Appian vs. Zoho CRM

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Appian
Score 8.2 out of 10
N/A
Appian is a low-code development and business process management platform. It features drag-and-drop design for app building, automated work processes, unified data management, and cloud-based deployment.
$0
Zoho CRM
Score 8.5 out of 10
N/A
Zoho CRM is a simple, very low-cost CRM option for the smaller end of the SMB segment. The product has several useful integrations with other products, including QuickBooks, and Google Apps and Google Docs. The product also has an integrated project management module.
$14
Per User/Per Month
Pricing
AppianZoho CRM
Editions & Modules
Appian Community Edition
$0
Application - Input-Only
$2
per month per user
Application - Infrequent
$9
per month per user
Application - Standard
$75
per month per user
Platform
Custom Quote Priced per user with unlimited apps.
minimum 100 users, no maximum
Unlimited
Custom Quote Priced per development with unlimited apps.
unlimited
Standard
$14.00
Per User/Per Month
Professional
$23.00
Per User/Per Month
Enterprise
$40.00
Per User/Per Month
Ultimate
$52.00
Per User/Per Month
Plus
$57.00
Per User/Per Month
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
AppianZoho CRM
Free Trial
YesYes
Free/Freemium Version
YesYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup fee$14 /user/month
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
AppianZoho CRM
Considered Both Products
Appian
Chose Appian
I am a user of Appian, where we have a data connector application built in Appian that is integrated with various systems, and provide a summary in Appian UI. We as a user can initiate new requests to extract, Transform and Load data on a specific or selected system with just …
Chose Appian
There are a lot of reasons to select Appian the first is low code. We can create various interactive data connectors applications also it is best in terms of security with an interactive user interface which makes it unique from the other platforms.
Chose Appian
Appian's pricing model and co-selling is more interesting than that of Power platform. We used Appian because of its better case management and the learning curve is also not that huge. Power platform says it is Low code no code but it still requires certain some coding …
Chose Appian
Camunda is a powerful solution like Appian, however, it is somewhat difficult from the technical side, that is why I do preferer Appian instead.
Chose Appian
Appian compares favorably with other vendors in the space. It is strongest with business workflow automation and to create custom business applications. The tool base for coding is extremely straightforward and allows for faster coding and deployment. Handles very complex …
Chose Appian
We using this from long time. We're quite familiar with them. it's easy to use and understand. and it's documentation is quite helpful.
Chose Appian
much easier to navigate and design-centric.
Chose Appian
Have not used many BPM tools but we are using RPA to automate many technologies and business processes. We are also using Servicenow for incidents and change management.
Chose Appian
ease of use; inter-operability and scalability; great support and customer service
Chose Appian
Java is much more customizable but it is also a lot more work developing apps and setting up infrastructure. Appian is much easier to learn and code in. Also, apps are able to be built much quicker. This helps when time and money are an issue.
Chose Appian
We selected Appian against Kissflow for its maturity in end-to-end process automation for all kinds of industries.
Chose Appian
In the BPM space, there are a few areas that IBM BPM gives the flexibility to integrate different systems. Whereas in Cloud space [through] Appian has picked up, there are lot of features that Salesforce provide can be put in Appian
Chose Appian
It has reduced our time to market because of the feedback we got early on. The smooth movements and easy flow create a vast difference. The team gets ample time to innovate and increase performance. Tasks are well performed in sprints and ready to release with fewer errors and …
Chose Appian
I personally think Appian will win the discussion of pricing between itself and Microsoft Power Automate currently, but since I don't feel as though the average person would be able to learn how to automate processes on Appian, I have to give the nod to Microsoft Power Automate …
Chose Appian
To be honest, I have not used any other software that is similar to Appian. I am used to just using raw code when it comes to creating an application. I find Appian very useful to use in this fast-paced industry, and when the client wishes to see the iteration of the project. …
Chose Appian
I am not involved in evaluating different products. We have a specific team that is tasked with the responsibility of evaluating various products and choosing the one that is most appropriate for the organization. My team and I are the users of the products. Appian was the best …
Chose Appian
We used custom BPM solutions in the past and find greater value in using Appian. I was not a part of the architecture team that reviewed other BPM solutions when Appian was selected.
Chose Appian
Appian has a lesser learning curve than Pega. Pega uses a combination of directed and pattern inheritance and architects need to design bearing these in mind. While the intent behind this approach is to allow for reuse of rules to allow for efficient enterprise-wide design, …
Chose Appian
Appian is the only product I have used that is anything like low-code.
