing plans: Free, Express, and Premier. These are tiered plans and, except for the free version, are billed per user with options for monthly or yearly payment schemes. Bigin by Zoho CRM pricing for paid plans starts at $9 per month. All plans have free trial periods on offer.

Free

• Single user
• 500 Records
• One (1) Team Pipeline
• 3 Instant Workflows (with one condition/rule)
• Telephony
• Charts and Standard Dashboard
• Leads and Contact Management
• Accounts/Companies Management
• Deal Management
• Tasks, Events, and Notes
• Advanced Filters
• Customize related list tabs
• Custom List views (5/module)
• Sheet View and Quick Preview
• 50 emails/user license or 150 emails/day (whichever is lower)
• 5 email templates
• 1 Web Form
• Products Module
• File Attachments
• 1 GB file storage
• Limited Zoho integrations
• 5000 API credits/day/org

Express – $7/user/month billed annually or $9/user/month billed monthly

• Everything in Free
• Team Pipelines (3)
• 50,000 Records
• 10 Instant Workflows (with one condition/rule)
• Custom List Views (25/module)
• Custom Fields (10 fields/module)
• Unique Fields (2 fields/module)
• 100 emails/user license or 5000 emails/day (whichever is lower)
• KPIs for Analytics
• 10 Custom Dashboards
• 20 Email Templates
• Mass Emails (150 emails/day)
• Email Authentication (5 domains)
• 3 Web Forms
• Tagging for Team Collaboration
• More Zoho integrations
• 100,000 API credits/day/org

Premier – $12/user/month billed annually; $15/user/month billed monthly

• Everything in Express
• Team Pipelines (5)
• 100,000 Records
• 30 Instant Workflows (with one condition/rule)
• Workflow Scheduling
• 20 Custom Dashboards
• 40 Email Templates
• Custom List Views (50/module)
• Custom Fields (25 fields/module)
• Mass Emails (300 emails/day)
• 5 Web Forms
• Multiple Currencies Support

What sets Bigin by Zoho CRM apart?

Bigin by Zoho CRM stands out for its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, specifically crafted for the needs of small businesses. As such, it is considered by many users as one of the best customer service software products, especially for hands-on entrepreneurs with many hats. But, of course, no CRM software solution is perfect. Below are important Bigin by Zoho CRM pros and cons you should know about.

• Affordability and Simplicity. Striking a perfect balance between a comprehensive CRM's robust functionalities and a spreadsheet's user-friendly interface, Bigin delivers cost-effective solutions that empower businesses without breaking the bank. This feature ensures that even smaller enterprises can access powerful CRM tools without compromising financial resources.
• Pipeline-Centric Design. At the core of Bigin's functionality is its pipeline-centric design, allowing small businesses to effectively track deals, organize contacts, manage activities, and foster customer relationships. This feature streamlines workflow and enhances efficiency by providing a centralized and intuitive platform for managing various aspects of customer interactions. It provides a structured workflow for organizing one's approach to CRM, which is very helpful to busy entrepreneurs.
• Developer Center and Toppings. Users can use the Developer Center to create extensions, applications, and integrations called “toppings" to further customize their Bigin platform. This enables users to customize their CRM experience according to their requirements, enhance efficiency, and potentially generate income by showcasing their innovative solutions on the Bigin Marketplace.
• Easy Upgrade Path and Integrations With the Zoho Ecosystem. As a Zoho product, Bigin offers a seamless upgrade path to Zoho CRM and its more advanced features. It can integrate seamlessly with other Zoho products as your needs grow. This is one of the biggest pros in our Bigin by Zoho CRM review.

• Outgrowing Bigin. While some companies best stay as small businesses, others must expand and grow. As such, they look for flexible products to grow with their needs. Bigin, while flexible, has its limits. It is solely for smaller operations and only lends itself optimally to just a few users, not a CRM team. If you outgrow Bigin, you will need to move to another platform. The most natural progression from this, of course, is to Zoho CRM. While they are similar, they are still different products. As a result, it is almost like adopting a new product.
• Lack of Team Collaboration Tools. Bigin is not designed to be used by a CRM team. It lacks team collaboration features such as group chat, direct messages, and even a team calendar. The only collaboration tool its paid plans have is tagging, which is limited to five tags per record. There is no way to set up follow-up rules either. This may be the most significant pain point in our Bigin by Zoho CRM review.
• No Document Library. Many users prefer to have relevant files within their CRM platforms for easy retrieval. Bigin does not have a document library with folder sharing and provisioning tools. It only has file attachments available, which can be enough for smaller operations but can prove inconvenient for document-heavy workflows.
• Limited Zoho Integrations. While the platform can work seamlessly with other Zoho products, the list is quite short compared to the integrations you can have with the Zoho CRM free plan. Bigin does not have native integrations with Zoho Analytics, Zoho Books, Zoho Social, and even Zoho Meeting. While this quite limiting, the product does offer its API for free.

In this section of our Bigin by Zoho CRM review, we present the product's core features and how they can make CRM much easier for busy solo entrepreneurs and small business owners. With these, small business owners can manage customer relationships effectively and make informed decisions. All of these make Bigin a go-to solution for small business CRM.

