Closely vs Zoho
Closely
- Platform: LinkedIn and email outreach
- Best For: Outbound sales and prospecting
- Strength: AI personalization and CRM sync
- Users: Not specified
Starting at $29/month
Zoho
- Platform: 55+ business applications
- Best For: Integrated business operations
- Strength: Privacy-focused ecosystem
- Users: Not specified
Starting at Paid plans start from a low per-user monthly rate depending on region and product.
Table of Contents
At a Glance
Outreach & Automation
| Feature | Closely | Zoho |
|---|---|---|
| LinkedIn Automation | ✓ Safe sequences with human-like behavior and limits | ✗ No native LinkedIn automation; relies on integrations |
| Email Outreach | ✓ Multichannel campaigns with AI personalization | ✓ Via Zoho Campaigns and Mail; integrated with CRM |
| AI Personalization | ✓ For DMs, InMails, and emails with Sales AI Agents | ✓ AI in Zoho CRM for lead scoring and personalization |
| Multichannel Campaigns | ✓ LinkedIn + email sequences | ✓ Across email, social, SMS via Zoho Marketing Automation |
Lead Generation & Enrichment
| Feature | Closely | Zoho |
|---|---|---|
| Data Enrichment | ✓ Verified emails/phones from LinkedIn, Sales Navigator | ✓ Zoho CRM enrichment with external data sources |
| Lead Qualification & Scoring | ✓ Sales AI Agents for research and scoring | ✓ Advanced AI-based lead scoring in Zoho CRM |
| Prospecting Tools | ✓ Exports from LinkedIn posts/events | ✓ Zoho CRM prospecting with social integrations |
| Unified Inbox | ✓ For LinkedIn DMs, InMails, emails | ✓ Zoho Desk for multi-channel support inbox |
Integrations & CRM
| Feature | Closely | Zoho |
|---|---|---|
| CRM Integrations | ✓ Deep with HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, GoHighLevel | ✓ Native Zoho CRM; Marketplace with 2,000+ extensions |
| Developer Platform | ✗ Webhooks available in custom plans | ✓ Extensive APIs and Zoho Marketplace |
| White-Label Options | ✓ Custom domain/branding for agencies | ✓ Zoho Creator for custom apps; white-label via partners |
| Analytics & Reporting | ✓ Outreach analytics for campaigns/teams | ✓ Advanced analytics across all apps |
Business Coverage
| Feature | Closely | Zoho |
|---|---|---|
| Sales & Marketing Tools | ✓ Focused on outbound sales | ✓ Full suite including CRM, Campaigns, Social |
| Finance & HR Tools | ✗ No native finance/HR | ✓ Books, Payroll, People, Recruit |
| Collaboration Tools | ✗ Team management in higher plans | ✓ Mail, Cliq, WorkDrive, Projects |
| Project Management | ✗ Not available | ✓ Zoho Projects with Gantt charts and automation |
Security & Compliance
| Feature | Closely | Zoho |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy Focus | ✓ Safe LinkedIn limits to avoid bans | ✓ No data selling; in-house data centers |
| Global Support | ✗ Standard support | ✓ Localized sites, multilingual, regional pricing |
| Admin Console | ✓ Team management and analytics | ✓ Centralized for users, roles, devices |
Pricing Comparison
Closely starts at $29/month (annual) for LinkedIn/email automation, scaling to $999/month for white-label unlimited. Zoho offers flexible per-user pricing from low monthly rates, with Zoho One bundling 45+ apps. Closely provides value for sales-focused teams, while Zoho excels in cost-efficiency for broad business needs.
