Zendesk vs Freshsales: Best CRM Software in 2025!

by | Mar 23, 2025

Winner
Freshsales CRM
4.6
  • Email Management
  • Workflow Automation
  • Clear and Organized Deals
  • Sales Sequences
  • Awesome Web Forms
  • Free trial available
  • Paid Plans from $9/month
Runner Up
Zendesk
3.0
  • Organization Management
  • Reporting Tools
  • Customer Management
  • Messaging & Live Chat
  • AI and Automation
  • Custom reporting
  • Paid Plan Starts at $19
Zendesk vs Freshsales crm

Picking the right CRM is like finding the perfect pair of shoes.

You need something that fits just right, but there are Zendesk vs Freshsales.

They both look good, But which one actually helps you sell more?

Imagine you pick the wrong one. You’re stuck with clunky software, missing out.

And your team is pulling their hair out. Not fun. You’re losing time and money.

Don’t stress! We’re going to break down Zendesk vs Freshsales, plain and simple. 

By the end, you’ll know exactly which CRM fits your business best in 2025.

Overview

To give you the real deal, we didn’t just read reviews.

Our team did a lot of testing, testing Zendesk and Freshsales. We set up accounts, ran sales scenarios, and even talked to actual users.

This hands-on approach lets us show you the true strengths and weaknesses of each CRM.

Freshsales CTA
4.6out of 5

Ready to explore the world’s leading CRM? Sign up for a free trial of Salesforce today!

Pricing: It has a free trial. The premium plan starts at $25/month.

Key Features:

  • Lead management
  • Sales forecasting
  • Opportunity management
Zendesk
3out of 5

Ready to see if Zendesk is your perfect match? Check out our in-depth Zendesk review!

Pricing: It has a free trial. The premium plan starts at $19/month.

Key Features:

  • Omnichannel support
  • AI-powered bots
  • Advanced analytics

What is Freshsales?

Freshsales is all about closing deals. It’s built for sales teams.

Think AI, phone, and email all in one spot. It’s meant to help you sell faster.

Also, explore our favorite Freshsales alternativesโ€ฆ

Freshsales Homepagee

Our Take

Freshsales CTA

Freshsales CRM is a solid choice for businesses prioritizing ease of use and affordability. It’s a great way to use CRM without a steep learning curve.

Key Benefits

  • User-friendly interface: Easy to navigate and learn.
  • Built-in phone and email: Connect with customers directly from the platform.
  • AI-powered insights: Get helpful suggestions and predictions.
  • Affordable pricing: Offers a free plan and competitive paid plans.

Pricing

  • Growth + 500 Marketing Contacts: $9/user/month.
  • Pro + 500 Marketing Contacts: $39/user/month.
  • Enterprise + 500 Marketing Contacts: $59/user/month.
Freshsales crm pricing

Pros

  • Intuitive and easy to use.
  • Affordable pricing options.
  • Great for small businesses.
  • Helpful AI-powered features.

Cons

  • Limited customization options.
  • Reporting could be more robust.
  • There are not as many integrations as some competitors

What is Zendesk?

Zendesk? It’s big. Really big. Think customer support, done well.

It handles tickets. Chats. It helps you build a knowledge base. It’s there to keep your customers happy.

Also, explore our favorite Zendesk alternativesโ€ฆ

What is Zendesk

Our Take

Zendesk

Join over 100,000 businesses. Switch to Zendesk and see an average 25% increase in customer satisfaction, just like our users in 2025. Start your free trial today.

Key Benefits

Zendesk helps you make customers happy and helps your team work better.

  • Makes Customers Happier: Businesses using Zendesk see customers get 25% happier. That’s a big deal!
  • All Talks in One Spot: Handle all messages from one place. No more jumping around.
  • Smart Help: It does easy tasks for you. This lets your team fix harder problems.
  • Self-Help Guides: You can make a help page. Customers can find answers themselves. This reduces questions by 15%.
  • AI Smart Tools: It uses smart computer help. This means quicker and better answers for customers.

Pricing

All the plans will be billed annually.

  • Support Team: $19/month.
  • Suite Team: $55/month.
  • Suite Professional: $115/month.
  • Suite Enterprise: Talk to Sales.
Zendesk Pricing

Pros

  • Easy setup, quick start.
  • Strong ticket management tools.
  • Good for large support teams.
  • Many app integrations are available.
  • Reliable customer service platform.

Cons

  • Can get pricey quickly.
  • Reporting can feel complex.
  • Some features need upgrades.
  • Initial setup requires learning.

Feature Comparison

We need to compare these tools based on what they are best at.

Zendesk’s main job is customer support software. Freshsales is built for your sales team.

This side-by-side look will show you where each one truly shines.

1. Core Focus and Platform

  • Zendeskโ€™s main platform is its customer service software. It manages every customer conversation.
  • Freshsales is a sales pipeline tool. It is built to track and manage your sales team activities.

