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STEPS.CRM vs Zoho CRM
Last updated November 2026
Looking for a European alternative to Zoho CRM? Here's how STEPS.CRM compares, on EU hosting, GDPR and what it does.
Our pick for a European buyer: STEPS.CRM. We weight data residency, GDPR and EU jurisdiction above everything else — that is the constraint this directory exists to solve.
What it is
German CRM for sales pipelines, contracts and recurring billing
Cloud-based customer relationship management software for businesses.
Headquarters
🇩🇪 DE
🇮🇳 IN · 1996
EU data residency
Yes, for all customersGermany
Available on some plansEU data residency is available on request for Zoho CRM.
DSGVO / GDPR
Yes
Yes
Certifications
No
ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II
Price from
No
$14/user/mo
Free plan
No
Yes
Open Source
No
No
Integrations
estos ProCall, Outlook, eBay, Powergap, Zalando +4
Zoho Books, Zoho Desk, Zoho Campaigns, Zoho Analytics, Mailchimp +5
Where each one wins
STEPS.CRM
Strengths
- +Handles complex, industry-specific workflows like variable IT-service contracts and billing cycles
- +Centralizes work and data in one shared system for consistency
- +Offers flexibility to adapt standard functions to individual processes
- +Provides reliable day-to-day support for employees
- +Reduces tool sprawl with an all-in-one platform
Limitations
- −External integrations, especially with calendars, could be easier
- −Usability could be improved
- −Onboarding, reporting, and analysis speed need simplification
Zoho CRM
Strengths
- +Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- +Strong automation capabilities
- +Good value for the price
- +Extensive third-party integrations
Limitations
- −Steep learning curve for advanced features
- −Limited customization in lower-tier plans
- −Occasional performance lag
- −Customer support can be slow
Data residency & compliance
STEPS.CRM
Zoho CRM
EU data residency
Yes, for all customersGermany
Available on some plansEU data residency is available on request for Zoho CRM.
Transfer mechanism
Not required — data stays in the EU
Standard Contractual Clauses
Certifications
No
ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II
Pricing
STEPS.CRM
No published pricing we could verify.
Zoho CRM
- Free Free ForeverUp to 3 users · Basic CRM features · Limited storage
- Standard $14 user/monthFull sales automation · Marketing integration · Billed annually
- Professional $23 user/monthAdvanced analytics · Custom dashboards · Billed annually
- Enterprise $40 user/monthAI-powered insights · Multi-user portals · Billed annually
- Ultimate $52 user/monthAdvanced customization · Dedicated support · Billed annually
Pricing is based on annual billing; monthly options may be available at a higher cost.
Features
STEPS.CRM
- Contacts and relationship management
- Multi Relation Management (MRM) for flexible data linking, Retains person data when changing employers, Data-quality assistants, Duplicate checking and merging
- Sales and marketing
- Sales pipeline management, Opportunity tracking, Campaign management, Offer creation and monitoring
- Customization and usability
- Process customization via Application Designer, Configurable one-click interfaces, Mobile-optimized access
- Mobile access and data availability
- Mobile device usability, Rapid data availability, mySTEPS for mobile business information access
- Integration capabilities
- Compatibility with all ERP systems, CTI integration with estos ProCall, Outlook add-in (tested in customer reference)
Zoho CRM
- Sales Automation
- Lead and contact management, Pipeline tracking, Sales forecasting, Workflow automation
- Marketing Integration
- Email campaigns, Social media integration, Lead scoring, Web forms
- Customer Support
- Case management, Ticketing system, Knowledge base, Live chat
- Reporting & Analytics
- Custom reports, Real-time analytics, Sales metrics, Performance dashboards
- Collaboration Tools
- Team inbox, Document sharing, Task management, Calendar integration