ViaSheet vs Zoho CRM & Bigin

Zoho offers both its flagship Zoho CRM and a simplified pipeline tool named Bigin by Zoho, specifically marketed to small businesses transitioning away from spreadsheets. While Bigin is cleaner than full-scale enterprise software, it still introduces monthly fees and third-party platform reliance.

1. Pricing Structure

Zoho Bigin costs $7 to $12 per user per month (billed annually), while standard Zoho CRM scales from $14 to $52 per user per month. While cheaper than Salesforce, an agency with 4 team members on Bigin still spends $330 to $570 every year.

ViaSheet costs a single one-time payment of €19 to €39. You own the template forever and can share it with your entire team without paying per-user monthly fees.

2. Learning Curve & Configuration

Even simplified SaaS platforms like Bigin require configuring pipeline stages, webforms, email integration channels, and user permissions before you can begin logging leads.

ViaSheet opens directly in Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel. Your team can start adding contacts, logging deal amounts, and tracking follow-up dates within 2 minutes of downloading the sheet.

3. Data Control & Ecosystem Freedom

When using Zoho products, your customer interactions are tied to Zoho’s servers. If you decide to switch software platforms later, migrating custom notes and history out of Zoho can be cumbersome.

With ViaSheet, your CRM is a standard spreadsheet stored in your Google Drive or local hard drive. Your data is 100% portable, secure, and under your direct control.

Summary: Which Should You Choose?

• Choose Zoho Bigin if you need native telephony integration and automated multi-channel email marketing drips.
• Choose ViaSheet if you want a straightforward, one-time payment CRM template with zero monthly fees and pure spreadsheet control.