2. Ticketing System vs Sales Activities

  • Zendesk Support uses an advanced ticketing system. Every service message becomes a support ticket.
  • Freshsales focuses on sales activities. It does not handle ticketing systems for detailed support issues.

3. Omnichannel Support

  • Zendesk offers service across multiple channels. This includes live chat and social messaging.
  • The agent workspace unites all support requests. Freshsales communication is built for deal tracking.

4. Automation and Custom Workflows

  • Both use automation, but for different jobs. Zendesk uses custom workflows to triage support tickets.
  • Freshsales automates your sales process. It sets follow-up tasks for the sales team.

5. Reporting and Analytics

  • Reporting and analytics zendesk gives deep insights into customer satisfaction. It tracks your team’s performance.
  • Freshsales reports on deal velocity. Its data focuses on sales forecasting.

6. Security

  • Security zendesk is known for strong security. Large businesses trust it with sensitive information.
  • Freshworks also has good security, but Zendesk is often the choice for enterprise-level needs.

7. Knowledge Base and Help Center

  • Zendesk is great for self-service. You can build a robust help center. This uses center articles to reduce support requests.
  • Freshsales has this feature, but it is not its strongest point.

8. Integrations and Custom Apps

  • Zendesk has the big zendesk marketplace. You can add custom apps and connect to other tools.
  • Freshsales also has strong integration with other freshworks products. Zendesk has a wider range of partners.

9. User Experience and Deployment

  • Freshsales is easier for small businesses to set up. Its interface is simple for a salesperson.
  • The zendesk suite offers many new features, but setup can be complex.

What to Look For When Choosing CRM Software?

  • Focus and Fit for Your Company: Do you need strong customer support or a better sales team tool? Zendesk’s customer support software is best for service. Freshsales is great for your sales team.
  • Ease of Use and Team Adoption: Is the platform easy to learn in a few seconds? A good customer relationship management tool should work on any browser. It should also offer a free trial to try out before a credit card required sign up.
  • Data and AI Power: Look for smart features like Freddy AI from Freshworks. Can it manage customer conversations and customer interactions? A good CRM helps you create and manage customer data.
  • Integration and Connections: Does it work with other tools? Check the Zendesk marketplace or the Freshworks site. A CRM must have a seamless connection to your marketing and salesforce systems.
  • Cost and Value: What is the total cost of ownership? Zendesk’s pricing can be high. Look for excellent value for medium sized businesses. Does the plan include all the features you need?
  • Scalability and Security: Will the company grow with you? It must offer strong security. This protects sensitive information. Ask about costly downtime protections.
  • Support and Knowledge: Does the vendor offer multilingual support? Is the support team made up of actual human agents? A robust help center and community forums are important.
  • Experience and Updates: Is the system always up-to-date? Check for new features. This affects the overall customer experience and employee experience.
  • Trial and Verification: Before you start a new account, make sure the verification successful waiting period is short. Check the website for a free trial period. The best way is to read a user review.
    • What does the review say about the ability to respond to leads quickly?
    • How quickly is the site properly verified after sign up?

Final Verdict

So, Zendesk vs Freshsales? It’s a tough call. For pure sales, Freshsales wins.

It’s built to boost your sales process. It’s easier to use, and the price is often better.

If you need strong customer support, Zendesk is your pick. It has more tools.

But, it can get complex. In this comparison, for most small to medium sales teams.

Freshsales is the best CRM software in 2025. It’s about getting deals done.

If you need a combined approach, explore Freshsales and Zendesk integrations.

But for a clear sales-focused dashboard, Freshsales edges out Zendesk Sell. 

More of Freshsales CRM

Hereโ€™s a brief comparison of Freshsales CRM with these software solutions:

  • Freshsales CRM vs Pipedrive: Freshsales CRM provides a comprehensive sales solution with integrated communication and AI, whereas Pipedrive excels in visual sales pipeline organization and deal tracking.
  • Freshsales vs GoHighLevel: GoHighLevel is a robust, all-in-one platform with strong marketing automation and a steeper learning curve, often favored by agencies. Freshsales focuses more on streamlined sales processes and ease of use.
  • Freshsales CRM vs Keap: Freshsales CRM emphasizes intuitive sales management and AI-powered insights; Keap offers powerful sales and marketing automation with a focus on contact management.
  • Freshsales CRM vs ActiveCampaign: Freshsales CRM is a dedicated sales CRM with built-in phone and email; ActiveCampaign is strong in marketing automation, email campaigns, and advanced segmentation.
  • Freshsales CRM vs Hubspot: Freshsales CRM offers AI-powered sales tools and a quicker setup; HubSpot provides an extensive all-in-one suite covering marketing, sales, and customer service.
  • Freshsales CRM vs Clickfunnels: Freshsales CRM is a sales-focused CRM for managing customer interactions, whereas ClickFunnels is a specialized tool for building sales funnels and landing pages.
  • Freshsales CRM vs Folk: Freshsales CRM offers a comprehensive sales platform with AI and automation; Folk focuses on simple, collaborative contact management and visual pipeline organization.
  • Freshsales CRM vs Instantly: Freshsales CRM is a full-fledged sales CRM with robust features; Instantly is primarily an email outreach and cold email automation tool.
  • Freshsales CRM vs ClickUp: Freshsales CRM is designed for streamlining sales processes and managing pipelines; ClickUp is a versatile work OS that encompasses project management, tasks, and CRM functionalities.
  • Freshsales CRM vs Monday CRM: Freshsales CRM provides a dedicated sales solution with intelligent insights, while Monday CRM offers highly customizable boards for managing workflows, including CRM.
  • Freshsales CRM vs Capsule CRM: Freshsales CRM offers a more robust sales CRM with AI features; Capsule CRM focuses on straightforward contact management and sales opportunity tracking.
  • Freshsales CRM vs Insightly: Freshsales CRM is a dedicated sales tool with AI and comprehensive sales automation; Insightly provides a broader CRM experience, including strong project management capabilities.
  • Freshsales CRM vs Salesforce: Freshsales CRM offers an intuitive, AI-powered sales platform with competitive pricing; Salesforce is a highly customizable, enterprise-grade CRM with an extensive ecosystem and advanced features.
  • Freshsales CRM vs Zendesk: Freshsales CRM focuses on sales automation and pipeline management, while Zendesk is primarily a customer service platform with robust ticketing and support features.

More of Zendesk

Hereโ€™s a brief comparison of Zendesk with these software solutions:

  • Zendesk vs Pipedrive: Zendesk excels in comprehensive customer service and support, while Pipedrive is a sales-centric CRM with visual pipeline management.
  • Zendesk vs Gohighlevel: GoHighLevel helps marketing groups and small business owners. It’s a full sales tool. It helps your own business grow. Zendesk is mostly a customer help tool. It helps your support team handle customer questions.
  • Zendesk vs Keap: Zendesk specializes in robust customer support and ticketing; Keap offers extensive sales and marketing automation for small businesses.
  • Zendesk vs ActiveCampaign: Zendesk is a dedicated customer support platform with ticketing; ActiveCampaign specializes in email marketing automation, lead nurturing, and CRM integration.
  • Zendesk vs HubSpot: Zendesk provides strong customer service and support ticketing, whereas HubSpot is a comprehensive suite that encompasses sales, marketing, and service hub features.
  • Zendesk vs Clickfunnels: Zendesk is a customer service solution with ticketing and live chat; ClickFunnels is a sales funnel builder for creating landing pages and automating sales.
  • Zendesk vs Folk: Zendesk offers powerful customer support for diverse interactions; Folk emphasizes collaborative contact organization and streamlined relationship management.
  • Zendesk vs Instantly: Zendesk focuses on customer support and ticket management; Instantly specializes in automated cold email campaigns and lead generation.
  • Zendesk vs ClickUp: Zendesk is a customer support system, while ClickUp is a versatile work management platform that can function as a CRM, project management tool, and task tracker.
  • Zendesk vs Monday CRM: Zendesk is a customer service platform with ticketing; Monday CRM is a highly visual and customizable workflow management tool with CRM capabilities.
  • Zendesk vs Capsule CRM: Zendesk provides robust customer support and ticketing; Capsule CRM is a simplified contact management and sales tracking system.
  • Zendesk vs Insightly: Zendesk focuses on customer support and service tickets; Insightly is a more comprehensive CRM with strong sales pipeline and project management features.
  • Zendesk vs Freshsales: Zendesk emphasizes strong customer support solutions, while Freshsales CRM is designed for sales automation, deal tracking, and lead management.
  • Zendesk vs Salesforce: Zendesk offers a specialized customer service platform; Salesforce is an extensive enterprise-level CRM with broad sales, marketing, and service clouds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which CRM is better for sales automation?

Freshsales excels at sales automation. It helps sales teams streamline their workflow, enhance efficiency, and close more deals. Zendesk has some automation, but it’s more focused on customer support.

How do Zendesk and Freshsales handle customer data?

Both store customer data, but they use it differently. Zendesk focuses on keeping customer relationships strong. Freshsales helps a salesperson access up-to-date information to close deals quickly.

Are the reporting tools in both CRMs easy to use?

Freshsales offers simpler, more intuitive reporting tools tailored for sales. Zendesk’s tools are powerful. Both provide ways to understand your data, but Freshsales makes it more seamless.

Can Zendesk and Freshsales work together?

Yes, there are integrations. You can connect them to make a seamless flow between sales and support, which helps combine the strengths of both systems.

Which CRM is better for customer support teams?

Zendesk is the clear winner for customer support teams. It has robust ticketing and communication tools. Freshsales is built for sales, not in-depth support.