Closely
Starter Annual
$29/month
Solo users or small teams starting outbound
- 1 LinkedIn account
- Unlimited email accounts
- White-label included
- Outreach automation and multichannel campaigns
Growth Annual
$87/month
Growing teams with multiple accounts
- 3 LinkedIn accounts
- Unlimited email accounts
- White-label included
- Bonus 3,000 credits/month (emails, phones, AI)
Essential Annual
$145/month
Mid-sized teams scaling outreach
- 5 LinkedIn accounts
- Unlimited email accounts
- White-label included
- Bonus 5,000 credits/month
Custom
Custom
Large teams needing tailored features
- Custom LinkedIn accounts
- Unlimited campaigns and credits
- Conditional sequences, CRM integrations
- Advanced analytics and webhooks
White-label Unlimited
$999/month
Agencies with multiple clients
- Unlimited seats and customization
- Branded client portal and reporting
- No per-seat fees or caps
Zoho
Individual Zoho Apps - Entry Paid Plans
Varies by app, typically low per-user monthly rate
Users needing a single function like CRM or email
- Core functionality for specific apps (e.g., CRM, Books, Mail)
- Basic automation and reporting
- Email or in-app support
Individual Zoho Apps - Advanced/Enterprise Plans
Varies by app, higher per-user monthly rate
Advanced needs in specific areas
- Advanced automation, analytics, customization
- Higher limits on records/emails/storage
- Priority support
Zoho One - Flexible User-Based Pricing
Region-specific per-user rate (annual billing)
Teams using select apps across functions
- Access to broad Zoho One apps
- Centralized admin and billing
- Integration across CRM, marketing, finance
Zoho One - All Employee Pricing
Region-specific per-employee rate (annual billing)
Organizations giving full access to all employees
- Over 45 unified apps
- Mobile device management
- Enterprise security and customization
Feature Deep Dive
Outreach & Automation Capabilities
Closely
Strengths
- LinkedIn sequences with safe limits and human-like actions
- Multichannel campaigns blending LinkedIn and email
- AI personalization for messages and InMails
- Sales AI Agents for lead research and qualification
- Conditional sequence builder in custom plans
Workflow
Build prospect list → Enrich data → Create AI-personalized sequence → Launch multichannel campaign → Monitor unified inbox
Zoho
Strengths
- Zoho Campaigns for email automation
- Zoho Social for multi-platform scheduling
- Marketing Automation for workflows across channels
- AI-driven personalization in CRM journeys
- Integration with SMS and web forms
Workflow
Import leads to CRM → Set up automation journey → Personalize with AI → Trigger multi-channel touches → Track in unified dashboard
Closely shines in LinkedIn-specific safe automation and AI personalization for sales outreach, ideal for B2B prospecting. Zoho offers broader multichannel automation but lacks deep LinkedIn focus, better for integrated marketing across social and email.
Lead Generation & Data Enrichment
Closely
Strengths
- Data enrichment from LinkedIn, Sales Navigator, posts, events
- Verified emails and phones via credits
- Sales AI for web research, qualification, scoring
- Exports directly into CRM
- Warm lead capture via unified inbox
Workflow
Search LinkedIn → Enrich prospects → Score with AI → Export to CRM → Follow up via sequences
Zoho
Strengths
- Zoho CRM lead capture from multiple sources
- Enrichment via integrations and Zoho DataPrep
- AI lead scoring and predictive analytics
- Social listening in Zoho Social
- Multi-channel lead attribution
Limitations
- Less specialized for LinkedIn prospecting
- Enrichment requires additional apps or Marketplace extensions
Closely excels at LinkedIn-centric lead generation and enrichment with direct exports, perfect for sales teams. Zoho provides robust CRM-based lead management but is more general, suiting businesses needing holistic lead tracking across operations.
Integrations & CRM Functionality
Closely
Strengths
- Deep integrations with HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, GoHighLevel
- Automatic data sync for leads and activities
- Webhooks for custom workflows in higher plans
- White-label CRM-like interface for agencies
Limitations
- Focused on sales CRMs; no native finance/HR
- Integrations best in custom plans
Zoho
Strengths
- Native Zoho CRM with seamless app integrations
- Zoho Marketplace: 2,000+ extensions including third-party
- Centralized admin for all apps
- API platform for custom development
- Unified data across sales, marketing, finance
Limitations
- Steeper learning for non-Zoho integrations
Zoho's ecosystem offers unmatched depth in integrations and native CRM, ideal for unified business ops. Closely provides targeted CRM sync for sales tools, better for teams prioritizing LinkedIn/email without needing full-suite coverage.
Analytics & Reporting
Closely
Strengths
- Advanced outreach analytics for campaigns, sequences, teams
- CRM attribution for lead sources
- Real-time unified inbox insights
- White-label branded reporting for agencies
Limitations
- Focused on outreach metrics; no business-wide analytics
Zoho
Strengths
- Cross-app analytics in Zoho Analytics
- CRM reporting with custom dashboards
- AI insights for performance trends
- Automated reports across finance, HR, sales
- Compliance and audit trails
Limitations
- Requires setup for integrated views
Zoho delivers comprehensive, enterprise-grade analytics across all business functions. Closely focuses on sales outreach metrics with strong CRM tie-ins, suiting sales leaders but not full business reporting needs.
Use Case Comparison
Outbound Sales Team
Closely 🏆
Excellent
Specialized LinkedIn/email automation, AI personalization, and CRM sync streamline prospecting and qualification.
Best Plan: Growth Annual ($87/month)
Score: 10/10
Zoho
Good
Zoho CRM and Marketing Automation handle outreach, but lacks deep LinkedIn focus.
Best Plan: Zoho One Flexible ($ varies)
Score: 7/10
Sales or Lead Gen Agency
Closely 🏆
Excellent
White-label platform, unlimited seats, and multichannel campaigns ideal for client services.
Best Plan: White-label Unlimited ($999/month)
Score: 9/10
Zoho
Fair
Broad tools but no native white-label for sales outreach; requires customization.
Best Plan: Zoho One All Employee ($ varies)
Score: 5/10
SMB Running Full Business Operations
Closely
Poor
Limited to sales outreach; no finance, HR, or collaboration tools.
Best Plan: Not suitable
Score: 2/10
Zoho 🏆
Excellent
55+ apps cover sales, finance, HR, projects in one suite.
