Freshsales vs Salesforce Sales Cloud
Short version: Freshsales is the better fit for SMBs that want an easy, affordable CRM with built-in AI and phone, while Salesforce Sales Cloud is built for mid-market and enterprise teams that need deep customization and scale.
Freshsales
Freshworks' sales CRM with built-in AI
$9/mo
Free plan; paid from ~$9/seat/mo, AI on higher tiers
Salesforce Sales Cloud
The enterprise CRM standard
$25/mo
From ~$25/seat/mo (Starter); most teams land on $80–165/seat
At a glance
| Spec | Freshsales | Salesforce |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $9/mo | $25/mo |
| Budget tier | Budget-friendly | Premium |
| Complexity | Beginner-friendly | Advanced |
| Primary category | CRM | CRM |
| Integrations | 100+ | 4000+ |
| Founded | 2017 | 1999 |
Feature comparison
Freshsales offers 10 of 11 tracked crm features; Salesforce offers 9.
| Feature | Freshsales | Salesforce |
|---|---|---|
| Visual pipeline management | ||
| Contact & company records | ||
| Email sync & tracking | ||
| Workflow automation | ||
| Reporting & dashboards | ||
| Built-in dialer | ||
| Sales forecasting | ||
| Mobile app | ||
| Free plan | ||
| API & webhooks | ||
| Priority / 24-7 support |
Freshsales
Pros
- Clean UI with built-in phone and email
- Freddy AI lead scoring and insights
- Generous free plan
Cons
- AI value depends on data volume
- Deeper customization needs higher tiers
- Smaller ecosystem than Salesforce
Salesforce Sales Cloud
Pros
- Unmatched customization and AppExchange ecosystem
- Scales to the largest, most complex sales orgs
- Powerful reporting, forecasting, and automation
Cons
- Expensive once you add seats and add-ons
- Requires admin/consultant resources
- Steep learning curve
Which should you choose?
Choose Freshsales if…
- you want clean UI with built-in phone and email
- you want freddy AI lead scoring and insights
- you want generous free plan
Choose Salesforce if…
- you want unmatched customization and AppExchange ecosystem
- you want scales to the largest, most complex sales orgs
- you want powerful reporting, forecasting, and automation
The verdict
Both are solid crm tools. The best choice comes down to fit: Freshsales for SMBs that want an easy, affordable CRM with built-in AI and phone, and Salesforce for mid-market and enterprise teams that need deep customization and scale.
Browse all tools →Frequently asked questions
Is Freshsales or Salesforce Sales Cloud cheaper?
Freshsales is the more affordable option ($9/mo versus $25/mo). The lower sticker price isn't always the better value, though, weigh the tier your team will actually land on and any add-ons.
Which is better, Freshsales or Salesforce Sales Cloud?
Neither is strictly better, they're built for different priorities. Freshsales is the stronger pick for SMBs that want an easy, affordable CRM with built-in AI and phone, while Salesforce Sales Cloud suits mid-market and enterprise teams that need deep customization and scale.
What's the main difference between Freshsales and Salesforce Sales Cloud?
Freshsales is beginner-friendly and budget-friendly, while Salesforce Sales Cloud is advanced and premium. On tracked crm features, Freshsales covers 10 and Salesforce covers 9.