Chose Appian
I did not get chance to work on the other BPM tools but I am pretty sure that Appian will outstrip others in terms of Process Designing and Management, Scalability, Security, Performance and ease of use.
Chose Appian
The main product that my company uses is Microsoft Teams. I think that Appian is far superior to Microsoft Teams in many aspects but the most significant is the ability to use easily and move from reports to reports. I far prefer Appian to Teams. The design is much better and …
Chose Appian
Appian surpasses Microsoft PowerApps because of how much easier it is to code. I found Appian easier to code than the competitor because of how you could access the code behind the scene (SAIL). This allowed for even greater customization and helps with debugging when you have …
Zoho CRM
Chose Zoho CRM
After thoroughly evaluating leading CRM solutions, including Salesforce, HubSpot, and Microsoft Dynamics, we selected Zoho CRM for its exceptional value, versatility, and customer-centric approach. Zoho CRM stands out us in term of comprehensive feature support, Integration and …
Chose Zoho CRM
We required a full-featured corporate working tool, and Hubspot wasn't the most excellent alternative. We were guaranteed that Zoho CRM may fill up the holes in our earlier framework. Furthermore, Zoho is fantastically cost-effective for indeed the most minor endeavors, giving …
Chose Zoho CRM
An affordable, comprehensive suite of tools suitable for small to enterprise-sized businesses.
Chose Zoho CRM
Free user access was one reason to use it more than any other software. Also, for a mid-size organization, the Salesforce cost was a little higher, and Pipedrive was almost similar to Zoho. As we were already using Zoho, we found no urgency to switch.
Chose Zoho CRM
Overall top quality and great features! Fantastic!
Chose Zoho CRM
I love campaigns, very user friendly. Synching with Zoho CRM is easy and it's a nice feature to not have to update 2 programs, when we update a contact record in Zoho CRM, it's nice to know that that contact info is also updated in campaigns. We never have to worry about emails …
Chose Zoho CRM
We used to use Hubspot before Zoho. I think Hubspot is a great tool and contains a lot of very nice features, but Zoho stacks up quite well against it as it offers most of the same features at a significantly reduced price. We could also migrate our data from Hubspot to Zoho …
Chose Zoho CRM
Salesforce CRM would have been my go-to if I had the budget for it. Zoho CRM goes 90% of the way for a much decent price.
Chose Zoho CRM
Sugar was great when we first got started. Zoho CRM allowed us to take things to the next level and get the support that we needed along with that transition. Zoho CRM's customization was mush easier to setup and use without having to rely on developers to create custom code …
Chose Zoho CRM
We have only looked into other CRMs but Zoho is our first one. I think we chose it because of price not necessarily because it was better than any of the other options. It was our first CRM system so we didn't have anything to base it off of.
Chose Zoho CRM
It is decent against what is offered in the market, it follows certain philosophy of CRM which may not be a perfect fit for everyone.
There are not so many guides and new updates push for differentiation.
Formatting and bugs appearances are often an issue.
Chose Zoho CRM
Overall Zoho CRM is great. It might not be the best CRM but if you compare the price difference, i think Zoho CRM does wonders. I ll not line it up in the same position with Salesforce and Hubspot but it is full full-capacity CRM. If they add AI capabilities and add more …
Chose Zoho CRM
Hubspot and NetSuite are much better solutions in my mind, I've used both and enjoyed both.
Chose Zoho CRM
While Zoho CRM was not as feature rich as Salesforce.com, it was definitely more affordable. We looked at upgrading our current CRM, Goldmine CRM, but it was too limited and the upgrade offered was not cloud based. We were already a Zoho customer, using Zoho Projects, and …
Chose Zoho CRM
HUbSpot Is not Effective . Even though it has all Option its not user Friendly to Create Report and filter the leads like that so i switch to Zoho
Chose Zoho CRM
For our organizations requirements, Zoho CRM fits for it and pricing to less than other products and it also has all suite plan where accounts team and marketing team use.
Chose Zoho CRM
All in one stack with Zoho One has helped us to make the decision to choose CRM
Chose Zoho CRM
I am using both at the same time, due to lack of performance on Zoho CRM marketing toolset (lack of different unsubscribe pages, forms, language support for users) we needed to find another alternative.
