SoftwareDuel

Zoho Projects vs EngageBay

A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool

Last updated: April 30, 2026

🏆 Our Pick: EngageBay

EngageBay is our recommended pick for most teams — budget-conscious smbs wanting a hubspot alternative with a strong free plan.

Try EngageBayRead our full EngageBay review →

Zoho Projects

Zoho Projects is a full-featured project management tool offering task management, Gantt charts, time tracking, and budget management at a very competitive price point within the Zoho ecosystem.

Freemium
Get Pricing →

EngageBay

★★★★4.3/5

EngageBay is an all-in-one marketing, sales, and customer support platform designed for small and mid-size businesses. It offers a free plan that includes CRM, email marketing, live chat, and helpdesk tools — making it one of the most generous free plans in the market. EngageBay is positioned as an affordable alternative to HubSpot.

FreemiumFree to start
Get Pricing →

Pros

  • Very affordable pricing
  • Strong Gantt chart features
  • Built-in time tracking and budgeting
  • Good Zoho ecosystem integration
  • Solid feature set for the price

Cons

  • Interface less polished than competitors
  • Best value within Zoho ecosystem
  • Mobile app could be improved
  • Support can be slow

Pros

  • One of the most generous free plans available — includes CRM, marketing, and support tools
  • Affordable paid plans compared to HubSpot
  • All-in-one platform reduces the need for multiple subscriptions
  • Good automation features

Cons

  • Less brand recognition and fewer integrations than HubSpot
  • Interface can feel cluttered with so many features
  • Customer support response times can vary

Zoho Projects vs EngageBay: Side by Side

FactorZoho ProjectsEngageBay
User RatingN/A4.3/5 ★
CategoryProject ManagementCRM Software
Pricing ModelFreemiumFreemium
Starting PriceContact for pricingFree
Best ForBudget-conscious teams already in the Zoho ecosystem wanting a full-featured project management toolBudget-conscious SMBs wanting a HubSpot alternative with a strong free plan
Our Pick🏆 Recommended

Zoho Projects Features

  • Project management
  • task tracking
  • Gantt charts
  • time tracking
  • team collaboration
  • portfolio management

EngageBay Features

  • CRM
  • email marketing
  • marketing automation
  • live chat
  • helpdesk
  • landing pages
  • appointment scheduling
  • reporting

Pricing Comparison

Zoho Projects

Freemium

Contact for pricing

See full pricing →

EngageBay

Freemium

Free to start

Free: $0 · Basic: $12/mo · Growth: $24.99/mo · Pro: $49.99/mo

See full pricing →

Best Use Cases

EngageBay

  • Small businesses wanting all-in-one CRM and marketing
  • Startups replacing multiple tools with one platform
  • Companies migrating away from expensive HubSpot plans

Who Should NOT Use These Tools

EngageBay is NOT ideal for:

  • Large enterprises needing advanced customization
  • Teams requiring sophisticated marketing attribution
  • Businesses needing dedicated enterprise support

Integrations

EngageBay

Zapier, Gmail, Outlook, Stripe, SendGrid, Mailgun, Twilio, Xero

Our Take

Choose Zoho Projects if budget-conscious teams already in the zoho ecosystem wanting a full-featured project management tool. Choose EngageBay if budget-conscious smbs wanting a hubspot alternative with a strong free plan.

Best For

Budget-conscious teams already in the Zoho ecosystem wanting a full-featured project management tool

Best For

Budget-conscious SMBs wanting a HubSpot alternative with a strong free plan

Also Consider

If neither Zoho Projects nor EngageBay is the right fit, Wrike is worth evaluating.

Wrike

Marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing

From Free

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Zoho Projects and EngageBay?

Zoho Projects is best for budget-conscious teams already in the zoho ecosystem wanting a full-featured project management tool. EngageBay is best for budget-conscious smbs wanting a hubspot alternative with a strong free plan.

Which is better, Zoho Projects or EngageBay?

Choose Zoho Projects if budget-conscious teams already in the zoho ecosystem wanting a full-featured project management tool. Choose EngageBay if budget-conscious smbs wanting a hubspot alternative with a strong free plan.

How much does Zoho Projects cost?

Visit Zoho Projects website for current pricing.

How much does EngageBay cost?

EngageBay starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.

Who should use Zoho Projects?

Budget-conscious teams already in the Zoho ecosystem wanting a full-featured project management tool

Who should use EngageBay?

Budget-conscious SMBs wanting a HubSpot alternative with a strong free plan