Best Plan: Zoho One ($ varies per user)
Score: 10/10
B2B Founder Scaling Without SDR Team
Closely 🏆
Excellent
AI agents and automation replace manual prospecting; CRM integrations track pipeline.
Best Plan: Starter Annual ($29/month)
Score: 9/10
Zoho
Good
Zoho CRM for scaling sales, plus other tools for growth.
Best Plan: Individual CRM Plans ($ varies)
Score: 7/10
Marketer Running Multichannel Campaigns
Closely
Good
Strong for LinkedIn/email, but limited beyond that.
Best Plan: Essential Annual ($145/month)
Score: 6/10
Zoho 🏆
Excellent
Zoho Marketing Hub integrates email, social, SMS, ads.
Best Plan: Zoho One Flexible ($ varies)
Score: 9/10
Enterprise Seeking Unified Platform
Closely
Poor
Sales-focused; can't replace full business suite.
Best Plan: Not suitable
Score: 3/10
Zoho 🏆
Excellent
Scalable with admin console, security, global support.
Best Plan: Zoho One All Employee ($ varies)
Score: 10/10
Solo Sales Professional Prospecting
Closely 🏆
Excellent
Affordable entry with unlimited emails and AI tools.
Best Plan: Starter Annual ($29/month)
Score: 9/10
Zoho
Fair
Overkill for solo; basic CRM sufficient but broader suite unnecessary.
Best Plan: Individual CRM ($ varies low)
Score: 5/10
HR and Finance Management Team
Closely
Poor
No relevant tools for HR/finance.
Best Plan: Not suitable
Score: 1/10
Zoho 🏆
Excellent
Dedicated apps like People, Payroll, Books, Inventory.
Best Plan: Zoho One ($ varies)
Score: 10/10
Distributed Team Needing Collaboration
Closely
Fair
Team management in higher plans, but limited to outreach.
Best Plan: Growth Annual ($87/month)
Score: 4/10
Zoho 🏆
Excellent
Cliq, WorkDrive, Mail, Projects for seamless teamwork.
Best Plan: Zoho One Flexible ($ varies)
Score: 9/10
Privacy-Focused Organization
Closely
Good
Safe automation protects accounts; standard privacy.
Best Plan: Any plan
Score: 7/10
Zoho 🏆
Excellent
No data selling, in-house centers, compliance features.
Best Plan: Zoho One Enterprise ($ varies)
Score: 10/10
Team Needing Custom Development
Closely
Fair
Webhooks and custom plans, but limited platform.
Best Plan: Custom ($ custom)
Score: 5/10
Zoho 🏆
Excellent
Developer platforms, Creator for low-code apps, extensive APIs.
Best Plan: Zoho One with Creator ($ varies)
Score: 9/10
Budget-Conscious Startup
Closely
Good
$29/month entry for sales focus; scales with needs.
Best Plan: Starter Annual ($29/month)
Score: 7/10
Zoho 🏆
Excellent
Low per-user rates; free tiers in some apps for startups.
Best Plan: Individual Apps ($ low varies)
Score: 8/10
Pros and Cons
Closely
Pros
- Comprehensive LinkedIn/email automation with safe limits
- AI personalization and Sales Agents for efficient outreach
- Deep CRM integrations for seamless data sync
- Unified inbox simplifies reply management
- White-label for agencies with custom branding
- Flexible credits for enrichment and AI usage
- Strong analytics for campaign attribution
Cons
- Interface complex for basic users
- Pricing high for solo or casual use
- No native content creation or scheduling
- Limited to sales outreach; no broader business tools
- Onboarding needed for advanced features
- Credit system may add usage tracking overhead
Zoho
Pros
- Vast ecosystem of 55+ integrated apps for all operations
- Competitive pricing with bundling in Zoho One
- Privacy-first with no data selling and global support
- Extensive Marketplace and developer tools
- Centralized admin and strong security
- Localized for international teams
- Scalable from SMB to enterprise
Cons
- Overwhelming breadth for small or focused teams
- Implementation requires time or partners
- UX may lag in niche areas vs specialized tools
- Pricing complex with regional variations
- Not ideal for single-function needs
- Steeper learning curve for full suite
Final Verdict
Closely and Zoho address different scales of business needs. Closely is a powerhouse for targeted LinkedIn and email sales automation with AI and CRM focus, ideal for outbound teams. Zoho is a comprehensive ecosystem for running entire businesses, offering unmatched integration but requiring more setup.
Opt for Closely if your priority is efficient, AI-driven sales outreach via LinkedIn and email. Choose Zoho for a holistic business platform that covers everything from sales to HR. They can integrate well, with Closely feeding leads into Zoho CRM for end-to-end management.
Overall Scores
Closely
Lead Generation: 9/10
Agency Features: 9/10
Value: 7/10
Zoho
Lead Generation: 7/10
Agency Features: 6/10
Value: 9/10
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