Chose Zoho CRM
We selected ZOHO over the above - specifically salesforce - initially because of the price. Secondly, we do not have the technical expertise and budget to do a lot of customization at this time. So, we needed a product that had a good user interface, and that was flexible and …
Chose Zoho CRM
Zoho is cheaper and simpler but not that efficient as compare to HubSpot CRM. I think HubSpot has 100 more features than Zoho.
Email deliverability is also better on HubSpot in my experience. I think but it does the job though. It all depends on what you want to do.
Chose Zoho CRM
Zoho has an all-in-one solution called Zoho One which combines most of the solutions a company of our size requires. Thanks to this, we were able to consolidate our solutions into a single ecosystem while saving money. Zoho also has sales and marketing automation features that …
Features
AppianZoho CRM
Reporting & Analytics
Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of Product A and Product B
Appian
8.1
Ratings
4% above category average
Zoho CRM
-
Ratings
Dashboards8.20 Ratings00 Ratings
Standard reports8.50 Ratings00 Ratings
Custom reports7.60 Ratings00 Ratings
Process Engine
Comparison of Process Engine features of Product A and Product B
Appian
7.4
Ratings
1% above category average
Zoho CRM
-
Ratings
Process designer7.90 Ratings00 Ratings
Process simulation6.40 Ratings00 Ratings
Business rules engine6.40 Ratings00 Ratings
SOA support8.20 Ratings00 Ratings
Process player7.30 Ratings00 Ratings
Form builder7.60 Ratings00 Ratings
Model execution8.50 Ratings00 Ratings
Sales Force Automation
Comparison of Sales Force Automation features of Product A and Product B
Appian
-
Ratings
Zoho CRM
8.4
Ratings
6% above category average
Customer data management / contact management00 Ratings8.50 Ratings
Workflow management00 Ratings8.20 Ratings
Territory management00 Ratings8.70 Ratings
Opportunity management00 Ratings8.70 Ratings
Integration with email client (e.g., Outlook or Gmail)00 Ratings8.70 Ratings
Contract management00 Ratings8.70 Ratings
Quote & order management00 Ratings8.10 Ratings
Interaction tracking00 Ratings8.10 Ratings
Channel / partner relationship management00 Ratings8.30 Ratings
Customer Service & Support
Comparison of Customer Service & Support features of Product A and Product B
Appian
-
Ratings
Zoho CRM
8.3
Ratings
7% above category average
Case management00 Ratings8.40 Ratings
Call center management00 Ratings8.00 Ratings
Help desk management00 Ratings8.50 Ratings
Marketing Automation
Comparison of Marketing Automation features of Product A and Product B
Appian
-
Ratings
Zoho CRM
8.5
Ratings
9% above category average
Lead management00 Ratings8.50 Ratings
Email marketing00 Ratings8.50 Ratings
CRM Project Management
Comparison of CRM Project Management features of Product A and Product B
Appian
-
Ratings
Zoho CRM
8.4
Ratings
8% above category average
Task management00 Ratings8.50 Ratings
Billing and invoicing management00 Ratings8.30 Ratings
Reporting00 Ratings8.40 Ratings
CRM Reporting & Analytics
Comparison of CRM Reporting & Analytics features of Product A and Product B
Appian
-
Ratings
Zoho CRM
8.4
Ratings
8% above category average
Forecasting00 Ratings8.40 Ratings
Pipeline visualization00 Ratings8.40 Ratings
Customizable reports00 Ratings8.60 Ratings
Customization
Comparison of Customization features of Product A and Product B
Appian
-
Ratings
Zoho CRM
8.2
Ratings
6% above category average
Custom fields00 Ratings8.40 Ratings
Custom objects00 Ratings8.10 Ratings
Scripting environment00 Ratings8.20 Ratings
API for custom integration00 Ratings8.30 Ratings
Security
Comparison of Security features of Product A and Product B
Appian
-
Ratings
Zoho CRM
8.4
Ratings
0% below category average
Single sign-on capability00 Ratings8.30 Ratings
Role-based user permissions00 Ratings8.40 Ratings
Social CRM
Comparison of Social CRM features of Product A and Product B
Appian
-
Ratings
Zoho CRM
8.3
Ratings
10% above category average
Social data00 Ratings8.30 Ratings
Social engagement00 Ratings8.30 Ratings
Integrations with 3rd-party Software
Comparison of Integrations with 3rd-party Software features of Product A and Product B
Appian
-
Ratings
Zoho CRM
8.6
Ratings
13% above category average
Marketing automation00 Ratings8.70 Ratings
Compensation management00 Ratings8.50 Ratings
Platform
Comparison of Platform features of Product A and Product B
Appian
-
Ratings
Zoho CRM
8.6
Ratings
11% above category average
Mobile access00 Ratings8.60 Ratings
Best Alternatives
AppianZoho CRM
Small Businesses
CMW Platform
CMW Platform
Score 9.4 out of 10
Salesmate
Salesmate
Score 10.0 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Quixy
Quixy
Score 9.9 out of 10
Creatio
Creatio
Score 9.3 out of 10
Enterprises
Redwood RunMyJobs
Redwood RunMyJobs
Score 9.7 out of 10
Creatio
Creatio
Score 9.3 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
AppianZoho CRM
Likelihood to Recommend
9.4
(0 ratings)
8.5
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