• Pipeline Management. Bigin by Zoho CRM excels in efficiently tracking your customers' journeys. Through the implementation of workflow automations, the platform ensures a seamless view of their progress across team pipelines. This feature allows for a comprehensive understanding from the initial stages to the completion of customer interactions, providing valuable insights for effective management.
• Multichannel Communication. Stay effortlessly informed with real-time notifications on various communication channels. Whether it's new emails, missed calls, or other interactions, Bigin ensures you are always in the loop. This feature prevents missed opportunities, allowing you to engage promptly and meaningfully with your customers across multiple communication channels.
• Automation. Bigin's automation features go beyond time-saving; they are a reliable guard against human errors and inconsistencies. By automating tasks and managing your to-do list, this feature enhances efficiency and ensures that your processes run smoothly. It allows you to focus on more strategic aspects of your business while maintaining the reliability of your CRM operations.
• Customization. Tailor your CRM experience precisely to your business needs by customizing modules and fields. This feature empowers you to align the CRM platform with the unique operations of your business, providing a personalized and efficient working environment. The flexibility to adapt ensures that Bigin is molded to complement your specific requirements.
• Analytics. Bigin's analytical features provide a robust framework to examine, monitor, and measure essential metrics. Bringing all critical data into one centralized place, this feature transforms customer data into actionable insights. By offering a comprehensive analytics suite, Bigin facilitates informed decision-making, allowing you to strategize and optimize your customer relationship management effectively.

In our Bigin by Zoho CRM review, we have found many benefits users can gain from using the software. We have distilled them to the three biggest ones below.

Powerful Simplicity

Bigin by Zoho CRM stands out for its powerful simplicity, seamlessly combining the strength of a full-fledged CRM with the ease of a spreadsheet. This makes it an ideal solution for small businesses looking to transition from spreadsheets and legacy sales tools. It is also very affordable. Bigin might just be the most affordable solution for small businesses out there.

Complete Visibility through Multiple Pipelines

With Bigin, businesses gain complete visibility into their distinctive operations by managing multiple pipelines within a single account. This feature provides comprehensive insight, particularly beneficial for customer-facing teams.

Cross-Device Syncing

Bigin offers the convenience of cross-device syncing, allowing for efficient data sharing and seamless integration across various devices. This ensures that users can access and manage their CRM data effortlessly from different platforms, especially on the go.

Maximizing Customer Relationships with Bigin by Zoho CRM

For small businesses, managing relationships efficiently is crucial, and Bigin by Zoho CRM provides tools that make this simpler. Here are key ways Bigin optimizes customer engagement:

• Streamlined Pipeline Management for Clear Visibility: Bigin's intuitive pipeline view offers a structured way to track customer interactions, helping businesses stay on top of deals and prioritize follow-ups. This ensures that no opportunity falls through the cracks, particularly important for smaller teams.
• Efficient Multichannel Communication: Bigin centralizes customer communications across multiple channels, from email to telephony, making it easy to respond promptly to inquiries. Real-time notifications keep teams connected and responsive, enhancing the overall customer experience.
• Automated Workflows for Improved Efficiency: With Bigin, small business owners can automate repetitive tasks, which frees up time to focus on customer relationships. This feature reduces manual data entry and provides consistency in responses and task management.
• Enhanced Insights with Customizable Analytics: Bigin’s analytics dashboard allows users to create custom reports and KPIs, offering insights into customer behavior and sales trends. This data-driven approach helps teams make informed decisions, improving engagement and conversion rates over time.

Is Bigin by Zoho CRM secure enough for my business?

Bigin by Zoho CRM emphasizes robust data protection and compliance standards to safeguard sensitive customer information. The platform employs industry-standard encryption protocols and secure access controls that help maintain the integrity of your data across devices and channels. Regular security updates and transparent practices ensure that businesses can manage customer relationships with confidence. Additionally, integrating Bigin with complementary systems such as the best visitor management system can provide an enhanced security framework, aligning digital and physical security measures in one cohesive strategy.

In our Begin by Zoho CRM review, our team found the product very flexible and can be used virtually by small business owners and micro-entrepreneurs in any industry. Despite its affordable price point, Bigin is surprisingly robust and feature-rich, making it suitable for midsize businesses as well. Additionally, Bigin provides predefined templates for various industries, including real estate, software consulting, education, insurance, legal, used car sales, and recruitment.

Enhancing Your CRM Strategy with Complementary Tools

While Bigin by Zoho CRM excels in streamlining customer relationship management for small businesses, integrating complementary tools can elevate your overall sales and operational efficiency. For instance, pairing a robust CRM like Bigin with reliable sales compensation software can help you create a more cohesive workflow by automating incentive tracking, managing commission structures, and aligning sales performance with organizational goals.

Tools in this category not only bolster team motivation but also ensure transparency and accuracy in compensation, critical components for sustaining strong sales teams. By exploring such integrations, small businesses can leverage the strengths of multiple tools to build a more scalable and dynamic operational ecosystem.

Key Insights

• Tailored for Small Businesses: Bigin by Zoho CRM is specifically designed for small and micro businesses, offering an intuitive interface and essential CRM functionalities without overwhelming complexity.
• Affordable Pricing: Bigin provides a highly cost-effective CRM solution with three pricing tiers, starting with a free plan and moving up to more feature-rich paid plans.
• Pipeline-Centric Approach: The platform’s pipeline management feature allows businesses to track customer journeys efficiently, from initial contact to after-sales service.
• Customizable and Scalable: Users can customize fields and modules to fit their specific business needs and easily upgrade to more advanced Zoho CRM products as their business grows.
• Robust Integration: Bigin offers seamless integration with the Zoho ecosystem and other third-party applications, enhancing its functionality and flexibility.
• New Developer Center: The introduction of the Developer Center allows users to create and monetize custom extensions, further tailoring the platform to their specific needs.
• Enhanced Mobile Capabilities: Recent updates have significantly improved the mobile apps, making Bigin more versatile and accessible on the go.