Meet Workbooks CRM – the No-BS Zoho alternative

A lot of CRM solutions offer similar experiences – they’re designed to help you manage all interactions with customers and prospects. But when it comes to prices, customization, implementation, support, and ultimately getting a solution that helps you secure results – there’s a lot of variation.

The best way to decide which CRM is right for you is to compare providers on the following:

Price: Do I have to pay for everyone to be on the same license? Are the long-term costs going to skyrocket after a big initial discount? Will I be paying for functionality I don’t need?

Support: Do you want support based in the same location as you to ensure faster response times? Have you checked out reviews of CRM providers’ support?

Implementation: Would you prefer to work with a CRM provider that understands your business and then implements your software themselves with one point of contact? Or would you prefer to work with a provider that passes this onto a third-party with extra costs?

Customization: How will you get the functionality you need from your CRM provider? Do they provide workshops to help you map out what’s needed? Have you compared the costs of these workshops?

Owain Williams, Editor, TechRadar, recently rated Workbooks #1 CRM for midsize businesses for these reasons:

Ease of use:

“As someone who has used a variety of CRM platforms over the years, I found that Workbooks offers one of the smoothest user experiences in the market. The layout is clean and uncluttered. It’s gentle enough for new users to get up and running quickly, while still providing robust features for power users and administrators. I was able to start using basic functions with minimal training.”

Implementation:

“It is clear that Workbooks is one of the best CRM platforms on the market. This is a fully-integrated CRM solution, not just a collection of modules. It provides tools for sales, marketing, support, order management, and more in a unified interface.

What really sets Workbooks apart is their hands-on approach to implementation and support. They work closely with each customer to tailor the system to their unique needs and provide ongoing consulting to ensure they get the most out of the platform.”

Support:

“Workbooks offers a comprehensive range of support channels to ensure that users can get help whenever and however they need it. customers feel that Workbooks go above and beyond when it comes to supporting them in getting the most from their CRM.”

Many CRM providers deliberately make pricing complicated to drive prospects into meetings because there’s a much higher chance of them making commitments face-to-face. If it’s hard to understand, it’s also easier to add additional costs on later in the process once you’ve signed the contract.

At Workbooks, we want to help you. That means there are no tactics like this. And if we don’t think Workbooks is the best fit for your business, we’ll tell you.

Many businesses choose Workbooks because they want direct access to experienced CRM experts rather than relying on self-service resources or slow support responses. 

Workbooks provides UK and US-based support teams who work closely with customers throughout implementation and beyond. 

Zoho users report inconsistent support experiences, particularly as requirements become more complex. 

Businesses often choose Workbooks over Zoho because they want: 

• A CRM built specifically for midsize businesses  

• Simpler onboarding and faster user adoption  

• Hands-on implementation support  

• More reliable customer support  

• Transparent pricing without hidden long-term costs  

• Strong functionality without needing multiple products or add-ons  

While Zoho focuses heavily on affordability and breadth of products, Workbooks focuses on helping growing businesses successfully implement and use CRM long-term. 

Absolutely. We take a consultative approach to implementation, working closely with customers to understand processes, goals and requirements before configuring the platform. 

Zoho is often positioned as a self-service platform, which can work for some businesses but may create challenges for companies that need more strategic guidance and support.