8.5
(0 ratings)
7.6
(0 ratings)
Usability
8.7
(0 ratings)
7.8
(0 ratings)
Availability
-
(0 ratings)
8.8
(0 ratings)
Performance
-
(0 ratings)
8.5
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
8.4
(0 ratings)
6.1
(0 ratings)
In-Person Training
9.0
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
Online Training
6.0
(0 ratings)
5.6
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
1.0
(0 ratings)
5.6
(0 ratings)
Configurability
-
(0 ratings)
5.1
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
-
(0 ratings)
7.2
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
-
(0 ratings)
5.7
(0 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
-
(0 ratings)
7.7
(0 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
-
(0 ratings)
7.8
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
AppianZoho CRM
Likelihood to Recommend
Appian is well suited for the areas which involve a workflow. For Example: Consider there is a task and 3 teams are required to work on the task, with Appian we can create tasks for each team and monitor the comments and completion. Together with the integration capabilities, this tool can function in many areas. In our firm, we are using it to automate the workflows for our business teams and help them in capturing the OLA's and SLA's.
Read full review
This is very useful and handy software for initial use and sometimes later on. Its low price and rich features make it one of the most suitable software for small and midsize organizations. Customer management and tracking make your daily tasks easier.
Read full review
Pros
  • Allows at a glance workflow documentation which assists in the need we have for information readiation.
  • Drag and drop interface for workflow development greatly speeds our apps time to market.
  • Using the advanced features of Appian, we are able to create working sites in a fraction of the time it would take to do so using "traditional" development.
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  • Zoho CRM has so much space to capture lots of information.
  • Zoho CRM can be customized for your organization's needs.
  • Zoho CRM is great for running reports to help make business decisions.
  • We love all the different dashboards we can create.
Read full review
Cons
  • Search issues when type ahead and database search are used in the same field.
  • Buttons implementation where user is require[d] to click on the button description - if clicks on the button outside that text - button will not work.
  • Problems with using certain off-the-shelf performance tools like WebLoad or Neoload. That is because of different dynamic variables being used internally in Appian - which these tools are unable to correlate. We are still investigating using other tools like Jmeter to overcome dynamic correlation problem for performance testing.
Read full review
  • Need some way to switch a field type without losing the pre-existing data.
  • The settings controls should be broken out differently - I don't like that I can't keep some users from exporting all contact records (i.e., the entire Contacts module) because if the export function is turned off, the export function of Reports for those same modules is also blocked.
  • Frustrating that only 3 custom lookup fields are allowed per module in our license.
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Likelihood to Renew
We recently renewed our license with Appian. We are convinced that its flexibility, relative ease of use, the support they provide, there mobile advancements and their general willingness and desire to see us succeed all contributed to our reason to renew our agreement with Appian
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We are generally very satisfied with the zoho crm. Some extras are just added to improve productivity but overall Zoho CRM is highly recommended over many competitors. You can start with a few clicks to configure your needs. As you become an expert, you will be able to activate and configure the modules and integrations that you require. I know we still have a lot to discover so we're sticking with Zoho CRM, we're not interested in new options at the moment
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Usability
There are many differences between using Appian and using other programming languages. Additionally, there are many trade offs that have to be made and that have to be accepted for using Appian. In some cases, you give up control of one small area, but in others, it may open settings that are unavailable to a developer when using other program languages.
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Compared to our previous CRM, Zoho is a breeze. I can look up customers and reports with no issue. There are times when it may be difficult to find something, but I assume that is because I am not in Zoho every day like the sales team is. It does everything we need very simply, so I would definitely recommend it to others.
