Freshworks vs Salesforce
A side-by-side look at 2 Communication tools for 2026 — the verdict, pricing, ratings, features, and what readers think.
freshworks.com
Best for small and mid-sized teams wanting support, IT service and CRM from one vendor
AI-powered customer service, IT service and CRM software in one suite: Freshdesk, Freshservice and Freshsales.
Visit Freshworks
salesforce.com
Best for mid-size and enterprise sales organizations that need deep customization
The world's #1 CRM platform for sales, service, and marketing.
Visit SalesforcePricing compared
Freshworks
$9/user/mo
Salesforce
$25/user/mo
Head to head
| Freshworks | Salesforce | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $9/user/mo | $25/user/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | 14-day Freshdesk trial; 21-day Freshsales trial | Try for free on paid suites |
| Platforms | Web · iOS · Android · API | Web · iOS · Android |
| Founded | 2010 | — |
| HQ | San Mateo, USA | — |
Pros & cons
Freshworks
Pros
- One vendor covers customer service, IT service and CRM.
- Freddy AI agents and copilot are built into the products.
- Entry CRM pricing starts low, from USD 9 per user per month billed annually.
- Free trials: 14 days for Freshdesk and 21 days for Freshsales.
- Interface and website are offered in 17 languages, including Korean.
Cons
- Each product is priced separately, so the full suite cost adds up.
- AI agent sessions are an add-on (Freshsales lists USD 49 per 100 sessions).
- Freshdesk and Freshsales pricing pages do not accept PayPal; payment is by card (or check in USD for US and Canada CRM customers).
- Advanced CRM features such as forecasting and audit logs need the top plan.
Salesforce
Pros
- Deepest customization and the largest partner ecosystem of any CRM listed here.
- Starter Suite at $25 per user per month brings sales, service and marketing tools to small teams.
- Core through Max tiers add built-in AI, Slack, Tableau and Agentforce capabilities.
- Mature enterprise security and admin controls on higher tiers.
- Free Suite tier shown on Salesforce's pricing page.
Cons
- Pricing climbs steeply: Core $195, Advanced $395 and Max $550 per user per month.
- Pro Suite is $100 per user per month and billed annually.
- Premier support and several add-ons are paid extras.
- Typically needs admin or partner help to configure well, so it is heavy for small teams.
Features compared
| Freshworks | Salesforce | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans & pricing | ||
| Free tier | — | ✗ No |
| Free trial | — | ✓ Yes |
| Pricing model | — | Per seat / usage-based |
| Platforms & access | ||
| Web app | — | ✓ Yes |
| Mobile apps | — | ✓ Yes |
| Desktop app | — | ✗ No |
| Self-hosted option | — | ✗ No |
| Offline mode | — | ✗ No |
| Integrations & extensibility | ||
| Public API | — | ✓ Yes |
| Webhooks | — | ✓ Yes |
| Native integrations | — | 3,000+ via AppExchange |
| Automation (Zapier/Make) | — | ✓ Yes |
| Security & compliance | ||
| SSO / SAML | — | ✓ Yes |
| Two-factor auth | — | ✓ Yes |
| SOC 2 | — | ✓ Yes |
| GDPR compliant | — | ✓ Yes |
| Encryption at rest | — | ✓ Yes |
| Collaboration | ||
| Team workspaces | — | ✓ Yes |
| Real-time collaboration | — | ✓ Yes |
| Role-based permissions | — | ✓ Yes |
| Guest access | — | ✓ Yes |
| Support | ||
| Email support | — | ✓ Yes |
| Live chat support | — | ✓ Yes |
| Phone support | — | ✓ Yes |
| Knowledge base | — | ✓ Yes |