1CRM vs Bigin by Zoho: 2026 Comparison

1CRM vs Bigin by Zoho: Overview

1CRM and Bigin by Zoho both target small businesses looking for CRM solutions, but they approach the problem from very different angles. 1CRM is an all-in-one business management platform that combines CRM with order management, project tracking, invoicing, and even basic HR functions. Bigin by Zoho is a deliberately lightweight pipeline CRM that focuses on simplicity — giving small teams a clean, easy way to track deals through a visual sales pipeline.

Choosing between them depends on what your business needs. If you want a single system that handles everything from lead tracking to invoicing, 1CRM is built for that. If you want a focused, affordable tool that does pipeline management well and integrates with other Zoho apps or third-party tools for everything else, Bigin is the better fit.

Key Differences

The fundamental difference is scope. 1CRM is a broad platform designed to replace multiple business tools — CRM, project management, invoicing, and inventory — with a single system. Bigin intentionally limits its scope to contact management and pipeline tracking, keeping the interface simple and the learning curve short.

1CRM is self-hosted or cloud-hosted, giving businesses control over their data and infrastructure. Bigin is a cloud-only SaaS product managed by Zoho, meaning zero server maintenance but less control over data hosting. 1CRM offers an open-source Community Edition, while Bigin has no open-source option.

From a design philosophy standpoint, 1CRM targets businesses that want depth and customization, even at the cost of a steeper learning curve. Bigin targets businesses that want to get started quickly and prefer to add tools incrementally rather than adopting one large system.

Features Comparison

• Contact Management: Both platforms offer contact and company management. 1CRM includes richer detail with linked invoices, projects, and support cases on each contact. Bigin keeps contact records clean and focused on pipeline-relevant data.
• Pipeline Management: Bigin excels here with multiple visual pipelines, drag-and-drop deal cards, and a mobile-friendly interface. 1CRM offers pipeline tracking but with a more traditional list-based interface that is less visually intuitive.
• Email Integration: Both integrate with email. 1CRM connects with IMAP/SMTP email and logs correspondence to records. Bigin integrates with Zoho Mail and supports basic email logging.
• Invoicing and Quotes: 1CRM has built-in invoicing, quotes, purchase orders, and payment tracking. Bigin does not include invoicing — you would use Zoho Invoice or a third-party tool.
• Project Management: 1CRM includes project tracking with tasks, milestones, and time logging. Bigin does not have project management features; you would use Zoho Projects or another tool.
• Workflow Automation: 1CRM offers workflow rules and conditional logic for automating processes. Bigin provides basic workflow automation with triggers and actions, suitable for simple automation needs.
• Reporting: 1CRM provides extensive reporting across all its modules — sales, projects, finances, and support. Bigin offers dashboard views and basic pipeline reports focused on sales metrics.
• Mobile App: Both offer mobile apps. Bigin's mobile app is particularly well-designed for on-the-go pipeline management, with calling features and quick updates. 1CRM's mobile experience is functional but less polished.
• Integrations: Bigin integrates with the broader Zoho ecosystem (Zoho Books, Zoho Desk, Zoho Mail) and supports Zapier for third-party connections. 1CRM integrates with email, phone systems, and payment gateways, with fewer pre-built third-party integrations.
• Customization: 1CRM is highly customizable — you can modify modules, add custom fields, and even alter the source code in the open-source edition. Bigin allows custom fields and pipelines but is intentionally limited in deep customization to maintain simplicity.

Pricing

Bigin by Zoho is one of the most affordable CRMs on the market. The Express plan starts at $7 per user per month (billed annually), which includes contact management, a single pipeline, and basic automation. The Premier plan at $12 per user per month adds multiple pipelines, workflow automation, and more storage. A free plan is available for single users with limited features.

1CRM offers a cloud-hosted plan starting at $13 per user per month for the Startup edition and $23 per user per month for the Enterprise edition. The self-hosted option requires a one-time license fee starting around $15 per user (with separate hosting costs). The open-source Community Edition is free but limited in features and requires your own server infrastructure. Overall, 1CRM costs more than Bigin but includes functionality (invoicing, project management) that would require additional paid tools alongside Bigin.

Who Should Choose 1CRM

1CRM is the right choice for small businesses that want a single platform to manage sales, projects, invoicing, and customer support. If you are currently juggling separate tools for CRM, project management, and accounting, 1CRM can consolidate them into one system. Businesses that need self-hosted or on-premise deployment for data sovereignty or compliance reasons will appreciate 1CRM's hosting flexibility. Teams that are comfortable with a longer setup process and steeper learning curve in exchange for deeper functionality will get the most from 1CRM. It is also a good fit for service-based businesses that need to track projects and bill time alongside their sales pipeline.

Who Should Choose Bigin by Zoho

Bigin is ideal for small teams that want to start managing their pipeline quickly without a complex setup. If your primary need is tracking deals through sales stages with a visual, easy-to-use interface, Bigin delivers that exceptionally well. Businesses already using other Zoho products (Zoho Books, Zoho Desk, Zoho Mail) will benefit from seamless integration across the Zoho ecosystem. Teams that prefer to use best-of-breed tools — one for CRM, one for invoicing, one for project management — will appreciate Bigin's focused approach. Budget-conscious teams will find Bigin's pricing hard to beat, especially for small teams of 2-10 users who need a professional CRM without a large monthly expense.

The Bottom Line

1CRM and Bigin serve different needs despite targeting similar-sized businesses. 1CRM is a Swiss Army knife — it does many things in one package, which is valuable if you want to minimize the number of tools you manage. Bigin is a sharp, purpose-built tool — it does pipeline CRM exceptionally well and leaves other functions to dedicated apps.

If you need all-in-one business management and are willing to invest time in setup and learning, 1CRM offers strong value. If you need a fast, affordable, and intuitive pipeline CRM that just works, Bigin by Zoho is the smarter choice. For many small businesses, starting with Bigin and adding Zoho ecosystem tools as needed provides a more scalable and user-friendly growth path than adopting a complex all-in-one system from day one.