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Reliability and Availability
No answers on this topic
In my many years using Zoho, I think there were only 1 or 2 days when there was something happening and I was not able to log in. Sure, it wasn't fun and we all panicked a bit, but right after that, all was well and work-life continued. Being cloud based, I'm never worried about losing my iPhone, iPad or Laptop as I know I can log in anywhere on any device and workflow won't stop.
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Performance
No answers on this topic
I don't recall every having any issues with a page not loading due to it being a Zoho issue. Anytime I've had any issues with something being wonky, I clear cache and that has always solved the problem. Or a simply computer reboot and we're back, hard at work. Look, I don't expect any product to delivery 100%, 100% of the time but if I had any consistent ongoing issues, I would have left many years ago. I still keep my eyes open to what is new but after a quick evaluation, I know Zoho will long be my home.
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Support Rating
Appian is one of the leading low code business automation platforms that support RPA, decision rules, case management, workflow automation, and machine learning all in a single bundle. But it is also harder to implement and replace the traditional business process.
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We did the training and that was a huge waste of money. The information provided was basic and the instructor was sloppy (he even forgot to turn off his mic when he used the restroom - no one should ever hear what we heard). I offered up a 9 because we were able to find what we needed on your website.
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In-Person Training
As analyst I participated in a developer boot camp. At times it was hard to keep up but most of the time it made sense. Trainer took the time to explain and slowed pace down to answer questions etc.
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I attended a Zoho-Holics event in Austin, TX, several years ago, and it blew my mind. So many industries were represented using Zoho in so many different ways. It was unbelievable all that I learned from that experience, as there were features that I wasn't aware of that I immediately started using. Best of all, the trainers were patient and knowledgeable
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Online Training
Very boring; hard to get through quickly, but rather effective in demonstrating the use of the platform.
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There is an endless supply of YouTube videos from Zoho and the many Zoho partners/consultants. Plus, Zoho has it's own library of training videos and webinars to learn from plus an entire community at the ready to answer any questions. While Zoho has been available for many years, there are constantly new training videos and webinars available for the novice and the experienced users.
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Implementation Rating
It was really seamless. SaaS in the true definition of the word. We logged on and started using the product. Very easy.
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This should have been a project run by IT and implemented by IT but instead was implemented by Sales team and managed by them. Since this was the case our implementation has had many issues. Starting at the company required me to dig in and correct a lot of stuff within the initial set up.
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Alternatives Considered
Appian compares favorably with other vendors in the space. It is strongest with business workflow automation and to create custom business applications. The tool base for coding is extremely straightforward and allows for faster coding and deployment. Handles very complex process flows and has the ability to discover new opportunities for automation.
Read full review
We required a full-featured corporate working tool, and Hubspot wasn't the most excellent alternative. We were guaranteed that Zoho CRM may fill up the holes in our earlier framework. Furthermore, Zoho is fantastically cost-effective for indeed the most minor endeavors, giving everything they need. All things considered, Zoho CRM has upgraded our client intelligent and assisted our operations.
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Scalability
No answers on this topic
We're still in the early stages of scaling this across departments. We have high aspirations of doing this, but it takes time to migrate to the new system and to help people get acquainted of doing their work in a different way thru Zoho.
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Return on Investment
  • Our IT automated procurement process has sped up time to get paid by a few days on every transaction
  • Our approvals are more organized as a result of being put in digitally
  • Managing our own tenant requires more than we have available, given the quarterly updates
  • Since we have business-critical functions running in the platform, we have to thoroughly review every note of every update. Because of this we skip half of the updates since we don't have enough time to review these changes four times a year.
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  • It is very cost-effective. It has all the features we need at a significantly lower cost than the alternatives.
  • It is also very customizable; we created our own set of objects, etc., based on our workflows.
  • It is easy to integrate into your systems.
Read full review
ScreenShots

Appian Screenshots

Screenshot of Low-Code DevelopmentScreenshot of Business Process Management SuiteScreenshot of Dynamic Case ManagementScreenshot of Mobile App DevelopmentScreenshot of Appian RPA with Blue Prism

Zoho CRM Screenshots

Screenshot of Deals - Cash in on all opportunities. Close more deals. Great sales management is all about prioritizing, tracking, and monitoring the deals in your pipeline. Zoho CRM gives you everything you need to manage deals across territories and sales structures.Screenshot of Activities - Keep track of all the tasks, meetings, calls, events, or activity records. Neatly organize the numerous records along with the activities associated to them such as follow-up, pre sales and post sales activities, phone conversations etc.